Shalom Cardigan

I have been doing a lot of knitting because we were snowed in last week. We got about 10 inches of snow over the weekend. Last night it was -10 degrees and we have about a foot of snow on the ground now. I just need a snow suit so I can go outside and make snow angels like I did when I was a kid. To be able to play outside making igloos all day. That was the life.

The snow gave me an excuse to stay in with a hot cup of tea and my knitting. I finished my Shalom Cardigan and my February Lady Sweater. It has been really hard to photograph both sweaters and get an accurate picture of the yarn color. I'm also close to finishing my New Years Day sock. I can't wait to cast on for the second sock. The cable pattern was a lot of fun to knit.

So here are the details of my finished Shalom Cardigan. I love how it came out. It's definitely warm and cozy and perfect for this crazy weather.

Pattern: Shalom Cardigan
(Ravelry link)
Source: http://involvingthesenses.blogspot.com/
Yarn: Malabrigo Chunky
Color: Paris Nights (5.75 hanks)
Size: 32
Needles: US Size 10 1/2
Modifications:

• Cast on using long-tail cast on.
• Cast on counts as first row.
• Completed 3 buttonholes on rows 6, 20 & 34.
• Row 45: K28 (front), place next 33 stitches (sleeve) on scrap yarn, cast on 5, knit 47 (back), place next 33 stitches (sleeve) on scrap yarn, cast on 5, knit 28 (front).
• Row 46: K5, P26, place marker, P51, place marker, P26, K5.
• Row 55: Knit until 2 stitches before marker, SSK, slip marker, K2tog, repeat once, knit to end of row.
• Repeated row 55 four times as directed in pattern.
• Row 83: Knit until 1 stitch before marker, M1L, K1, slip marker, K1, M1R, repeat once, knit to end of row.
• Completed row 83 twice.
• Knit row 97 and then moved on to garter stitch bottom band. My row gauge was slightly off and I didn’t want the sweater to be too long.
• Knit 8 rows of garter stitch & bound off on row 9.
• Sleeves - placed sleeve stitches on needles, picked up 4 stitches under arm, placed marker (for future decreases) picked up 4 more stitches under arm.
• Sleeve - Knit 4 rounds. - Complete one decrease row. SSK, knit to two stitches before marker K2tog. - Decreased every 6 rows (5 times). - Decreased every 5 rows (4 times). - Completed 8 garter stitch rows. - Bound off on row 9 (purl row). Sleeve measured 17 inches from end of yoke to end of cuff.

This is a great pattern and very easy to modify. It's also a really quick knit. I would definitely recommend this pattern if you're on the fence about it.

I'll leave you will a little eye candy. This is Sophie's Toes sock yarn. I purchased it on etsy here.

Cooking with Gas

I have been a knitting mad women. My sink is clogged and the kitchen is a mess but that's okay because I'm happily knitting while the DH snakes the drain. At least I have my priorities straight. LOL!!! I have been happily knitting on my New Years Day Sock. The only modification I'm making is substituting ssk's for the skp's. I'm not fond of having to pass a stitch over. If I can avoid it and still get the same look I will definitely do it.

I'm using the Pagewood Farms Yukon Hand-dyed yarn that I purchased when I was in Colorado. It's 70% wool, 20% bamboo and 10% nylon. I'm loving knitting with it. The pattern is a lot of fun and has just the right amount of cabling to add interest.

I learned how to knit without a cable needle using Grumperina's tutorial. It was a little intimidating at first but once you get the hang of it, it's really easy.


I have also been working on my Shalom cardigan. I'm using the Malabrigo Chunky. This yarn is so soft and yummy. I will definitley be using it again.

This is a great pattern, very easy to adapt. I'm adding long sleeves and more buttons. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to add 3 or 4 button's. I can't wait to finish the yoke and split the sleeves because I want to try this on.

I have also have been making stitch markers again. I ordered a bunch of beads from Oriental Trading . I also ordered these sheep beads from Fairy Bear's Beads. I couldn't resist they are just too cute.

My friend Michelle also made me some stitch markers. She actually gave them to everyone in our knitting group. We had a Christmas Knit get together the week before Christmas.

One can never have too many fun stitch markers.

Blue mood

I seem to be drawn to the color blue these days. I'm still working on my February Lady Sweater but I couldn't get a good picture of the true color. The swatch below of the Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Kettle Dyed in Jay Kettle isn't accurate.

The color is actually a bit darker. It's more of a navy color. I also did a bit of shopping at Webs. I bought some Malabrigo Chunky, in the color Paris Night, to make the Shalom Cardigan. I found this finished sweater on Ravelry (link) and just had to make it. I think I'm going to make mine with long sleeves also because I'm a freeze baby. Here is what the Malabrigo Chunky looks like.

I can't wait to cast on for the cardigan. Should be a quick knit because it calls for size 10.5 needles. I also bought some Classic Elite Waterlily in Wedgewood.

I'm thinking that I may use this to make another February Lady Sweater for my grandmother. She keeps asking me to make her a cardigan in blue. I think she will really like this color. Her birthday is in February. I think if I cast on now I can get it done by then.

I love the variegation in the waterlily. I might have to order some more for myself. It's getting late and I have to get up early for work tomorrow. All this Christmas wrapping, shopping and baking is kicking me in the butt. I'm on vacation beginning Christmas Eve through Jan 5. I can't wait!!!