Week Seventy Nine

A week of focussed effort and I have an almost finished cardigan. I still have to seam the sleeves and sew on buttons, but all the knitting is done.

The buttons are simple pearly plastic. There are 13 of them. (Better planning at the start would have set up a better spacing). But despite them looking a little yellow in the harsh morning sunlight, they seem like a good match.

I then told myself I would work only on in-progress projects and reduce their number. There's too much clutter around at the moment. So my Rincleau sweater is back on the needles. The yarn is Sundara Aran Silky merino in the limited edition colour The Great Pacific. I think I can finish it in the next couple of weeks. 

Despite all my good intentions for staying with unfinished projects though, a trip to the button shop inspired me to cast on another fingering weight cardigan. I am so happy with the Starry cardigan, and I wore its template, (a purchased black cardigan) a lot on holiday. I'm telling myself I'm entirely justified to cast on another lightweight cardigan for the wardrobe.

So.... these glass rose buttons came home with me and are a perfect match for this Sundara Fingering Merino Cashmere in a pale blue variegated "Icicles".

Then, still dreaming about starting new projects,  I have wanted to make a big Albers Shawl. I love the colours of the original Ann Weaver design, but I wanted a version which brought in some warmer colours.

At the Chicago Art Institute, I was inspired by the wonderful painting by Mark Rothko, named Untitled (Purple White and Red) and later on our holiday I bought some Jade Sapphire 2ply cashmere.

I wasn't happy with the purple cashmere skein on offer, but this deep blue tends to violet at least. I am keeping my eyes open and might see if there are other skeins around. I think the 'Moonstone' is beautiful against the 'Robe Royale' red. And the 'Black Walnut' is a cool brown, perfect for the frame colour. 

Week Seventy Eight

I'm back from the most exhilarating travel through the US. From Nashville, Savannah, Chicago Washington and New York.

I cast on a simple top down cardigan just before I left. Its fingering weight Dream in Colour, Starry in the colour "Tokyo Creme". It has silver thread running through the wool.

I made lots of progress, finished the body and got a long way down the first sleeve. The button bands are done in seed stitch and button holes with a single YO. I'm thinking about simple pearl buttons. 

One the flight home I knit another Polly cardigan for my daughter. It's such an easy and transportable little project. I could easily have completed it from start to finish on the way there during the Sydney to LA flight, but the flight on the way over was a bit bumpy and I got distracted and made a mistake on the back. I miscounted my rows and knit the 'right side' on the reverse side of the bottom frill. So I unravelled it right down to the first few rows and started again on the way home. 

I had a completed cardigan with me so I didn't need to measure.

This is Madelinetosh Vintage (two skeins) in the colour Grapefruit.

I fumbled a three needle bindoff for the shoulders in the airport lounge without enough needles. This was so I could knit the front band without delay.

I did the rest of the seaming at home and the button comes from stash.

This coming week is dominated by the kids going back to school, and returning the household to order.

I have reviewed all the in progress projects, including a few more than a year old. The next few weeks are going to be focussed on finishing up before I get dir-stracted by new yarn.

I shopped whilst away. (Of course). Both at Wild Fiber and The Frayed Knot in Savannah.

This beautiful Copper Corgi yarn came from The Frayed Knot. The pink "Piglet" colour is for my daughter. The single russet and purple skein is for a future wrap.

And I shopped at Purl Soho in New York. But I will save that update for the new post as my new yarn skeins need to be put side by side with some skeins from stash.