Finished Sweater Versus Choose Own Button Style

Having finished my SIL’s cardigan, last week, I went to my modest button stash to see if I had any thing suitable. The pattern requires 9 buttons and I didn’t have more than 4 or 5 in a size and style that I liked. She has very different tastes than I do in some things. My debate is whether to buy the buttons and put them on, or give her a gift card to a store that sells buttons so that she can select her own. I would be willing to sew them on for her and I would do it quickly, probably the same day that I get them from her, so that is not a problem, but what would you do?

ETA: Please leave a comment. I can't get my poll to work and don't have time right now to troubleshoot. Thanks.

More Classes!

Watching the flowers start to bloom outside my front door and then seeing the snow flurries today, makes me impatient for spring. So, I have been looking to knit in lighter colors and fabrics. However, my friend K has also lured me into taking a class on skirt knitting at Village Yarn and Tea. I don’t have much money to spend on yarn for swatches, etc for the class, so I went stash diving on Saturday afternoon. I came up with what I think will be enough yarn for a skirt in Knit Pick’s Wool of the Andes Kettle Dyed. This one really does not fit with my desire to knit spring fabrics, but the colors are lovely! I started and finished my swatch for the class, yesterday. I even had it blocked by the time that I went to bed. I plan to hang it with a weight on the bottom to see how much stretching out I can expect when wearing the skirt. Since it is a 100% wool yarn, I don’t expect much, but thought that I had better check it.

I have also registered for another class with Tuulia Salmela on knitting sweaters from the top down with set in sleeves. I met Tuulia on the Seattle to Portland Yarn Train in January of this year and really enjoyed talking with her about the Kauni yarn that she had purchased. She inspired me to knit the Revontuli Shawl. I thoroughly enjoyed listening and expect to love the class. This one, I invited my friend K to join me on, so I am sure that I am just as much of an enabler as she has been in getting me registered for the skirt class!

ETA: I just received a call from VY&T. They had to cancel my skirt class due to insufficient students signed up. :( However, I emailed my friend to see what we should do instead, so we get the joy of planning another outing!

Another Sweater FO

I have been knitting and just plain feeling overly busy lately! I finished a cardigan for my SIL’s birthday, recently and still have not taken a photo, but you can be assured that I am still knitting!

The same day that I bound off the last stitch on her sweater, I cast on for a pull over for me. I have one ball (of 11) knit into it already and the fabric is lovely and soft. A while back, I purchased these 11 balls of Filatura Di Crosa’s Zara in French Lilac from Elann.com. I have always had such good experiences with their customer service and, being geographically close to them, I usually receive my orders within just a couple days! I had planned on knitting an entirely different sweater with this yarn, but when I was looking for something more spring-like, I happened upon this yarn in my stash. It may not be enough yards for a longer sleeved sweater, so I cast on for a Drops pattern, # 77-19 Pullover. Ravelry is so wonderful and of course I used the search to find this pattern. I have knit with Drops patterns before and thoroughly enjoy the process. The patterns usually are quite simply written, often leaving out extraneous words that explain something that most knitters would know any way. I find that it takes very little time to read the patterns and I have had no problems knitting from them. However, some new knitters find the patterns frustrating because they don’t tell you every little detail. Frequently, the pattern will say something like, “Knit rib for 5 rows.” A very new knitter may not understand that ribbing (at least when unspecified) is k1p1 across the row. Though I can be obsessive about getting a sweater just right, this type of thing does not bother me. I may even decide that I like a different rib better and change it out! :)

Final SP 13 Package

I received a wonderful, last package from my Secret Pal, a little while ago. Eileen has been a wonderful pal and I have enjoyed her packages very much! This most recent package contained 3 balls of Debbie Bliss Stella in a soft taupe. The yarn feels lovely, and as with all of the yarns sent to me, I really like it. Thanks for being a great pal!