My mum took my February lady sweater!

I visited my mum on the weekend and she saw my February lady sweater for the first time and loved it. I suggested she try it on, and I'll knit one for her.

She wouldn't take it off. She said she had to keep it, loved everything about it, and my generosity that comes after a bottle of red, said "then it's yours".

I miss it now, will just have to knit another one. What a pity.

Presenting: The February Lady Sweater!

I have not posted in a long time, between having bronchitis, working, buying a new car, working and the approach of the silly season, I barely had time to knit, let alone have anything to discuss. I desperately needed a more interesting project other than my 2 stockinette projects, but I did not have the energy to cast anything new on.

But first, I'd like to present the finished February Lady Sweater, which has become one of my favourite cardigans already, along with my Tangled Yoke and my Central Park Hoodie. I wore this all day yesterday:

I do apologise for the quality of the photos, It's not always easy taking a picture of yourself in the mirror! The image of the cardigan isn't the best, but you can see that it fits well, is the perfect length and size. So happy with the end result.

At first I was sceptical about choosing such a dark color, but it is just right for me. I think the darkness of the yarn combined with the lace pattern within the cardigan gives it just enough elegance and youth to make it an everyday sweater for me.

Hopefully, I will continue to blog more frequently, I'm on holidays now, my needles are clicking and the main chaos of the holidays has passed. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Only Stockinette in the Round

At the moment I have only two projects on the needles, my Owls sweater and a pair of afterthought heel socks. All I have is miles and miles of what feels like endless stockinette in the round.

Working on the February Lady Sweater reminded me of how much I love the various stitches that can be made in knitting, how interesting it can be. So tonight I did a mass printout of lace shawl patterns.

I haven't cast anything on yet, I can't decide what I want to do yet. I also have my eye on a few other cardigans that have lace in them, for summer. Cables for winter.

I also have my eyes on some color work sweaters for me and a circular shawl as some of my goals for next year. For now, I'm over the mindless stockinette!

February Lady Sweater, Unblocked

So, my February lady sweater has all the knitting finished, and I still have half a ball of wool left. I chose not to keep going, when I tried it on and stretched it a little, it was the perfect length.

Now I need to weave in ends, give it a soak and block it. Very exciting! I'm very happy with it so far, and expect to be even happier with it once it's blocked. I love the fact that once you have cast off that last stitch, you are done! The beauty and magic of seamless knits.

Both February Sleeves Finished

I was off sick yesterday, a lovely case of bronchitis. I have been watching Sanctuary, a new series which I really enjoy. I also got stuck into my February Lady Sweater, and am pleased to say that both the sleeves are now complete.

I have tried it on and it fits beautifully, the sleeves come just past my elbows. Unfortunately, I ran out of yarn during the cast off on the second sleeve and had to start another ball to finish it. Definitive proof that not all balls of yarn have the same meterage.

I have continued on the body, and now have one and a half balls left which should give me the perfect length. On the home run now!

One February Sleeve

I fished the first sleeve yesterday. It used up a full 50g ball of wool so I'm happy I chose to do it before finishing the body. I kept the extra 7 stitches in because I have wide arms, and I'm pleased to say they fit perfectly. So far, unblocked.

I'm not a big fan of top down knitting, it is so awkward knitting the sleeves. I much prefer bottom up knitting, even if the first few rows after adding the sleeves are a little fiddley, I still enjoy the process more.

But on we go, I've picked up the stitches and I'll begin the second sleeve.

February Lace

I began the lace, then split for the sleeves on Monday. It seems like the cardigan will fit, but I think I need a few more inches in length to truly be able to tell. I'm thrilled with how it's going, love the way it looks and have memorized the lace repeat already.

I think I will be working in the sleeves soon, to make sure that I will have enough yarn to make my February lady sweater the length I want. I still have about 5 50g balls left. It should be enough. I feel like I'm getting some knitting mojo back, for a while it wasn't exciting me much, even though the obsession barely wavered. And with this cardigan, the passion is coming back, I think I will need to have lace on my needles more often!

February Lady Sweater

I have cast on for the February Lady Sweater, actually, I cast on on Saturday. I spent all day knitting on it and really enjoying it. Until yesterday, when I got to the yarn over increase row. This was when I started to worry about the size of the cardigan, I don't want it to be too swingy. But not too fitted either.

Then I got stuck on the length of the yoke. It was way too short if I decided to do the lace where recommended, even though the pattern says to knit garter until the fabric nearly touches under the arms. I'm having a lot of trouble figuring that out as I can 't get it to sit right. But I think I'm there now, so I'm going to start the lace tonight.

I'm using Cleckheaton 100% wool in a navy blue color, and I'm liking how it's coming out so far. I just really hope it fits nicely.