FO: Rusted Root

I finally finished my Rusted Root a few days ago. This was an extremely quick knit and would have been finished ages ago had I not run out of yarn. Fortunately I managed to track down the yarn online and great was my pleasure when the yarn arrived and I found that it was the same dye lot!



Yarn: Patons Washed Haze
Needles: 3.75 mm and 3.25 mm circular needles
Modifications: Long sleeves rather than short sleeves and I made the neck smaller.



I realised that when I reached the point where the sleeves are placed on waste yarn and you then continue the rest of the body that I would never wear this sweater if it had short sleeves. The yarn is 10 ply and although its cotton it still makes for a very dense fabric. But with long sleeves its an ideal sweater for autumn and spring.

I'm not mad about the neck - I don't like wide open necklines and that is why I picked up fewer stitches than recommended and I knitted a wider rib then recommended. I'm still not 100% happy with the neck and might yet re-do it. I thought I would wear it a few times first and see how I go.

This was my first attempt at a top-down sweater and I think its a great way to knit a sweater. The best thing of all is that there is no seaming! For a hopeless sewer like me that is a fantastic bonus.

Deferred gratification

There I was zooming along nicely with my Rusted Root. It was knitting up so quickly that I thought I might get it completed by the weekend and get some instant gratification. But that was not to be. I knew all along that I didn't have enough yarn. When I bought the yarn I had the short sleeve version in mind. It was only once I started knitting that I realised I would get a lot more wear out of it if I made a long sleeve version. But I did think that I would get the body done and only have to buy extra yarn for the sleeves. Not so!



And, of course, because I live in the bush, far from shops, I will just have to wait a while before I get the opportunity to purchase more yarn.

So, now I have cast on this:



I love working with this yarn, Bendigo Woollen Mills Miami (unfortunately only available at the mill shop). I love the short colour changes and spend most of my time wondering whether the colour on my finger will match the colour of the stitch about to be knitted. (I'm easily amused).

Oh, you want to know what I'm knitting? Well someone out there probably has a fair idea. It will all be revealed in the fullness of time.

We are off on a short holiday this weekend. We've decided to drive to South Australia. I should be back by the end of the next weekend.

FO: German Dancing Socks II

HOORAY! The socks are done:



Need I say more?

I've also managed to do a few more rows on Rusted Root. I've just started knitting the body. This jumper sure chews up the yarn in double quick time. Still it's rather nice to be working on something that is taking shape so quickly. And T, I agree, its good to be able to try it on as you go.

I just couldn't wait

I simply had to start a new project. No, the socks aren't finished yet. I have to wait until tomorrow to do another measure before completing the foot. I swear that boy grows an inch a week!

So, in the meantime, I've finished the secret project and it is blocking as I write this. Details and photos have to wait until it is gifted.

So the time was ripe for a new project and I felt like starting something for myself for a change. So I've cast on for the Rusted Root.



I'm knitting this in Patons Washed Haze with 3.75 mm circulars.

I've already ripped back several rows because I decided I didn't like the purl edging to the sleeves and I also don't want puffy short sleeves. Instead I'm going to knit long sleeves. Of course that means that I probably don't have enough yarn but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

This is my first top-down jumper and I'm very interested to see how it will unfold.