The only thing I have really been able to achieve this summer is a ton of knitting. I was inspired by all the fabulous patterns on Ravelry to embark on a cardigan for myself, the first time I’ve knitted an adult-sized cardigan or sweater since I was at college (more years ago than I care to remember).
This Featherweight Cardigan was a really quick, simple and pleasurable knit, particularly as it was the first thing I’ve made out of yarn dyed by a Seattle-based woman who goes by the name of Sundara. The woman is a colour genius and I’ve recently been bankrupting the family buying up her limited edition yarns, but the colours, oh the colours are a-maz-ing. I will blog about her separately as she really is an artist who deserves to be seen by knitters and non-knitters alike.
But I digress. This cardigan was made in Sundara’s soft and sumptuous Fingering Silky Merino in a limited edition colourway ‘Macedonia’ and, with its variegation from dark to light blue with little flecks of pale ‘foam’ on top, it was just knitting up the sea. The photos really don’t do justice to the depth of the blue and how it glows in the sunlight. Full project details on Ravelry as usual.
These pics were taken by my friend Kassandra at Seattle’s Golden Gardens beach on the last beach day before school started. Our kids are rioting gently somewhere a few yards out of shot.
While we’re on the subject of rebooting and reclaiming one’s life after the baby years, looking at these pictures I think I also really need to start reclaiming my body – it seems a bit much to be carrying ‘baby weight’ when the baby is nearly five.
I’ve been hampered in my efforts to exercise recently by lack of time and crippling plantar fasciitis -an excruciating pain at the bottom of my foot, which I think has been indirectly caused by twisting my ankle very badly a couple of years ago. At the moment the best exercise for me appears to be yoga, so I’m committing to doing a bit of yoga (either a class or a video) every day for the rest of September. I used to do quite a bit of yoga before the Minx was born, and it’s horrible to realise how inflexible I’ve become.
For what it’s worth, I think you are beautiful just as you are. And the cardigan is fabulous. And so is the hat.
THANK you…you’ve made my day 🙂
I also think you, your cardigan, and your hat are awesome. Also, I’m no expert but I think yoga or pilates (of the original kind, not the fad kinds) is the best exercise for everybody – it’s relaxing, builds/tones muscle, stretches you out. My friend who teaches pilates taught me it’s all about moving the right way. The only thing it doesn’t necessarily do is give the heart muscle a workout. Anyways, good luck!
The photographs are stunning. And your knitting is impressive. (I don’t ever seem to get to the stage where I can actually wear what I’ve knit).
Thanks L. I don’t usually wear my knitting either, but I took a lot of care with gauge etc this time and it actually FITS, better than most stuff I can buy (which are not usually made for the short and big-boobed among us).
Beautiful photos and beautiful sweater!