mohair pullover

I went back to my family home a few months back and one of my favourite things to do, is rummage through the shambles of my old bedroom (I left it in such a mess!), find old projects & remind myself of the substantial wool stash still there.  I found this half-finished project, from maybe three years ago.  I'd done it all - the knitting, the side seams, everything except sewing up the shoulder seams.  I have to idea what stopped me (read: distracted me) but I brought it back to my London space and have finally sewn it up.  Now it just needs it debut wear (which I think will have to happen today).

I improvised this pattern and can't remember the details; but here is how I appear to have made it...

 There's a K2 P2 rib an inch high at the bottom edge to help give some shape.

 The front & back were knitted in two separate pieces, just plain stocking stitch [I was letting the yarn do the talking with this one] then sewn together down the sides.

However, around halfway up the front piece I knitted a row of purl stitches, which gives the impression of a seam - I'm not too sure if this was purposeful, but I like the appearance of structure it creates.

The shoulder seam is only a few inches wide, allowing the sleeves to hang naturally.

I'm really happy with the volumous shape that the knitting creates - the front has more fabric then the back piece does, which presensts itself as a cowl style neck.  The pullover measures roughly 19" long and 22" wide.  The best thing is, I also found a fair amount of this yarn left, so there's room for some matching items too...

Here is it on Ravelry [with a few extra pics]

Tropical Orchid

All sewn up and just in time for spring ~

 Kid mohair & silk, candy stripes, delicate texture, intricate lace pattern...

It took a while but it was worth it.

I love the organic edge the stitch pattern created.

It's on Ravelry here

Finally finished my Tropical Orchid....

...Well, almost. 

I still need to tie all the ends in and sew it up -

 but the knitting part is done -

 and that's what really counts, right?

The pattern (Tropical Orchid by Erica Knight) is from an issue of Simply Knitting. 

I saw the top on the front cover and liked it so much it made me buy the magazine. 

A little ignorant of me to really look at how intricate the pattern was...

Took me a little longer than the 1-2 weeks I had hoped for!

Worth it though because the pattern is beautiful and so effective when you see it as a whole piece of fabric. 

I used the left over mohair/silk yarn from my Clouds sweater and so made a few alterations to the original pattern - basically mine is striped and sleeveless, which gives it an entirely different look.

I'll get some far nicer photos taken once the sheets of tendrilous knitting have been transformed into a wearable garment!