My knitting mojo in waning a bit – probably an early onset attack of my usual SKS (That’s “Summer Knitting Slump”) and my blogging mojo has suddenly been even worse!

But I have been knitting…and using the washing machine 😮

Fortunately, the washing machine turned and untidy, gappy, unevenly knit, coarse garment into a soft, drapy delight 🙂

So what was this miracle yarn? I have just finished knitting up the Louet Euroflax Sportweight – a 100% wetspun linen- that I bought on my New York trip.

This is the yarn…

Wet spun linen from Louet

And I’ve made the Everyday Linen Raglan from Purl Soho. Click the link for the free pattern 🙂

So I’ll show you my fave picture of my wearing the finished garment…although Ziggy obscures most of it!

Ziggy was enjoying the cuddle – honestly!

Hmm Maybe a better picture where you can see the knitting?

I look a bit glum but a better pic of the top…

So …. a quick summary

The good :

• I love this colour! It’s very “in” this year and I am extra chuffed that I was ahead of the curve and bought the yarn last year 😀
• I love the yarn. It’s a little stringy to knit with and comes out a little untidy straight off the needles but that evens out beautifully when washed, tumble dried and finished.
• The drape is lovely, floppy and soft.
• It’s machine washable!!! (OK – I’m lazy)
• Cute “sweatshirty” triangle detail at the neck
• Curved “bumflap” to disguise my ever growing behind(!)
• The pattern is easy to follow
• I love the rolled hems – achieved with a provisional cast on and a three needle bind-off to fold up the hem – all very clearly shown in the big clear pictures in the pattern (much easier than picking up the cast on edge which I had done before)
• I love the idea of recreating an old fashioned sweat top for a casual “with jeans” jumper

The not quite so good:

• The neckline is very wide – I’m not keen on flashing my bra straps – I’m not 17 any more…
• Neckline is very low at the back
• Doesn’t look great with any shape t shirt that  I own underneath – it all peaks out and looks messy (see pictures!)
• I didn’t like the pattern’s cuff – 8 rows of purl – so I added the same rolled hem as the bottom edge

Wanna see some pictures of what I mean?

Love the triangle – not so sure about the t-shirt showing though….

I like bracelet length sleeves and I’m glad I did the rolled hem.

That is not a good look – will look fine when it’s hotter and I can wear the jumper on it’s own or with a skimpy vest under it though – doesn’t help with versatility though

The obligatory “back view” – showing that nice curved bumflap (done with short row shaping)