Squish-alicious!

Some projects are just pure pleasure, right from the get go. This little handspun baby sweater is one of them. I'm knitting it in my own 3 ply merino/kid-mohair/silk handspun. The fibre was hand dyed by Jude of Ewesful Creations. It spun up very soft and, combined with the stitch pattern, makes a lovely squishy, bouncy fabric.

The pattern is "Purl Textured Cardigan" by Jacqueline Gibb. It's only available in the newborn to 3 month size but I like it so much I may try to work out an adult version for myself some time in the future.

Is there a new baby expected in the family? Nope. Just felt like knitting something that would tick a few boxes. My criteria were:

1. Requires no purchases other than the pattern. 

2. Uses some of my growing stash of handspun. 

3. Fits a category for submission at the Chilliwack Fair in August. 

4. Can be sold at the Chilliwack Christmas Craft Fair in November.

The pattern didn't call for it, but I've gone to the extra work of starting the 1x1 ribbing with a tubular cast on. Fussy and time consuming, but so worth it. I love the way the ribbing runs right up to the edge. So polished looking!

Plan B Cardigan

My "Plan B" cardigan is now finished and tucked away for safe keeping until next September. I refuse to wear it until then because I'd like to enter it in the 2023 Chilliwack Exhibition and the amount of dog hair Teddy would add in the meantime would not be considered an enhancing decorative element.

I would have liked a little more room in the sleeves, they are a bit narrow for wearing over other sleeved shirts. Otherwise the cardigan fits well.

I changed a couple of things about the pattern. First I omitted the notch and instead added short rows in the neckline portion of the button band to bring it closer to the neck. 

Second, I changed the size and placement of the buttonholes. The pattern called for four 4 stitch buttonholes unevenly spaced. I chose to do five 2 stitch buttonholes evenly spaced. My two stitch buttonholes were all that were needed for these large 1 inch buttons.

Other than that the cardigan was knitted as written by Hinterm Stein. Her attention to detail is exquisite.

Setback

I finished and bound off the left front of my "Plan B" cardigan and admired it, with it's lovely contrasting patch pocket, then I went on to pick up stitches for the back portion. 

I had all 104 stitches for the back picked up when I realized that they seemed to be off centre, so I counted the remaining stitches. Something was off!

It only took me a moment to realize that I had not made adjustments for the additional 12 stitches added for the shaping of the A-line version of the cardigan. The pattern does mention in a small side note that the shaping will throw off the stitch count from that point forward. I forgot, and it is not mentioned again in the instructions. In this left front portion my error is a difference of only 3 stitches, but I'll have to frog it anyway. *sigh*

At least I hadn't knit the entire lower back section as well, before noticing my error. Besides, it's all knitting anyway, and I like knitting, right?

Welcoming a Wee Neighbour

We had a wee neighbour arrive a week or so ago, two and a half weeks before she was due.

It's time for me to deliver the little sweater set I made in anticipation of her arrival, though there is no fear of her growing out of the set before I have a chance to give the gift. 

It's a 12 month size, but it will likely be even longer than that before it fits.

The patterns are "Gingersnap Cardigan", and "Sweet and Simple Baby Hat" and I knit them in "Universal Yarn Uptown Worsted".

Row 35

Knitting on the Roosevelt Cardigan has been interesting.

 

Heads up to those who have it in their queue. Row 35 of the pocket is complicated/challenging. It has a cable right on the sloped pocket edge, where dropped stitches can be a nightmare, and yet where dropping stitches from a cable needle are more likely to happen. That particular row also has a cable that contains a decrease that must be done mid-cable. The whole maneuver looks innocent enough on the chart but actually accomplishing it is rather fiddly.

It truly is a challenging knit at this point, but I find it entertaining. Progress is slow because I'm only working on it for a while each morning while I have my coffee. Which reminds me -- I DID actually finish 2018's daily morning knit, the "My Year in Temperatures Scarf". I just haven't yet taken an adequate photo of it finished.

Finished at Long Last

I've been far busier lately than my non-existent blogging might suggest! Knowing how the computer can be a time sucking vortex I've been avoiding it, preferring to spend my time in more productive pursuits. It's working, I have finished projects!

In the last while I finally managed to finish sweaters for BOTH of my granddaughters. The girls have been waiting for their promised "back to school" sweaters for quite some time! I lost my knitting mojo part way through and the projects stalled for months on end. Then when I had the knitting nearly complete I discovered that both cardigans needed some adjustments to fit properly. That was rather discouraging and again the knitting stalled.

But now, finally, the delayed projects are complete and have been delivered -- a full six months later than I originally intended, but still large enough for both girls to wear them for quite some time yet. Years perhaps! In other hobby news: Work continues on the "My Year In Temperatures" scarf, my denim boro vest is constantly being added to, and my large cross-stitch picture is nearly complete with only the back stitching yet to be done. I work on that last project every single day, without fail.

A Bit Each Day

With so many other projects urgently needing attention I haven't been knitting a lot lately, but I do try to put in at least a little each day so that my granddaughters will get their sweaters in a reasonable amount of time. Lately my knitting time has been confined to the 30 minutes or so that I sit with my morning coffee. Still, it's adding up!

I only have the front bands to do and the youngest granddaughter's sweater will be complete. It's miles too big for her. We've had a couple of try on sessions. Better too big than too small at this age though! She's growing like a weed.

Even though the sweater would likely fit the older sister right now the colour and mood of this one would be all wrong for her. Wildly colourful with lots of pattern and variety is in keeping with the youngest's personality. I'll come up with something less busy for the older sister!

On Sunday when I wrote the post about the handwoven hat I did not have a picture of the inside to show you. So here you are, an inside shot. The hat is fully lined with a fabric labeled as "mixed fibres", but seems like a polyester to me. It's the perfect weight and colour for this hat, has a nice hand, and doesn't fray or wrinkle.

Moving Along

This project is moving along at a good pace considering how busy I've been with other commitments!



The first 36 rows are complete, and with the yarn being an aran weight a few rows adds up quite quickly. I'm already finished the neckline shaping.

Off On Another Tangent

Never a dull moment around here. I have strong interest in SO many different fibre arts that even if I only occasionally touch on some of my many hobbies I am kept very, very busy. The Crafting Muse has been pushing me in the direction of knitting lately. Haven't done that in a while, especially not at "human scale" as apposed to doll scale.

I've been trying out different needle sizes and stitch patterns in preparation for knitting my youngest granddaughter a cardigan type sweater. I'll knit it big so that it will fit for back-to-school in September. I have to start early since the older granddaughter will want one too.

Knitting Injury

It's been so long since I've done more than a few minutes of knitting in one day that a couple of hours of knitting yesterday left me with a very sore arm. It hurt enough in the night to wake me several times!

The pain may be worth it though as I finally have some progress to show on my Celtic Cardigan.

I actually finished the back yesterday! It's not that it is such a slow knit or anything, it's just that I haven't been working on it regularly.