We interrupt this programme

Yes, I am continuing to work on Butterick 3794 - I have a deadline for it, after all - but only when I'm at home. When I'm at my mum's, I knit. And, courtesy of a lot of time spent sitting in an armchair chatting and knitting, I have finally finished my slate Wondrella!

Woohoo!

I started this project over two years ago, in November 2023. Given that I had managed to knit both my blue and aloe Wondrellas in the preceding nine months, that's a very long time for one cardigan. I got distracted by other projects, and possibly I was just a bit Wondrella'ed out. But since I picked it up again in October, I've kept at it.

I eventually got to the end of the second sleeve, and I even knitted the cuff ribbing as p1, k1 instead of k1, p1, so that the way the rib meets the end of the cable would be the same on both sleeves! Obviously, no-one will know this but me, but it makes me happy.

Why yes, I am a nerdy completist, how did you guess?

Partway through knitting the fronts, I had begun to wonder how much wool this version would use (and it has used a fair bit more than the previous two), and I thought it best to buy an extra ball. Because it was so long since I bought the original yarn, of course it was a different dye lot. The base colour was the same, but there were clearly more coloured flecks in it. So I decided to knit the neck band and button bands last, in the hope that if I had to use a slightly different yarn it would be less noticeable than changing halfway down a sleeve. After the endless knitting of the sleeves, the bands came together very quickly - and I did have enough of the original yarn.

Slightly blurred (sorry) neck band pic

Buttons. Regular readers (thank you) will know the trouble which button choice always causes me. This time however, it seemed to be straightforward, as I had a whole tube of the perfect buttons for the job - bought years ago at a flea market for pennies. But of course, it was more complicated than that. The seemingly identical buttons ranged from light grey to almost black.

Lighter or darker?

In the end, I went for the lighter buttons. As with the previous versions, I backed the button and buttonhole bands with grosgrain ribbon.

And here, at last, is the finished item being worn. I tapered the lengthened the sleeves too early, so they are quite close-fitting towards the cuffs, but I have no intention of any reknitting! It proved impossible to get any photos which showed the cable detail clearly, so the picture at the top of this post will have to serve as proof that it is on there!

The cable is barely visible

This project was a lot of work; I had to write out the pattern for the fronts line by line, and then alter it in stages to insert the cable instructions. (I'm sure there must be an easier way, feel free to comment!) But I'm delighted with the end result, and proud of myself for achieving it.

Part of my rewritten pattern and notes

That I could do it at all was due to Tasha, the designer of Wondrella. She creates such clear, well-written patterns that I had a strong basis to work from, and that is why this mad idea of a still newish knitter worked. Thanks, Tasha.

All I want for Christmas is . . .

. . . to reach the ribbing on the second sleeve of my slate Wondrella cardigan. And I'm going to be disappointed.

I know that it's a busy time of year, and that I've got more to do this year than previously, but I'm still in disbelief at just how long this is taking. I'm sure that the first sleeve, which I finished some weeks ago, wasn't this tortuous.

Current mood

I have knitted through films. I have knitted through costume dramas. I have knitted through podcasts. And I've still got a long way to go.

The second sleeve laid over the first

Obviously the rounds get shorter as the sleeve narrows, but even in terms of total number of stitches I'm less than halfway through. Sigh.

So all that remains is to wish everyone who celebrates a very Merry Christmas. And if you are trying to finish a project for the 25th, may you have more success than I will!

The last month

Having finished my Reyna, the urge to start another project is strong. Especially as one of my recent trips to Shrewsbury hospital involved a detour to Ewe and Ply and the acquisition of further skein of their lovely Corrie-Mo yarn. Despite my substantial Ravelry queue, it's now caked up, and calling to be made into another Close to You.

Ready to go

The shade is called Leaf Peeping, and I can see why.

With an autumnal backdrop

But for me the colours are more reminiscent of carousel horses, like these ones.

Blurred, but you get the idea

As if that wasn't enough, I’ve also bought wool for my so-good-I-bought-it-twice cardigan. I knew exactly what yarn and shade I wanted to use for this, so when I discovered that my local fabric and wool shop was selling it at 15% off for Black Friday - well, it seemed rude not to!

King Cole wool aran in shade Cranberry

Despite all this, and the suggestion that there are psychological benefits to having multiple projects on the go*, I am trying to resist adding to my works in progress. Mainly because it's December tomorrow, and I don't feel that I've done a lot this year. So I'd really like to spend the last month of 2025 finishing a few things.

My shirtwaist, Butterick 7729, came to a halt when Royal Mail managed to lose the matching covered belt that I'd had made. Harlequin kindly made me a replacement (fortunately I had spare fabric), but by then it was a bit beyond cotton shirtwaist weather.

With belt, but without buttonholes, buttons or hem

I made a bit of progress on my black 1930s dress, Butterick 7598, but it has ground to a halt again. And my Wool Fair cardigan hasn't been touched since May.

So that just leaves my slate Wondrella. Realistically, I'm only going to have the time to complete at most one project in the next month, so I'm concentrating on this one. I completed the fronts, and to my relief, the cable pattern as I had calculated it fitted in very well with the shaped neckline.

It worked!

Now I'm working on the first sleeve. The sleeves are meant to be full length, but on both my blue and aloe versions, they came out as bracelet length. This didn't bother me as those are both summer cardigans, but for a winter cardigan I wanted something longer. I worked out how many extra rows were needed to fill the gap, and recalculated the rate of stitch decreases to make a smoothly tapering shape. I've also added a cable panel down the centre of the sleeve, to match the fronts. The sleeves are knitted top down, whereas the fronts are knitted bottom up. This doesn't make a huge difference to the cable pattern, except that I initially got the rows where the cable widens and then narrows the wrong way round.

Getting these two points mixed up was 'interesting'!

I've still got about 20% of this sleeve, plus the ribbing, to knit. Then there's the second sleeve, the neck band and the button bands, and the ribbon backing to add. Getting this done in a busy month is going to be a real stretch, but I can only try.

Sleeve progress

* - Dr Anne Kirketerp, a Danish psychologist and author of the book Craft Psychology, claims that having a range of projects to choose from gives you the freedom to select one that matches your energy level. I can see the logic of this; if you’ve had a busy day and just want to relax with something non-taxing, then trying to plough on with your complex lace or colourwork project is unlikely to benefit either you or your knitting. So depending on how things go, I may yet end up casting on another Close to You after all!

The season of the knits

There's something about this time of year which brings knitting to the fore in my mind.

Time to get knitting!

Actually, it's hardly a surprise. Much as I love my workroom, there's no denying that it's quite large, slightly draughty, and has north-facing windows. It's wonderful in the summer, and a welcome refuge in heatwaves, but as the nights draw in the lure of knitting in a comfy armchair close to a heat source is irresistible!

Last autumn, I was full of good intentions to work on my latest Wondrella cardigan which, as a 'winter' knit, had been put to one side in the spring. But I also wanted to get on with my Lothian shawl, and then I made my Express Line cardigan, followed by a second one as a Christmas gift. Add in my opal and green Close to You shawls, and the Poppy and Wool Fair knit-alongs, and my poor Wondrella just didn't get a look-in.

Part of the problem was my decision to add cable bands up the front. I had done a little of this in the bottom section of the cardigan, which is knitted across the full width, and found it tricky.

I had done this much cable, and all of the back

Of course, the longer I left it, the more the difficulty was amplified in my memory, and the less inclined I was to pick it up again. But the arrival of cooler weather reminded me that yes, I really would like to have a dark grey vintage-style winter cardi - and there was only one way to get one which fits!

When I actually started knitting it again, I discovered that the cable wasn't as hard to do as I remembered. It helped that somewhere (unfortunately I can't remember where, so I can't credit the knitter) I had picked up the tip to use a large locking stitch marker as a cable needle. Using an actual cable needle had been one of my big issues - I found it unwieldy and was always worried that it would slip out and drop the stitches - but this worked perfectly. Yes, I have to transfer the stitches back to the left needle rather than knit them off the cable needle, but it's a small price to pay for the confidence that they are going nowhere.

My cable 'needle' in action

Once that was sorted, I really got the bug again. The cable would make any mismatch in the fronts really obvious, so rather than knit one side to completion and then the other, I switched between the two. I knitted the left side to the start of the neckline slit, then the right side to that point and on to the start of the neckline shaping, then the left side to the neckline shaping.

Partway though the left front

Now I've got that shaping to consider. I had added three stitches to each front, to compensate for the way the cable section made them a little narrower, so those stitches have to be removed. I also need to think about how the cable pattern fits in to the shaping. I found it impossible to visualise any of this, so drew out the original pattern version of the necklines for each side on squared paper. Then I redrew them three squares wider on each side, and worked out how best to take out those extra stitches. I also drew out my version of the cable diagrams.

My chart (it makes sense to me!)

Once I was happy with all this, I wrote the instructions out line by line.

Part of my line-by-line instructions

All of this gave me a new respect for people who design knitting patterns; there were times doing this when my brain felt absolutely fried! The next stage is to knit my instructions up, and see if they work. I have, of course, added a safety line on each side - I have a feeling I might need it! But after neglecting it for so long, I’m really enjoying knitting this cardigan again.

Good in theory

When I first started knitting, back in February 2023, there was a strong possibility that my blue Wondrella cardigan would be my first and last project. But it was a success, and I got the knitting bug. Even so, I had the best of intentions. I would only knit one project at a time. There would be no UFOs or PHDs. And no yarn stash. Less than 18 months later, how is this going?

Erm. Not entirely as planned!

I am still working away on my Lothian shawl. I wasn't happy with the wonkiness of my first few rows so, on the basis that a special project is worth doing properly, I frogged it and started again.

Much neater

I was far happier with this version, and am now up to 72 rows of the 138 which make up the plain section.

Progress so far

But there is no denying that it's slow going. 4ply feels very thin compared to the DK I have mostly been using, and with the row increases 72 rows is less than a third of the plain section overall. So, I have been tempted away to the dark side of a quicky and bulky project.

Whoops

The culprit is Express Line, another excellent pattern from Tasha Could Make That. Knitted in super chunky yarn, on whopping 10mm needles, I only started it a week ago but already have the body completed.

The image above is a better representation of the colour

I would have even more done if I had picked up the stitches for the buttonhole band correctly. In such a thick yarn it's very obvious that it's wrong, but somehow I only noticed as I was about to start casting off. So again, it was a case of frogging and redoing.

How could I have missed this?

Not only do I have more than one project on the go, but I have had a UFO for ages. Ten months ago I started a third Wondrella cardigan, this time modified to include cable panels up the fronts. I completed the 'full width' section and all of the (plain stocking stitch) back, but put it away in the spring as it is very much a winter cardi. Now that it's autumn, I am thinking of picking it up again once I have the Express Line completed. Unfortunately, I didn't complete writing out the modified pattern, and it's a struggle to remember what I was planning. I will work in out eventually, but it's a useful note to self - don't assume that you will remember what you were doing 10 months ago!

Can I remember what to do next?

Finally, there's the small matter of the stash. A few weeks ago it was the annual Coastal Colours Pop-Up Wool Show in Port Sunlight. This was where I got the wool for my Blue Dahlia shawl last year, and it's almost local to me, so of course I had to go. I was very restrained, and went round all the stalls to see what was available before making any purchases. (Judging from the number of people who were, like me, sitting in the café consulting notes, this approach was being widely used!)

Something which really caught my eye was this beautiful set from Yarn Unique with its glorious rich colours. It was my one 'must buy' from my first look round.

Yummy!

I follow AndKnit on Instagram, and some months ago she posted her version of the Puff shawl (you can see it here). I liked the pattern, and had hoped to find some suitable wool for making my own version at the show. After much deliberation, I settled on these two skeins from Ducky Darlings.

Firepit and Cardomon Spice

The Puff shawl

It will be a while before I get round to making these purchases up, but I don't feel too guilty about making the most of a wool show that's practically on my doorstep. I find that winter is increasingly knitting season for me, so hopefully I will get some projects done before too long.

February progress report

I have a college assignment due at the end of the month, and don't currently have much time for sewing, knitting, or blogging. So instead, here's a quick update on where I am with my various works in progress.

First up, sewing. My accidentally striped pinafore dress is looking a bit tired - hardly surprising as it's almost seven years old, and has had a lot of wear. I've made a start on a new one, using some black pinstripe wool which I bought for this purpose last year. It's all cut out, and the bodice is part done; it still needs the lining sewing down at the shoulders, understitching, and the front pleats tacked in place.

Pinafore bodice

I never thought that I would have more knitting projects on the go than sewing projects, but here we are. My slate Wondrella is cast on, and is my project for when I want to chat while knitting or am too tired for anything complicated. I have knitted the whole body, including front cables, up to the point of splitting of the fronts and back. I decided to knit the back before doing the fronts, although I can't now remember my logic for this! All the armscye shaping is done, so it's just a case of stocking stitch for another 50 or so rows.

The whole thing

Close-up on the right front

My blue Dahlia shawl remains my 'concentration required' project. I am finding it easier as I become more familiar with the pattern, but the slightest bit of wandering mind and I can be sure that I'll make a mistake. I bought a lovely set of coloured stitch markers (in colourway 'Thistle') from Rebecca’s Room Knitting and use them to colour-code the different sections of the pattern; they are perfect for reminding me where I am in a row.

Markers is shades of silver, purple and green

In terms of rows, I am more than halfway through. However because each row increases by four stitches, in terms of total number of stitches I am only around 30% done.

One side, partially stretched out

Occasionally I stop halfway through a row, just to get an idea of what the finished shawl might look like. Although I can't really tell now, as I can no longer space the stitches out properly. I will definitely need some more blocking mats to fit it all on!

Trying to show the whole thing

And that is where things are currently up to.

Meanwhile, back at the 'simple' pattern tweak . . .

The last time I posted about my plan to add a decorative panel to my next Wondrella cardigan, I was about to knit a second gauge swatch, this time including the cable pattern I had chosen for my embellishment.

I duly knitted it, and blocked it.

(Over) stretched out to gauge

It . . . didn't look brilliant. The yellow towel underneath was clearly visible in several places, and the sections where there was only a single purl stitch either side of the cable looked especially stretched. I soaked it and reblocked it, this time to what felt like the natural amount of stretch. The result was very close to the original stocking stitch swatch in terms of length, but way off in terms of width.

Comparing swatches of the same number of rows and stitches

The overall difference was about three stitches, but the stocking stitch sections had come out exactly to gauge. The reduction was all in the cable section. The fact that cable knits tighter is probably well-known to experienced knitters, but was news to me. So, I knitted yet another swatch, this one three stitches wider. I added an extra purl stitch to either side of the cable, and a single extra stitch to the stocking stitch section. Once blocked, 23 stitches (instead of the original 20), came out to the desired 10cm.

Second attempt - much better

This fixed one problem, but added another. The front shoulders would now be three stitches wider than the back shoulders, and as the two are joined with a three-needle bind off, the number of stitches need to be the same. The three extra stitches needed to be removed as part of the neckline shaping.

I figured that I could lose one in the initial bind off. For the others, I drew a diagram of the neckline, and marked a straight line along the edges of the 'stitches'. Then I added a second straight line, ending two squares across. I used this line as the basis for the new neckline.

Redrafting the neckline

Then, of course, I had to work out the knitting instructions for the new shaping.

Row by row instructions

Once all this was done, I could consider the positioning of the cable design on the cardigan front. First, I drew a basic schematic of the cable on tracing paper, marking which were the right side and wrong side rows.

It makes sense to me!

Next, I drew out a shortened version of the cardigan front, complete with the altered neckline. The pattern repeat for the cable is 12 rows, so I removed 60 rows from between the top of the ribbing and the start of the neckline. Again, I marked the right side and wrong side rows.

Because I wasn't going to draw out another full-size pattern like this

Once I had both drawings, it was just a case of moving the cable design around the 'front' until I found a position I was happy with and where the Rs and Ws lined up. Then I copied the cable markings onto the squared paper.

Shortened version, with ribbing and cable drawn on

Knitting experts would probably be able to tell at once whether or not this plan is workable, but I am not in that camp. So, I am going to knit a (hopefully, final) test piece starting with ribbing, then a few rows of the front and finally the neckline shaping. Yes, it's more work and yes, I am longing to just start knitting, but I reckoned that it is better to find any flaws in my plan before knitting about 90 rows of cardigan.

Working out the row-by-row knitting instructions for this latest test involved combining instructions from 1 - the original Wondrella, 2 - the new neckline, and 3 - the cable design. My brain was ready to explode by the time I was done! But I now have something to keep me occupied over Christmas (and also a vastly increased respect for designers of knitting patterns!).

And the winner is . . .

I have (I hope) selected a suitable pattern for my next cardigan from the auditions process.

What name is inside the envelope?

Some of my original selections didn't even make it to the first round. They were all 16 stitches wide, and when I tried laying the samples I had already completed onto my blue Wondrella, I realised that this was going to be too wide.

Out of curiosity, I did try knitting up one of the wider patterns. But after frogging it for the third time I gave up!

Beyond my capabilities, for now

One of the samples I had already knitted is 13 stitches wide. Not only did this seem a bit too much, but the pattern is directional. I'm considering doing the pattern on the sleeves as well as the front, but the sleeves are top-down while the body is bottom-up, so this sample had to go.

Not quite right for this project

This diamond pattern with twisted stitches is pretty, and very easy to knit, but doesn't show up particularly well in this marled yarn - I think that it would work better in a solid colour.

This gets a bit lost

The ukuleles pattern was another one which I had knitted already. It's narrow, and shows up well, but I didn't feel I was knitting the shapes very consistently.

Ukuleles, banjos, lutes - they're all in there

Of the samples I had already knitted, this left the chain links (or, as I always think of it, 'the sausages') as my favourite. But there were still a couple of cable designs left to try.

Chain links, or sausage links?

This one was far too wide, but I liked the central element of narrow and wider twists, and wondered if I could just knit that section.

Definitely got potential

Because I'm new to cable knitting, it took a couple of goes to work out which parts of the chart and instructions I could ignore.

Trying to block out the bits I didn't need

But I got there in the end, and it was worth the effort.

Well hello!

This immediately became my new favourite pattern - sorry, sausages. Not too wide, shows up well, not directional. The only one issue was that I wanted something which was symmetrical across the two fronts, not the same. (At this point, I offer my apologies to any experienced knitters who are reading this and thinking, "Oh for crying out loud, it's simple.". As I say, I'm a knitting novice and cable is a whole new subsection of what is still a fairly new area.)

In the meantime, I did one final sample of basic cables.

Twists in both directions! What witchcraft is this?

These were a bit too basic, but I did make the exciting discovery that the direction of the twist depends upon whether you put the cable needle to the front or the back!!! Groundbreaking*. Armed with this new knowledge, I went back to the instructions for the previous sample and made a couple of changes. And, voila!

At this point, I did take a moment to bask in my triumph

So now, I am knitting a swatch the same size as my original one, mostly in stocking stitch, but with the cable band included. Hopefully it will not affect the gauge, and I can start knitting.


* - I joke about it, but I am really enjoying all of this. I have been sewing for more than 50 years, about 90% of my entire life. So while I may come across a complex pattern or a tricky technique, the opportunities for me to learn something totally new are few and far between. Starting from scratch with a new skill is exhilarating.