Hello from the rainy and extremely wet, lush and green north. I am not
sure just how much rain we have got during the month of June but it is beginning to feel
like a lot. Bright and sunny days have been rare. I am not losing my optimism, I
am sure hot and sunny weather is just around the corner and these long and
somewhat dreary days will be a distant memory.
Hence I am continuing with the
red COTTON cardigan and I am beginning to like it a little. I doubt very much
that it will be my favorite sweater but since I have had these bold stripes in
my head for some time now, I needed to get that image out and knit it away so
that I can focus on something else at some point.
Does this ever happen to
you... you have this idea and you keep tossing it around, trying it with
various yarns and casting away the whole plan, but no matter what you decide to
do, something totally different maybe, you always come back to the original
idea and there is no way out. I did try these stripes last year maybe ?? but
that cardigan got ripped out but here I am again. I will finish, and do my best to
make best of it. I hope I can figure out some kind of little detail that will
sparkle up the project and will make me love this cardigan.
I am getting close
to the armholes, hopefully this weekend I am there and from then on the rows
will get shorter and it is easier to see the progress. Long rows can bring your
knitting enthusiasm down. It does not help a bit if you time your long rows
and start with the math... So many minutes for one looooong row and if there is
about 40 of those left... where am I when these are done... I rather not think
about this.
I have been knitting with circulars for a very long time now but
while plowing through those long rows and always having to wiggle out the
stitches over the point where the cable meets the needle started to take a toll
on me and I changed to long old straight needles. Although getting used to the
weight of the cardigan on the long straights took some time, being able to
stretch those fairly tight stitches over the needles has been such a delight
that I am thinking about returning to the old fashioned straights. I am not
sure if my circulars are getting too old and if the small ones - 2,5mm - cannot
take all that pulling and pushing and are beginning to show some wear, but
after trying out two sets, I calmly set them aside and took out these old grey
needles. It is funny to realize all the old maneuvers coming back to me, the
ones that have not been in use while knitting with circs.
I have had lots of trouble
with this cotton yarn. It splits easily, every time I am not looking I find
that I have not caught the whole yarn but just a few plies. I have had the
crochet hook nearby to fix at least some of the damaged stitches. It is a bit
annoying. Last summer I knitted myself a little tunic with this yarn (ages ago
I bought a lot...) and it has held out so well, this is why I am able to take
this behavior from these mischievous red skeins again. The bad news is that I
have another little batch, beautiful spring green, that I hope to knit at some
point. Maybe after I am done with this red yarn.
The turquoise cowl is almost
done. As is the yarn too. I wanted to use every little bit of it, and before
the final repeat, I put in a life line so that I could easily rip back if I run
out of yarn in the middle of the repeat, but there was enough yarn for the
whole repeat. I finished the other end, few rows or purls, and this is what the
cone looks now.
I hope there is just enough to get the final few rows to the
other end, honestly I doubt that very much. I loved knitting this. What a joy
to have light, airy yarn on the needles.
Thank you for reading and
Wool with you,
(Oh how I would love to
say ... "Wool with you even though it is not appropriate today since it is
so hot" but I cannot! But soon, I am sure, soon it will be very, very
warm, I just know it.)
Lene
The weather is wonky all over; our weather is setting records for hot and dry. :-/
ReplyDeleteLoving the blue cowl - such a lovely pattern. The red cotton is intriquing, as always, I cannot wait to see where you are headed with it. I like the rib very much and the wide stripes. Your work is perfection - those even stitches! I would love your climate - the heat in New York does me in. I always threaten to move further north where I could see a lake like yours slowly slowly come to life after a good long winter! Your good dog seems to be thoroughly enjoying the swim!
ReplyDeleteI love these bright colors!
ReplyDeleteI hope you find some way to love it....and that cowl is amazing!
ReplyDeleteSunshine coming soon - I hope.
ReplyDeleteI love the red cardigan. I've knit a ton of socks and hats and cowls and shawls...and I've only ever managed to finish a short sleeved tee and one pullover. Don't know what it is about me and sweaters, but I certainly do envy you your pretty ones. Maybe some touches of your wonderful embroidery at the end?
ReplyDeleteThe blue cowl is lovely too.
Hmmm. In 35°C heat, tomorrow and weekend in Texas promises at least that, then to cooler Norway next week. I just packed a sweater, a light sweater...good enough?
ReplyDeleteDear Lene - I love the stitch pattern of the blue cowl - like waves at sea which suits the colour beautifully. Is the pattern one of you own?- and if so would you consider publishing it on Ravelry?).
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and your fabulous range of stitch work - such enviable talent.
Best wishes from a hot and steamy England.
Is the cowl pattern Travelling Vine? You do such lovely work!
ReplyDelete