Last night I finished up the drops cardigan, and it’s now drying on the table.
See how the sleeve on the right is (somewhat) nicely seamed, but the left one is all puffy? That’s because halfway through this sweater I learned that you should slip the last stitch purlwise on the row before doing your shaping cast-offs. It’s amazing what a difference it makes – it took me half the time to seam that side. I’m very pleased with my other seams, although I continue to feel that mattress stitch is awfully bulky. You will note that this sweater has no buttons. There is a reason for this! This is the second sweater in a row that I’ve made with moss stitch button bands, and while I love the stitch, I find that it makes buttonholes disappear. Seriously – I can’t find them. And I used a more complicated (and theoretically more stable) buttonhole this time. But that’s ok – I think this sweater will be very happy being closed with a pin or a ribbon. It’s very cute on, and it fits perfectly!
Up in the corner you can see a swatch blocking. This is a summer tweed swatch, in pattern for the sweater I want to make.
This is not a fun yarn to attempt to measure in pattern, but I’m pretty sure my gauge is fine. I usually get gauge on the recommended needles so long as I’m not substituting. Summer tweed is a difficult yarn in general, which I knew going into this. I have the feeling that I will need another project going while I make this sweater, since tweedy yarns tend to be murderous on my hands.
I’m in a swatching mood right now anyway… I’m sort of mindlessly making swatches for the projects I’m thinking about. I plan to take several balls of yarn to work with me, and for every student that doesn’t show (likely to be a lot; it’s the first day back from spring break) I’ll make a swatch. I’m trying to be better about my swatches, I’m even trying to make neat little garter stitch borders, and you know what? It’s kind of fun!
I want to make the Boteh scarf I posted about yesterday (from Interweave crochet) so I got out all my sock yarn to decide on a color. Is anyone else like me, and you have some sock yarn you love so much that you can’t bear to turn it into socks? This project looks to be good for that.
And you know what? I don’t have as much as I thought. That’s a relief! I won’t use any of the Bearfoot yarn (the three top yarns) because of the mohair content. I thought about using one of my precious Sweet Georgia yarns (she’s gone from dying for quite awhile you know!) But I think the winner is my Yarn Pirate Neopolitan yarn… because I love these colors lately!
I do love that purple yarn as well… mmm, sock yarn. If only I needed more socks!
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
Ha! That’s so funny you metioned loving sock yarn too much to turn it into socks. I do the same thing. My sock yarn stash just keeps growing, and it’s filled with such pretty stuff that I just want to keep and look at. We’re so weird!
Can you post more of your pretty swatches please. Hopefully some of your students will arrive back from spring break! I’m back at uni already and my easter holidays are still going. Your cardigan reminds me of porridge (I like porridge so that’s a compliment)!
Wow you are just too fast for me!
Nice choice on the Neopolitan Yarn Pirate! those colors will go with a lot I think. Gorgeous!
Your cardi looks good. I just peaked at the buttonholes on mine and thought the same thing.
I like that purple yarn too.
Nice blog!
The cardi looks great! and the sock yarn is sooo pretty. I know what you’re saying I have some yarn I just love having around and don’t really ever want to knit anything with it. 🙂
You might want to rethink using the Yarn Pirate Neopolitan….there’s a skein on eBay that currently has a bid of $46! That’s crazy!!! It’s very pretty though and I’m loving pinks and browns too.
Another sock yarn hoarder! Have you seen the “Not Just Socks” series of books? I’ve made many of those because of the too-pretty-for-socks issue. Thanks for your book reviews too.