Steeked Cardigan a la EZ

Just a few weeks ago, I happened to be hanging out at a craft store while my daughter scouted for bargains, and what did I spot but mill end bags of cotton yarn, at deliriously cheap prices. Now, mind you, wool is my favorite fiber and rarely do I find any wool worth spending on in a craft store. However, these bags of cotton worsted weight yarn started my creative juices flowing. And, I rationalized, making something from these mill ends would hardly be an extravagance, so why not? I grabbed 4 bags, each weighing a pound, 3 in white and one in a pretty variegated blue/green combo. I planned out quickly in my head that the 48 oz. of white cotton could be knit up into a quick summer sweater for me. It is worsted weight. So, the white cotton cardigan was started. I am doing a simple design of my own, with 2X2 cables up the front on either side. I am knitting it in the round and will steek the front and sleeve holes, a la Elizabeth Zimmerman. It's knitting up quickly because I am knitting with 2 strands at once on size 10 circular needles from knitpicks. At first, I let the bottom edge roll from the curling stockinette stitch, but later decided the last thing I need on my hips is another roll of something (ha ha). So, I added on 5 rows of garter stitch with size 8 needles, forming a nice solid hem. Voila! No curl. Once the length is complete, I will steek the front and add several rows of garter stitch on each side of the front opening. Not sure if I will do buttons or frogs at this point. Will decide later.
My daughter made some really pretty stitchmarkers for the shop, with rings large enough for size 11 needles. I had no markers large enough for this project, so I grabbed them. They are palmetto leaves. I love them! I think they are so pretty, I just had to have a set. She makes the prettiest things.





I even bought some earrings from her shop recently - melon earrings and berry earrings - got the fruit theme goin' on here... Check out www.emsgems.etsy.com. She has a $5 sale going on right now.
That's it for now. I'll see you on your blog.