The start of something beautiful...

The lovely Malabrigo from the last post is becoming...


...Cosima, a Berroco pattern I've been ogling for a while now. It's on the cover of the Fall '08 Cuzco & Peruvia Quick booklet, and I just think it is so pretty. It's simple but not too plain, and it looks like it could be worn with a lot of things.

I hadn't been able to find Cuzco (for which the pattern calls) at any of my local shops. I did find it at one shop in Florida last November, but they did not have enough of any of the colors I liked (natch). I wanted something very soft, and Malabrigo is definitely that, and I'm apparently still in my teal phase, because of all the colors I could have chosen, I landed on this pretty blue-green (why it is named "Emerald" is beyond me, because I think of emerald as being far more green, not so much blue.)

Anyway, Malabrigo is a little lighter weight than Cuzco (aran versus light bulky), but its close enough for me (she says in her usual caution-to-the-wind way). I'm knitting it on US10s, which is larger than I'd usually use for this Malabrigo, and it is creating a lovely, drapey fabric while still maintaining the integrity of the lace pattern. I'm making a size bigger to make up for the gauge discrepancy. I think I'll be fine. (She says hopefully, her face bright with the optimism only a stubborn determined knitter can muster.)

I am hoping this sweater redeems my Berroco-pattern-knitting experiences after my less-than-stellar experience with Paley last year. Argh. Now that I think of it, I took similar caution-to-the-wind liberties with Paley as I am with this sweater, at least with regard to yarn choice and sizing. But Paley was of a completely different construction than Cosima, and I think that will make a big difference. Huge difference. All the difference in the world. (Please just nod and smile.)

In FO news, we have the February 09 Charity hat...


I enlisted the less-than-enthusiastic 14-yr-old boy child for modeling duty this time, as I think this could pass as a man's hat, even though I used the leftover yarn from my mother-in-law's sweater.


Pretty much my usual, basic hat recipe. Nothing fancy, but it will keep someone's head warm, and that's what counts!