Finally finished my jumper!

I started this 2 winters ago! Granted I didn't do much of it the first winter; got the majority of the knitting done last winter and this winter I have been putting off as much as possible all the horrid bits like doing the neck, finishing off the sleeves and sewing up. But thanks to the freezing weather I had no excuse so have been sewing it up whilst watching dire afternoon telly (if I never see another Alan Titchmarsh afternoon show I will be a happy bunny).

Oh don't laugh. I am rubbish at posing!

I adapted this from a pattern for a jumper in plain stocking stitch, although it was for this yarn (100%, undyed natural wool). I haven't done cable for over 20 years so thought I would try to do some simple cable panels and soon learnt I needed to add far more stitches in the width of the body so there were bits I had to undo and start again at the beginning.

A closer up view

Overall I am very happy with it - although it was meant to be about 2" longer but there you go - good old cable stretches widthways making it a bit shorter never mind how much you stretch it whilst holding the length up against you for size whilst knitting it! But I'm sure it will stretch after a few washes and it's lucky I'm slim!

Even closer up - it's hanging over the back of
the sofa which is why it looks like it was chopped off!

Really pleased to have finished this so HOORAY and YIPPEE and now I can start some other projects - the OH is moaning because I've been promising him another beanie for a couple of years - though it isn't like he doesn't already have enough hats!

Rainy day jobs

It's been horrible weather outside today, windy and wet so I haven't spent any more time out there than necessary. The freezer defrosting is coming along nicely with the aid of the borrowed freezer, which fits just perfectly in the cellar allowing me to still get at the washing machine and the spare fridge.

Yesterday evening I finished knitting the jumper I started 2 winters ago. The fact that that very statement is not preceded by whoops of joy indicates that - yes I finished knitting it - but no, it is a long way from finished. Anyone who knits will know the sinking sensation felt when it comes to that dreaded of tasks... sewing it all up. I've done the worst bit which is the neck and even sewn on one sleeve and have done all the pinning it together and checking it fits/works (I think it does but I mucked about with a plain pattern and putting cable panels in). So you'll have to wait for a photo when it is actually completed.

So to while away the hours when there is naff all on the telly I am going to make a start on this cardi. I love the way it says 'easy knit' - well OK maybe it is, but cardigans are notoriously hard to get right as the button and buttonhole panels always seems to shrink and pull or flap open resulting in having to wear the cardi always buttoned up. I haven't knitted a cardi in over 20 years (having had a break from knitting for about 18 years!!) so here's hoping. It doesn't help that the tension squares I did didn't quite work out with any size needle so I'm going to do the slightly smaller size needles but knit a larger size!

I have hat wearing ability envy looking at this picture - I just can't wear hats. Not hats, not caps, not even a knotted hanky, and god forbid a baseball cap, forward or backward. I just look ridiculous. My OH on the other hand has a hat obsession and has so many it annoys me as they have a tendancy to take over - the hall cupboard is full of them and our cellar shelves where I want to store things like apples for the birds are always full of hats too. Somewhere on my list of Things To Knit is a purple beany for him. He will have to wait!

Time to say goodbye....

..... to an old faithful friend. No, don't worry, it's not my wobbly old cat! This friend is even older than him. It's my favourite, holey, moth eaten old hand me down (or stolen more like!) jumper from my OH. I now have a new hand me down and I think old jumper's time has come. I was going to do it last winter but just couldn't bring myself to do it, but with my New Year resolve it is going to be chopped up into little pieces and composted, as it's pure wool. 

I already have one jumper currently decomposing; OH tells me he can still see bits of orange jumper as he turns the compost heaps. So, as old friend is older even than my relationship with OH (over 21 years) I rather like the idea of seeing my old friends in the ground as I hoe and weed and tend my veg. When you look at the photo I'm sure some bright spark will say I could have turned it into fingerless gloves but whilst I can knit jumpers I'm not very good in the sewing department!  (Well actually I was once, I got an A in my Needlework O-level, but I never took to sewing with any kind of passion, unlike knitting).

RIP old friend, you have served us both very well :-)