While inspecting my stash (Rav link here, don't judge me) I noticed that before I had my head turned by the sexy Malabrigo, there were many other yarns that caught my fancy--so why not knit them up or something? There are worse fates in life than having to knit the yarn you bought on a lark, right? Luckily this is where the cowl becomes a stash bloated knitter's best friend. So all purpose and ready for action. First up...Darkside Cowl in Artyarns Supermerino!
The Specs:
Pattern: The Darkside Cowl by Sarah Fama
Yarn: Artyarns Supermerino, #133, 1 skein
Needles: Size 6
I have a major love-hate with variegated yarns (hence the whole Malabrigo obsession to begin with. Don't the stitches just pop ever so perfectly?), and the variegation on this cowl is just the right amount and is almost on the verge of annoying me, but in the end, it doesn't. The pattern is very quick and make a really nice, elastic fabric.
I seem to have a real thing for the Noro as well and was happy to discover in the above-mentioned stash (still not judging, remember?) more than a few skeins of Cash Iroha. Fourteen of these skeins are set aside for an Hourglass sweater-- Babs has banned me from mentioning this sweater, but just say the word Babs and the Hourglass is ON--but there are several other random colors that seem very cowl worthy.
The Specs:
Pattern: Stacked Eyelet Cowl by Ami Madison, modeled by the Curmudgeon.
Yarn: Cash Iroha, #110, 1.5 skeins
Needles: Size 6
This pattern is really a gem, a classic cowl for sure. Cash Iroha, your silkiness to too much to resist, however your yardage, well, it's no Malabrigo, that's for sure. Sigh.
This non-Malabrigo kick is destined to fail, I can see. To that end, look what the giant sweetheart of a knitter Jodi sent me in the mail, all because I said I liked the color:
Can you believe it? Two skeins! Such a nice surprise. Since I have been on a one skein kick recently, no patterns are immediately coming to mind. Any ideas? Suggest a good pattern and I will have Peeper-Lou draw a name and send you a skein of the Artyarns Supermerino pictured above. Let's pay it forward, people. I'll shut the whole thing down around noon on Tuesday. It's all gimmicks, all the time around this joint. Suggest away!
oh pretty! What color is it? I love it. It's highly unoriginal, but I suggest "Shifting Sands" by Grumperina a la Brooklyn Tweed.
ReplyDeleteoooh, pretty.
ReplyDeleteHow about "just enough ruffles" by Laura Chau?
I'd suggest the Mabel scarf by Larissa (stitch marker). It's a great scarf.
ReplyDeleteYou could easily get a Liesl for Peeper-Lou out of it!
ReplyDeleteHurray! I'm glad the yarn arrived safely.
ReplyDeleteI've been rediscovering the Noro love lately, too. It can't be all Malabrigo all the time, after all. :-) Then again, maybe most of the time?
Thanks for reminding me of the Darkside Cowl. I think I'll make one next ... with Malabrigo!
ReplyDeleteAs for a pattern, I checked your stash [I did judge - it's beautiful, what great colors.) to see if you had another color of Mal chunky to combine with but no go. See, you need more stash.
How about Bella's Mittens by subliminalrabbit? I love the idea of goth mittens in lime green and I think cables would look great in this yarn. http://subliminalrabbit.blogspot.com/2008/12/bellas-mittens-updated-pattern.html
My brain is too fuzzy to come up with something (it's been THAT kind of a day!) but I can't resist saying YUMMY cowls!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about variegation, but the artyarns is "dappled" instead of "pooled" and that's a-oh-kay with me.
First I have to comment on the lovely way the Curmudgeon's razor stubble every so lightly grazes the soft lilac cowl. The guy's got style.
ReplyDeleteHow about a nice big green Shetland Triangle. Two skeins of Malabrigo should just about do it.
oh that green!!!! like a granny smith apple! love love love!
ReplyDeleteThat Jodi is so sweet! I think that the Shifting Sands would be lovely - I think Jodi considered it for Just Enough Ruffles but it wasn't just the right color - it could be for you? You never can tell. Otherwise some Evangeline Mitts and the new Evangleine inspired cowl I saw at Ravelry.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure you could get a deliciously squishy scarf-sized clapotis out of those two skeins. Wouldn't that be dreamy?
ReplyDeleteOh! But I just found this on Ravelry! http://www.ravelry.com/projects/53Chevy/luna-moth-shawl Now THAT is a thing of beauty. And, whaddya know, it takes two skeins of Malabrigo!
One skein? I've gotcha covered:
ReplyDeleteToast by leslie over "at a friend to knit with" (where's a ravelry link when you need one?)
Loved your cowls - way to go on the stash bust.
Oh crap, I guess I can't read - you need a TWO skein pattern.
ReplyDeleteOkay, how about "prickle" by orata on ravelry? Two skeins of Noro Silk Garden and you're cooking.
How about the lace tam and scarf set by the Rainey Sisters - at
ReplyDelete/www.theraineysisters.com/ccount/click.php?id=19
Boogers, someone already suggested the Mabel scarf. How about Balsam? It's more a wimple than a cowl. Not sure what gauge it is. Love your Darkside cowl. The bluey bits just pop perfectly.
ReplyDeleteOk - I've got a great plan for your two skeins: you make a quick Hurricane Hat (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hurricane-hat) with 1 skein and send the other skein to me and I'll knit up a hurricane here in Boston. Whaddya say?
ReplyDeletePS lovely cowls!
The color is fabulous... I love me a Malabrigo hat, I made a Koolhaas out of a skein, but would recommend going down a needle size or decreasing the CO stitches.
ReplyDeleteThat Darkside Cowl stopped me in my RSS reader and forced me to comment.
Seashoreknits and hizKNITS stole my answers! I was going to say a matching Toast and Koolhaas hat. Okay, I'll just be a copycat now and say it.
ReplyDeleteHow about matching One-Skein Wonders for the girls? You could then pose them for next year's Christmas card!
ReplyDeleteMaybe a Booga bag?
ReplyDeleteI love that color! It's beautiful! I think a nice Just Enough Ruffles scarf would be great for 2 skeins! Or the Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery.
ReplyDeleteI am on a total Malabrigo kick right now too! It's hard to stop :)
I am not reading everyone else's comments, but the first thing that popped into my head was "Just enough Ruffles." Perfect for two skeins of Malabrigo - love that color. PS - and love your cowls. You always have GREAT cowls!
ReplyDeleteHow about a beret? Wooly Wormhead's Meret is really cute;
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/meret-mystery-beret
Such a great colour!
That Malabrigo looks like it would match my Swallowtail!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking a scarf, for sure. I'm thinking something simple, like the Yarn Harlot's One Row Scarf or a scarf in mistake rib, to show off the ever-so-slight variation in color.
I say make another cowl, just one that fits a really big neck. Like a cow cowl. :)
ReplyDeleteboth cowls are super gorgeous. i'm making the darkside cowl right now and am loving the pattern!
ReplyDeleteI am going to buck the trend, just a bit and suggest a "ruffle fluff" scarf by Amy Swenson with a matching hat or matching fingerless gloves. I made ruffle fluff in suri merino and have recieved a swack of complements from my co-workers every time I wear it!
ReplyDeleteI, too, am loving the juxtaposition of 5-o'clock shadow and lavender loveliness. That curmudgeon is a keeper ;)
ReplyDeleteI found these loafers at the Knit Purl website, and they're shown in the same color you possess. Here's the link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.knit-purl.com/Products/Product.php?Product_ID=7761
how about the side ? cloche in Boutique Knits...would be cozy in malabrigo. or crofters cowl would be lovely, but only needs 1 skein
ReplyDeletekristinknits@comcast.net
Wow, you are doing such beautiful work lately. And the photography is really lovely as well. Someday, I want to see a picture of your craft room. I think it would shock and amaze... No judging...
ReplyDeleteI wish I did know of a good pattern. I have two skeins of Malabrigo in Vaa (hmm...I wonder where I got that?) left over from my CPH.
ReplyDeleteI suggest the N.cap by Myuki Inui. I just made one. It's slouchy and hugs your head in a really nice way. It would only take one skein though.
ReplyDeletewhat? something happened to my comment? i hate when that happens.
ReplyDeletei just said. something about......
i don't have a suggestion. but i love your cowls.
and you need to plan a trip west. :)
More lovely work from you! Happy 2009 to you!
ReplyDeleteWhat about Fig and Plum's Honey Cowl? Ravelry link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/honeycowl-2
ReplyDeleteIt's for a chunky weight rather than worsted, but you could cast on more sts.
Lovely cowls. Everyone seems to be on a cowl kick these days! ;)
What about the Amanda Hat or the Armando Hat? Both can be found on Rav.
ReplyDeleteOh fun! A contest I'm not too late to enter! Yeah for keeping up with my bloglines a little bit more... Anyways what about a scarf as opposed to another cowl? I like the looks of this one in Malabrigo:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diagonal-knot-stitch-scarf
Or perhaps this one if you're in the mood for something a bit lacy?
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/candle-flame-scarf
I know some others have suggested it already but Just Enough Ruffles is gorgeous in this yarn. Check out my blog (scroll down a bit)- I love how mine turned out.
ReplyDeleteWow - you have made some *beautiful* cowls!
ReplyDeleteAs to the Malabrigo, if it were me, I would hold onto them to make Kristen Kapur's All the Water mittens once the pattern is released, but that's b/c I'm totally obsessed with those mittens! Of course, they probably only take one skein (second skein for matching hat or cowl? or Kristen's other latest mitten pattern Breathe Deep))
Another option would be the Scrunchable Scarf, always a delectable option for Malabrigo. I've made the scarf a couple of times with just one skein, resulting in a long skinny scarf. But if I had two skeins, I would do a fatter one (but just as long).
What a gorgeous colorway! I'm sure whatever you pick will be delightful.
Wait. I'm back - is this chunky instead of worsted? If so, then I would suggest a Natty hat by Wendy Bernard and then a pair of Super Mittens (Weekend Knitting) to match. Or at least that's what I did, when I found myself with two skeins of Malabrigo Chunky. I love the hat so much and the mittens were quick and yummy!
ReplyDeletehow about a "my so-called scarf"? Looks lovely with a subtly varigated yarn like malabrigo.
ReplyDeleteI did a quick look on Rav, and this is my vote for the Mmmm:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/brookes-column-of-leaves-knitted-scarf-pattern
It reminds me a bit of Embossed Leaves socks.
I dig the Artyarns colorway. I, too, once had a bit of a love affair with that yarn, but it must have been extra passionate, because a quick look tells me that I don't have an ounce of it in my stash!