Well, its done alright. When I originally said yes I must have thought that I had a few pink skeins and at least one purple. Well the reality is, I have one pink and a few purple, which you can see from the photo, is all knit up. That would have been enough to knit the sweater as photographed. I have checked all of my local cotton-ease sources and there is none to be found. So I guess it was over before it began.

I do love the ruffle though.

I am using GGH soft kid. It’s a new yarn and fiber for me all around. I'm not groovin' with the mohair at the moment, but am committed to trying new fibers to completion before ultimately making a decision on the yarn. I have had this yarn for a while and have been a little nervous about using it but I am excited to finally have a great pattern and the wonderful Lisa to encourage its usage. So now I have a few things to finish before I continue.

Also, I think I should try to get a small button stash going. I have not had a need for buttons until Kate, but I am now trying to knit more cardigans and never realized how hard it is to find buttons when you need them. I am still searching for buttons for Anouk and I guess I should add Windmill to mix, and I would like to have a few more cardies for my mini by fall.

I have a few details to work out and then I will post finished and posing shots of Anouk. This was an upsized version for my mini in a size 4. It has been so much fun working with this pattern and I feel it is one must have in an array of colors, so the Anouk bus definitely won't stop here. Also, I think this will replace some of the traditional items that I have knit in the past for baby gifts as I still want to do one of the suggested pattern sizes. It's also a great all year knit that you can give any time without having to guess what size the babe will be once winter rolls around.

I don't know if I will use the needles again for this task. I usually end up with big holes from the needle and what I find to be a little mess at the join line, but it was all cake with the hook. I will never look at picking up stitches the same way again. What a tip! It created a clean look and was much faster without tugging and distorting existing stitches with the needle.

Here's where I am at with the whole thing.

Thanks Becky!

A gallery has been in the planning stages before I even made my first post. Its gone from I will complete my gallery before I start blogging to I'll get to it when I get to it. So now I have decided to just do it one project at a time and maybe I won't feel so overwhelmed by the process.
So here it goes.
I love this sweater and the relaxed comfy fit and the fact that it was knit all in one piece from front to back. I thought it looked easy to knit and decided to just go for it missing the "worked in once deceptively simple piece" in the brief description. Sometimes overlooking details works out. If I had known what I was getting into I would have not attempted it, but I am so glad I did.
Here's the neck opening and the cable.

click photo for close-up
Love the pattern pic; I may need one in blue, too.

click photo for close-up
A seam dream.

FYI: I am starting my gallery with some knits from last year. This is not a recently completed knit. I wish I could knit that fast, lol! I'll have to note completed 2003 on entries that have specs for knits completed prior to blog creation. I just want to include pattern notes, etc. in an entry in case I want to refer back to a particular pattern or modify it in the future.

Here take a look.

click for close-up
And here's one of the knitted flowers that I attached to a hat. Still trying to decide whether or not to put on on the scarf. Might require too much effort when getting mini out the door to insure flower is in view.
We'll have to see.

click for close-up

Anouk has been calling my name lately and a comment from Julia was enough to get me started again. Love those gentle reminders. I have so many projects on the needles sometimes it takes a mention to get me back on track. Here's the back

and a close-up of the border.

Such a quick knit, too. I don't know what I have been waiting for.

I opted for a crochet edge rather than the ribbed edging and I am pretty happy with it. Okay, really I picked up 132 stitched around the handle TWICE and just wasn't pleased with how it turned out. It just looked more chunky than the body of the bag. As always, the truth prevails. I must admit that I love how it can go across your chest and you can just swing it around to get what you need. I would like to put in a lining.

Any tips for sewing one in?

(just noticed that strap noted with smaller needles pick up 132, what smaller needles, I only used one size, wonder if I noticed that before, lol)

Must READ pattern, not glance at pattern.

Yep, another one and more to come. Georgia, can I have an extension, lol.

This will be my first button band too. Lookin' forward to it. I have the back on a holder for neck shaping 'cause I am determined not to walk up and across the ladder again. Better look in my reference books soon or I am going to run outta holders.

Project Specs:
Pattern: 4a from Phildar Famille Spring 2004
Suggested Yarn: Phildar Aviso
Yarn Used: Lion Brand Cotton-Ease
Needle Size: US 7(knit a lit' loose, should have used 6)
Gauge: 17st/4in(unfortunately sometimes 16st/4in)

I do enjoy the yarn reviews, knitting competitions, Ask Jean (Jean Moss),new yarn sources that appear in this mag versus the US mags I see in my local bookstores, large print patterns and what seems to be a more relaxed way to notate patterns (not the typical let me use the smallest font and put this whole 5 page pattern on one page that I often see.) On most accounts, charts are on one page. And they are printed at the largest size possible and there are many pictures of the garment from different angles. As you can tell I am wooed by large print and many pictures. Especially when it comes to the techniques section which has large pics of the stitches you are manipulating in order to learn the technique rather than the tiny pics that make it impossible for me see. Is is just me? However, I do like more of the patterns from the previous issues that I have seen.

And one of my favorite sections is the out and about section with progressive knitting happening like student fashion photographers joining Knitting photo shoot and a piece called Craft Rocks at the V&A and this pic from Graduate Fashion Week:

Ok, how can the same scanner that scanned the book covers turn out an pic like this?!?

And then the love affair with Phildar continues!

Plein Ete 2004 & Pitchon Collection Ete 2004
Phildar always speaks to me. Now, I just have narrow down my next must knits from these two.
So much to love for Phildar!

It's a pretty quick easy knit so far, but there is just one thing that strikes me at the moment. I have a need to learn to short row. I guess I always have but until I looked at the ladder walking up and over the back of this sweater, it never really bothered me enough to make a serious attempt.

I also have the back of cardigan in the works and I think I will just put it on a holder until I get this short row thing worked out.