cardigan

Page,

As hard as it is to believe... I have finished the Dale of Norway Baby Violets Cardigan!

I know you have despaired of me ever finishing it!

It took me two years to complete this project most of which was procrastinating doing the steeking since it was a new and terrifying technique for me. It took me at least 6 months to screw up the courage to do the steeking on the body, which, as it turned out, wasn't actually that difficult. Once I did the steeking on the body I couldn't move forward until I steeked the sleeves. It took me another 6-8 months of procrastination to get the sleeve steeks done. Then it went really quickly picking up the stitches for the neckband and then the button bands. The facings were sewn down covering the cut ends of the yarn, the buttons sewn on and it was washed, blocked and ready to present as a birthday gift.

I followed the directions for the 18 month size but it will probably fit up to a six year old! Since it took me so long to finish this project, it's a good thing the sweater turned out as big as it did.

Close up of the Violet motif:

Close up of the buttons which I found at a Joann's Fabric store in Carlisle, PA:

Close up of the interior of the button band and hem:

Interior of the back:

I will admit a certain pride in this project. It is possibly the most ambitious knitting project I have yet undertaken. And judging by the comments from the folks who have seen it up close and personal, it is well done. Most say it will become a family "heirloom" to be passed on to newer generations.

I hope the recipient will wear it in good health for a long time to come.

Love,
Mom

Dear Mom,

Well I finally finished the little Fair Isle cardigan for Bee. It was a challenge and a delight to make. The weaving in of ends was almost too much, but it is done. Here are some shots of it washed and blocked. I hope she will wear it over the holidays. Not much else to say and too much work to do for a full final project write up. Details can be found on Ravelry: here. Now what to start next????

Dear Mom,

I have a major case of knitter's distraction. I am filled with the desire to start new projects even though I need to just finish up a couple of old WIP's and one Christmas gift (socks for the husband). Despite having too much to do for the foreseeable future, I am convinced that what my life needs is for me to cast on a new cardigan for myself. So here are the projects I am currently debating all of which can come out of my stash (mostly ravelry links):

• Amelia from the Winter Edition of Knitty. Simple, beautiful, and feminine. I really really love this pattern.




• Lady of the Lake Jacket. I bought this as a kit a couple of years ago and just haven't gotten around to making it. I am a little nervous about the boucle and the amount of variegation being flattering, but it would be a quick and easy pattern.




• The cardiganized version of Wicked. This is a cool design as is, but FlintKnits, the designer of the February Lady Sweater made some awesome mods and was kind enough to post a tutorial on how to do it.




• A simple mostly open cardigan some combination of this and this. This first pattern is nice and classic, but not very fitted. The second pattern has more shaping and I love this version. Simple, wearable, easy to make.




• Finally, there is the Ropes and Picots Cardigan from the most recent IK magazine. It really did look good on all of the gallery ladies.




So which one do you think I should cast on for, after I finish the Christmas socks etc. of course??? ;-) Any of them you want to knit along with me on? I am also thinking we should make our Lady Eleanor stoles before too long. Hope you have been enjoying your knitting lately. I am completely obsessed by it at the moment even though I am not making more progress other than cruising Ravelry too much!

Dear Page,

I finally finished the February Lady Sweater! I made a couple of modifications, namely making the sleeves long and closing it with two rows of three buttons each on both the right and left sides and making "frogs" to fasten it. Hope it will fit and look alright.

Dear Page,

I DID IT!!! I finally screwed up my courage and steeked the sweater I'm knitting for Bee. Here is the proof:

Now I just have to block the sleeves, steek the sleeve openings, pick up and knit the button bands, the neck band and sew on the buttons. Personally, I think the easiest part of the sweater was the knitting! What remains to be done seems daunting to me. But there is hope that the sweater will be finished before winter.

Love,
Mom

Page,

Here's an update on the February Lady Sweater...

As you can see, some progress is being made. I soon will need the length measurements but perhaps not too soon.
This shows a truer picture of the color...

Here is a better view of the lace pattern across the back but the color is very washed out....

I still haven't made up my mind whether or not this will travel with me to Iceland. It is a large piece of knitting to take but I am having so much fun doing it. Decisions, decisions, decisions!!!

Dear Mom,

So I have completed the back of the Fair Isle cardigan for Bee. It wasn't as difficult as I imagined, but it is a challenging knit for sure. The shine is a very soft and pleasant yarn. It has a tendency to look a bit fuzzy even as you knit with it, so I don't know how it will hold up over the long haul. I have to say that I am happy with how it looks thus far. The back alone has at well over 60 ends to weave in!

Dear Mom,

With one stripped sock done, I have half of a finished object. Should have cast on for the other sock right away, but instead started a new project (Ravelry link).

This will be the Fair Isle Cardigan from Zoe Mellor's Adorable Knits for Tots. I am using Shine Sport from KnitPicks as a substitute for the Rowan yarn called for. This project is fairly advanced for me with colorwork on right and wrong sides as well as more than two colors per row. Also the cotton yarn is less forgiving than wool. However, I think the sweater is really cute and it is good to challenge yourself once in a while. So wish me luck. I am reserving the right to abandon ship if need be, but am hopeful that it will turn out fine.