Willow Cardigan - Finished!

I finished up the body almost a month ago, and then it sat until last weekend when I pulled it out and finished the neck band and sewed it to the body.  Once that was done I started on the sleeves.  I did top-down set in sleeves, and it always seems to take me a couple of tries before I get it right.  This is for throwing over a tank top when you just need a little extra warmth and don't feel like dealing with a shawl.

Pattern:  Tahki Stacy Charles Willow Cardigan
Yarn:  Tahki Stacy Charles Tandem in Ocean Deep
Needles:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Willow Cardigan - Body Done, well almost

I felt a need to work in a fiber other than wool and to make something a bit more spring-like.  This is from Tahki's latest pattern book, Spring Fling, although I bought it as a single pattern from Fiber Art, Inc along with the yarn.  The yarn is Tandem, which is 28% Cotton, 28% Viscose, 28% Nylon, 16% Acrylic and comes in 50 gram balls with 107 yards.  It knits up nicely and it is easy to find the end of the ball (don't you hate those balls where you have to hunt for the end?).  When you get to the end of the ball it tends to fall apart and get a little tangled, but the tangles are easy to undo.

I modified the pattern to knit the body in one piece, separating at the armholes.  I joined the shoulders with three-needle bind off and did short row shaping (shadow wraps) on the shoulder.  Once I finish the collar (the front edging is extended up) I'm going to do top down sleeves so I can use up all of the yarn.  The pattern calls for a belt, but I probably won't do one, instead I may do just a single button and loop closure.

Pattern:  Tahki Stacy Charles Willow Cardigan
Yarn:  Tahki Stacy Charles Tandem in Ocean Deep
Needles:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Moving Cable Pullover - Body Done, I think

I also pulled this project out of my hibernating pile.  According to my project page on Ravelry, I started this pullover on December 22, 2009.  The yarn is Tahki Cotton Classic.  I love the yellow, it is just such a happy color.  It is currently blocking, because I want to check the fit before I finish the sleeves.  I have knit both sleeves up to the cap shaping, but I know I need to modify the shaping and wanted to see how much the yarn relaxes after blocking.  I may end up doing top down set-in sleeves, just so I can get the best fit.

Holiday Projects

Bruce and I drove down to St. Augustine, Florida to spend Christmas at his Mom's. I needed a knitting project for the car ride so I started this one. It is from Tahki Yarns Spring/Summer Collection 2004. The pattern is #4 Moving Cables Pullover. The yarn is Tahki Cotton Classic. I've had the yarn for quite a while, I love the yellow, so bright and cheerful and warm.

I also started one of the bead crochet ropes for my Larry Scott Byzantine beads.