I’ve felt a bit crappy for the last few days and I realized the other night it was anger and a bit of exhaustion. It’s a hectic time for me as classes begin next week so I’m back to working two jobs, stress then makes my back ache and then on top of that the world seems to be a chaotic mess. I’ve had several moments where I’m watching the news, the President makes a statement and I find I have to abruptly turn off the TV and go walk the dogs or sit and knit in silence with a dog in my lap.
This has kind of become my normal view point when I want to drown out the outside noise. Knitting and a yawning Jellybean who loves to sit on and walk inside of my knitting. And clearly I’ve wanted to drown out the noise a lot because I’ve made some good progress in a few days.
{Note: I’ve talked about my feelings and the election and my race on this blog numerous times but in all honesty I don’t want to talk about that. So I’m going to talk about what makes me happy when I’m not and that’s knitting.}
I typically don’t do a lot of cable knits because I find them annoying. Plus I usually use such bold color combos I feel like cables would be too much. But in the latest issue of Interweave Knits I fell madly and deeply in love with the Angelina pullover.
The soft cables at the yoke, the curved hemline (a favorite of mine) and a shortened and slightly belled sleeve. It’s perfection. Plus I tend to make a ton of cardigans because I like layers but I know I need a few good pullovers in my closet too.
So I pulled out the sweater quantity stash of Berroco Ultra Alpaca I was going to use for an Equation sweater (that I now think I want to make in an insanely bright hot pink), whipped up a swatch and cast on Sunday for my Angelina. I finished all the cables in the yoke on Tuesday and separated for sleeves. By the second to last cable I was pretty over cables but I think they turned out beautifully. Mind you there were a few mistakes I was able to correct and I’m pretty sure there are a few knit stitches in between the cables that should be purls but whatever, it looks good to me!
Now I’ve got 14 1/2 glorious inches of stockinette stitch in the round before I get to the short row shaping for the hem. I’m pretty sure I’ll stop halfway through the body knitting and make the sleeves so I feel like I’m making more progress. I’ve never used this yarn before but once blocked my swatch felt very light and soft. right now this baby is heavy and dense, so here’s hoping the magic that is blocking turns this into a perfect green version of what I saw in the magazine.
So that’s what I’m working on to keep myself sane, how about you?
Yards of Happiness 
I think you’ve got the right perspective. I feel like I talk about the same stuff all the time and sometimes it really wears a person out. Glad you’re practicing what you preach — good self-care. I love your brand of craftivism — knitting so you don’t go bat sh*t crazy at what’s happening in our society and the world.
Those cables look amazing and trust me, noone else but you is going to see the knits instead of the purls. And that green though …. perfect fall/winter evergreen shade!! I’ve taken your advice so I’m working my stress out on a baby blanket, a lace pouch and finishing my worsted weight socks. Happy Friday and the best of weekends to you.
p.s. I just previewed the issue … I think I need it .. that short sleeved yellow cabled sweater is calling my name!!!
Um…that entire issue was pretty awesome. Added bonus, handsome black man modeling! LOL
that’s it then … I’m getting this issue. Any excuse for some eye candy … 😛
Hahahahaha now if only Idris Elba was a knitwear model…
wipes drool off keyboard … oh the thought …
I love this pattern too! I first saw it on the Fringe Assoc blog, and I’ve kept that tab open in my browser since Karen posted about it. HA. I’m definitely making one of these, and I might even do it in black. I’ve never imagined I would like knitting an all black sweater, but I think these black cables are awesome. Of course, your bright green will be fabulous too! Jelly picture = instant happy 🙂
So Karen updated her post and said that it’s apparently not black and is a super dark rich brown, which I like! I’ve got some metallic black yarn I want to whip up a light top for myself in but I have rarely used black unless it was with stripes. And Jellybean always = instant happy. She’s such a happy tail wagging little nugget.
Sometimes 14 1/2″ of stockinette in the round is the best medicine for stress! Love me some good meditative knitting! 🙂
I know, I can watch tv and not look at my hands and kind of zone out. I hope to get a lot of stitching done over the weekend.
Goooorrr-geous!!!! The portion of the sweater that you’ve finished thus far, is absolutely gorgeous! And the color is so right and the cables are laying beautifully!
I’ve already got 2 inches below the underarm worked up too. I’m making progress.
What a gorgeous, gorgeous sweater! That shade of green is one of my favorite colors, and your cables look stunning. I’ve also been turning to my knitting when the news just gets to be too much ….it’s my favorite form of self care.
That is one gorgeous sweater! If only our entire country could turn the frustrations of this crazy-making time into equally lovely FOs. I’ve begun working on a moon raker shawl as a barter exchange for a friend who is helping me in her own field of expertise. It has been calming to concentrate on the new (to me) German short-row method.
P.S. Your cables look fine to me. 😊
Why thank you ☺️
Love that sweater! And I think it will look even better in a brighter color. I have to disconnect from the news. Otherwise I think I wouldn’t get out of bed. I’m still working on a special blanket and dreaming of my next project. Knitting is keeping me sane.
I’m there with you! Knitting is what’s keeping me calm when I feel like I want to scream. Hang in there!
I’m picking up my knitting alot more and turning off the political talk shows. Just can’t take it anymore. Instead, I’ve been listening to Frank Sinatra and knitting along with my coffee…all is right in the world at that moment.
I love morning knitting on Saturdays with a latte and my doggies ☺️
Hi I too am attempting the Angelina pullover but am stumped with the stitch count. I am okay up to the end of yoke 1 with a count of 128 stitches the chart for the first size does not have any repeats so I am unclear as to how I should end with 144 stitches. I know this isn’t your design but I see that you have finished the cableing and I have been unable to get a response from the designer so was wondering if you could provide me with any guidance.
Appreciate it
Theresa
I’m sending you an email after I read your size info. Hold tight!
I was going through your projects on Ravelry (because your knits are joyous and I need some joy) and saw this sweater (again). I have the Interweave magazine and would have overlooked this sweater except I saw yours first, your color just makes this pop and of course, Jellybean’s sweater is adorable. I wish I lived closer to you so I coulda knit with you and get inspired (I live in Canada though, ha ha). It has a lot of positive ease, do you like the fit?
I do like the fit but I also chose a size closest to my bust so it wasn’t too blousy.