Stretching it

I'm greatly encouraged by having knitted two sweaters in two weeks, so what to do next but another rush job?  A little friend's first birthday party next weekend, a little cardigan on the needles and still it's all from stash.

I've had extra balls of the Debbie Bliss wool/cotton since knitting the rosebud baby blanket from her very first book, four years ago.  Now I know this yarn substitutes for Baby Cashmerino, so I was hoping that three balls would make this little cardigan:

Now the 12-18 months size calls for three balls, but so do the two smaller sizes so it will probably use most of them up.  I had three balls with bands in dusky pink (600), but can't remember whether any of them has been started.  The wool/cotton yarn also has 10m less length per ball than Baby Cashmerino.  All this is adding up to an impending yarn crisis in a week's time, I fear.  For the contrast colour, I've some of the same in plum, probably not enough of that either! I've also a ball of bright red so I've given the edgings a red border to provide a bit of zing.

Knitting from stash is not without problems, is it?  I wouldn't even have these leftovers if the baby blanket had not taken five balls rather than eight as given in the pattern!  But I'm unlikely to use up pink yarn in the foreseeable future.

Here's the back, very nearly finished as of tonight.

I'm adding some yarn from an unravelled swatch as I've already finished the first of my three balls.  I'm going to look in the yarn chest now for any overlooked oddments!  I have a contingency plan - knit the sleeves last, simultaneously, until I run out.  If they are a little short, at least they won't drag in the baby's fromage frais so badly.

I've also received details this week of my Rowanette Exchange partner: I think my project this year will be socks, and I look forward to choosing some handpaint yarn in a suitable colourway for my recipient's preference.

Comments

[Tracy]

Crikey, talk about putting yourself under more pressure, the cardigan is looking fab, gorgeous colour combo too! Good luck with finishing in time!

[Mary]

At least stash knitting forces one to find creative solutions to potential problems! I like the red and plum edging - gives it rather a funky feel.