Jaime's Sunny Nurtured

Jaime Jennings

@fancyjaime

Pattern: Nurtured by Andrea Mowry

Size made: 2 (40") worn with 6" positive ease

Materials used: 4 skeins Heirloom in Golden Beet

Modifications: none

Heirloom in Golden Beet is one of my favorite colors that has ever been dyed on a yarn. The absolute most perfect bright, saturated, happy yellow. I can't believe it took me this long to knit a sweater in this most perfect hue! I got the yarn for this sweater back when FTC announced their Heirloom KAL last February and here I am--just a bit late. 

Full disclosure: the idea to knit Nurtured by Andrea Mowry in this yarn was not my idea. This sweater is a carbon copy of the one that quilter-extraordinaire Shawna Doering knit many years ago. I always loved it and when the Heirloom KAL was announced, I knew exactly what I was going to make. It did not disappoint. 

Nurtured is knit bottom up and then joined at the underarm and finished with raglan decreases. I knit the sleeves first per the pattern and used them as a gauge swatch. The textural fabric is a modified garter stitch with alternating slip stitches every other row. It was easy to get into a flow with, but kept the knitting more interesting than plain stockinette. And it's SOO cute in Golden Beet Heirloom!

Heirloom is a special yarn to Fancy Tiger. It was our first ever "house" yarn and used to be made for us by Jeane deCoster of Elemental Affects. When she retired a couple of years ago, she passed the secrets of Heirloom on to the co-op team who took on the challenge of making their own yarn! From purchasing the clip of Romney wool from the two farmers (both women farmers, one in Oregon and one in California) to sending it to be scoured and then spun and finally to Colorado where local dyer Aly ?? dyes it up. It is so rewarding to be working with this yarn that the co-op has had a hand in every step of the process. If you've never worked with Heirloom, it is a worsted-spun longwool  that will look as good as the day you knit it for years! Truly one of my all-time favorite yarns for long-lasting, warm and cozy sweaters or hats. 

Overall, I'd say this cheery, cropped sweater is a win. I look forward to wearing it all winter long, especially on cold, grey days. Can't recommend a bright yellow sweater enough!