Pattern: Sesame Cardigan (Magknits August 2005)
Designed by: Melissa Wherle
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Licorice (approximately 5.25 balls)
Needles: Size US 6 circular needles
Started: July 2006 / Finished: January 2007

–Alternate View
–Button Band and Collar Detail

Quick progress on this one as soon as I psyched myself up for it… and I couldn't be happier with the result! This thing is going to be my friggin' uniform. It fits perfectly – I was a little worried as I was sewing it up – and after playing around with it, I think I kind of like the bomber jacket style with the collar up, rather than the sailor collar-down look.

Once the body pieces were complete, there was still quite a bit of knitting required. Thankfully, I had a free Saturday, and there were plenty of good television to catch up on; the collar and the button band were finished and blocked and by Saturday night, it was ready to wear. Even sewed the buttons on while chatting with my sister on the phone.

No major modifications to the sweater – I didn't add the extra buttons that Melissa mentions in the pattern, and only made 4 button holes, instead of the 6 written into the pattern. The buttons were what drew me to this sweater in the first place, and I gotta say, I love the way they turned out. At first, I thought the light wood of the buttons alongside the black knit fabric may be too much contrast, but in the end, I think it looks great. I am not sure how often I will wear it completely buttoned anyhow… Bought the buttons last year at the craft store. Still have two more to embellish some other knits!

A note on the yarn: I am so glad that Lion Brand wisened up and brought Cotton Ease back. This yarn is fabulous. It is a great quality worsted cotton/acrylic blend with a lot of yardage at a good price. Plus their new colors are quite attractive. How great would this cardi look in the new Violet or Terra Cotta colorways? It may be worth a trip to the craft store… I used a little more than 5 skeins for this cardigan (I made the 38" size) and I still have a few to spare.

I would totally knit this sweater again, despite it taking me forever to complete. It is a simple classic design that will be perfect with jeans, as well as casual skirts. The cotton will transcend all seasons – a year-round wardrobe staple, for sure. As I was putting on the finishing touches, I told Kris "I would totally buy this…"

…and did you notice? I got a new toy!

"Bite the Bullet": to do or accept something difficult or unpleasant. Etymology: based on the literal action of soldiers in the past who bit on bullets when they were operated on without drugs.

…Maybe that is a little too strong. It is not entirely difficult, and not yet to the degree of "unpleasant", but my Sesame cardigan has been hanging around for quite some time in my knitting bag. Too long. I can't complain though. This is a great design – simple and easy to understand. The yarn is great, and a good fit for the pattern. It is just a lot of stockinette, and the cotton tends to do a number on my wrists. However, I know I will wear this cardigan all the time…

So, I bit the bullet.

I have been working solely on Sesame since Sunday afternoon. I have made a lot of progress. I finished the back – I only had three inches before – and finished the sleeves. I have sewn the shoulder seams, and am now working on the collar, which was picked up and knit. Next step: the button band. I am close!

A little fireside knitting while watching the NHL All-Stars game…

I figured that since I started this cardigan during the last Project Spectrum, I really should finish it before the beginning of the second Project Spectrum round…

What project is lingering in your basket? 

Durrow is a long-neglected knit, from Magknits October 2005. It is not because the yarn, or the designer – in fact, I adore them both. It is because I feel like a doofus when knitting it.

I finished the back, and I have ripped out this %$@# cabled sleeve three times. I can't seem to get it. I am trying to stay positive about it, but I can't wrap my brain around these cables! However, I will not completely admit defeat, especially when I see that Anne is flying with her Durrow sleeve. It looks beautiful… so, why can't I figure it out? I want to get it right. The cable is what drew me to this sweater. Sure, I could skip it, but it would be just another ribbed sweater in that case. (I am not sure that Kris would care, but I want to say that I have done this cable!) Any tips for this knitter who has (almost) reached the end of the rope?

My answer for Durrow was simply placing it back in the basket – letting it marinate for awhile. That is why it has been buried, following the logic of knit basket stratigraphy…

The story with Sesame is simple – I was tempted away by other knits. Sesame is a beautifully designed cardigan, one that I will undoubtedly wear all year long. I am working on the back and sleeve 2 simultaneously, having already completed the front panels, and sleeve one. It is the notorious black yarn – hard to photograph and hard to get a sense about, but I just know this one will be a winner… whenever I finish it!

I knit a few rows while watching some TV this weekend, and while I am using cotton (Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Licorice to be precise), I know it will be a warm garment, and will fit into my layering wardrobe mentality very well. Cardigans are a staple piece – remember, I am an official librarian now, so it goes with the territory

I am working both front panels simultaneously.  I have sleeve one finished as well – I used it as a gauge swatch.  So, sleeve two, the back, and the pick-up stitches for the button band and collar still to go.  I think I can, I think I can.

What drew me to this sweater in the first place?  well, I wanted to stashbust some of the Lion Brand Cotton Ease that I hoarded last year when I heard about its discontinuation, but I was also drawn to the amazing buttons.  I just adore buttons!  These particular wooden buttons are from the local craft store, and are totally worth their slightly higher price tag ($1.25 a button!) to me – they are what drew me to the sweater in the first place!  I am thinking about dyeing them (or staining them?) a slightly darker wood color, as I could not find any others that were darker.  The light wood against the black knit fabric may be too jarring, or maybe not…  Thoughts?

I started the Sesame cardigan in the Project Spectrum neutral month of August, and I couldn't resist the basic pattern.  Melissa did a great job designing this cardigan, it is truly a fashion staple that I can dress up or leave casual all year long.  As soon as I finish this one, it is hitting the streets – I already have outfits planned in my mind to match it.  You do that too, right?  Like a mental Fashion Plate series – top – pants/skirt – shoes.  I have thought about it all…

…like how it will match the new velvet sequined ballerina flats I got over the weekend in Tennessee!

PS–I flipped a coin like Maryse suggested – and I came up with "No Hood".  Those of you who lobbied for the hood made a good case, but I am happy with the hoodless decision – so the Pomegranate PULLOVER will make its debut tomorrow – stay tuned!

Its not like it was a long honeymoon.  I finished my summer class in the beginning of August and luckily had a brief respite before fall semester courses begin tomorrow, and I have been working at the Archives the whole time… basically it just meant that I didn't have to feel guilty for knitting instead of doing my reading assignments…  fall semester always seems so much harder to me, for some reason.  This semester I am taking my last Library Science class, and a French Revolution class for my history degree.  Since this is my last semester in the Library Science program, I will be taking comprehensive examinations the last weekend in October, and if everything goes well (as planned!), I will complete my Masters of Library Science in December – Lolly, MLS! (yeah, still have a few more classes before the History is done – but one has to celebrate each step along the way!)

So, with hours of homework just a few days away, I decided to have a fun weekend! a little hoorah before the brunt of books, papers, and day-long exams hit me full-force.

Jen, Coleen, Minty, me, Diane, Heather, and Sarah (not pictured)

Minty was in town visiting family, but she was able to sneak away for a few hours to join the Maryland girls at All About Yarn and the local café for some knitty action! It was a great time!! 

I managed to get out of the yarn shop without any damage to my wallet, and to my Summer of Stash commitment! (despite all of their sale bins and new yarns and samples…ah, one more week…) 

Lest you think that I only destroy sweaters… I put some good time in on my Sesame cardigan while knitting with the group. 

I am working the left and right fronts of the garment at the same time, and it is going pretty quickly. They look like sleeves at this point, but when I pick up stitches for the button band, it will be wider.  I can't wait to wear this cardigan – it will definitely be a staple in my wardrobe.  And I already have the perfect accessories to match it, many thanks to dear Anjo!  Anjo sent me a lovely Project Spectrum package with so many neutral goodies, and she sent out goodie bags to all the commenters on her blog - how generous is that?? This black and white fabric pin, and the purse in the background were part of my package.  Thank you so much, girl.  Your creativity and generosity are a real inspiration!

And as Project Spectrum comes to a close (can you even believe that six months went SO fast?), I just want to thank all of you who participated in this project, and shared your energy and creativity.  The Project Spectrum Flickr group is a constant source of inspiration for me – please check it out if you want to see the work of other participants, or if you would like to include your project photos for any month.  September will be a Project Spectrum Clean Sweep month – pull out any of those lingering projects you have from color months past and get cracking, my friends! I will be working diligently on some of my previous projects, in particular my Sesame, and my Pomegranate Hoodie… September will be a virtual Craft Parade of Color! What are you planning to finish?

My knitting career has been rather short, as I only learned to knit in November 2003; however, I have made several neutral knits, some great successes and others… learning experiences.

My first socks were a learning experience, and a success, as was Kris's raglan cardigan (my first zipper installation). I adore my Klaralund sweater, and wore it often last winter, but I will need to reknit it in order to wear it again (instead of a fashionable knit, it now looks more like a burlap sack because of the fit…) Luckily, hats, mittens, and shawls always fit!

And for this lovely month of August, I am adding to the neutral knits colletcion – most specifically my brown Lace Knee Highs, and my black Sesame Cardigan.

The browns are so varied – from grays to reds – and they are making the most beautiful socks. I adore this pattern (Lace Knee Highs from Interweave Knits Winter 2004) and I think the light variegations add a new dimension to the existing pattern. The leaf motif looks so much more authentic in the autumnal palette!

I have about 5 more inches of pattern before I start on the heel flap for the sock. From there, it is straight stockinette down the (long) foot. I should have plenty of yarn with over 600 yards.

Thank goodness I had the Sesame cardigan with me at Knit Nite last night… I can only knit on very simple stockinette when chatting it up with the ladies at Knit Nite. (See the fun we had!)

Sleeve One is nearly complete, and it is going very smoothly. Next up, I am planning to knit the back. I chose to start with the sleeve in order to check my gauge. I substituted this yarn (Cotton Ease in Licorice) so the sleeve was my swatch. And it worked! I swear, I am going to wear this cardigan everyday, it is going to be perfecto. Especially with these:

As for the future of neutral knits… you saw my stash, you know I have more! These probably won't be on the needles till the next round of Project Spectrum (whenever that may be, and in whatever incarnation) rolls around, but they are in my head!

This is the Roma tee from the Dalegarn Trends collection. The black and pink are Dale Svale, a cotton/silk blend. I am planning to make this tank solid black (without the mosaic around the bust) and have hot pink hem around the neck and arm holes, a la ringer tee. Next spring or summer, most likely.

The Syncopated Ribs pullover, designed by Norah Gaughan for Interweave Knits a few seasons ago… I want mine to be a little more fitted than the one on the model, and it will be in the luscious chocolate Tess Designer Yarns Merino that I bought at Maryland Sheep and Wool this past May. I love her designs.

… and the list is growing longer and longer, especially since I made these recent acquisitions…

The Fall issues of Vogue, Knit Simple, and Interweave Knits, as well as some new books (I won a gift card to the bookstore at the company picnic – it was just burning a hole in my pocket!)

Wrap Style

Scarf Style

Greetings from Knit Café

…more details when I have time to look through them!

Big tin antique stars in historic Ellicott City

Thread Bobbins in neutrals

Antique Ceiling Tiles

My neutral yarn stash – click on picture for details about each skein of yarn!

Sesame Cardigan sleeve started – Loving the Cotton Ease!

Lace Knee Highs progress – through row 15 on lace chart

 **

What are you planning to do for this neutral month?