Fieldwork

So I bet some of you were thinking I might have forgotten all about my Year of Sweaters by Season project, eh?

But no!  It is true, I did detour slightly there for a little while with Beeline and Nightingale and various other small projects but the project is back on the forefront and with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

The Fieldwork Cardigan from Pompom was slated for Spring and I'm still very happy with that decision.

I'm using Berocco Ultra Alpaca Light which is a fingering weight blend of wool, alpaca and nylon. I'm halfway through the back and at the midway point, I felt the strong need to see how the lace would block out so I threw it in to soak and blocked it out while still on the needles.  So far it's holding the lace pattern beautifully. 

I've made a small modification on the pattern, working both sides of the back all in one rather than in the two pieces as the instructions direct.  The pattern is slightly directional, but not enough to worry me by working it this way.  There was something bugging me about having a big old seam down the centre back.  Other people have also made mods so the sleeve seams that run along the top are eliminated, however for some reason they don't bother me as much as the back?  I may live to regret that, but time will tell...

The beautiful thing about this project is that it has organically become a KAL with Jules from woollenflower, too.  We've even picked (quite by chance) similar colours!  Knitting along with others is always fun in my opinion. 

Stay tuned for our progress :)

Transition

It's raining in Melbourne today.  Not pouring; more drizzle, but constant.  This week past I have really felt the transition of the seasons, and it's felt exciting and fresh.  I am so ready for Autumn; for the mild sunshine and crisp afternoons, the necessity of a light cardigan whenever heading out of the house just in case, and toasty warm hand-knitted socks for snugging on the couch of an evening.

It seems the perfect season for me as I also transition, from full-time, big institution type employment into something more gentle, somewhere I feel I'm a person, not just a small cog within a huge machine.  So far I am loving being surrounded by wool all the working day, talking to people about their projects, their inspirations, and planning - oh, the planning!  Before I can feasibly think of adding more ideas to my list, I need to concentrate on my current ideas, though.  

My Autumn cardigan - Peasy -  is done bar the blocking and buttons.  Once I got onto the body, it zoom-zoomed along and Monday night I found myself casting off.  Most excitingly, it fits really well. 

I have been very gentle with the blocking, as the yarn is Rowan Felted Tweed, and I don't want the alpaca content to grow too much.   I love the pattern - Heidi Kirramaier writes beautiful patterns, but it's the colour that is the most amazing part of this garment. Such a perfect indigo hue.  I can't wait for it to hurry up and dry so I can wear it!

With the completion of Peasy, it was also time to start on my next sweater for my 2014 sweater project.  For Winter, I chose Miette using Cascade 220 Worsted in "Yakima Heather".  I even managed to find buttons in my stash.

I'm hoping that a worsted weight sweater on 5mm needles will go fast, because I'm feeling the need for some smaller projects at the moment!   April feels like the season for beanie knitting, and maybe some socks?  We will see...

On the subject of completing current lists, I've also been making a concentrated effort to finish my second Ferris Wheel cardigan.  This is the larger one, for my 10yo niece.  I used Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply Cotton which has a beautiful soft touch, but as always, my tension is *crap* when knitting cotton.  I'm hoping a good block will help those tram tracks settle...

It's a lovely soft grey and I've only got the sleeves and the front bands to go now.  I've always loved making things for these girls, but I'll be honest - I don't think I'll ever attempt back-to-back projects of the same pattern again!  

I tried knitting them simultaneously for a while, but as soon as the smaller one was done, I just could not make myself pick up this one straight after. My hands and mind were craving different stitches, different textures.  Luckily this pattern is kind of an all-seasons one, and will be great for layering.  I've given myself an unofficial deadline of Easter to get this finished, because I'd dearly love to give them to them soon.

(and maybe start those socks!!)

follow your arrow KAL

So anyone in Australia knows how freaking hot it is at the moment. 

This is how we attempted to cool our little 1950's, non-airconditioned flat the last few days - wet towels in breezeways with pedestal fans.  It works for a short while.

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For those of you visiting with me here at kgirlknits from overseas, I won't bore you with the details, but if you're interested you can read about it here.  It's ridonkulous, to say the least.

Instead, I want to share with you what's been occupying my thoughts this last week.

  

Like a LOT of people, I'm participating in Ysolda's "Follow your Arrow" KAL that commenced Jan 13th, 2014.

I'm so excited by this project - it's a mystery KAL which has been done before of course, but this time there's another twist.  Each clue release gives 2 options.  You choose your path, with 32 possible outcomes!

As a kid who loved the Choose your Own Adventure books of the 80's, this was one I couldn't pass up.  Is anyone else participating?  Who else remembers those books?!  

I knew I wanted a solid colour for this shawl, but sadly I had nothing in the required weight and yardage.  So very sad ;)

So after a long, LONG search online and in person, I settled on Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4ply in the Fuschia colourway.  It fit the budget, was in stock, and the idea was that by ordering locally it would get here quickly.

harrumph.

Still waiting, and now I'm desperately trying to avoid spoilers on Ravelry!  I want to know as little about this pattern as possible, and truly leave the outcome to chance, just like in the books.

So that's my week, really.  Extreme weather and a nostalgic collision of present and past.  

Until next week - stay cool, guys xx  (or warm, if the polar vortex is affecting your world)

trying not to cast on all the things

I've got serious attention deficit when it comes to my knitting projects at the moment!

Despite casting on items I've been planning and wanting to knit for quite some time, I can't seem to stop myself searching Ravelry and dreaming of more, when really what I should be doing is working on the ones I already have started.

Currently on my cast-on radar are:

• neon Ski bonnet (copycatting Huff)
• Staghorn mitts (again, from Huff!)
• Rainbow beanie with earflaps 
• Roxborough Dolman

and I really want one of these - Foxy

Grace, using my Madelinetosh is still on the go (slowly) but I think I've made peace with the colour variations - thank you to everyone for their advice last week.  It's by no means going to be a quick knit though.  It's not difficult, not at all, but the textured stitch is an 8-row repeat and 2 of those rows require some concentration.  I also don't like to stop mid-repeat so some nights I only have time to get through one. 

I've also wound up some Cascade 220, colourway "Christmas Red" for a Girl Friday after watching The Time of our Lives on ABC1 and really loving Justine Clarke's character's wardrobe.   She wears similar style handknits over cute dresses and skirts (I'm also mentally planning sewing activity, when I can find the time!).  

Is anyone else watching this great Australian series?  It's become my favourite thing to settle in with come Sunday evening - the perfect way to end a weekend.

I think Girl Friday is a good use for the Cascade yarn.  When it arrived, I was a bit disappointed because in the flesh it looked very much the "commercially-dyed" yarn but I think the styling and all-over patterning of this cardigan will work well with the solid colour. This Raveller's version tipped the scales in it's favour too.

Thankfully, there has also been an FO.  The Crazy Chevron scarf is done and dusted.  I've got a fair bit of yarn leftover, but I got to the point where I felt the scarf was long enough.  

Making it longer but potentially not then wearing the scarf cos it's *too* long, just to use up the full ball, didn't seem to make sense.  I might make some simple wristwarmers with the leftovers?

oh, and I registered for the Great Tea Cosy Swap at the Royal Melbourne Show!  I saw details on the organiser's blog and thought it sounded like a bit of fun.  I don't feel confident enough to enter in the actual craft competition section for the RMS, it's all very serious and official, but a no-pressure swap?  I can do that!

 I do love a good tea cosy exhibit, as you know ;)