Spring for me, is a time for open toe shoes. This red pair is one of my favorites, purchased from Frye’s. I love it’s 2″ heel (tall enough for a little umph!, and short enough to walk comfortably), the little ankle strap detail, and most of all, the retro feel. 

Every girl will at one time or another, face the dilemma of having a closet full of clothes and nothing to match their shoes. Enter my spring/summer knit - the Cherry Cardigan. I have chosen Elizabeth Lavold’s Hempathy for this knit, in my favorite blue/green color. 

Hempathy is a combination of hemp, cotton and modal, and reminds me of knitting with Brown Sheep Cotton Fine, which is a Merino/Cotton blend. It’s a welcome reprieve from knitting with wool and sweaty palms in the warm temperature, and I am really enjoying this knit so far. 

That’s right girls, I pick my projects to match my shoes.

It’s finally complete! 

Pattern: My own, a la Barbara Walker

Materials: 6 balls of Lane Borgosesia Knit USA (660 yds), 1.5 skeins of Cascade 220 in colorway 7814, Sz 10 and 10.5 needles, 8 metal buttons, 6 snap buttons

Notes: This jacket was knit from the top down, at a gauge of 14 sts and 20 rows to 4″. Cascade 220 was held double to obtain the same gauge using Sz 10.5 needles. I measured the width of my back for 13″ and cast on the appropriate number of stitches and short-rowed my way down for the shoulder slopes. Armhole length = 7″. When I reached the appropriate length for pockets, I cast on additional stitches for the pockets and knit down for 5″, and k2tog with the body stitches. No waist shaping for this jacket. Then it’s just more knitting until the desired length. Ribbing for the sleeves, jacket border and short row neck was finished off with tubular cast off. The button bands were knit in garter stitch to prevent curling (trust me, I tried stockinette and that didn’t turn out). I left the jacket untouched for days after blocking because superwash yarn has a tendency to stretch out and that wouldn’t be the best time to seam. Sure enough, the damn thing sprang back into shape after a while and I double checked before sewing the nylon lining in place.

Sewing: I decided that I was too chicken (this time) for a zipper, so I went with my original idea of snap buttons. The inside band was lined with nylon ribbon (ends were fused with a lighter to prevent fraying) to reinforce the jacket. I figured if I am going to pull the bands apart frequently I am going to need something sturdier. Yes, it helps.

Like I said, the pockets were a little high, but it doesn’t detract me from gloating. I like how it looks buttoned all the way up, and also when I leave the first two buttons out. It fits exactly how I imagined it would, and that’s no small feat when it comes to “winging” a pattern. This one is a keeper!

(And what’s a FO without side and back views!)

Sometimes, it sucks when work usurps all your energy and leaves you way too brain dead to work on the more interesting things in life, like, your knitting. Such was the case this week. But let’s get on with the progress of my imitation biker jacket.

It’s still missing a pair of epaulets, the remaining sleeves (I’ve decided to go full length - only because I realized that I do have enough yarn), and the two front borders. Knitting without a pattern is liberating, but scary all at once. I based the measurements off one of my cropped cardigans, knit the pockets, and then decided that I did not want a cropped jacket. As a result, the pockets now sit right below my breasts, and there is no way I am ripping out all the sewing again. I am hoping, that with the magic of blocking (Shh. Don’t convince me otherwise), I can somewhat increase the distance between the pocket and my under boob a little. Other than the pocket mishap, things have been pretty smooth-sailing. Top down knitting is the bomb! No more worrying whether or not you can fit all your sleeve stitches into that armhole. 

I’m playing with two ideas for a front band right now. Currently, I have plans to sew hidden snaps with decorative buttons on the front band, and reinforce the band with a ribbon facing to minimize wear-n-tear. But after studying Grumperina’s zipper installation tutorial, my absolutely-no-zipper resolution is wavering. I kept thinking to myself: “Hey, how hard can it be, right?” 

We’ll sit on this for a few days while the rest of the sleeves are completed. Incidentally, I just realized that the color-combo seems very child-like. It must be my inner Peter-Pan.

In the mean time, two pairs of socks have been completed. 

Do not be fooled by the aesthetics of this image. This pair of Koigu Aquaphobia Socks, made for Bobby G (he who feeds my Koigu fetish), was made without modifications to fit his ultra-wide feet. We must have taken over 20 photos to find the right one. He has requested that I be kind while describing his feet, so with much restraint on my part, let’s just say that his feet make him a good swimmer. (How am I doing with the kindness so far?)

Continuing with the blue-green kick that I’ve been on for a while, I also finished a pair of knee highs with Online Supersocke Yarn that I purchased in StitchDC last year. Nothing spectacular, just simple stockinette on Sz 0 and 1 needles. 

(I like this shot better. Makes me legs look leaner)

For the last few days, I’ve been obsessed with biker-style jackets. I searched the fashion forums and picked out two that I liked most.

(simple lines, hidden pockets, and epaulets)

What I happen to have is also 7 balls of chunky yarn that was originally purchased to make Tikru’s Greengable. Unfortunately, I realized it wasn’t enough. Since then, the yarn has been staring me in the face gnawing at me to make something out of it. So when the startitis bug hit, I gave in to the temptation of instantly casting on. I made a mental list of the qualities that I want from this jacket, and I realized that given the possibility of running out of yarn, the jacket should be:

• Knit top down, but with short-rows for shoulder shaping
• With top down set-in sleeves
• Have vertical slit pockets on both fronts, also top down
• High collar
• Sleeve, bottom and collar bands in contrast color, but keep front button bands in same color
• Epaulets! Wee….

Of course it was then that I realized that there is no pattern for all the things that I want to do, so what better time than to make my own? That’s right - my jacket is going to have ALL of those qualities. Barbara Walker, don’t let me down now. And this is what I have to show for it after 2 days.

(a big lump of chunky yarn)

Oh yea, and I’m also knitting a pair of Aquaphobia Socks on the side too. You can never have too many WIPs.

(jah…I is busy)

As someone who appreciates all things beautiful and fair isle (not too obvious from my finished objects so far), my introduction to Alice Starmore’s Book of Fair Isle Knitting arrived way too late to be able to own a copy of THE bible at a reasonable price. Over the last year and a half, I have searched numerous yarn stores across California, and many LYS in New Orleans, Washington D.C, and New York, and of course, flea markets and the internet. I was just about to give up on the idea of ever owning one altogether when a random google search revealed that a fellow knit-blogger in Canada would like to exchange her copy of Starmore’s book for a copy of Mostly Mittens by Charlene Schurch. Thus, email was exchanged, and a deal was made.

(I am now the proud owner of this marvelous fair isle book)

Last weekend my friend Bobby G and I attended a kick-ass Groove Armada concert at the City Hall in downtown Los Angeles. I haven’t mentioned this at all on my blog but Spring and Summer seasons for me usually mean concerts, concerts, concerts. Unfortunately, my ears have been ringing since Saturday night and I seriously hope that I didn’t do any permanent damage. Note: Bring ear plugs next time. If you are in the Los Angeles area and would like to read up on the fun we had at the concert, be sure to visit chewbrew.com.

(yes it was that much fun)