OhSewCrafty Blog

These are new-ish rather old, having been casted on for the SKC “Pullover” KAL which began in April.  The green one was first and then the peach one as I wanted to do something in the orange family for the March-April Stashdown colorwheel KAL.  Well, it’s May July now, but I haven’t had a lot of knitting time recently, and with the limited time I do have, it’s cross stitch that has been saving my sanity. 

Dayspring is from Classic Elite’s “First Light”, a pullover with three quarter sleeves and boat neck.  I subbed the yarn to use Elsbeth Lavold Cool Wool (a wool/cotton blend) from my stash.  I really love this yarn and I bought some more when Elann had a sale.  Stashdown fails again!    The project involves an allover travelling stitch pattern and is not exactly the quickest.  But the knitting is done, it needs buttons at the shoulder and blocking.

The Yoke Detail Sweater is from Debbie Bliss’s Spring/Summer 2009 magazine.  The pattern is kind of strange but I’m going with it.  I added about an inch to the body as the pattern is written for only 12.5″ from underarm.   I subbed the yarn for Zitron Kokon (silk/cotton/microfiber) from my stash.  Again, I have the yardage required but I don’t think it will be enough, especially since I added length to the body.  The sleeves must be knit before you join everything to work the yoke in the round.  So, I casted on the sleeves about an inch below the underarm shaping, provisionally.  I worked the yoke and then went back for the sleeves.  A digital scale is very helpful for this process.  I liked it with short sleeves so I stopped before running out of yarn anyway.  It needs blocking.

I must get back to long standing UFO’s and churn out FO’s, if I have any hope of maintaining a negative stashdown balance this quarter after some yarn purchases.  Stashdown last quarter was an utter failure, after some shopping (+6,350 yards) and lack of finishes (-0).  See my haul from Maryland Sheep & Wool above.  The value of stashdown is a continual question for me.  Do I feel “virtuous” when I go “cold sheep” and practice a no-buy policy?  Sure, it’s nice to deprive yourself at times just to prove you can.  However, I love yarn, I’m not fiscally irresponsible with yarn purchases, and a large stash is useful for a prolific knitter.  Also, since the move, I have a craft room and plenty of space for yarn storage.   This isn’t to say that I plan to go crazy with yarn purchases.  Stashdown is fine, and a mindful way to practice this craft.  But I don’t aspire to stashdown to zero.