Knitting the High Seas Balaclava: A Yarn-First Adventure

Yarn-First Knitting: My Love for Malabrigo’s Noventa Bulky Weight

I am a yarn-first kind of knitter. I can’t help but be drawn to the beautiful colors and textures of yarns, and I find myself searching for the perfect pattern to showcase them. Malabrigo is one of my favorite brands, so I couldn’t resist when Web’s announced Malabrigo’s newest yarn, Noventa. I ordered a few skeins in the Talisman colorway and started searching for a pattern that would do it justice.

The High Seas Balaclava: A New Challenge

I was happy to find the High Seas Balaclava pattern by Alexandra Tavel. The texture in this project is absolutely beautiful and I knew it would be perfect for the chilly New England mornings. Plus, it presented a new challenge for me, as it included a drawstring technique that I had never attempted before.

The main piece of the pattern was pretty simple to follow. The trickiest part was the psso (pass slipped stitch over). With a little practice, it became a breeze. I did run into some trouble with the Hood Drawstring Casing section. I understand how to pick up stitches, but I struggled with determining where to pick them. I also had trouble identifying the original cast off stitches (when separating for hood) vs. row end stitches, but eventually I got it work.

The Final Product: Patience and Perseverance Pays Off

When it came time to sew the casing cast-off row to the inside of the hood while enclosing it around the i-cord, I struggled to balance the stitches. But with a little patience and perseverance, I managed to get it done and it doesn’t look too bad!

For me, knitting is a journey and it’s not always about achieving perfect results, but about learning and growing. I am so happy with the final product and can’t wait to wear it on my early morning walks. I would highly recommend this pattern to any knitters looking for a new challenge and a beautiful, warm and cozy balaclava.