Effortlessly Blue {Knitting}

I have been sitting on my future - major - knitting project for a while now. I have very good excuses. First, I wanted to chose a project that could accommodate my growing bump (a random shop assistant asked me over the weekend whether I was expecting twins - and whether I was sure I was not - rude!)... So the growing bump needed to be accommodated. I also wanted a project that I would keep after the B-day. So what was left: a cardigan, Effortless it would - it is all in the name.. Next was the colour.. 

I don't know about you, but I find it really difficult to know what the colour of a yarn is really like on websites (and on my own pictures). Of course Ravelry helps, as you can see other projects using the yarn you may have chosen. But this search involves knowing which yarn you are considering. Of course I could also go to a LYS, but that requires a bit of travelling for me. So the bulk of my yarn shopping is done over the internet.

And not only is the colour important, but for any garment the gauge and how the yarn will behave during the blocking process are important. 

All of this to tell you that I bought 5 different skeins, in the hope of finding THE yarn I would knit a whole cardigan with! Effortless calls for Madeline Tosh DK or Quince and Co. Lark. I have never knitted with either of these yarns. So it was time to test and share my thoughts!

1. Madeline Tosh Vintage in Baltic; 2. Cascade 220 in Jade (#7813); 3. Cascade 220 Heathers (#9332)
4. Quince&Co Lark in Peacock (#109); 5. Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Blue Glasynys (#6213)

In terms of colours, I was most surprised by the Cascade 220 in Jade, I was expecting something more subtle and less yellowish - and it sort of got discarded from the start. The others were in the right colour scheme. The Madeline Tosh is a great yarn but is hand-dyed and has that variegated effect going on that makes it a bit hard to match on a whole garment - you got it, yarn discarded. 

I loved the colour of the Quince & co skein, but I was really surprised disappointed by how little yarn I got out a skein - and made some quick calculations, and thought that it would become a very expensive cardigan (not that knitting is a cheap hobby). 

Left were the Berroco and Cascade in Heathers. 

I knitted all the yarns - with 5mm needles, and did the swatch according to the pattern (19st x 26st). For most of the skeins I managed to achieve the 10cm x 10cm swatch I was looking for - unblocked. I have never swatched on this scale, and it is amazing how different yarns behave whilst being knitted. I am very picky - because I am actually allergic to sheep wool (ironic, right!). So my preference goes for blend yarns, with Merino. 

Although I discarded it on the basis of its colour, Madeline Tosh nearly got back in the race as it was so amazing to knit. It was pure bliss. But it went back to be discarded when blocking - the swatch just grew! Other Ravelers did talk about it - it is true! 

I found Quince & co Lark too scratchy for my taste, so it remained being discarded, but the blocking did not affect the swatch too much. 

As for the Cascade yarns, Cascade 220 in Jade was less scratchy than Cascade 220 Heathers - but as they are both pure wool I did not really took to them. Again the blocking process did not affect the swatch too much. 

That leaves us with Berroco Ultra Alpaca. I am reading my notes and I only have positive comments, on the mix of wool, the colour and how it behaved during the blocking process (it did grow a bit but it is not out of control). 

Effortless will be knitted in Berroco Ultra Alpaca. I need to choose the size of the garment - I have tried similar cardigans in shops to see how much my size has changed, and I think I need to knit it according to my size pre-pregnancy.Anyone has any advice on this?  

I hope you enjoy this review of yarns, and find it useful!

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