This is so soft and pretty. I don’t care that it is a color that I’d never pick for myself, I love it. I love knitting with it, I love the way the stitches show with it, I love the drape and flow of the finished fabric.

What is it you ask? It is Cascade Venezia in Salmon. This is one of the yarns I won when I was crowned the Skip, Skip, Knit Obstacle Course Champion of 2007.

I loved the look and feel of this yarn but the color kept putting me off. Being as it is Merino/Silk blend I was hesitant to attempt over-dyeing, knowing that the plant based and animal/protein fibers would take the dye very differently, if at all, depending on what kind of dye I used. So I just stashed the yarn and returned to it on occasion to fondle and pet it and try to make it feel welcome in my home.

Then last week I was looking for something else and balling some sock yarn in my studio (get your minds out of the gutter!) and I stumbled upon my little pink bag of salmon-y goodness. I figured, what the hell, I’ll ball a skein of it too (again with the impure yarn porn thoughts! Shame.) and do some swatches and maybe find a project for this yarn after all. After knitting a plain stockinette stitch swatch I was smitten. So I started perusing my infinite number of pattern books and magazines in search of the perfect project for this squooshy yumminess.

Can you tell what that is?
It is of course the Origami Cardigan by Nora Gaughan from the Summer IK 2007. These pictures are from Tuesday morning, before I got sick. Last night I cast off the back and started on one of the front rectangles. Which reminds me, I need to go update my Ravelry notebook…see ya there.

I finally caught the little imp in flight and made her model her new shrug for us. She is complaining that it is a little scratchy but I think when worn over another shirt it won’t be too bad. Against bare skin, I see her point.

DETAILS:
YARN:Patons Classic Wool “Wedgewood” 1 skein with some left over.
SIZE: Girls medium (E wears a size 7/8 in the girls dept.)
GAUGE: 8sts-12 rows/2 inches in stockinette stitch
NEEDLES:size 8 circular and dpns
BASIC INSTRUCTIONS:
Measure across back from armpit to armpit. (In this case 15″) Multiply by number of stitches per inch for gauge (4)
15 x 4 = 60 sts to cast on. I used a cable cast on for stretch.
Ribbing:
Row 1:[k2, p2] to last 2 sts, k2
Row 2: [p2, k2] to last 2 sts, p2
Continue in ribbing for 3 inches
Change to Stockinette stitch; knit one row (RS), purl one row (WS) for 8 inches or until stockinette section measurement equals length from “bra line” to base of neck.
Switch back to 2×2 ribbing.
OPTIONAL COLLAR SHAPING:
Knit three rows of 2×2 ribbing.
SHORT ROW SHAPING: (you will continue in the ribbing pattern during the short rowing)
Knit across 2/3 of the stitches (40 sts), w&t
Knit back across 1/3 of the stitches (20 sts) w&t
Knit to wrapped stitch and knit (or purl) wrapped stitch by lifting it from the right side of the piece over the stitch and knitting it along with the stitch in a k2tog or p2tog. wrap and turn the next stitch.
Continue in this manner, working wrapped stitch and wrapping & turning next stitch 8 rows.
Next row work across all ribbed stitches until unshort-rowed sections measure 3″.
Cast off using a flexible/stretchy bind off.
FINISHING
Fold piece in half, matching up ribbed sides. Seam from cast on/bind off edge to end of ribbing.
Weave in ends.
OPTIONAL ARMHOLE RIBBING:
Pick up and Knit stitches around armhole opening, ending up with a number divisible by 4 (24sts) using dpns.
Join in the round and knit in [k2,p2] ribbing for 6 rows.
Bind off loosely.
Weave in ends.
NOTES
I also chose to tack the collar down in two places with short pieces of yarn to hold it in place. This is a matter of preference. E was complaining that the collar kept rolling up.

This youth size took less than one 50g ball of Paton’s Worsted Weight Classic Wool. An adult size may take two depending on how long you want it. I intend to try sizing it up for myself when I get all the other stuff I have on my needles done, or when I’m bored and need a new quicky challenge.

I’m sick.
Yesterday I gave blood and then came home and discovered I have the flu. I piled an afghan, a quilt and a comforter on top of myself on the couch and shivered until E got home from school. Then I had to go pick up MiniMe from play practice (she got a speaking part!) In order to muster the strength to drive to the school I wrapped myself in my winter coat and forced myself to drink orange juice and water. I went to bed as soon as everyone was home and settled. Thank goodness for responsible children that can get their homework done, find something to eat, and ready themselves for bed and school the next day with little or no input from me.

I was supposed to chaperone a 5th grade field trip today but had to bow out due to my illness. Instead I’m forcing myself to continue to load up on the fluids and eat occassionally to keep my strength up. It isn’t working. I just uploaded a new podcast (from yesterday morning) and I’m spent.

Talk to y’all tomorrow.

Here’s the LINK to the latest podcast.