Now that the holidays are in the rearview mirror, it seems like time to embark on a project to make winter pass a little more quickly. I’ll drop a hint here that we’ll be helping you find a big project to go through the bleak season in a few weeks, so stay tuned! You’re going to learn stuff that is fun, and you’ll have a big ol’ yummy blanket to give or keep by the time the lilacs start to creep out.

In the meantime, I’m going to cast on for a sweater–I haven’t had a big project like that on the needles in almost a year! I thought I’d give our “Flares and Graces” pullover a try. I love the shape of this textured knit designed for us by Guest Designer Fiona Ellis. The sleeves and yoke have a really intriguing cable pattern that will stand up to some binge-watching of “Grey’s Anatomy,” my new addiction. The waist shaping makes it appear slightly fitted, but I’m going to knit it with a bit more ease, in order to put a silky tee-shirt underneath for total comfort.

I am having a tough time choosing between two yarns that seem perfect for this project, which needs a yarn that will clearly define those chevron cables. Zara Kid is a really soft, springy combination of wool and polyamide, and I like the pine-green color that caught my eye in our store. Cashmere Passion is also a contender; the blend of merino and cashmere create a fabric that would be heavenly to wear. The mauve-y pink is a go-to for me lately.

What are you knitting to help you through the holiday let-down?

Fiona Ellis is the latest designer to offer one of her beautiful designs in celebration of our 40th Anniversary.  The Flares and Graces sweater features clever chevron cable patterning, designed to highlight the wearers face and hands. Both the slightly flared sleeves and gentle waist shaping gives a slightly fitted silhouette to the body. Set-in sleeves complete the elegant look.

Knit in Valley Yarns Colrain, in the new Ocean Heather colorway, the cables really stand out due to the shine from the tencel fiber in the yarn. The remaining merino content gives the yarn a great springiness that helps the sweater feel cozy and soft, even imparting a fine halo effect. This pullover is sure to become a wardrobe go-to sweater that can be dressed up, paired with feminine skirts, or down, with your favorite jeans.