Sunday, January 09, 2011

Caller Herrin

Caller Herrin in Jamieson Spindrift

Not much to say really about this pattern, you know, except HOLY TOLEDO IS IT EVER AMAZING. I mean, when I saw this pop up on Kate's blog I knew within a nanosecond that I'd be making it as it has all the hallmarks of a happy making project: intriguing, heretofore unimagined bands of color + tam shape that on me is a beanie but whatever + ability to raid my own personal cache of Shetland Spindrift + stretches of time during winter break when no one will be bugging me! In other words, Caller Herrin has KISMET written all over it.

Caller Herrin in Jamieson Spindrift

The Specs:
Pattern: Caller Herrin by Kate Davies
Yarn: Jamieson Shetland Spindrfit---> Ecology Pebble, Atlantic, Titanic,Bracken,Lichen and Eesit. About .30 of each skein. For real!
Needles: size 2.5, which gives the perfect gauge in my opinion.
Time to completion: Let's say about a week of interrupted/distracted knitting.

Caller Herrin in Jamieson Spindrift

I'm going to say that this project was slightly more challenging than the Tantallons were from a memorization perspective. Kate noted that you had to 'think in 6s' while knitting it, and I feel that this was correct. If you've done patterns like this, you know what I'm talking about. Many other versions of this hat are popping up around the blogosphere, I particularly like this one posted by THE Cocoknits, a.k.a. my fave Ottawa Senators fan and all around unbelievably talented knitter. Her version is done in the yarn called for in the pattern, Starmore Hebridean 2-ply. This fact of course makes me insanely jealous, but she indicated to me that ordering it from the UK isn't really that expensive after all...so watch this space for some unbridled spending! Except no, I made a pact and promised I wasn't going to do that anymore...damn you accountability and mutual honesty!

Caller Herrin in Jamieson Spindrift


I guess I've been bitten pretty hard by the color work bug. I'm currently working on the pair of Isidora mittens you see below. This pattern is from my other colorwork maven, SpillyJane, who was recently featured on the Yarn Harlot's blog, meaning that she now has to either hire a PR agent or enter the witness protection program on account of all the (well-deserved) attention she's getting!

Isidora mittens by SpillyJane

15 comments:

Nicole said...

Mwah! Thanks for all the love. Right back at ya, my favourite Pittsburgh Penguins fan, and fantabulous knitter sister. I love your version of Herrin, especially that pretty pop of lime green.

Affiknitty said...

I really love the colors you chose!

Jodi said...

So pretty! I'm loving all the colorwork right now. Successfully completing a colorwork project is one of my goals for 2011!

Anonymous said...

That hat is fabulous! Colorwork is beginning to call out to me, too -- I have three skeins and a pattern set out for a colorwork tam. Now to get brave enough to cast on :)

knitalatte said...

Your hat is such a beautiful example of colorwork.
Great colors and I can see why you fell gaga for the pattern. I'm seriously in awe of your work.

Anonymous said...

The hat looks great in the colors you chose, even if they aren't the called-for ones!

Caffeine Girl said...

The hat is indeed stunning. I love the colors you chose!

I, too, love Spilly Jane's designs, but I haven't tried one yet. I really like those mittens; maybe I'll give them a try.

Kathy said...

I love your hat and I love spillyjane. I hope Jane gets all kinds of business from the YH's post. I hope to have the nerve to try a pair some day. Polska is probably my favorite. Or swedish fish... two totally different moods.

Anonymous said...

Love, love, love the hat!

The mittens look promising also.
margieinmaryland

Lynn said...

What a great hat!! And your model is GORGEOUS!!

kaetrn said...

Love. Absolutely love. And am in awe of your knitting skills!

Anonymous said...

I love this hat! I've been enamored of fair isle lately and this hat would be a great addition to my collection. Thanks for the inspiration!

margaux said...

Gorgeous hat!!! You're giving me fair isle envy!! ;-)

Lisa said...

I just ran across your Ida's Kitchen hat and saw your birthday cake. Happy Birthday!

Rebecca in CO said...

I love the colors of your Caller Herrin and wish I had those in my Spindrift stash. I actually think it may be cheaper to order from Virtual Yarns right now than ordering some Spindrift! But alas I, like you, have promised to knit from stash for a while.