Steel swatches
It's been a few crazy days with lots of work stuff, very little sleep, dental work, tech issues and more. All this to say that I didn't get much knitting done.
I did manage a couple of swatches with the wool+steel and silk+steel yarns.
Below is a swatch with both yarn worked single on metal Addi Turbo. It was very slow going and quite frustrating. The yarn takes some getting used to, especially the cast on.
This swatch was worked on the same needles but with two strands, combining the two yarns. Much easier to work this way and the result is a more substantial fabric. I had expected a more sculptural quality to the knitted fabric; I thought I'd be able to sort of shape things a little, but that wasn't the case. With the double thread swatch, thought, I can stretch the fabric and get a narrow or wide swatch depending on the direction of the stretch.
Because of the loss of brain cells due to stress and lack of sleep, I found myself at a total loss for creative ideas and decided to knit the simplest, most boring scarf ever. Just a plain rectangle with the two yarns worked together. That's what you see on the wooden needles in the top photo.
Comments
Would you believe that Habu did a blouse out of this?
Posted by: theresa | April 16, 2007 6:28 PM
How soft does it feel? Is it drapey at all?
Posted by: Janice in GA | April 16, 2007 6:49 PM
Totally cool!! Feel better soon!
Posted by: Wannietta | April 16, 2007 7:34 PM
Very interesting. I always have the idea that it is "steel", so it would feel metal and hard.
Posted by: Agnes | April 16, 2007 7:41 PM
Ah yes, I forgot to mention that the knitted fabric has a kind of plasticky feel to it and although it's not as rigid as I had expected, it's definitely not drapey, especially when worked double. The single-thread swatch is less "steely", but it was a pain to knit because of the thinness of the yarn, and I am one of those crazy knitters who actually enjoy knitting at small gauges, but not in this case.
Posted by: Francesca | April 16, 2007 7:46 PM
Thanks for trying it out, Francesca. Now you've got to remember to tell me how it wears!
Posted by: Marina | April 17, 2007 4:24 AM
I'm using two strands - one is merino wool and the other is silk + stainless steel - held together. I'm finding it slow because of the thinness of the yarn used with #9 needles. I'm making a jacket and it'll be felted after the knitting. It's an interesting project.
Posted by: Joanne | April 17, 2007 5:20 AM
I never knew such things existed but I'm looking forward to seeing the finished article. (I suppose if it doesn't work out as you expect you could turn it into a pan scourer!)
Posted by: Karen | April 17, 2007 6:12 AM
Well, it looks pretty cool, anyway! :)
Posted by: alice | April 17, 2007 10:59 AM