Sunday 27 November 2011

Adding even more to my stash

Cardigan in progress by Asplund
Cardigan in progress, a photo by Asplund on Flickr.
What to do when you can't decide how to go on with your sweater(s)? Well, you can always cast on to make another one!

Even though (useful expression!) I shouldn't (also good!) really (one more!) keep adding to my stash before I've knitted up more of it, I just couldn't resist some of the many gorgeous things I found at GarnGalleriet.

To be honest, I even told myself it was my duty to get knitting-related things for what I earned leading knitting workshops. And I bought the argument without making a fuss. Here's what I got:

A pattern book, 5 hanks of blue wool, 3 hanks of white cashmere, 5 hanks of green wool, a cardigan kit


Solveig Hisdal's "Wedding cardigan" may be my top favourite design from her book Poetry in Stitches. I'm modifying the pattern in different ways, though, mainly to avoid long floats with both strands. Just one is ok, but two is too time-consuming to catch.

I recently found pretty Japanese pears on sale at Litet nystan and decided to use them in this project. Instead of the original's yellow pearls among the yellow leaves, I've added a row of green and blue pearls near the picot edge.

The yarn is thin, and the instructions in the kit tell you to use two strands. Instead, I'm using one strand and thinner needles (2 mm/US 0) - and more stitches. I did this to make the cardigan lighter and because I believe four strands in all might make it too warm to wear very often. And simply to see if it works!

PS I recently started and finished a vest with some yarn bought a few years ago, which shows I am capable of using my stash - and which means it's ok to add to it whenever I like ;-)

8 comments:

Marias garnhändelser said...

Bra tänkt!
Och om du undrar var de tre andra cashmerehärvorna är så kan du sluta fundera...fast det gör du väl inte:-)

Carolina said...

With all the terrific knitting you do, I don't think you need to work so hard to rationalize enhancing your stash! I love that cardigan! I do think it's really a nuisance to try to knit a pattern with long floats in both colors and to be avoided.

Anonymous said...

This is going to be a beautiful piece of art. The colours are gorgeous. I agree with you that a light sweater is much more useful than a heavy one. You inspire me to try one on 2's. Good luck
Ron in Mexico

Lene said...

I love small needles, but have yet to try a sweater with 2mm's!! The wedding cardigan will be beautiful.

I try to buy less yarn and knit more from the stash but it never just seems to work very well. There is nothing more inspiring than new yarn with its possibilities. And in these cold winter months, it really enlightens the soul to be surrounded by wool, by lots of wool.

ylva said...

This is one of my favourites as well. I´m sure it will turn out awesome!

fale artut said...

Så vackert, och man behöver ha lite på lagret, om man inte stickar med det kan man klämma och känna livet i ullen!

Anonymous said...

Oh I love that book, but haven't made anything from it yet. I'll be very interested to see your modifications to the design. As for buying wool - are you not supporting an important part of the economy? (Always my excuse.)

Johanne Ländin said...

Har också en diverse havererade stickprojekt men du påminde mig om den perfekta lösningen på problemet – starta något nytt. Fungerar alltid!

Apropå great minds think alike. ;-)