knitwise

Chicago #2

After many trials with different colours and different yarns,  I decided, at the end,  not to knit the flowers. I have sewn a rick-rack trim instead along the front borders and around the cuffs. Because it is my second Chicago, I opted for a slightly different version and am quite happy with it.

It was very hot today and I only put the cardigan on for the photo shoot!... I will have to wait a little while before I wear it. (Knowing the British weather, it shouldn't be too long...)

I have finished the body of the February Lady Sweater and am very pleased with it. Not so with the sleeves which are a bit too wide. I will have to rip what I have done so far and decrease a few stitches under arm. I had hoped to finish it before my holidays at the middle of August, will I make it? I wonder...

Rowan 44 magazine

 The new Rowan magazine 44 has landed and I really love it!

As usual, the presentation and photography is beautiful. My favourite part is the Nostalgia collection with its 1940 inspired patterns with glamorous Hollywood names. Those who love vintage style knits, as I do,  will be delighted.  The Renaissance collection is less appealing to me. It is colourful and some patterns are breathtaking (I love the Raphael tunic featured on the front cover) but it is not really my style. The Elegance collection shows different versions of some designs from both Nostalgia and Renaissance.

My top fav? Fontaine by Marion Foale. I love the shaping at the back. Knitted on 2.75mm needles, it will be a labour of love, but I am already dreaming about casting on...

In 2nd place, I would have Lamour by Sarah Hatton. As a rule, I prefer cardigans to jumpers, but this one reminds me of a sweater my Mum made for me years ago and I used to wear it all the time. I love the neck tab detail on this one. Using Wool Cotton on 4mm needles, this should knit up reasonably quickly...

My third choice is Bacall by Sarah Hatton. I prefer the short sleeve version of the Nostalgia collection in Kid Classic. This should be a quick and pretty easy project. The hardest part would be to find the perfect brooch to complete it.

What are your favourites?

Knitting along...

Chicago #2 is nearly completed. A rainy Sunday finally motivated me into sewing up all the pieces waiting patiently in my bag for over a week... Now I have to knit all the little flowers, but I am still undecided in the choice of colour(s). Originally, I intended to knit them all in the same green. Now that I have the cardigan finished in front of me, I am not so sure, and I might knit them in different colours as the original pattern is... What do you think???

But my needles haven't been idle for a whole week...  I couldn't resist casting on for the February Lady Sweater.

An awful lot of people are knitting this at the moment on Ravelry and, for once, I am knitting along....  I have been wanting to knit a cardi from the top down for a long time and this pattern comes along. I am loving every minute of it, probably because this is all new to me: top-down, in the round, no sewing...

I am using Rowan All Seasons Cotton on 4.5mm needles and it is growing fast...