This is another one from the vaults, as they say. It began because I went to a spinners’ festival once upon a time at the Arboretum in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It must have been in the late 1980’s. I bought four yarns that day, just because they were beautiful, including two in bluey-greens. Then I didn’t know what to do with any of it.

The two blue-green yarns coordinated. One was a thick-and-thin mohair blend – I’ve since learned that I always like thick-and-thin yarns in the skein and never know what to do with them – and the other was a smooth silk blend, maybe aran weight. I had envisioned the two yarns together, even though their textures were really different, but couldn’t find a pattern. I also didn’t have that much of either of them.

When I found a commercial yarn that came in two shades that coordinated beautifully, this was the result:

The two handspun yarns are used for the top and the sleeves. I alternated them in 4-row stripes of moss stitch. Even the blue and green commercial yarns had blended colours, so they worked really well with the handspun ones.

The cream contrast is another commercial yarn with a long variegation. It feels as if it’s part cotton, maybe part acrylic, but the label is long gone. I loved the gradation in it.

I have a vague recollection that the intarsia pattern was from a book, but I don’t know which one now.

This sweater is a cropped length because that’s how much yarn I had. It’s incredibly warm so I never wore it much. In fact, I haven’t worn it even once in over 30 years, so something needs to be done. The yarn is too beautiful to sit in the cedar box.

Here’s my Ravelry project page, although there isn’t a lot of detail there.

I tried this sweater on again and rediscovered another issue. The top is very thick and bulky, and it’s wide in the shoulders. It’s not a flattering fit. Also the contrast line above the intarsia used to be below my bustline. Now it isn’t. Ha. So, that’s not a good look either. I decided to unravel it and save the intarsia part as a cowl.

Wow. Did I ever do a good job of seaming up this sweater! It was a challenge, but I’ve taken apart the body and have what will be the cowl back on my needles. (I’m guessing what size they were.) The plan is to knit a ribbed backing and join it to the cast-on hem, so only the part between the contrast ridges will be on the right side. I’ll show it to you when it’s completed.

I dove into the stash in search of more of the blue and green commercial yarn. No luck but I did find more of the creamy one *and* the label. (Ha.)

What about the thick-and-thin mohair and the silk blend? Stay tuned for its new incarnation. I have a plan…