Jewels

You know I don't like to show craft favouritism, when purchasing patterns, which is why I have a new knitting pattern and story to share. In truth, I buy new knitting patterns ALL the time (they cost 5 bucks on Ravelry or other pattern pdf sites) but this one is a bit special.

For starters, here are 3 versions, of the Jewel sweater by Kim Hargreaves, all made by the same (awesome) knitter - Saashka (aka Alexandra):

This is the "original", as designed by Kim Hargreaves

This is the shawl modification - this modification was designed by Alexandra

And here's the wrap version, which I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO STOP THINKING ABOUT for 2 yrs...

When I say that I haven't been able to stop thinking about the wrap version for 2 years, I can also tell you that I've been looking for an affordable version of the original Kim Hargreaves pattern for the same amount of time.

Ridiculously, this pattern was never produced independently as a PDF. You have to buy the book to own the pattern. I'm all cool with that - it's worth 30 bucks to me! But, alas, the book has been out of print for years. And my library doesn't carry it. And I have no access to knitting friends who own it.

I can find copies of it for a zillion dollars (aka via Albris), but I really can't justify that expenditure as I'm not nuts about most of the collection featured in the book.

So, out of desperation (and the stress-shop impulse), I contacted Kim Hargreaves' head office to find out if there's any other reasonable way to purchase the pattern.

And, to my glee, the lovely woman, with whom I exchanged emails, advised that there was but one copy that she was able to source internally, that had never been sold. She referred to it mysteriously as "perhaps the last copy ever".  Moreover, through convoluted but doable mechanisms, I was able to purchase it and now it's being shipped to me over the ocean!

But not everything was resolved...

I was still concerned about how I'd manage to modify the original pattern (which I've yet to see up close, with instructions) to turn it into the wrap version. To clarify: I really like the original version, I'm just obsessed with the wrap. This may be one of those pattern which, if it works well and is pleasant to knit, I might end up making numerous times in numerous ways.

This is where Ravelry (and the loveliness of knitters) kicks in. Alexandra, within 2 hours, sent me her carefully transcribed modifications for three different versions. (This is a woman after my own heart - I felt I was looking at some crazy document I'd written for myself!) I cannot begin to tell you how generous this is, given that she worked long and hard (I'm sure) to draft those mods.

Anyway, 100 bucks later (what? you don't think I needed to buy yarn??) and I'm almost good to go.  Here's the yarn, btw, that's wending its way to me:

Quince and Co. Chickadee in Slate

This photo doesn't really give its depth away, but it's called slate. It's bluer than it appears in this web-culled shot. But not so blue as to call into question its value as a true neutral. BTW, slate is a new colour that was introduced by Quince and Co. earlier this week.

Oh, and while I was at it (for another, secret project I'm planning in the future, more to come), I got some skeins in this colour too:

Quince and Co. Chickadee in Lichen

These two projects - the Jewel and the "mystery" one I'll write about soon - will comprise my winter knitting, likely to start around December - as I'm still working actively on using up my current stash for Xmas gifts - and I'm making some hats for my mum.

For those of you wondering, Starry Starry Night is OVER. I found another pattern I'm going to use the stash on - one which is hopefully much more pleasant (if not quite as exciting). I haven't ripped the yarn back yet, still too soon, but I'll do it in the near future and liberate myself from a project that just wasn't fun.

So, today's questions: What do you think of these awesome versions (no bias) of the Jewel sweater? Have you made the original? If yes, do you love and wear it? What do you think of my yarn choices? Let's talk!