
pattern: hermia, rowan studio issue 4
yarn: laines du nord royal cashmere, sky
needles: 5.5mm and 5mm
date started:11.02.07
date finished: 11.29.07
finished seaming: sometime in january : )
there are so many reasons to choose a pattern to knit. it could be a technique used, you just want to try out short rows or you must knit cables right this instance. maybe it’s the style, it reminds you of something you saw at a store or it would fit perfectly in with the rest of your wardrobe. sometimes you’re swept away with a trend, you’ve seen the design so many times, done in so many ways, that you just have to thrown your own version in as well. other times though, it’s just a feeling that comes off the page. the photo exudes some quality that you feel is missing from your life. that sweater belongs to who you want to be.

hermia, with its unfortunate name (I kept wanting to call it hernia), is far from being an exciting or super trendy sweater, but this exactly what drew me to it. it looks so slouchy and cozy. the perfect thing to wear on those days when just looking at the sky you know it’s cold. I instantly imagined myself sitting on the sofa with a big cup of tea in one hand, the NYT mag in the other, and my hair up in a ponytail that looks messy but at the same time ever so stylish and adorable. it helps when the model is wearing what look like pajamas in the photo.

this was extremely mindless knitting peppered with bursts of excitement at the cuffs and hem. I followed the pattern pretty much as written, which actually surprised me in two counts: I usually go for waist shaping, which this obviously lacks, and I’m a negative ease believer though this is knit with about two inches of ease. let’s face it though, after planning a wedding and working on two books, the last thing I wanted to do was think. I just wanted to take a pattern at face value and see it through the end. anyway, it wouldn’t be my sorta slouchy, hanging out sweater (read sack) if I followed my usual m.o. I love this sweater because at the time that I needed it, it gave me what I wanted. that and the cowl. the cowl definitely seals the deal.

the only mods I did were lengthening the sweater up a bit, using a three-needle bo on the shoulders, and using cashmere instead of cotton. the slouchy sweater in my dreams was never made out of cotton. cotton just doesn’t equate to cozy for me. I have praised this yarn before, but the lnd cashmere is one of the best yarns I’ve used. other cashmere yarns feel so limp and sad in the hank trying to impress you with their softness. royal cashmere holds back, making you wait until you washed it to reveal its beautiful hand.
I’ve been wearing this sweater religiously since finally finishing it up, a definite sign of a successful project, which makes choosing my next sweater harder than it should be.
It looks gorgeous on you!
Super comfy! And what a great color! ENJOY!
that is beautiful!! the epitome of comfort and coziness!
i too have been craving for comfortable slouchy sweaters recently. perhaps it’s time to use up that 6 hanks of uruguay merino. i think your FO was just the push i needed to get off my butt and get cracking.
I totally misread the sweater name. Unfortunate name, but a beautiful sweater regardless.
Wow! I love the soothing blue color.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who wanted to call it Hernia 😀 That’s turned out beautifully – yours actually looks more wearable than in the pattern book…
Where oh where is my yarn for this? I want one =(
Lovely piece and very cozy indeed! I am tempted to give this yarn a try. For now though I must resist:) Soon however, I will be casting on for that gorgeous cashmere shrug in your book. I scored a pretty good deal on some Debbie Bliss cashmere the other day.
The sweater is really nice and I can totally see what drew you to it. The name is beyond unfortunate though.
the neckline is especially nice. the name sucks.
Although it is unfortunately named, it looks like the quintessential “comfy sweater”. Very snuggly!
i totally read “hernia” in my bloglines and had to rush over and see just what a hernia sweater looks like.
damn, that’s a nice lookin’ hernia you’ve got there, uh, i mean hermia.
i bet it’s super comfy in the cashmere. very cute!
looks lovely and warm 🙂 the cowl is definitely the best!
Gorgeous! And I know what you mean about liking it when the model looks like she’s lounging around in pajamas. (“That’s a lifestyle goal I can achieve,” I say to myself.)
it’s absolutely beautiful! I love the color and the slouchy, yet sophisticated feel of it. Very nice.
It is absolutely perfect! I’m looking at that cold sky right now and gettin’ all jealous! 🙂
beautiful! i love it! it looks so cozy and comfy, must get that studio book! 😉
It looks so comfy and cozy, and I adore the color. The name makes me think of Hermia from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream – although the design seems to bear no relationship to her aside from the name.
Beautiful! I need to find an easy pattern like that, right now everything seems to not want to work, and I don’t want to think.
Love this on you! Looks beautiful!
such a soft beautiful sweater. surely it will be a long term favorite 🙂
This just looks like the kind of sweater I want to live in!!! I’m going to dream of Cashmere tonight! 😉
Reading your desc of the sweater nails it spot on. Lovely.
I love love love it…
I am soooo jealous. I want one right now! I love it.
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So pretty, and SO comfy looking! I especially love the neckline. 🙂
I loved the way you wrote about choosing a pattern. I could never have put it so well, but it is so true. Thanks!
Rowan always choose horrible names for their patterns, I think. And I have never liked AMND. Your sweater, however, looks just the ticket.
That looks so so comfy. I am off to dig my Rowan Studio out to have another look 🙂
Unfortunate name, great sweater! Sometimes the best sweaters are the simplest. It also helps that it’s all cashmere. Looks great on you, Yahaira!
That looks so great and snuggly!
Great!!
Very ,very good!!
Congratulions!!
Have a nice weekend!
Kisses from Brasil.
Bye!