Paulie Sweater

I discovered the Paulie cardigan maybe a year or two ago in the Knit Picks Lovers group on Ravelry.  There may have been a KAL for it, I can't remember all the details, needless to say I queued it up.  I have been thinking more and more of this sweater lately since stripes seem to be everywhere right now.

Last month I decided on the main color, which I will use HaldeCraft HandDyed in the Tiptree base.  You all may recall that I bought a few skeins of the Carbonite when it was on sale for May the fourth.

I thought these would be great in the Paulie, and give me a good idea of how to use them and all at once.  I am pretty sure that the three will be enough for the main color in my size, however if I run a bit short, I do have other options.

• Use some of the Carbonite in Andre that will be left over from my Paw Tracks socks.
• Buy another skein of Carbonite before the two that are still in stock are gone.
• Use wider stripes of the contrast color, such as 4 row stripes rather than 2 row stripes.
• Have the contrast stripes get ever wider on the sleeves like one of the other raveler's did with this pattern.
• Use all Cranberries for the collar and cuffs and hem, rather than the way the pattern has you use the colors.

I put up a couple polls in ravelry threads to help me select the contrast color for this project.  I viewed a few really nice FO's that used gray and pink or gray and plum together, so those went on the list of candidates.  I tried to narrow down from these:

• Carbonite and Raspberry Beret (so gray and plum).
• Carbonite and Pretty in pink (so gray and pink).
• Carbonite and Buttercream (I really like this color but wouldn't want an entire garment with it alone).
• Carbonite and Cranberries.
• I listed a couple others but these are the ones that I loved the most and would be more apt to go with the winner if it were the chosen one.

Eventually the clear leaders were Cranberries and Raspberry Beret.  I was able to eliminate Pretty In Pink only because I already plan to use that color entirely in another sweater, it is such a great colorway.  I mulled this over for a bit longer, and purchased a skein of Cranberries in Tiptree to get a better idea of that colorway in that base, since I only had it in the Octavia base in my stash.  As soon as it arrived in my mailbox and I ripped into the envelope I knew that was the one!

I now need to get another skein and I should have the materials I need to get started.  i know one of my friends is ecstatic that Cranberries made the cut and is eager to see how this works up.  Since I have a few other projects, and sweaters at that, planned already the goal I am making for this sweater is to cast on during Spring or Summer 2014 and have it finished to wear before Spring 2015 is over.