Big old grey coat!

This design is my favourite piece from Joji's  Authentic collection.
cozy, oversized sweater coat in worsted weight.  I knitted it with uncommon thread lush worsted in 'cumulonimbus'- grey with some random blue and dark blue spots.

It feels really comfy, springy and warm. I loved knitting it , the basket weave pattern is flowing effortlessly together with the ribbed shawl collar.

Here is a close up of the stitch detailing;

I chose a shorter version (6 skeins exactly), which is more versatile and flattering to me. I finished the sleeves with a small ribbed hem and tubular cast off. I like my sleeves' hem secure onto my wrists.

very, very pleased with it, knit one you won't regret it just make sure you've got enough yarn.

Portage !

Portage is one of those patterns that commands you to drop everything else on your needles and frantically go stash diving or web browsing for the right yarn. I had the perfect yarn for it but just under right amount. It didn't deter me from casting on. Do I ever learn?
I used 5 skeins of Hedgehog fibres , Blue faced DK in Ferrum- a lovely color which can described as olive green mingled with brown. Those 5 gorgeous skeins were the cyclist knitter's discards which I happily scooped away..

There are some very attractive details here. The back is textured with hundreds of tiny cables that you are strongly advised to knit without a cable needle. The pockets are created by extending and shaping  the bottom bit of the shawl collar, folded backwards on itself and carefully sewn on to the cast off edge and sides. I love the extra long sleeves with the ribbed cuffs folded backwards for extra warmth and stability. I also applied tubular cast off to the ribbed hem - that edging always make me happy and worth all the extra work.

All was well up to the garter shawl collar which consumed scary amounts of yarn. I knew I wont have enough for it and the pockets. Hedgehog notified me that the blue faced dk base won't be in stock until March but 2 skeins of ferrum were up for sale in the states. I bought them but for my dismay they were totally flat and dark sludgy brown. I persevered with 3 balls knitting in stripes to try to blend the colors together and it worked ! I love it and well please with it.

 

Only couple of modifications here first a shorter hem to try to save yarn and it still look generously long overall. Secondly I had to enforce and tidy up the pockets top edges with single slip crochet because of the 3 balls knitting.

 

 

Totally recommend the pattern- go and make yourselves a portage !

Manchuria Jacket !

At last my Manchuria Jacket is done. Warning- there is a quite a lot of panel sewing involved.
I still love the patchy look and those colours together but felt that its way too baggy on my frame. There should have been smaller size option as seen on the model- the jacket looks almost fitted on the slim model with hardly any ease. The sleeves look as three quarters length. I do feel strongly this is misleading photo.

I changed the collar to be a  plain shawl collar as I did not understand the instruction in my English translation. Also I wanted to stabilise the fronts by way of buttoning them together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those beautiful buttons are vintage and were gifted to me by my equally knitting fanatic friend :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I almost finished another garment but waiting for one ball of yarn to be dyed for me. Its been a long wait but I think I'll have another FO soon. will keep you posted..