Hot on the heels of Autumn comes my Winter sweater - Miette!
A cropped cardigan using worsted weight yarn knits up quickly, it seems. Also, despite what the photos might have you believe, both sleeves are in fact the same length and width.
The colour has worked up in a lovely way, with lots of depth and undertones to the heathered khaki-bronze. I've mentioned before how hard it is to capture on camera and today's photoshoot wasn't any easier. Adding another degree of difficulty to the chameleon cardigan was the dress! Between the two, I couldn't get the balance right on both in a single shot. Hopefully between the photos you'll get the idea.
I picked this colour (Yakima Heather) specifically to work with this cotton dress, in an effort to make it wearable all year around, and I'm delighted with the pairing. The plan is to work this back with tan cowboy boots and tights (and break into country ballads at each and every opportunity!)
Another unplanned but successful button pairing from the stash too. Well, 90% successful. I only had 5 buttons and I really could have used 7, but I made-do-and-mended and omitted the bottom two buttons. I think it's fine, and as I'll probably wear a belt I would have most likely never buttoned those bottom two anyway.
I love the retro feel to the design of this cardigan. For a heavier weight sweater, it's quite fitted and therefore doesn't feel as bulky as you might expect. I did have hesitation on this aspect, however I'm glad I went ahead. An added bonus was I also used significantly less yarn than planned - just under 3 skeins. I now have a full skein and some leftover, which I think I might make a little toddler jumper or vest out of
The pattern is free, and very clearly written, however the lace border is written out line by line, and I found it a little tedious to keep up with. It would have been difficult to chart, granted, and I don't know what the alternative would be? I am probably getting lazy with reading written lace patterns though, having been so spoiled with the proliferation of charts in contemporary patterns.
Pattern: Miette
Yarn: 3x Cascade 220 worsted - Yakima Heather
Needles: 5mm Addi Turbos
I'm still enjoying my Year of Sweaters immensely, although I'm feeling the urge for something different as a palette-cleanser. I'm knitting some socks up for shop samples at the moment, so that might just be enough to clear my restlessness before starting the Spring sweater? I've also got a little "detour" jumper in the works too, testing out a new-to-me yarn, and a shawl pattern calling my name.
With so many options to work on, I can't decide - more knitting time, please!!
ahh, in my traditional fashion the completion of my Show entries was a chaotic, frenzied, mad-dash!
After staying up till after 11pm putting final touches on pieces, I ran out of work this afternoon and made it to the Pavillion with 8 mins to spare.
That said; I'm very happy with my 2014 submissions.
A baby's garment (under 18mths)...
Baby booties...
An adult garment...
A tea cosy...
and an "Other"...
There seems to be a prevalence of "pink" in this year's entries too.
This week has been all about sorting out my Red Hill Show entries. I've sorted out my frustrations of a couple of weeks ago, wrote my list (oh, I love a list!) and I'm now feeling much more in control of the situation.
Follow your Arrow will be one entry, as well as a couple of other pieces from late last year.
Projects knitted specifically for the 2014 Show will be a baby cardigan, a tea cosy, and a pair of baby booties
After the disappointment of my previous baby cardigan knitting, I have already had much better luck with this project.
The pattern is Lucille, from Kelbourne Woolens and I'm using some Berocco Ultra Fine Alpaca in the colour "Turquoise Mix ".
The beautiful alpaca yarn and it's rich colour are perfect for this wee vintage-insipred pattern. I love strong colours on babies, and this particular shade is so pretty. It's probably a little more vibrant in real life, but it's hard to capture on camera.
Originally I cast on using bamboo dpn needles, as they were the only 2.5mm's I had at hand. My thoughts were as the stitches increase, I'd just add another dpn. Easy, like the old-school style you see in charming European photos.
Ha!
Seriously, do I not know myself by now?? By the time I got to 200+ stitches and 5 needles, I was done with that foolish notion. It was SO cumbersome; I kept losing stitches off the ends, and my tension around the needle transition was terrible. Plus I was about to start the lace. I could my future, and there were tears.
I hunted through my needle stash and found some circulars in the required size and now we are all much happier.
The lace is absolutely lovely in this pattern. A little more geometric than floral, it's lacy but not too lacy. Pretty without being prissy. I think I've rediscovered my baby-knitting love, and the key is definitely vintage or vintage-inspired.
I've only got one skein of yarn, so there might be a bit of yarn-chicken happening on the sleeves, but I have my fingers crossed. If the worst happens and there's not enough yarn for full length sleeves, I still think it's rather sweet with short sleeves anyway.
I'm a little sad not to be able to complete the matching bonnet though. I do love a sweet bonnet!
