Meet Me in San Juan

Title: KOS Turtleneck Sweater (3139)
Author: Idena
Yarn: Almedahls KOS colour 34 (Party), 9 balls
Fibre Content: 87% viscose, 13% polyester
Gauge: 19 sts/4" (worsted)

Notes

I was inspired to knit this cabled shell by the pattern, and the fact that the yarn was on sale at Wool-Tyme.

The photo shoot took place during our Christmas trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Successes

• Completion date: I'm very proud of myself for getting this shell finished in time for my vacation. It helped push me through the unpleasantness of the knitting.
• Cables: I really like the cable pattern - I may reuse it elsewhere.
• Fit: I'm happy with the length and the size of the armholes, and the shell is very comfortable to wear.

Revisions

• Yarn: In a word - eww. This yarn has made me vow never to knit with artificial fibres again. Splitty and fuzzy, with no give whatsoever, KOS was a pain to work with. The knitted fabric is interesting, kind of cushy like terrycloth - that is, until washed. Then it becomes a floppy, fuzzy mess, losing what little stitch definition it had. I may be stuck with dry-cleaning this puppy. Let's just say that the sale wasn't worth it. I wish that I had just bought the pattern, and used the cotton Phildar Falaise I have stashed, which gives a similar terrycloth fabric, but has some lycra for stretch, and stands up to wet blocking. I may just make another "Turtleneck Sweater" if I don't come up with another idea for that Falaise.
• Turtleneck: Instead of doing the cables on the turtleneck (which would have taken too long and been really odious to knit) I did a stockinette neck that rolls over to show the reverse stockinette side. Probably my only option under the circumstances, but I still think it's too schlumpy.