Saturday 12 February 2011

It's raining wool

The little cardigan is finished, knitted in Patons merino dk which was a pleasure to use, it turned out slightly smaller than the pattern but a few adjustments sorted that and took just 200 g. I love cables and there was just the right amount here, it will be finished with a zip up the front when Pam has taken it off to the nearest haberdashers to find a suitable one, hopefully she will stitch it in. I've said before that I don't like sewing up my knitting but since I mastered mattress stitch it suddenly seems much easier and gives a really good result.See now neat this side seam is, well neat compared to my usual efforts.
As Pam provided the yarn this project made no difference to the stash calculations, however I received this week as gift a lovely bag of yarn from someone who knew I could use it.300 g of Sunbeam St Ives 4ply, a yarn I've found previously in charity shops, great for socks with 75% wool content, probably enough for 3 pairs in a manly shade of grey with flecks of various other colours in there.300 g of Stylecraft pure wool dk, made in Scotland and a lovely pinky purple that I'm sure will suit Amelia.
Finally, and my favourite 450 g of Wensleydale Longwool 4 ply from the Sheep Shop in Leyburn, spun in Yorkshire, a pretty peachy shade that would probably make a couple of gorgeous shawls or scarves or maybe something pretty for me. There is even a woven sheepy label to stitch into the finished article.
All great quality yarns, not a scrap of acrylic and because I didn't buy them myself no guilt involved at all. My lovely self perpetuating stash, I'm such a lucky girl.

12 comments:

  1. Lovely cardi - what pattern did you use - I could do with something similar?
    Sue

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  2. Ooooooh! Guilt-free stash enhancement! Can't be bad. I would not like to attempt putting in a zip either. Sounds fraught with dangers!

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  3. I've jsut finished my 2nd stash-busting project, so I'm feeling quite virtuous! I love the DK- and not just because it is Scottish. The cardigan is lovely.

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  4. Gorgeous little cardi, but a zip? I've never attempted to sew a zip into something I've knit (maybe because I rarely get to the finishing off stage). Do you stitch it in by hand or with a machine?

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  5. Lovely cardigan - very sweet! Raspberry pink seems to be everywhere at the moment, although maybe I'm spotting it more as my hands are covered in that colour paint! x

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  6. How lucky is that! Stash enhancement that doesn't count. Sounds good to me. Love the little cardi. Have a fun week. Ros

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  7. The cardi is FABULOUS, Jenny--and so is that wool color! Wonderful wool eye-candy today too... yum-yum! ;o) I'm doing some very simple knitting just now, and using some stash yarn to make up a new set of knitted pot holders for the kitchen--I burnt a hole in one of the old ones last week--haha... Happy Valentine's ((HUGS))

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  8. Jenny your cardigan is beautiful! It is such a lovely color.

    PS: Husband and I have been back to Italy with our children -- we stayed a month to visit his family from north to south. We do hope to again for a nice long visit when he retires. It's a beautiful country!

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  9. Beautiful little cardi Jenny, really wish I could knit better! Love the guilt free new stash, none better.

    Hugs
    Brenda

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  10. Nice Cardi. I have real problems with sewing up but I will practice mattress stitch next time I need to and see how I do.

    Love the stash of yarns. Nice colours :).

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  11. That's a very pretty cardigan, and looks so cosy and soft too. Amelia is a very lucky little girl.

    I'm rather envious of the freebie additions to your stash, such lovely quality wools.

    And by the way, I actually did post a happy picture on my blog, I usually look even more grumpy!

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  12. All gorgeous colours, particularly that dusky pink one at the end. Lovely.

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