Blue Knitting Times Two

I quite enjoy knitting in the evenings, and also take knitting away on car journeys.  I don't know about you, but I seem to have a mental block when it comes to sewing up my knitting projects.  But with the end of the year coming up fast, I’ve put the extra effort in, sat down at the dining table for hours on end, and finally stitched all the pieces together.  After all, I told myself, they are almost at the finishing line, just get on and get it done this year, instead of carrying the projects over to 2021!

My first knitting project started life like this, when I purchased skeins of wool and needed someone handy to hold it while I would it into balls.  Lucky for me that Robin was a willing partner so I could get the job done.

He’s helping me, watched over by Gemma

The yarn is New Zealand made and a shade of pretty blue called Blue Topaz, 53% mohair, 35% rayon ribbon, 10% wool and 2% nylon.  Just a simple plain boat neck jumper, (called a sweater in USA.)   I’ve often wondered about the different names for the same garment and Mr Google told me the reason.   The word "jumper" when used to mean a sweater comes from an obsolete term for a large, loose men's jacket called a jump. "Jumper" is a term mainly used in England, while the term "sweater" is more common in American usage. Their activity would cause them to sweat, hence the term "sweater."  So now we know.  I’ll probably wear a blouse or skivvy underneath in the winter, as I’m not too keen on bare necklines.

All finished, but it wont be needed till next winter

And blue project number two was knitted from the extra yarn I purchased and used in the ribbing for my jumper.  I wasn’t too sure if I would have enough of the ribbon yarn to finish my project, and bought several extra balls just in case I had to add stripes into the body.  This is 14ply Crucci, 80% wool and 20% mohair, also made in New Zealand.  Once I’d sewn this toddler cardigan up, out came the button jar, I was on the hunt for five blue buttons.  And luckily, I found them, wasn't that lucky, so I don't have to take a trip to the shops.

Looking for blue buttons

It turned out quite nicely I’m pleased to say, Gemma certainly thought so as she gave it an inspection.  This little cardigan is knitted in stocking stitch with moss stitch bands, nice mindless knitting.

Cozy blue cardy for a toddler

I’ll probably keep this one in granny box, just in case a baby arrives in the family.  Or it may be donated, sometime in the future, who knows.  Wherever it ends up, it will be keeping some little child nice and warm.