Catboat photo shoot !

 As promised here are few photos of me wearing Catboat. I just love this cardigan . Hope you're liking it too :-)

 

 

 

 

Catboat !

I saw the potential in this garment as soon as it came out but the dark brown colour of the yarn and its wooliness in the model sample did not bring out , in my opinion all those lovely details. Use smoother yarn like the fabulous Sweet Georgia dk with its subtle hand dyed variegation and this cardigan just begs to be knitted..

 

I was wondering if to omit the stand on collar as was done by Caroline's beautiful catboat but decided to keep it . When its cold the collar can be easily be buttoned up to keep ones neck nice and toasty and when the sun is shining the collar lays obediently sideways.. 

I love those garter shoulders and the wide garter hem and the travelling cables. Its just the right amount to make this cardi wholesome.

Nice swirly buttons from John Lewis there-

 

So if you're after a quick satisfying knit, catboat is your choice, totally recommend knitting it and actually it is being carefully folded to be flown to Sicily tomorrow for a nice sunny break.. oh just wait till you'll see my holiday knitting..
Ix
 

Long sands !

Finally we all have had here couple of weeks of blazing sun. Summer arrived with full force. Some of you in the south may have encountered an odd lady knitting with a chunky alpaca on Poole sandbanks beach. She looked as if she was enjoying herself immensely and every so often her knitting was thrown to the side whilst she hurried up to baste herself with some sea water..

So in the hottest days of year a chunky cardigan was born. It was really a quick knit and pure love because only love could make me handle this beautiful chain like Rowan chunky alpaca in the scorching heat. The one Saturday early morning that rained and the weather slightly cooled down I was able to wear it for the photo shoot without melting down..

 

The summer sale in John Lewis department store coincided more or less with the publication of Long Sands. My squishy balls went down by 50 %- just perfect, I bought 9 but used less than 7.

 

 

Its a really simple knit and Amy plays with bands of purls and knit stitches. Its about texture and the layout of the cardigan. I love the way the fronts meet up at the back of the neck . Its cosy and warm for autumn, something you can just slip quickly and go and still radiant luxury. Amy Christoffers is a one to stalk ;-) I just love her style.

The cuffs first felt too tight but I blocked the two sleeves with long wires and stretched them slightly, they are perfect fit now. Also don't graft the the fronts together at mid back neck point until you sewn  front extensions to the back neck. Than you can add or take away a row or two for a perfect fit.

Tommorow I'm on a flight to Spain and my travel project is packed -viola yarn with some lovely ebony needles to go with for the flight. From past experience I dont expect to find good yarn but hey I've got stash beyond life expectancy.. happy knitting !

 

My Maxfield !

Maxfield cardigan by the talented Amy Christoffers from Savoury knitting was my last project of 2012. It did not start well at all. First was the yarn issue . I really liked the combination of the original main color in dark blue with the glowing bright stripes but the original colors in lorna's laces Honor could not be found. Instead of waiting for new supplies I decided to sub it with blue sky alpacas- alpaca silk color 140 (blueberry ?) which is a bright  navy blue as the main color. For the stripes I liked the malabrigo silky merino 850 archangel . I bought all the archangels I could find in the UK but had to import one from the states. Unfortunately dye lots did not match at all  :(
The other annoying issue is some pattern erratas and the fact that the pattern instructions appeared to be different from the photo on the model. So I made a few mods mainly to lengthen the body. I got slim arms but still felt the sleeves could benefit from some extra width..

Once I got to the yoke all my grudges disappeared and I started to enjoy the pattern immensely. This is a fantastic fluid open cardigan to throw on. The silk and the aplaca give that fluidity.Those stripes are really eye catching and I love how it all joins together with more intense part at the fronts.
The color is not that electric blue as it appears below but a bit darker like a blueberry.

I also love the extra warmth for the back neck created by grafting the fronts at the back. Its almost like wearing a scarf. I was thinking perhaps to add buttons but it looks much better opened.

A bit of a tip- when picking up stitches for the ribbed band on the fronts try to pick up bit more stitches at the bottom as there is some extra gathering of fabric and you don't want it to pucker.

Choices of colors are endless and there are some pretty combination out there on ravelry. Go on and make a Maxfield !

Happy new 2013 everyone !!

What's on my needles ?

All pieces finished blocking and patiently awaiting assembly.. I think I'll just manage to squeeze another cardi in 2012 :)