Mystical Stripe by Kaffe Fassett
Rowan Magazine 34
Kidsilk Haze & Rowanspun DK

It took me forever……….and I would certainly knit it differently if I ever knit it again. So, here’s some advice if you’re interested in taking on the mantle. I would definitely knit the body in one piece. I started knitting in the ends, which didn’t please me as it made each row end more bulky, especially with the DK wool, so there were thousands of ends to sew in but worth it in the long run. I should’ve made it longer and it could’ve done with some shaping in the back. Otherwise, it’s lovely to wear, light, soft and VERY stripey.

I ended up using 2 balls of KSH Smoke 605, so I think they misprinted the requirement for 2 balls of Rowanspun Thorn 748 and I had about half a metre left and still the buttonhole bands to knit. I knit that about 3 times in different colours…….because there was SO much yarn left over but decided on Thorn instead. The grey did work best on balance.

I did actually finish this the day before we flew to Australia, so apologies for the slackness in posting.

After a major hiatus all the major knitting is done on Mystical Stripe…….lots and lots of ends to sew in and then put together and knit the buttonhole band. That calls for Kid Silk Haze Smoke but I only had just enough to finish, so will choose another colour to knit that with because there is enough left over to make another complete cardigan. Think I’ll offer it to Mum and see if she wants to make herself one.

I had been knitting the ends in for a time but found that the right side didn’t look as tight or as neat as I would have liked, so I left them to sew in later. The right kind of thing when you want something to do but don’t have to think about what you’re doing! That’s a great option for me with a teething baby, who is a tad unpredictable. I had planned to have this completed over the Christmas break but we all fell ill and are still suffering. Whatever it is has taken a major stronghold.

Have a look at my progress over the past year, or lack of, by clicking the Mystical Stripe category in the right hand toolbar.

Am so overdue in finishing Mystical Stripe… Winter and Spring are over and it will be far to warm to wear this until Autumn. I know we all have WIPs and UFOs hanging around but this one is really annoying me. Am knitting both sleeves at once, so at least they’ll be done together! I did a bit yesterday and need to just have it out, so I’m looking at it and it can make me feel guilty!

I’m never content in making just one thing for a gift, especially for little people, so when I cast off the second sleeve on this cardi last night and saw how much yarn I had left over, I just had to make some little shoes. (That was a long sentence!) Am using the Debbie Bliss Fair Isle shoe pattern but have added a little yarn over motif instead and kept it plain. Must get that done tonight, so I can go in search of some pearly buttons tomorrow…..more anon.

The alphabet blanket has been cast aside for the time being but it was always a long-term project.

Mystical Stripe is taking shape after languishing in the work basket for too long. Two sleeves and half the back are done. Here it is finished. If you look at my categories on the right hand side of the blog you can see other entries on this project by clicking on the link.

My new/vintage wool winder is fab! Although it would make life easier with a swift as well, but I’ll have to do without for the moment. I’ve googled and done some searching but can’t seem to find much about the age of it.

I’m guessing 1960s or 1970s but it didn’t have an instruction leaflet that may have given me more clues. I know that Knitmaster made knitting machines but they appear to have ceased trading. It’s great fun, even Mapman thinks so!

Here’s some I made earlier with some of the yarn from Mystical Stripe.

Am back from a slight knitting hiatus due to a housefull of lovely friends from Melbourne. We had to toddler proof the house and soon realised how dangerous some things are. Anyway, we had a wonderful time and did lots of sightseeing and catching up. So, I only just got my Socktoberfest socks done but here they are in all their loveliness. Details are in this previous post. I just adore Yahaira’s Atomic River socks. They would be my favourite of the ones I’ve looked at and I hope she wins something for the design.

Am about halfway up this sleeve and it’s a good one to knit if you’re not bothered about changing yarn every row. If you’ve not got the patience then this one’s not for you. I was knitting the two sleeves and the back together/at the same time but I got a bit carried away last night watching a film. I found that I had been saving time as I had a particular yarn handy then just carried on for the next two pieces then changed to the next colour. Oh well, rules are there to be broken.

AND Joy got her Vintage Swap package safe and sound. I hope mine arrives this week, can’t wait! She’s a fabulous photographer, go and check out some of her work on her blog.

Have been plodding along with Mist and am up to the armhole on the left front. It’s such boring knitting but at least I can do it without thinking and can get embroiled in telly! Not much concentration required.

Not alot of other crafting going on, lots of cleaning and gardening instead in preparation for Aussie visitors next week! Can’t wait for that - cherry ripes will be winging their way to me very, very soon!

I ordered the wool for Mystical Stripe from three different mail order companies and one of them is being incredibly slow. All I want is the LAST ball and am getting so annoyed about it that I might just go to JL and get it. It’s red, so I’m bound to use it up for other things anyway but it’s more annoying because I only need it for ONE row. I’ve been so motivated to get this pattern going that I’ve done the 34 rows each on two sleeves and the back now, having used all my 4mm pins in the process. AND I’ve also been knitting in the ends, which is quicker when you get used to doing it each row or two rows and the great thing about KSH being so fine is that you can knit it in alongside the rowanspun and it’s not that noticeable.

I joined up to Lolly’s Socktoberfest, so I’d better get knittin’!

AND have gotta make my list for Ally Pally this Thursday

The rest of the KSH that was on backorder arrived today, so I could continue with the wonderful, fluffy stripes. I decided last week (when I was being impatient) that I’d start a sleeve too, so here’s that progress along with the back. It has been easy to keep going with the same colour each time because you’re changing every other row or every row sometimes. Lots of other bloggers have talked about KSH snagging and not running smoothly on some types of needle. I have to say that it’s not been a problem in the least. The back is knitting up on vintage Aeros and the sleeves on vintage casein needles. The casein are the best, it just slides off really easily and the slightly fatter points help to keep the KSH together. I’m finding that I have to be a tad more careful with the Aeros because they sometimes only catch part of the KSH. I do have to confess that I’m not knitting in the ends and I will probably regret it………….

Here are a few on my parent’s alpacas. They’ve been breeding them for 5 years or so, maybe longer but my brain fails me. We always had animals of some sort while we were growing up and these are the latest additions to the menagerie. They do have names but they escape me as well. Maybe you can correct me here Mum? Anyway, I was reminded of them this morning because the ball of felted tweed I’ve been hanging out for, finally arrived! (It has 25% alpaca in it, you see) I can now proceed to the next two rows on Mystical Stripe. Not a very inspired post but there you have it. Oh, and Happy Birthday to Gill, Emm and Benny who are another year older today! How amazing that I know three people whose birthdays are on the same day. Remarkable.

This is as far as I can go for the time being. I’m waiting on some Felted Tweed that’s on back order but am happy to mosey along with this during the winter. Due to the stripes changing every row or every two rows, it should hold my interest during those dark and dingey evenings. I’ve done some looking around and can’t find that many people who have made this.

Mystical Stripe cardigan - Kaffe Fassett
Rowan Mag 34
Rowanspun DK (Almond, Thorn, Catkin, Lavender, Drizzle, Thor, Icy), Felted Tweed(Watery, Conker - this is a sub for Rowanspun Chili) and Kidsilk Haze (Smoke, Dewberry, Candy Girl, Heavenly, Liqueur, Drab and Pearl) The last two I subbed for Khaki and Bleached that are also discontinued.

Mist is still coming along slowly but surely. I got to the armhole shaping last night after extending the body length by another 7cm. It’s quite cropped and Mum is always pulling hers down! Just two fronts and a sleeve to go!