A few weeks ago I steeled myself against hesitation and resolved to cast on a sweater in my size.
Last summer when the lovely Shannon of luvinthemommyhood introduced a Summer Sweater KAL (knit-a-long) I signed up full of assurance that I would have plenty of time to knit a sweater for me. Somewhere between preserving several hundred pounds of produce, knitting three child-sized sweaters (here, here, and here), and giving birth (that small thing) I realized it wasn’t going to happen.
When Shannon returned with the KAL this summer I shook my head. I knew it was not the right time to start a big project.
So…imagine my surprise when I found myself casting on a Shalom with the Cascade Eco I’d purchased for last year’s intended sweater. Even more surprising because I’ve always been on the fence about this pattern. So many talented knitters have displayed this sweater but I’ve been unsure. Some I’ve loved, others…well, I just haven’t.
I’m so glad I gave it another look. I realized I much prefer it knit with sleeves and extra buttons – a simple fix. And how serendipitous in this season where I’ve been seeking a place of Shalom to find one growing in my hands.
It’s been a nice quiet knit. Not perplexing, although I did get my obligatory pattern reading flub out of the way. I checked other knitters’ notes on the pattern (see my related bookmarks with my ravelry notes) and decided to follow Soulemama’s modifications.
Based on my previous (and limited) experience knitting sweaters for children it feels like I’m knitting this one for an elephant but thanks to the beauty of top down knitting so far it seems to fit. The chunky weight of the Eco wool makes the knitting nice and quick – a serious bonus these days.
And since it’s yarn along day after all, I have a book to share. While I’ve been knitting I’ve been reading Death Comes to Pemberley. I have mixed emotions about this continuation of sorts to Pride and Prejudice. I’ve certainly enjoyed the venerable PD James‘ writing in the past but a murder mystery surrounding my favourite classic novel? I hesitate. I’ve only just read a few chapters so I’ve yet to make an true opinion, so far I’m simply having a hard time fitting my beloved characters into these new pages. Have any of you read it?
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Find Shannon’s KAL posts at luvinthemommyhood
And yarn along with Ginny at Small Things