A Tweedy New Year

I've had this Aran wool from Kerry Woollen Mills that I got at Dublin Bay Knitting Co. in Portland, OR awhile back. I have been saving it up to do an Irish tweedy vest of some sort. Here is my first try at doing one. The pattern: Bramblewood. I found the yarn to be very scritchy and stiff. I tried spraying with water and blocking out a bit to see if it would change and "bloom" a bit, and I think it would. Then as I went along, it just didn't seem the cables were "popping" out as they should so I am not sure I want to continue this vest,as the cables are on both back and front sides.
Though I do love this pattern...



They show up a bit more on the top section, as that is what I sprayed and tried to block, poke and prod the cables to come out a bit. I have set this one aside for now.

Instead I found an easy Green Day vest pattern that I am trying since I have plenty of the yarn to begin again. And maybe it will be easier to work with this new pattern.

It has a twisted knit row every third row on the hemline. It calls for other cables to run from underarm to hem on the sides, however I am omitting those cables.

I'm liking it so far...It's very cold out here and nice to be working with tweedy wool.

Happy Knit Year!

Aran Scarf-My First Cables

Queensland Collection-Kathmandu Aran Wool-merino, silk, cashmere blend
Size 8 needles. Cast on 42 st.

Ok, I couldn't wait to practice cabling so Mom got me going on the stash of Aran wool I got in Winthrop, and I CO yesterday for an Aran Scarf pattern. This is good practice for me. Everyone says cabling is easy. Just passing stitches on and off cable needle, either holding to the front or back of work. This is my first time actually attempting cabling. I am getting the hang of it. Found a few pattern errors so far. I will have to see if there is an errata sheet on their site. Pattern is from Knitsimplemag.com and called Aran Scarf. (click on Aran Scarf for pdf file download)

This is dark, but you can see the cabling in this photo coming along.....