Oh, Bugga


I manged to forgo the Koigu craze.

I even resisted stashing up on Socks that Rock


In fact, I'm quite proud of my ability to resist the "latest cool yarn" - that is, until I met Bugga.





Or should I say- Bugga met me? Oh sure, I'd heard whispers in chat rooms about its decadence and beauty. Merino, Cashmere, Nylon might be Kryptonite to some but not to me. Then Vanessa showed up at Madrona wearing her Swedish Heartwarmer shawl made in 100% Bugga. Here it is modeled by Steph at our weekend retreat in March. Vanessa kindly brought it to the Yellow House for all of us to ogle. My other knitting buddy Joy also made this out of the Mountain Bearfoot yarns originally prescribed. Both versions are stunning but I really wanted to knit with the Bugga to see what all of the fuss was about so I planned my colourway.



I want to stay close to the original colourway (done in Bearfoot Mountain Colours) but at the same time, I want to put my own stamp on things. I found inspiration in a wall calendar I have. This is the April image and I particularly love the way the red boat pops on the subdued grey/blue background. It's got a Ralph Lauren vibe that I especially like.
(The colours, not the image which is kind of goofy)





Over the month of March I acquired the necessary shades. Top left going clockwise they are: Tomato Frog, Blue Metalmark, Bog Fritillary and Sooty Dancer. I'm working on the plain section that starts the shawl done all in indigo. In this case it's Sooty Dancer.




I'm doing a huge, stranded colourwork shawl on 2.25mm needles.


I'm knitting it with the most amazing yarn ever made.



Kinda like drowning in a vat of liquid chocolate. I may not make it out the other side but I'll certainly die happy.

Spring Shell Games





Once upon a time, I was going to knit this





I purchased the Rowan Milk Cotton DK in the soft Apple Pips shade to make it. Then, I woke up and realized that I wasn't a supermodel and that the sizing just didn't work for me. So, the milk cotton has languished until now.








I LURVE this cardigan. Practical, classy. Kim has really knocked it out of the park this time with her new Summer book Misty.










Once upon a time, I was going to knit this.








I purchased the Rowan Fine Milk Cotton in the Barley shade to make it. I've seen a store sample (Julie had one in her booth at the Toronto Knitter's Frolic last year). It's stunning and I still love it BUT this lacy tank (right) is also in Kim's new book. How sweet! Wearable with skirts and jeans for summer. I think I'll repurpose the yarn for Arielle instead.




Oh yeah, and I also love this ice blue lacy cardigan (below) from the new book. It's made from Calmer and I have a half-knitted Audrey that I never finished way back in the day. I don't think I'll wear Audrey very much. I lost interest after the millionth knitter made it. I think I'll frog Audrey and use the teal Calmer for this design.




So, I'm frogging a Kim Hargreaves design to make another Kim Hargreaves design. I guess she gets the triple play here.