Review of A Fine Fleece: Knitting with Handspun Yarns

I've been knitting up a storm lately (yes, that's what I've been up to the last couple of weeks...). I managed an advance copy of A Fine Fleece: Knitting with Handspun Yarns by Lisa Lloyd. Although I don't spin yarn (someday, though...) Lisa Lloyd's patterns work well with commercial yarn. She has photos of each project in commercial and in handspun yarn.

This is her Narrangessett sock in Patons Kroy Socks yarn. I only have one finished, much to Mr. E's dismay.

And I've just finished her Espresso cardigan in Patons Classic Wool Merino. I just luuuuuuuuuvs cables!
Here is a photo of the front.
Here is a photo of the sleeve detail.
And one of the collar.

There were lots of thoughtful finishes on this sweater, and it was by far the most complicated pattern I've attempted. The shoulders were shaped using short-rows. The sleeve was made by first cabling the cuff side-ways, adding a finished edge, and then knitting up the rest of the sleeve. The collar was knit up, the edges finished, and then attached. I'm now making her Portland sweater out of Chuckanut Bay Perendale 10-ply yarn. Ooodles of cables!

The patterns in the book are fairly straightforward for an intermediate knitter. Watch your gauge, though. I found that many of the patterns really require aran weight yarn, and I had to go a needle size up even on the Patons Classic Wool. Normally I'm dead on guage. If in doubt, use heavier yarn. That being said, there are some gorgeous sweaters in the book, and as soon as I finish these projects up, there are several others in the book I want to do. And I rarely do that many projects from one book. I highly recommend it if you love patterned knitting.