Pattern:    Colorstyle, designed by Robin Melanson
Yarn:         Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight- Lots of colors and some discontinued
Needles:    US 4 (3.5 mm) & US 5 (3.75 mm)

This is not the first time this little cardigan has been on the blahg. This was one of my seriously Languishing projects.

I have a very important tip for this little number that could have made it easier and more fun. Do not start the colorwork chart where the pattern calls for, which is the side of the sweater. I recommend that you start it in the middle of the steek in the front. This will create a lot less sewing in of ends, hence the fun. The sweater pattern is written for both a cardigan and a pullover, so I think to keep the pattern more succinct the editors decided that they would start the color changes at the side, where you would need them if you were knitting a pullover.

I decided not to do the embroidery. I started it and did not like it at all in my yarn choice. The plies of the Blue Sky Alpaca just did not want to stay together and it made the little details look loose and sloppy. Also, once I finished the steek in the front and armholes, sewed in the sleeves and picked up for the neck and button bands, I really just wanted to be done. I would have persevered though if I thought it would look good, but thank goodness that Alpaca just wanted to untwist. Thank you Alpaca!

This was my first steek and I learned a ton from it. I took a steeking class from Chris Bylsma after having started this project and I would have changed the way I started if I had known what I learned in that class before starting. I used my sewing machine to secure the stitches and then the scissors to cut. I would have used Chris' crochet hook method and will do so when I conquer my next steeked project.

Here's one more shot for good measure.

So, I said it was the perfect knitting storm and I got my knitting groove back on. No power meant no computer related work and no house work, so I was free to knit as much as I wanted.

I finished the Koigu Linen St Scarf from Churchmouse Tea and Yarns. This is a cool scarf that actually looks woven, but is knit using a slip st pattern to create the effect of woven material. The pattern uses 3 different colors of Koigu, which I did not have, so instead I used Shibui Staccato from my LYS, Knot Another Hat in colors #153 Twin Set, #154 Spring Garden, and #163 Summer Camp. All 3 of these colors are variegated and they worked great together.

So, onto the fringe. This is a little tutorial on how to make your fringe look as nice as the fringe in the picture from the pattern.

The fringe is worked as you go and when you are done and have washed and blocked your scarf it will look something like this:

Not too pretty and not much like the pretty pattern picture.

So, here's what you do.

1.  Get a towel and cover your ironing board. Heat up your iron to the hottest setting- highest steam setting as well. Get a small hand towel or rag and wet it completely. Lay your scarf down on the ironing board and place the wet rag over the fringe.


2.  Very lightly press the iron onto the fringe while pressing the steam button on your iron. I mean lightly too. You do not want press too hard.


3.  You can help the fringe along by combing it with your fingers and repeating step 2 a few more times, until the fringe is completely straight.

Now that the fringe is straight it is time to make some cuts.


4. Place your scarf on a quilting mat (if you do not have these tools you may find that one of your knitting friends has them. I know a lot of knitters, who also quilt and the other way around!) Line up the edge of the scarf along one of the lines on the board and make note of this line, so you can use it again for the other side. Use the Omingrid (that clear thing with the yellow lines on it) to press the fringe down and prepare to cut the fringe to the shortest of your fringe lengths. Make note of where you are lining up the grid, so you can measure the other side to the same length.


5.  Next the rotary cutter comes in handy to trim the ends all to the same exact length.

Pattern:    Sarah Keller, Scarfluffle
Yarn:         Mirasol Nuna, 3 sks Cacao #13
Needles:    US 4 (3.5 mm)