Done!

It took longer than it should have, but it was all worth the effort:

I actually finished this a month ago and have been wearing it all of the time. It is so warm! I am glad I went with the zipper instead of the buttons--a new challenge for me. Another great pattern from Claudia at CountryWool. I am thinking about knitting a second one of these in different colors as a gift for a family member (can't say it out loud, they might be reading!).

Here are the details:
Pattern: "Faroe Island Vine Cardigan" by Claudia Krisniski/CountryWool
Yarn: "Dalegarn Heilo" by Dale of Norway; 100% wool
Color: 4246 wine; 3841 medium sheepheather
Needles: US#7/4.5 mm
Comments: A well designed pattern and classic cardigan.

Faroe Vine cardigan update

I have dived back into my Faroe Vine Cardigan. I finally finished both sleeves and attached them and am now working the shoulder/collar decreases. I am so excited to finish this! Over the next week I should have all of the body knitting complete. Then I will need to do the steeking , neckband and hem, and then the front button band. And I just ordered some buttons...Here's how we're looking:

February goals 4 and 5--ughh

I am discussing my goals in the order I listed them on Feb 1st, but I really should have these 2 in positions 7 and 8 (yes, the bottom of the list). Not because I do not like the projects, but because they both have "issues".

Goal 4. Continue working on Faroe Cardigan: bottom MUST be done by end of February, including hem: At this point, this is really easy knitting. The pattern is memorized and I can just move right along. BUT...I have been working on 15.5 inches of this pattern and I'm not excited anymore. I think I only have 10 - 20 more rnds (of 276 stitches each) and I will be done knitting this part. And I need to finish sewing up the hem before the end of the month. I will get it done, I will get it done, I will get it done...Here's an old picture (I really do love the sweater):

Goal 5. 2008 resolution: convert "Bird Foot" socks into wrist warmers (need to complete 1 by end of month and cast on the second one). This is a sock gone bad:

Okay, maybe it's not the sock's fault. I started this UFO back in 2006. At the time it was only my second project using stranded knitting. I make gauge swatches of everything except for hats and socks (I make hats as a gauge "swatch" for any sweaters I make). Can you guess where we're going with this? Well, the sock is WAY too tight--even for my daughters. What to do? It really is too pretty to abandon, so I have decided to sit down with the chart and make it into a pair of wrist warmers. I will rip back to where the heel started and make a pretty finish. It really won't be that hard--I just need to sit down and do it.

Update on Faroe Vine Cardigan

I haven't had much time to blog lately, but I have been busy knitting. Here's my proof:

I've knit about 12 inches of the necessary 15.5 inches on my cardigan. The past couple of days have been too warm for knitting wool sweaters, but I hope to get back at it this weekend. This sweater needs to be complete by the end of October so I can start my NaKniSweMo (knit a sweater in the month of November). This would be an easy task if I didn't have so many other projects with deadlines and 3 kids...

Fall Knitting

There are things you are more likely to knit in the summer (lace, socks, ...) and things that are more likely to wait until cooler weather (wool sweaters, blankets,...). I have been waiting patiently for the weather to cool so I could pick up my Faroe Vine Cardigan again. This is a cardigan designed by Claudia at Countrywool (click here for pattern details) that I started at Claudia's spring retreat earlier this year. The quiet morning time that I used for MS3 knitting this summer will be replaced with my Faroe Vine Cardigan. My goal is to have this finished and on me by the end of October. So here is where I stand:


I have 1 sleeve 75% complete and I have knit 5 inches of the total 15.5 inches I need for the side body. This is a seamless cardigan knit in the round with a covered steek opening--but we will worry about that later! I am just happy to be knitting this again.