Repeat Knitting

Hi Knitters,
I think I have briefly referred to my ability to love something so much that I have no problem repeating whatever that may be. For example, I know I have previously talked about my reading habits growing up. I would get a book and read it over and over and over. A couple of my favorites to re-read included Mrs. Frisbee and the Rats of Nimh, Mandy and there was some book about a raccoon/pet that I read many times, can't remember the title. There were many more books that fell into this category. I know, a little strange, right?

The same thing goes for shoes that I really enjoy. I will go and get several pairs of the same style in different colors. This has happened mainly with Dansko clogs but others, too. I am thinking I do this with pants and jeans on occasion. I have no shame about it.

As far as knitting goes the same thing holds true. If I love a pattern I have that same shameless ability to knit that same thing again and again and I still get a lot of joy out of the experience.

Here is one example of that. See that blue sweater above?
Well, here it is again. Same pattern, same yarn, different colorway. This is one of my favorite sweaters ever. The photo directly above is the first sweater I knitted from this pattern. The yarn is Colinette Point Five in the Toscana colorway.

The second version, in blue, I knitted about a year or two after the first. The yarn is again Colinette Point Five. I am not sure what that colorway is but it is beautiful and rich. This sweater has everything I value most in a good sweater. I love the big chunky yarn with the thick and thin texture. Ribbed sweaters are also a favorite feature. I added the turtleneck collar, the original pattern has a crew neck. I love a good turtleneck sweater. I usually wear these as fall outerwear or in the winter under a ski vest. These are two perfect sweaters in my eyes.

The pattern is in the Fall 2001 Interweave Knits issue. I keep all of my IK issues in magazine storage containers, not organized in order, that would be too easy. They are just jumbled all together. I can't even count the number of times I have gone back to old issues over the years. This magazine is truly genius. Most of the patterns will never go out of style. I have page after page marked in every issue.

When I pulled this 2001 issue out I glanced through it again and I think there are at least 5 other patterns I would knit in a second. There are fantastic designs by Ann Budd who has a bobble scarf that I am for sure doing at some point, Mari Lynn Patrick, Nancy Bush, and one of the most beautiful child sweaters, called Caramel Denim, by the talented Fiona Ellis. Just the name of that one draws you in. There are sock patterns by Melanie Falick, Ann Budd, Debbie New and Adina Klein. Talk about heavy hitters! It is a great issue.

You can see all of my tabs sticking out of the top. I love seeing the chicken scratches and notes I leave on the patterns in books and magazines. When I read them again it takes me right back to when I was knitting the pattern.

The pattern is called Toscana after the colorway I am guessing, but inspired by the beautiful Tuscan landscape, the designer states. The designer's name is very fitting, Colinette Sansbury, what other yarn could she use? The sweater only takes a couple of days to knit, so fast and easy. I made mine in the smallest size which is a 38.5-inch bust. It took 7 skeins of Point Five on US size 17 needles.

Toscana is one of the best patterns ever. I would knit it again anytime, anywhere. It is so wearable. Have no shame in repeat knitting, I sure don't. Stand proud while you're wearing the same sweater several days a week!

best, susie

p.s. Just curious, does anyone else do this kind of thing?