Our temperatures dropped below 60 for about two days last week. We scrambled for the firewood and enjoyed a fire in the fireplace for abut two nights total. Our Dorrit has been acting very frisky and enjoys playing hide and seek in the pillows.
So, finally, a sweater finished and the experience was a positive one. Although I droned on about how difficult and disappointing Arwen was, the Wisteria sweater made up for all my complaints. This pattern, also by Kate Gilbert, was a joy to knit. There is nothing like a top down raglan in my book anyway. Through in a bunch of cables and I am a happy knitter.
My yarn choice was Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. I think I used about 13 skeins. After frogging the Arwen and rewinding the yarn, it was hard to tell. I used Bonnie's size 9 Harmony needles to knit in the round. The sleeves were knit in the round using the magic loop method. The only modifications I made were in the sleeve length. I knew that I wanted the sleeves to hit at the wrist so I just decreased more often and ended up with just the right length. I also made the body a bit shorter. Although I got gauge, I wish that I would have dropped a needle size to achieve a tighter knit. On the whole, I'm pleased. Now could the temperature just drop below 70, please?
Here is my Magic Ball offering for our knitting groups swap in December. I was thrilled with how he turned out. What is a Magic Ball, you ask? It's a lot of knitting and non-knitting goodies wrapped up into a couple of balls of yarn. My treats came from places far and wide and are very unusual. I hope that the recipient think so too. The ribbon says it all!