A New Pattern for Araucania Botany Lace

I am currently swatching for a new pattern, which is due for publication in autumn 2014, with Araucania Botany Lace.

Sometimes, I just don't want to follow a pattern. So, I create my own. Not least because I secretly enjoy going through the hardship of counting stitches, knitting swatches, changing needles and knitting more swatches. Just for the sake of it.

Today's swatch competition was won by Araucania Botany Lace.

Swatch in Araucania Botany Lace

Apparently, Araucania Yarns are ethically sourced, at least this is what it says on their Facebok page. Apart from an entry on facebook, I couldn't find an active page when searching for the manufacturer's website (presumably: http://www.araucaniayarns.com/ ), but I wasn't searching too hard.  

Let's hope the information, which is accessible on the web, is up-to-date and Araucania are still in existence, doing fine, and, most importantly, are sourcing their yarns ethically, as claimed on the label. Because ...this is fine yarn and an absolute pleasure to knit with.

It has superb stitch definition and a very pleasant feel. I haven't come across any knots and have no recollection of knots when winding the skein either. Further updates on the yarn's behaviour are to follow as I go along...

Because it felt so pleasant, it effectively won today's swatch competition and in my next design I shall be using Botany Lace. However, not in colour scheme of the pink swatch shown in the photograph. (I'm just not in a pink phase at the moment.)  The pink skein will have to wait for another project.

Araucania Botany Lace

My choice of colour looks a bit more autumnal, as is evident in the skein here: 

Araucania Botany Lace 

Unfortunately, there are no pictures of swatches for the skein in the "autumnal" colour scheme, as the sun over North - East Kent decided to have an early night tonight.

Further pictures of Araucania Botany Lace, however, are available here.