Opossum Trilo

[wabbit]

I understand that most knitters have moved to Ravelry, but I hope it's okay to promote a good pattern here as well: I knit Trilo from Stolen Stitches (http://www.stolenstitches.com/2009/07/trilo/) and it was great!

The most important aspect is the back, I think:





The front:



As you can see, the armpit does pucker a little:





The collar is also so-so. But I think this is as good as a sideways-knit sweater can be. (Or my breasts are way too small. Which is not an option. Ha.) There must be a reason they usually knit sweaters otherwise.

Anyway, it was a great pattern to follow and a fun sweater to knit. Recommended. (For reference, my sweater is bit longer than the original.)

As for the yarn, I used mixed merino and opossum yarn a friend brought me from New Zealand. I later learnt that this is a rather sad case: the opossums are thought to be a pest, so they are probably first killed and only then their fur is used for making yarn. Well, of course I'd rather have the hair combed from baby opossums comfortably cuddled on somebody's lap, but this time, I already had the yarn and thought it better to make some use of it.

[korok]

Beautiful sweater!!!  If I ever knit myself a sweater, it would be this!  The back is stunning!!!!!

[morus]

Your sweater is gorgeous!  It's a great color and style for you.

[NavyBlue4Eight]

What a pretty sweater - botht the color and the style.  I've always wanted to learn to knit and this sweater reminds me why.   Alas, I've paid good money for lessons and am still a horrible failure.  But thank you for sharing...

[kathleeen]

very noce

[Eliea]

very nice! i'm curious what the possum yarn felt like. I've seen live one's around here and they seem so bristly. but perhaps it's the weather where I live.
I love the cable detail on the back and the ribbing is to die for. Super pretty!

[wabbit]

Thanks, everybody!

Eliea, the yarn is actually 70 % merino and 30 % opossum. It is not bristly at all, it's very soft and nice (though I don't know yet how well it wears), but I suspect this part has to do with the sheep. I think the possum fur are the darker hair that give the knit sort of a halo and also are responsible for the absolutely beautiful deep hue. Sadly, this was way too hard to capture in a photo. But the yarn is beautiful indeed. I just feel sorry for the animals...

[Eliea]

Thanks, everybody!

Eliea, the yarn is actually 70 % merino and 30 % opossum. It is not bristly at all, it's very soft and nice (though I don't know yet how well it wears), but I suspect this part has to do with the sheep. I think the possum fur are the darker hair that give the knit sort of a halo and also are responsible for the absolutely beautiful deep hue. Sadly, this was way too hard to capture in a photo. But the yarn is beautiful indeed. I just feel sorry for the animals...

I understand that. Still it's better to use it than let the animals sacrifice go to waste. And it was a gift. Can't beat gift yarn. Free yarn is a score.
I want to keep this on topic so I'm not going to go into it more than that.
Thanks for the reply. 

[striker923]

Really nice sweater! I'm not usually a fan of sweaters knit side to side, but this one looks really good on you.  Thanks for sharing it with us!

[lapoli]

Beautiful! I love the back and the sleeves.