Of all things, with a BLANKET. This is really sick. I have admired the "Sampler Afghan" from Melissa Leapman's book, Cables Untangled, for a while, and now that I've been getting into decorating my house, I really think I want to make it.
Here's a picture I found of it online, and in the book they show it in a pale blue color (which is pretty, but isn't "me".)
The yarn they use for it is Classic Elite Montera, a blend of llama and wool that knits up at 4 stitches to the inch. I was yarndexing it (new verb) and discovered that Cascade Pastaza is the same composition and gauge, and I know I love working with that from the leftover skein I swatched that Amanda gave me.
I'm thinking maybe a pretty heathered gray for it, or some shade of light green. The afghan is knit in squares, and I'm a little afraid of taking on such a huge endeavor, but I really WANT IT! It takes 3,302 yards, so it would take about 2 and 1/2 full bags of yarn (assuming 10-skein bags.) Maybe I'll wait until Stitches to look for something. I think Brooks Farm Riata would be a little too fine of a gauge for it. Or maybe I might get crazy and just buy all the yarn for it now.
I thought about finding a sub on Elann, but I'm not the biggest fan of their Peruvian Highland Chunky, and I know I love the Pastaza. It's probably not worth it to try to be cheap if I'm going to work on it that long. Probably the best approach is to just buy a few skeins of it in different colors that I'm considering, and swatch them to see if I like how the cables look.
I love that blanket as well, although I'm not ready to commit to making it any time soon! I will mention that I knit my boyfriend a hat and scarf from dark grey Pastaza for Christmas and was surprised at how fuzzy it was. You might try swatching some of the cables first to make sure that you get good stitch definition.
Posted by: Emily | February 12, 2009 at 10:12 AM
That is so pretty, with all of your new furniture I can see why you are thinking of doing some home knits!! That one would look really beautiful!
Posted by: Mary Heather | February 12, 2009 at 10:26 AM
And - think how long you will have it! You definitely cannot go cheap on this one!
Posted by: Annie | February 12, 2009 at 10:33 AM
The blanket is gorgeous. I don't know if I would have the patience to knit it but the fact that you knit it in squares is encouraging. It may make the task less daunting. I would LOVE one of these!
Posted by: Lara | February 12, 2009 at 11:11 AM
It is REALLY beautiful. WEBS has a pretty good discount if you buy in bulk. Just sayin'.
Posted by: Jenny | February 12, 2009 at 11:30 AM
I've wanted to do this one since the book came out too. A superwash would be good too. Light green would be nice, but might blend too much with your new couch. Maybe try whatever you were going to use in your pillow colors.
Posted by: Heather R | February 12, 2009 at 11:47 AM
The blanket is awesome. I will be knitting the Great American Aran Afghan as my brother's wedding present. I have the yarn, Cascade 220 Superwash, now I need to bite the bullet and start knitting it.
Posted by: jsins | February 12, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Cascade Eco wool is the same gauge too, and they carried a lot of it at that shop in DeKalb. Check the prices maybe.
Posted by: Lisa | February 12, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Wow! That is so beautiful. I can't wait to see what you choose to knit it in. I'm thinking it should work up fairly quickly for you. I know for me things done in pieces seem to go much faster than something done all at once. Have fun knitting it!
Posted by: Kerry | February 12, 2009 at 03:27 PM
I just used Classic Elite Montera to knit socks with, I found it very 'fuzzy' and if I was wearing anything dark I had it all over me!!
Love the blanket though, just wouldn't be sure of it in the llama!
Posted by: Denise | February 12, 2009 at 05:13 PM
Oh yes!!! That is so beautiful. You must knit it!
Posted by: tiennie | February 12, 2009 at 05:29 PM
That will be awesome in a heathery color!! Sending you good yarn finding vibes :)
Posted by: Zonda | February 12, 2009 at 05:59 PM
Welcome to the blanket bandwagon. I'm on it right now and couldn't be happier. Climb on aboard... it'll be fun!
Posted by: LizKnits | February 12, 2009 at 06:25 PM
Yes, the blanket is amazing! Here's another idea for yarn: I'm knitting with Harrisville wool and flax right now in birch, and I love it - very soft and cushy. I like the pastaza as well but find it a bit itchy. Maybe if you knit a square a month??
Posted by: theresa | February 12, 2009 at 07:37 PM
It is beautiful Robin!
Posted by: adrienne | February 12, 2009 at 10:11 PM
That is beautiful.
What about Lambs' Pride bulky? It is wool and mohair, and quite soft. I made Ed a scarf from the worsted weight at least 20 years ago, and it looks as good today as it did when I knit it. It is not terribly expensive and it would substitute nicely for Montera. It also has a great color range.
Posted by: marjorie | February 13, 2009 at 07:12 AM
It is beautiful but for the yarn involved wow, I would have to find something less expensive to use. Otherwise the thing would end up having to be hung up on the wall.
Posted by: Mary Lynn | February 13, 2009 at 07:22 AM
With your genealogy project and the home decorating projects, it looks like the perfect project. The blanket might be something your ancestors would have knit! (Sadly, I don't think mine would have knit much because it was too warm in So. Italy, though I keep looking for patterns).
Keep us posted of course on what yarn and color you choose!
(P.S. I keep hearing the song "Obsession" in my head as I read your post!!)
Posted by: Debby | February 13, 2009 at 08:49 AM
Interesting! That's not a project choice I would have normally expected from you. But that's cool - I think it will be gorgeous in the yarn you chose :)
Hope you have a great weekend & a happy Valentine's Day!
Posted by: knittymuggins | February 13, 2009 at 11:52 AM
I love that too! There are a few good sampler blankets about. Just a word of caution.....from my experience, once you have started knitting blankets, you'll get the bug!!!!!
Posted by: Liz | February 15, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Oh yeah. I can see why you like this. I am obsessed with making a noro Kureyon blankie myself. I keep changing what pattern though.....first it was squaresseamed together. Then it was Lizard ridge. Then it was a BIG baby moderne, now I am thinking a ripple blanket.....
Posted by: Carol | February 16, 2009 at 09:38 AM
love it! It seems like so much work but i bet it would be worth it! I want to do the GREAT AMERICAN AFGHAN...I love that one too....but the one you have picked is truly breathtaking.
Posted by: KeanaLee | February 16, 2009 at 11:55 AM