Pieces of Pearl
The Pearl Buck Swing Jacket, combined with the Lavold Silky Wool, is turning out to be a pleasant garment to knit. So far, I'm finding Kate Gilbert's instructions easy to work through and I'm also happy with the balance of interesting details with simple knitting. Call me unsophisticated, but I have a fondness for stockinette stitch. And the sweaters in my closet that I like best seem to be the ones with a few simple details that are set off by relatively uncomplicated stockinette. My gut feeling right now is that this sweater will also be one that gets a lot of wear once it's finished.
Funny. it's been so long since I really worked on a sweater that I liked that I had almost forgotten how much I really do like to work on sweaters. I know there's been a lot of socks and scarves on my needles lately, but this sweater is giving me a not-so-subtle reminder that I can't live on knitting diet of socks and scarves alone. But selectivity isn't a bad thing, either. I have quite a few sweaters that don't get much wear because I made a poor selection with regards to color or shape. I like to think that this new found selectivity is a measure of my maturation as a knitter. It's becoming a lot more about quality than quantity, both in terms of the garments I knit and the contents of my stash.
I took great satisfaction today in pinning these pieces down to my board. Such nice shaping in these two little pieces, the yoke and one of the sleeves. These sleeves are "bracelet length" and so aren't nearly so bad to knit as I find most to be. I had only a brief evening excursion to Sleeve Island before heading back to the Left Front Mainland.
If anyone else is interested in knitting this cardigan, Jeanne of "A Bluestocking Knits" is hosting a knit-a-long for the project. Things don't officially kick off until the beginning of March, so you've got plenty of time to compete in the Knitting Olympics and still take on this project if you want to knit-a-long. Me, I'm sitting this Olympics out, but I did find one Olympic group that was appropriate to my Olympic ambition level this year. I think there's always room for one more if you want to join "Team Homer".
I'll be watching you, Theresa, to make sure you're drinking enough beer during the Olympics. :)
I love the color of the jacket. What kind of blocking board do you have? It looks nice and big!
I'm also interested in knowing more about your blocking board. Since our new home will have a dedicated knitting room I will suddenly have room for this sort of thing!
I coveting that blocking board, too. Have been looking for a BIG one.......
The color is wonderful for the swing jacket.
A hearty "me too!" on the admiration of the blocking board. I have vague memories that suggest that my mother owns a lovely blocking table...I wonder if I could convince her to ship it to me?
I have admired that pattern mightily--and that Silky Wool is one of my favorite yarns. Tweedy goodness! Lookin' good!
I'm where you are on the sweater issue: I'm not interested in knitting challenge so much as producing a garment that I will love to wear. And I'm all about the restrained styling details too.
If you feel like it sometime, a review of which of your sweaters worked in the wearing, which didn't and why is ALWAYS entertaining.
I'm happy that you've found a sweater that is right for you. It's nice to see you knitting a sweater again. This is a great sweater and one I think that will fit your "selectivity". There's nothing wrong with that. I love stockinette stitch. There are some cabled things that I like on others, but rarely have in my wardrobe for myself. I love the timeless beauty of stockinette and paired with the pattern you've selected, I don't think you can go wrong.