Yarn Everywhere!

It’s done! And it fits beautifully.

I just wish it were almost winter instead of almost summer!

Pattern: Tweedy Aran Cardigan by Norah Gaughan, available for free in the Knitting Daily Readers’ Choice Awards packet. I knit the 38″ size. The pattern was fantastic - very clear and also lots of fun. The only problem I had with it was that I had to do some finagling to get the different cable motifs and types of ribbing the right distance apart on the back and fronts. You can see that the different motifs appear next to each other:

And the pattern often wasn’t very good about making sure that there was at least one purl stitch in between the last knit stitch of one motif and the first knit stitch of another. It wasn’t a big deal, though. Easy fix.

Yarn: Cascade Ecological Wool, 3 skeins, color 8087 (medium dark brown?). I love this yarn, not least because it comes in elephantine 250g skeins, so I didn’t have to join a new ball of yarn, ever. Also it comes in gorgeous natrual colors and is soft while still feeling a little rustic. Plus it smells farmy. I love it when yarn smells farmy. I do wish that the label said something about what makes it “ecological.” The fact that it doesn’t say makes me assume that the answer is “not much, we’re just jumping on the ecological consumerism bandwagon.” But it is undyed, which is nice, and the smell makes me think it’s only lightly processed. In any case, I like the yarn and think it was a great match for this project.

Needles US6 and US8 circs, Knit Picks Options.

I don’t usually pay attention to the order in which patterns tell you to seam up the pieces. I usually do the shoulder seams first, then seam up the sleeves and sides, then seam the sleeves onto the body. I paid attention this time, and it turns out that set in sleeves are far, far easier to sew in before you seam them or the sides up. Who’d-a-thunk.

All in all, I’m very happy with this sweater. It’s my new favorite thing I’ve knit. The sleeves are a little short for my taste, but everyone else tells me they look okay, and the length means they never get in my way, so I’ll let them be. I think this is going to get a lot of wear when the colder weather comes around. I hope it doesn’t pill too much!

***

Old sweater complete, as always, means new sweater on the needles. I’ve started my mother’s Threepenny Pullover.

I think this is going to be a really interesting knit. Already there are lots of little details in the pattern that make it look more professional and refined. I sort of regret that I’m knitting it in Cascade 220, since it’s a very luxurious sweater and would look amazing in a more luxurious fiber. I caught my mother in a cheap moment, though, and she wanted the basic stuff. No matter, I think it will still be beautiful.

That big, exciting new thing I referred to the other day should be in my possession tomorrow. I’m very excited. Eeee!