new(s)

Well, this was quite a week. Between the inauguration and some of the other news we received this week (don’t worry, at least, not yet…things are still ok, they just might not be, at some point, depending on factors beyond our control), it’s been quite a rollercoaster of highs and lows. C’est la vie, I suppose. I’ve got tons to show you today (that’s what happens when you don’t have any time to blog during the week!), so let’s get started:

I finished the knitting on my Garter Yoke Cardi on the morning of Inauguration Day, and wore it (with my “Environmentalists for Obama” t-shirt) while I watched that historic event. I don’t even have words for how amazing it is to know that after having lived my entire adult life under Bush, I finally have a president who values the things I do. It’s so wonderful. The cardigan, as you can tell from that picture, needed a good blocking, because the button bands were flipping under like crazy. Last night, it finally got one:

I do still plan to back the buttonbands with ribbon, but I figured I’d go ahead and post some “FO” pictures. But before I do that, here are the details:

Pattern: My own, inspired by the Garter Yoke Cardi pattern in Knit.1
Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool, slightly over 3 skeins (yes, really! The yardage is crazy on that stuff.)
Needles: Size 7 Denise Circulars and Knitpicks Harmony dpns
Buttons: 8 Painted Strawberry buttons from Peace Fleece.
Time to knit: Jan 2nd. – 23rd. (including an initial frogging).

It fits! I love my new sweater. I absolutely adore the buttons, and simply do not care if a green cardigan with strawberry buttons is too twee. You can’t make me! Here it is unbuttoned:

And a closeup of those awesome buttons:

But that’s not all I have to show you! You see, I finished the knitting on this sweater early in the morning on Inauguration Day. That meant I had nothing to keep my hands occupied while I watched the festivities. So, obviously, I had to cast-on for something new:

The side shaping might give it away, but in case it doesn’t, I decided to cast on for a second Girlified Cobblestone sweater. I’ve had these giant skeins of Fleece Artist BFL hanging around for quite awhile, and since it’s been so very cold here, I was drawn to the idea of creating something warm and cozy. I love my Cobblestone sweater; it’s basically a nicer-looking sweatshirt, so soft, warm and comfortable. So I am excited to make another one! We’ll see how long this takes…I seem to be on quite a roll with the sweaters!