A perfect summer knit

I couldn’t wait beginning to knit with my newly purchased yarn. In case you didn’t read my last post it is Pickles angora. Cut angora. This is important if you care for the welfare of the animals, which I do.

I’ve chosen the Pickles pattern “Knæsj Cardigan” or “Mardi Cardi” in English. My version of the cardigan shall be named “The paradox cardigan” since I have chosen the less “knæsj” colour (“knæsj” means something very colourful or with strong colour) in the whole Pickles shop.

I was afraid that this jacket would take a looong time because the yarn is very thin, but knitting with needles sized 4mm makes this project go fast even if it is a grown up size. So fast that when I should have switched needle size from 3.5 mm to 4 mm after the ribbing was done, I forgot. Now I have to undo until I reach the ribbing, switch to 4 mm and continue.

Anyhow, it’s a perfect summer knit because it weights close to nothing and I can knit in the round (yes another knit in the round and cut jacket – I still have the other uncut though). It feels like feather and I cant wait to wear it!

Hope you are enjoying summer so far!

Guess where I have been?

I finally made it. I finally made it to this candy shop for knitting folks, the Pickles shop. And with that, my “knitting only from my stash” attempt has had a little set back. However, the only one who knows this is me… and you.

I could have spent a lot more time and money than I did. Fortunately or misfortunately depending on how you see it, I had to be quick about my visit, since mr. Yonder and gang were waiting for me outside the shop.

After considering different projects and type of yarns and colours (there are so many beautiful colours), I ended up with several skeins of Pickle Angora. I think I will knit it into something for me. If I do, it will be my second ego knit in less than a year.

What’s on your needles? Do you drop knitting completely because of sunny days and warmer temperatures? Do you have other activities you prefer in summertime? Or have you begun preparing the wardrobe for fall and winter?

The benefits of procrastinating

So what do you do when you are finished knitting a jacket in the round that needs to be cut? And you are terrified. Well of course, you are absolutely right: you begin binding of threads on your previous project. The one you didn’t think you’ll ever finish.

Procrastination is a perfect fear-managing tool. Besides it goes hand in hand with “finishitis” and “startitis”. Because you always need a knit, and if you are procrastinating one project you either have to finish an older one or begin a new one.

Knit and cut

The waves are coming along. Slowly but steady. It’s the first time I knit a jacket in the round. With purl stitches in the middle as a guideline for where I need to cut.

I’ll begin on the arms tonight and almost hope they take me a while because I am terrified at the thought of cutting into the knit. I need someone to hold my hand while I do this. Yes, I am serious. You have no idea how serious I am. Just go ahead laugh.

I vision two scenarios. One where I cut the jacket, everything goes wrong and I end up in tears, frustration, and lots of wasted yarn and time. The other scenario is much jollier. I come back and write a whole post about how silly I am and how ridiculous easy cutting a knit is and how everyone should be doing it. She who waits will see.

Have a nice weekend!

Spring knit

It’s time for a cheerful spring knit. This time I have chosen a wool & cotton yarn from my stash. I am still working on my stash reduction. Longing to buy new yarn in spring colours, but doing with what I have. Once more, I turn to the Danish designer Samsøe.

I love her clean and simple knitting designs.The wave jacket is a perfect left over yarn project. And also a good stash buster since the main colour recalls for 200-250g depending on the size. I’m left with less knitting time but with a few knit minutes here and a few knit minutes there it will be done.

In case you are wondering, the fall coat and I have taken a little break. Has that happened to you? That you are almost reaching the finishing line and the air goes out of you? I mean, we are talking about perhaps an hours’ worth of knitting and I would be done… Ready to indulge in warm wool. Instead, there it is in the unfinished pile. Glaring at me. I’m just going to glare back. At least for now :-)

Hope you are having a nice week so far.

I-cord challenge

I’am almost finished with the fall coat from Pickles. This is my first ego-knit ever, beside hats and scarfs. If you read last post, you know that I am binding off with i-cord. At first, I thought it was a bit tricky and time consuming. Now that I have the hang of it, I love it and I don’t understand what I was fuzzing about.

I still have some i-cord frustrations though, because I have had to do and re do the I-cord cast off two times. Both times for the same reason. The first time I casted off, it looked great on the front pieces of the coat, where I have knitted garter stitch. However, on the back piece of the coat, which is knitted in stockinet stitch, the coat-end rolled up. Therefore, I undid the i-cord and knitted two rounds in garter stitch on the back piece before I casted off with i-cord again.

This time it looks better but the back piece still rolls up a bit. Now I am undoing the i-cord cast off, for a second time. I have a vague idea or memory that I might have read about this problem on a blog…but I can’t remember which one (...I even think I made a comment and thanked for the tip).

Anyhow, now I am not sure what to do. Should I knit a few more rounds with garter stitch on the back part before I cast off with i-cord for a third time? Or perhaps there is another way of doing i-cord cast off than then one I used (I followed the instructions on this video from Drops Garnstudio)?

Whatever I do, this time it must work. I do not think I could undo the cast off a third time. Hints and help are very welcome if you think or know what may help.