The sweater, the socks, the blanket, and THE HAT

Just over a year ago I joyfully finished my Crazy Strips Cardigan, remember? Most of it was knit over the four months of 2017 I was home, and then a sleeve and a half (and button bands? The details are fuzzy…I’ve slept since then!) were finished in December of 2017. So this January, I at long last gave it a good soak and a gentle blocking which improved the sweater immensely. The less than buttery soft KP Wool of the Andes sport softened up, the shape improved, and the general magic that makes you look like an extra gifted knitter was worked. Once that step was over and the sweater was dry, I then began the over the grosgrain ribbon button band finishing that I had heard about on The Knitmore Girls podcast, and is 1000% worth the extra time. Using their tutorial I carefully hand sewed a down the back of the button band that would be holding the beautiful metal buttons I had picked out a year earlier from Stitches n’ Stuff, carefully sewed a backing button behind each shank button, and then fray checked the knot.

This might seem pretty ‘extra,’ but wearing the sweater last weekend I knew it had all been worth it. The extra support on the button bands helps the front keep it’s shape, and as buttons are stress points, I’m not going to need to worry about mine. And, to too my own horn just a tad, I did a really neat job of it. Yay for details!

Speaking of details, two days ago I was merrily cruising through the first side of the collar for my Ink cardigan out of KP Hawthorne, when I looked back at some notes from projects I had particularly liked, and felt my heart pause for a second. I was doing a great job following the pattern, but I had meant to add an icord edging around the neck and down the fronts just as that extra bit of tidiness. And the problem with that is you have to do that from the start.

Now, the lesser part of me immediately started whining I could just start doing it and as it’s behind my neck no one would ever notice. And then the (large) part of my brain that almost kills me with stress on a regular basis bludgeoned it into silence and I took a deep breath, frogged my work, and started again.

Was it worth it? Gosh darn it, yes. I’m just about back to where I was when I had to rip out my work, and since the new 3mm needle came this week, I’ll be set to get into the sweater proper just as soon as I finish the collar. Good thing Hawthorn is quite resilient, and I like this cable pattern!

In more portable/less concentration needed knitting, I started on a pair of gift socks using some of the yarn I bought in Germany. This is Vinovia by the same brilliant designer who gave us "Vanilla is the New Black," and I'm loving the simplicity with the exciting detail. And, that the recipient has much smaller feet than me!

I'm plugging away on the baby blanket; I need to get this done by the end of February when the recipient is expected to make an entrance! I think I will make more than two of these before I'm done...

And, to close off, a few shots of my beauitful Toronda hat. Here it is all ready for my decisions about the ribbing,

And here is the top detail that captivated me in the first place.

I hadn't realized it could fall open, but as I only twisted the lining 180, not 360, that would be how physics work! That being said, it's heavy and slouchy enough I don't anticipate having a problem with wind whistling through to the top of my head.

So, that's what's currently on my needles! I would like to finish the hat this week, and cast on the shawl that I finally found the right yarn for. The problems you face when you move your stash back to the States in stages... Where did you PUT everything?