It’s been a long time since I knitted anything bigger than a sock. Although I’ve pretty much always had something on the needles over the last 3 years, numerous larger projects have been begun, only to be abandoned. For some reason, since our move, I have found it difficult to build knitting into my life in the way that it was back in the UK.
Recently though, something seems to have clicked, and I have knit two cardigans in quick succession. First up was Liesl (Ravelry link), knit in Rowan Summer Tweed.
I like the results of this yarn, but can’t say I enjoy knitting with it. This was a quick knit though, so was finished before it could drive me completely round the bend.
My next project, Kaleidoscope, was much more fun.
To be honest, I wasn’t that struck by the example in the pattern, its main attraction for me being that it was knit without any seaming being required – I’ve been knitting for long enough to know that finishing a garment knit in pieces is not my forte – but this is where I think Ravelry comes into its own. Being able to see what other knitters have done – the yarns they used, the modifications they made, is invaluable for a knitter like me who can lack vision at times!
I did wonder if I could stay engaged long enough to knit a large garment in sock yarn, but in fact this knit up incredibly quickly. I used Araucania Ranco Multi, which was lovely to knit with. I used pretty much every yard of the two skeins I bought as I made a couple of modifications to the pattern with help from the projects on Ravelry. I made the sleeves full length, and carried on decreasing at the neck to make it less of an “off the shoulder number”. If I knit it again (and I think I might), I would make even more decreases. It sits nicely but is still a little wide for my liking. I also knit a garter stitch ridge on both sides while knitting the body rather than knitting a button band separately at the end. I didn’t bother making any buttonholes as I wasn’t sure how many buttons I wanted until it was done and blocked, and it is easy enough for the buttons to fasten without.
I count both of these projects as wearable successes. I’m now just contemplating sewing the button band down on Kaleidoscope so that it functions as a sweater while looking like a cardigan as I’m not sure about the small bulges along the button band – these may get on my nerves.
I seem to have hit a cardigan obsession as I currently have two more on the needles – Peasy and the Tea leaves cardigan. I have a horrible feeling I am going to run out of yarn for Peasy, though so watch this space….
Beautiful!
What didn’t you like about the Rowan Summer Tweed?
They both look great. Its funny how sometimes we are into knitting one thing and then other times other stuff! I am on a crochet thing at the moment for the first time in 30 years!!
I’d have gone for a more traditional (yes, I am fuddy duddy) neckline on Kaleidoscope too. If it’s too wide it limits what you can wear it with.
My sock laundry is a doddle since I bought two of those cheap thingies that have twenty pegs fastened to a ring. I can wash all the socks on a sunny day, hang them on the line and still have room for a load of washing. Of course the drying is less of an issue for those of us who have sun on a regular basis.