This project came along hand-in-hand with my desire to discover some more interesting yarns from small-scale artists. The Blue Brick is the side business of a Toronto-based couple who hand-dye small batch skeins, with colourways inspired by one of their own photographs. A very lovely touch is that they include a copy of the inspiration photograph along with your order.

They call this yarn, and pattern – one of their own as well – ‘Forty Shades of Green', named for a Johnny Cash song. You really should check out their project page and see how super-gorgeous this yarn is when well-lit and captured by a real photographer.

Though comprising fairly simple stitches, the pattern itself was a bit complex and needed me to pay closer attention than I typically do. You'll see in the photo above that I used lifelines as I went. I never actually needed them, but I did have to do a few fixes along the way so the danger was real.

Blocking revealed the delightful stitch definition and the intricate Celtic-inspired pattern. So pretty. You'll see it was stitched sideways and then seamed up the back. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the Cowboy style V in the front, but it hangs beautifully without looking too 'git-along-little-doggies' for my liking.

And here it is in action, a quick snap using Photobooth on my office Mac. Then back to work!