There seems to have been a revival of interest in garter stitch and I can see why. It's the first stitch we learn when taught to knit: it's easy, relaxing to do and there is something very attractive in its simple texture. And of course the finished garment, whatever it may be, has an alluring 'squish' factor. As I write, I am keeping cosy in my latest garter stitch jacket.
Drops Garnstudio '117-43 Short jacket with short sleeves knitted from side to side in 2 threads 'Alpaca''
The side-to-side structure together with the garter stitch and alpaca make this little jacket very wearable and versatile. It is figure hugging (in a good 'fitted' way), drapes beautifully and is light weight yet cosy and warm. I can see myself wearing this at work when I want a bit of comfortable warmth but to still look as though I mean business! Alpaca is fast becoming one of my favourite yarns. It is so luxuriously soft. I much prefer it to cashmere or cashmere blends - especially since I saw, in a documentary while we were in France last October, how ecologically unfriendly cashmere farming is (particularly in China). The advent of 'cheap' cashmere chains (like those of Eric Bompard) means that cashmere goats are being raised so intensively that they are eroding the grasslands of mongolia, paradoxically leaving the goats little to eat. So much better to snuggle up with an alpaca!
