There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing a finished project after months of labour, so if you heard a loud squeal of joy early Sunday morning, that was me casting off the last stitch on my Grandpa Cardigan. Don’t get me wrong, I loved every stitch with the beautifully crisp and robust wool I chose, and I loved the thoughtfully written pattern that had so much attention to detail, but as my project grew, so did my anticipation to wear it.
I’ll admit, the first thing that drew me to the wool I chose for this project was the name, Loch Lomond. Having walked its bonny banks some twenty years ago, I had hoped the wool would be as beautiful as the lake after which it was named, and I was not disappointed. Loftily spun and tightly plied, Loch Lomond has a rustic, natural charm.
Loch Lomond is a GOTS certified organic wool. GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standards) is a guarantee of focus on the environment and sustainability in all stages of the manufacturing process. Requirements in relation to the dyeing process, handling of waste-water and energy usage are monitored on an ongoing basis, along with social ethics and worker related aspects of the manufacturing process.
Loch Lomond comes in twenty subtle, tweed flecked shades that create the ultimate canvas for textured stitches and colourwork. This crisp Scottish wool creates firm stitches that stay in place which was essential for me when working my Grandpa Cardigan as I prefer to work my cables without a cable needle (tune in next week when I show you how to do that).
I used eight skeins of Loch Lomond colour #BCG173-02 Petrol, and I’m happy to report that I didn’t encounter a single knot or splice in any one of them. Similar to a true farm wool, there is the odd bit of vegetable matter which just enhances the rustic quality of this gorgeous wool.
Joji Locatelli’s Grandpa Cardigan is available for purchase on Ravelry and you’ll find a great selection of Loch Lomond at your local yarn shop. If you need help locating the shop nearest to you, check our Find A Retailer page for all the information you need.
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Happy knitting and crocheting everyone! Stay safe!