Navelli Tee

It's not often a knit a very new pattern.  I usually have yarn and projects lined up for months if not years.  But this one jumped the queue.  I liked it.  A lot.  I bought the pattern.  I ordered yarn from South Africa.  And I started knitting.

And now I'm done.  I still like this design.  I like my sweater.  Time will tell how wearable I find a cropped sweater of wool and linen with short sleeves.

To be honest, I've loved a LOT of Caitlin Hunter's (aka Boyland Knitworks) designs.  I think with this sweater, I finally got over the idea that they might be too "young" for me.  Maybe, maybe not, but I'm not getting younger, so if I want to wear one, then now is as good a time as any.

In looking through Boyland designs on Ravelry, I tried to think about what particular things I liked.  I realized I was attracted to somewhat rustic, speckled solids like the ones from Yama Yarns.  I'd been noticing these yarns on Instagram as well.  So, I woke up early one Saturday and ordered yarn.  In four colors, actually.  I knew I wanted the main color to be blue and the contrast to be the dark brown Ursus color.  I had thought I wanted the background to the colorwork to be Copper Chai.  But when I went online that morning, I was also attracted to the Khaki color.  So I ordered that too, and I'm glad I did, since that's the combination I eventually decided on.

The recommended ease on this sweater is between 4 and 15 inches.  My sweater has somewhere close to the 15 inches of ease recommended.  I have an Eileen Fisher summer linen sweater that has similar proportions that I like and wear often.  If I am going to wear something this oversized, it has to be cropped.  Otherwise, it looks dumpy, and shapeless.  I have another sweater (Cascade) that is oversized but more standard length.  It's a beautiful knitted piece, but it doesn't do anything for me.  I am happy with the length of this sweater - cropped, but not too. 

I love the colorwork border, and the rusty specks that bring the brown tones of the Ursus and Khaki yarns into the blue. 



Summer is still holding on here in Eastern Washington, with 90 degree days this week. I wore my new sweater on a day trip to Spokane for some appointments. Yes, I was a little warm, but I loved wearing this sweater.

Navelli Tee

• Designed by Caitlin Hunter of Boyland Knitworks
• Yama Yarn, Merino Linen Singles:  90% South African Merino, 10% Linen, 394 yds/100 grams.  Colors Old Blue, Khaki, Ursus.  
• Size 5 (51") to fit 38" 
• US 5 and US 3 needles
• On Ravelry here