Stranded garter stitch

Stranded garter stitch, a photo by Asplund on Flickr.

I'm testing something I haven't done before, namely stranded garter stitch. This cardigan by Tålamodspåsen inspired me - thank you!

It wasn't difficult, but the wrong-side rows were rather slow to knit as I had to make sure the floats stayed on the wrong side facing me). I think it makes a nice frame.

Next step is picking up stitches to knit the sleeves. I may knit a simpler but similar flower pattern, perhaps just white flowers on blue background. The body pattern repeat is 40 stitches wide, possibly too wide for a sleeve. We'll see.

Sigge says "Happy holidays!"

, a photo by kajsarulta on Flickr.

And I add hope I manage to finish the Blues vest tonight. Not that it has to be finished by Christmas, I'm simply getting tired of making it. I do like how it looks, though - and Hanne Falkenberg's design is equally intriguing and impressive!

"Blues" vest, a design by Hanne Falkenberg

Contagion

Blending into the background, a photo by Asplund on Flickr.

In April I suddenly discovered my new sweater matched the kitchen curtains at work. It still makes me smile - although come to think of it I probably haven't worn that particular sweater to work since then.

Today my Viften-clad colleague suddenly discovered she matched the curtains in her office! :-D

Pre-blocking

Cardigan progress, a photo by Asplund on Flickr.

The steeks are waiting to be cut. I have secured them in two ways. First with chain stitch - I usually do that with a crochet hook (En till once showed me how to), but the few hooks I have were too big. To be on the safe side (haven't worked with this yarn before) I also wetted the steeks and rubbed them gently to make them felt.

It occurred to me I might as well pre-block it, not that carefully but enough to get a better idea of how the pattern will turn out. The blue looks too dull in this photo, but I didn't have the patience to wait for daylight. Not that you can be certain there will be any this time of the year.

Vest construction

Vest in progress, a photo by Asplund on Flickr.

Hanne Falkenberg's "Blues" vest is really fascinating!

You knit the two fronts diagonally towards the back centre and then join the two fronts to knit the back across them. I guess I shouldn't reveal more details than that as I don't own the copyright although it's tempting.

However, it's quite safe to reveal that I discovered I had made a mistake knitting the the first front section, ending up with a few stitches fewer than I was supposed to - and corrected it by adding a few rows with increases and making the same mistake on purpose while knitting the second one.

It saved a lot of time and will hardly make any difference when it comes to size; the important thing must be having the same number of stitches when it's time to join the sections.

The construction and colour changes make this a rewarding project to knit, but I do prefer more pattern, to tell you the truth. I accidentally typed "yell you the truth" first! Must be the season ;-)

Cardigan progress

This cardigan will be very light: so far I've used only 100 grams!

My plan is to knit two more horizontal borders and then change patterns for the shoulders, probably reusing this idea in some way.White background with small blue shapes and/or pearls, perhaps?

I think the steeks look rather nice, not so nice it's a pity to cut them, but perhaps they can be used as an idea for a future pattern.

Fair trade

Fair trade, a photo by Asplund on Flickr.

Look what I got in advance for the cardigan I'm making! Love all four of them, but possibly the skaters best. Natasha is a truly versatile artist, and you can see some of her works at Uppsala konstmuseum (in the castle) until 22 January.

Cardigan modifications

Cardigan in progress, a photo by Asplund on Flickr.

The cardigan I am making for a colleague is growing fairly quickly in spite of the thin needles (never used 2 mm for a sweater before) and I'm happy with my modifications now that I see how the turn out:

• Single strands and 2 mm needles instead of double strands and 3 mm.
• Green and blue pears near the picot edge instead of yellow pearls among the mustard leaves.
• Simpler, straighter, mustard leaves (to make it easier to knit).
• Mustard leaves going in opposite directions from the centre of the back section (see right corner in photo above) instead of travelling round in a circle; I want the leaves to meet in front.
• Main pattern also simpler with straighter leaves and the big flowers turned into smaller ones alternating with stars, echoing a sweater I knitted in the late 90s.

Thanks for encouraging comments on my previous post! In particular I took christinelaennec's words about supporting economy to heart :) Guess what I did yesterday? Right. Some more support by purchasing a Hanne Falkenland vest kit I've had my eyes on for quite a while. Those Danes are incredible - such an eye for details and ingenious constructions. The yarn is quite lovely too: a strand of indigo cotton wrapped around a strand of lamb's wool.