Saturday, October 4, 2014

Keeping toasty

Friday brought a storm that blew all our warm weather away. While the day has been mostly sunny, it's quite chilly with a stiff breeze - the perfect day to put a roast in the slow cooker, make a pineapple-upside-down cake for dessert and then do nothing but knit.
Or hang out in a sunbeam if you're a cat.

With the hat in a time out, and the socks as my travel/lunch knitting I got the urge to cast on and it was too much to resist. But what should I start?

Hitofude is still on my to-do list
 And the Desert Cat I set aside for it is just so scrumptious!

But, a few weeks ago, my sister-in-law and I were browsing through cardigan patterns and came across Old Town
 Another Carol Sunday pattern. It's the perfect kind of cardigan for this weather - and I have the perfect yarn for it...Elsebeth Lavold Cotton Patine in "Damson".

Decisions, decisions....

In the end, Hitofude won out. I recently got a new dress and it's in need of a matching cardigan.
The warm grey-brown of the Desert Cat (Colour is "Dormouse") is just perfect for it. And I love the yarn. We haven't been able to get any more from our supplier (though I hope that will change) and it's the last of the skeins that I squirreled away for myself. A blend of Baby Camel and Silk, it's absolutely decadent. It's soft, has a lovely sheen and the faintest little halo.

It's not going to be a quick knit though. Like Eve's Ribs, it's knit in one piece, side-to-side, so the rows are long. It currently takes 2 hours to complete a full pattern repeat (eight rows). And there's increasing to come, so it's just going to take longer.


I'm only making one mod (so far). The pattern as written, has columns of purling between the lace arrows. But that means I have to pattern on both sides... and I'll admit it, I'm a lazy knitter. I want straight purl-back rows!

I'm off to Mom's tomorrow to dye some yarn. But I'll be back with the winner of the Spring Garden Collection contest then - stay tuned!

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Love your new additions and the pattern choices. Must look into those myself.

Anonymous said...

The Dormouse color will be perfect with so many things. Looks like you picked a good project.

Araignee said...

The cold and wind has blown this way too. Tonight's the first night this season we've fired up the electric heaters for the outside kitties. I hope they are snug and warm out there. Brrrr.....I worry so.
I love that pattern. I saw it on another blog recently and it was stunning. Baby camel and silk? Oh, my...that's my idea of heaven.

Rachelle said...

I'm resisting the urge to cast on new things, I've got a certain shawl on the needles and I need to get that done and I've also got socks and a jersey active. I've decided there will be no more casting on till at least one thing is finished!

WildflowerWool said...

Love the lace cardigan pattern, great choice. Happy knitting!

Unknown said...

Ahhh, to be soaking up a sunbeam! Isn't that wonderful? What an ambitious cast on ... your new project. Holy smokes!! The yarn sounds divine! And it will be a lovely sweater.