Atlas Insider
Atlas Insider: Whale Tale
There has always been a part of me that is pretty sure I belong in a creepy wind-worn town on a northeastern cliff peering longingly through a tangle of fog and salty air.
Perhaps a past life. Perhaps a future life.
Perhaps just me being Hades-hot in Nashville and thinking it would be cool to be anywhere else. Regardless, one of my recent projects I finished would certainly be in my cliffy ocean wardrobe.
Enter Anne Ventzel’s Robinia Light. The wave-like colorwork was the exact moody pattern I needed for my old/new life. While Creative Linen may not be the first yarn to come to mind for my life on the cliffs, there is something about the weight and the matte texture that I knew would be perfect for this sweater sojourn.
Colors Oasis and Cloud were no-brainers to fully submerge myself into my sea-swept fantasy. As for the sleeves, I went a little rogue and let some volume remain at the cuff and only did a few rows of ribbing to finish it off—the romanticism of a billowy sleeve was a must.
All said and done, I had a great time knitting this pattern.
Now I can walk around in the stifling southern Tennessee air and pretend that I’m living my life in the crisp winds of the north—maybe a whale or two passes by and waves his mammoth fin at me. I sip my hot toddy and mutter “Must be migratin’ time.” All is well.
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You are my soul sister! My coastal fantasy takes me to the rocky, misty, mysterious west coast of Ireland. It includes a rose covered cottage, a neighbor’s barn cat that comes for a daily visit, and a casual affair with the local large animal vet.
This is a perfect scenario.
I’m reading this post and comments from Dingle on the west coast of Ireland! Love the sweater!
That’s the house where my grandmother grew up in County Sligo (ok, minus the roses, and there were 14 kids, but it is RIGHT on the ocean).
Thanks for the giggle, both of you!
I live on a foggy, salty cliff off the tip of Newfoundland and you’re spot on about the whales they do wave and spout as they go by and your sweater is just perfect!
We had a trip to Newfoundland & Labrador this July. Ties with Ireland as best trip ever. So wonderful. We saw some whales and an iceberg, which I had so hoped for. Wonderful scenery, people and music. I will put this sweater in my queue to remind me of a fabulous trip!
Love both your sweater and the background story
Ha….Ashley’s story together with the first comment made my morning. Thanks!
Me too!
Beautiful work! Looks great on you, and I love your sleeve modification.
Ashley, I would never have thought of this yarn for that pattern but I love it!
Great job and thanks for making me consider stash differently again.
Your sweater is perfect. Past and present. I was born and lived near the ocean for the first third of my life. I have lived the second two thirds inland. I will always long for the water.
And future.
And am always drawn to those colors.
Love that sweater. it’s on my list after the Xmas sweater is finished, then a love note, then a rananculus, then …. robinia light! could you tell us where to find your project page for yarn quantity?
Love this pattern. Enough color, pattern change to keep it interesting but not so much concentration that you can’t knit during an intense movie. Using one of me favs Creative Linen opens up a longer sweata weatha season. Perfect!
Have all I need for this gorgeous sweater and will cast on when Christmas knitting is finished.planning on startingOctober1
That is a great sweater! And what are the shoes you are wearing!?
That is a great sweater! And what are the shoes you are wearing!?
Your sweater is beautiful and you’d look perfect on a Maine windswept beach! With your heat in Tennessee, I think a G and T is in order!
Beautiful! The yarn is perfect for this sweater. I really liked seeing the wrong side.
Great fantasy. I think I will borrow it.
I absolutely love your sweater and I’m not even a blue person:).
What a great match of yarn and pattern! Did you knit it to the pattern’s tension specs? What size needle did you use?
I did match the pattern’s tension! I was a little surprised it was such an easy swap, but I went with the pattern’s recommended US 4 needles.
Ashley! I saw you making this and so love seeing you wearing it. It’s just perfect, esp the sleeve mod. So good.
It looks great on you. How fun to be transported away by your sweater. I love it. Thanks for this.
Your floats are perfection! The right side is beautiful too
Hi there,
I love the Robinia sweater you are wearing, so much I’ve downloaded it from Ravelry.
I can’t see anyone else who has knitted it in creative linen. Would you be kind enough to tell me how many skeins you used please ?
Many thanks
Sharon
I am the worst about tracking what I use! But I know I used 4 skeins of each color and I needed at least one more Oasis to finish the sleeves. The short rows on the sleeves took a surprising amount of yarn. All that to say, I am fairly certain it was 5 skeins of Oasis and 4 skeins of Cloud (but don’t hold me to that haha). I was knitting the largest size, Size 7.
The billowy sleeves are BRILLIANT AND PERFECT.
Cristinaaaaaaa <3
LOVE the story, the sweater, the images, and as I’m headed to coastal Maine for two weeks of vacation in NOVEMBER, I am your people!
“A tangle of fog,” I bet you’re a fan of British mysteries! Living here in hot, dry Utah I understand, I really do!
I can’t tolerate anything over 60 degrees F which is why I live in Oregon. I was born in Boulder, CO and spent most of my life living in Denver. I don’t know anyone who had air conditioning, as we would retreat to the basement of our home, built in 1920 or go to the mountains. Denver has changed and I have changed. When I discovered the Oregon Coast, it was a game changer. And now I can sit by the Pacific Ocean for hours and always regret that I forgot a sweater.
Love your sweater and your fantasy! I grew up in an old house with high ceilings right in front of the sea in Malta, and loved it all year round. When we moved to a modern flat it was up the road from inland sea and I couldn’t sleep for ages without the noise of the sea. Six years ago, we moved to a 400year old house with meter thick walls in a no traffic alley after the summers began heating up. It’s more inland and it’s harder to get to the sea now especially since my car died, but I wanted to go higher because the sea is already rising. Sometimes though we get sea fog at this time of the year when the heat and humidity levels are high and I love it…. Not the weather (we hear you, Dallas!) but the atmosphere in tiny alleys with high wall lanterns is spot on.
My fantasy is to live on a mountain in a forest where it cool year round with no mozzies… and a ski lift down to the sea. My sister loved Lebanon for that.
Beautiful!!!
I love, love, love how it fits your body so perfect! soo talented!
Exquisite – the story, the yarn, the sweater. I’ve gotta tell you, though, it’s Hades-even-hotter in Alberta, Canada, at the moment, 86° compared to 75° in Nashville, Sept. 8 at 5:40 p.m. MDT. Is that not utterly absurd? I’m aiming to join you on your wind-swept coast.
This looks great on you! Creative Linen is such great yarn! I have this pattern in my queue!!! Also, I LOVE your sandals! What are they? Love the color!
Thank you! Sandals were a totally random find at a Nordstrom Rack – they’re Lucky brand!
Charming