Layering Season

I cannot imagine anywhere I would rather be than in Northern New Mexico during Autumn (of course, I am a bit biased). The weather is beautiful, the leaves are turning, thoughts are towards colder weather and winter holidays without much stress involved (yet), and green chile is roasting. In addition, we have the Taos Wool Festival and Balloon Fiesta.

It's also the perfect time of year for layering on scarves, shawls, hats, vests, and sweaters. The mornings and evenings are cool, but the afternoons are still quite warm.

While perusing ravelry to find a vest/short-sleeve cardigan to use for some beautiful hand-dyed yarn in my stash, I re-aquainted myself with the Shalom Cardigan (for those not on ravelry, the free pattern may be found in the right sidebar at Involving the Senses). This pattern has been around for several years and has well over 5000 documented ravelry projects. I decided to go for it even though I would have to made several modifications: the pattern calls for a bulky weight and I had worsted, I wanted to add buttons, and I also had to account for a larger size.

In the end, I love how this short-sleeved cardigan turned out. It is the perfect layering piece! The yarn, a wool/silk blend locally hand-dyed by Wooly Wonka Fibers (and carried at Warm Hearts Yarn, along with two other hand-dyed lines by local fiber artists Hairball Yarn and Serenity Stitches), also fits the season perfectly in color-way "Barn Door." I am also enjoying the buttons--vintage mother-of-pearl from Moondance Designs (carrying a great variety of vintage and Czech glass buttons at Warm Hearts Yarn). I am thinking of hosting a knit-along based on this pattern in January. Any takers?

Sweater-knitter extraordinaire, Doris P., has been teaching a class based on the Central Park Hoodie pattern. This pattern contains many techniques that are important for any knitter to learn--cabling, blocking, seaming, as well as ensuring a perfect fit. Our sample is knit up in Cascade's Pacific, and we have plenty of worsted-weight yarn to choose from that would be just perfect for this project.

We are excited about the fall season, the cooler weather, and the extra stitching that usually takes place this time of year. As always, please let us know how we can best serve you and the community.

Warmly,

Katie and Staff