So I'm thinking of making this:
And the yarn, Filtes King Van Dyck, seems to be super hard to find. The best I could do were 10-packs at the mysterious yarns-and.com for $118/pack. I only need 5 balls of it, so I can't see going that route (unless someone out there feels like splitting it with me).
Finding a comparably-gauged yarn in a similar colorway turned into something of an internet quest. But I seem to have found a decent replacement in Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick:
I am, however, naturally skeptical of acrylics, but for no good reason except snobbery. Has anyone used this yarn? How do you think it would do for this project? Also I worry that this color is much greener than the original...
Another option is Reynolds Blizzard in #680 ("Leaf"), but the color isn't exactly right:
I could also see doing it in Cashmerino Superchunky, though in a darker green:
What do you think? Any other suggestions?
Snobbery or because of that Meryn Cadell song?
"You look at that sweater... carefully, and you realize that love made you temporarily blind. You got a secret now honey and though you would never sink as low as him, you could blab it all over the school if you wanted. The label in that sweater said 100% acrylic."
http://www.mola.org/pandora/meryn.html#SWEATER
Posted by: joyolivia at May 6, 2005 10:23 AMthat's too funny... i just quoted that song on semaphoria's site a few days ago.
jess, i've used the wool-ease t and q, and it's fine... it's REALLY hot, and i knit that REALLY tightly, so it's REALLY REALLY HOT though.
it's relatively pliant, however, and although i'm not sure how the details would come out, it's relatively inexpensive, so maybe grabbing one and fiddling around with it isn't a bad idea.
Posted by: heatherfeather at May 6, 2005 12:00 PMJust stopped by your site and noticed you were thinking about using Blizzard for your sweater. It's a great yarn and really really soft but it's super heavy to work with. I made just a plain seed stitch scarf and my arms were aching by the end of it. It also sheds just a little too much for my taste but it makes beautiful things.
Posted by: Katie at May 6, 2005 12:10 PMHey you stitch marker machine, I've knit 2 sweaters out of the Thick n Quick. It's fine. It pills a bit, but so do a lot of bulky yarns. It's machine washable and dryable which is good.
Posted by: Lauren at May 6, 2005 12:41 PMI personally wouldn't use thick&quick. It feels very plasticy to me, and I wouldn't want to wear a sweater made out of it. Wait, and splurge on wool. That sweater deserves better. ;-)
Posted by: RK at May 6, 2005 12:45 PMThe blizzard is lovely, but has a blurry surface - not quite fuzzy exactly - and it is HOTTER THAN THE SUN.
I'm making a crochet throw out of it right now and though I love it, it isn't something I would want a close necked pullover out of.
The superchunky seems like the most wearable choice.
Posted by: Juno at May 6, 2005 1:01 PMI just cast on for this sweater last night. I'm using some mystery stash wool doubled.
The Wool-Ease Thick & Quick is okay. It doesn't have much give and I agree with the other comments that it will be very, very toasty to wear. Blizzard looks like a nice choice but I haven't worked with it.
I paused over that pattern too.....another life. Don't do acrylic. It's drekky. I'm a yarn snob, you should be too. Check out Magritte bulky, color M04 (pea) at the bottom of this page:
http://www.agoodyarn.net/YRN_Karabella.htm
I don't know about the guage though.
Posted by: Sara at May 6, 2005 2:17 PMI made a sweater out of Patons Bella, which is 50% merino / 50% acrylic. I think it's the right gauge, and the colour Fennel seems about the right colour green, too. It was nice to knit with, but made for a HOT sweater.
I couldn't find the Fennel colour, but see here for the yarn info: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=36599&item=8189919213
Posted by: Kim at May 6, 2005 2:22 PMWait. What I meant to say is that it made for a COZY sweater, but it was way HEAVY. (That's what I get for using all caps too liberally.)
Posted by: Kim at May 6, 2005 2:24 PMDon't do it!! I used quick and thick too, and was sooooo bummed out!! It pills and looks horrible after a few days!! What about Jamisons I remember then having a chunky shetland, I agree, those big wools will pill, but sweater shavers don't work on acrylic..trust me!
Posted by: Caroline at May 6, 2005 2:26 PMNot a fan of the Wool-Ease either... I thought it felt a lot nicer in the skein than it did knitted up. I abandoned the project about 3/4 of the way through!
Posted by: dELIA at May 6, 2005 3:43 PMthick and quick isn't bad but i have personally never made anything with it, but a friend did. i might actually be willing to split the pack with you though, but i am thinking that i would need a bigger size (you're teeny!) and would therefore need more than 5 balls. but i was just thinking last night that i wanted this sweater. maybe i will look up the yarn requirements tonight...
Posted by: thuy at May 6, 2005 4:49 PMI'm not sure they'll have what you're looking for but have you tried elann.com?
Posted by: bernie at May 6, 2005 5:50 PMI love your site - I'm fellow yarn addict with a snobbish attitude toward acrylic. I love that sweater, and I'm actually thinking about making it with the Bulky Merino from handpaintedyarn.com, in the "butter" color, which I'm going to try overdyeing to get a similar green shade. The gauge appears to be very similar, and yarn from this company is absolutely beautiful and -yay- cheap!! At the peril of your "yarn diet," have you checked out this site?
Posted by: kim at May 6, 2005 7:57 PMHi, I'm a first-time commenter. I came by your site a while ago, and noticed a posting back in March regarding reading Phildar patterns. I'm having some trouble reading it also (the 1x4 dim??). I figured you've already understood what that meant. Any pointers?
Posted by: Anne at May 6, 2005 10:40 PMWonder how Knitpicks "Palisade" would work? http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/yarn_display.aspx?itemid=5420115
Or what about Lambs Pride Bulky? http://www.patternworks.com/PWShopping/partsvyarn.asp?action=lookup&partno=944&subject=U38.L2&catpos=12
I like Wool Ease too though. It knits up nicely.
And your stitch markers are divine! Especially the little tulips! So so cute!
Posted by: the country girl at May 6, 2005 10:45 PMHaving made the Marilyn sweater, I wouldn't recommend it for the Teva Durham sweater. It is awfully heavy and there is something about this sweater that I think needs a little more movement.
I can't see tracking down the Filtes, so I was thinking about doubling up on a KnitPicks yarn such as Andean Treasure in Lagoon or Moss or Elegance in Grass. Just an idea.
Regarding the Marilyn sweater, I think you could easily size it down to the measurements you want. The real trick is making sure that the neckline isn't too big. I brought mine in at least three inches smaller than the pattern, as it was slipping off both shoulders otherwise. Good luck!
Posted by: Nicole at May 8, 2005 12:28 PMHello! Just wanted to tell you "Van Dyck" is an absolutely lush and not too expensive yarn and worth seeking out. I know it's available at a yarn shop in Toronto called Knitomatic and maybe they'll ship http://knitomatic.blogspot.com/
It is light and airy not heavy or stifling hot because has several small loosely spun plies and not itchy even though the alpaca gives it texture. I wore the sample sweater to the Knit.1 launch party and another event and people couldn't take their hands off it. It did stretch out a bit. The model in pic is size 4 and I'm an 8 (10 then as I was nursing) and it fit me nicely. I wish I had sized an extra small for those smaller than a 4--I'm hoping to have supplemental sizes and stuff on my websites to help people knitting from the book get best results. Teva
I love that sweater too! The color is sooooo mossy springtabulous! For a sweater like that, I wouldn't use the thick and quick, the sweater deserves more! (and it does pill!) After spending over 200 dollars on Rowan big wool, I realized that thick and quick would have worked (and cost way less as well) I love your mom's bag!!! It came out great!
Posted by: christine at May 9, 2005 2:33 PMOh yeah! I'd totally split the yarn with you, but how many skeins would I need for a large? I'm thinking 6? So that wouldn't work... Let me know though!~
Posted by: christine at May 9, 2005 2:35 PMI'd also love to split the bag o' yarn with you if you haven't done it already. I only need 5 balls and I've run into the exact same problem findng the yarn online. I was so happy to find your posting. Although, I'm a little leary of acrylic, Teva's comment makes me really want to get this exact yarn. I'm in the SF Bay Area. Please pop me an email if you're interested.
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Posted by: jenifer at June 14, 2005 4:42 PMI'm also going to knit this up...so excited...I think I am going to try Rowan Polar. I think the gauge will be in the ballpark. Its also a wool-acrylic blend but more wool, less acrylic so a nice balance between snobbery and practicality.
Bad is that it is dicontinued so you have to be quick if you want the remaining quantities. Good is that most folks are discounting.
My biggest apprehension is color...I'm going "lettuce" but the internet color swatches are all over the board...not sure if it will be light chartreuse or dark olive. Hopefully somewhere in the middle.
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