Blogging from work, where I’m still all by myself.
I’ve been powering away on the Rambling Rose cardigan (no pics, left camera at home). I’ve made a few changes that should affect the fit for the better.

Before I cast on any pattern, I always do a Google blog search to see what other knitters have to say about the pattern. It helps me find out about issues and errors, and makes the process easier. I also get to see other people’s opinions. The opinions on this sweater were not so hot. Everyone thought the sweater was much too small for the model, probably because it only comes in two sizes, 30″ or 43″. I would guess the model is 36″ ish, so what you see in the magazine is 6″ of negative ease. Now, I don’t think it looks terrible. It stretches out the lace pattern so you can see it, it hugs her curves, albeit a bit too much.
I am 34″ on a big day, so I’ve already got an advantage on her. I am also knitting the body in one piece (the pattern has right front, left front and back all separate pieces). This helps the sizing because the stitches that normally get eaten up in the seam are now adding to the circumfrence. Those 4 stitches (one of left front, two on back, one on right front) add almost another inch, so I will have 3″ of negative ease. I think this will work out.

I have one sleeve done, with the scallops at the hem in cream, the rest of it in red. I am knitting the body entirely in red (yay stash!). I’m undecided on if I like the scallops in cream or not. I only have two balls of the cream. I was thinking sleeve scallops, button band and neckband in cream, but now I’m wondering if instead of the scallops, I should do the vertical lace pattern on the sleeve in cream. The straight lines may tie the button band in better. Then again, I don’t know if I have that much cream yarn.

I really like how it looks so far, I love reverse stockingette.

WEATHER REPORT: -21C on the walk to work this morning, close to -30C if you factor in windchill. I was toasty warm! Why? Well, apart from snowboots and a down coat, I have handknitted wool Jaywalkers, thrummed mittens, and Clapotis.