finished knitting - Icelandic cardigan

When I say finished.... it isn't completely finished as it needs buttons and buttonholes to be added but I'm still thinking about those.

This is the "top-down Icelandic sweater" from Craftsy. This is the first Craftsy course I have taken so I don't have anything to compare it with but I did feel that this course needed a little more attention to detail. Nothing too difficult for the experienced knitter but perhaps not so good for a beginner. There seemed to be very little feedback and answers to questions from the instructor and I notice now that the course description has been changed to student-led discussion only. This seems a shame although many of the comments of fellow students were very helpful.

I am mainly pleased with the end result. The short row shaping on the back below the yoke was a good technique to make the neckline sit better. I haven't done short row shaping before and the instructions were very clear.

The wool used is Lett Lopi, I chose a mid blue main colour and then orange and white as contrasts - Iceland is often described as the land of fire and ice so the colours seemed appropriate.

The steek was reinforced with a crochet edging. I was a little disappointed with this as to stop stretching the edge the crochet had to be done very tightly with a small crochet hook. This resulted in quite a firm edge which seemed a bit out of place on a soft, squashy wool garment but does give a neat finish.

I used a broken ribbing on both the body and sleeves.

Tomorrow, after work I am going into town to my knitting group so I shall look for suitable buttons. The button holes will be crochet loops so I'll do those after I have bought the buttons.

Then I will be prepared for the winter weather, these sweaters are designed to cope with winter in Iceland so I should be very warm and cosy here.

Ravelry notes here.

Autumn colour at Stourhead

This is likely to be the last autumn colour post this year. We have had a couple of frosts and the remaining leaves will be falling soon.

Last weekend we spent a few days in Devon to celebrate our Silver Wedding. On the way we stopped at Stourhead garden.

The weather was dull and I think we missed the peak of the autumn colour but it was still very beautiful.

It was one of those quiet days that you sometimes get at this time of year, almost as if everything pauses for a while as autumn slowly drifts into winter.

Such a peaceful place to spend some time.

Autumnal beech trees

At last, the pervading greyness of November has been replaced with a clear days. Cold nights followed by bright sunny days. I walked in the woods to the small area of beech trees. Most of the woods around the village are commercial plantations of pine but beech trees were planted along the boundary banks many years ago and so lines of beech trees can still be seen.

Yesterday the leaf colour was perfect, yellows

greens and browns,

sometimes all on the same tree.

So pleased that these beautiful trees were left to grow along the boundaries and roadsides

so that we can enjoy the spectacular show of colour

in the autumn sunshine.

November

November is my least favourite month, grey, dark and decreasing daylight with each passing day. I'd really like to hibernate from October to March and miss out winter completely!

I haven't been taking many photographs and without photographs I don't post, the photographs always come first for me. I  have some finished (and almost finished) knitting to show so I am hoping for some bright photography friendly days.

Taking these photographs in my garden today focussed my attention on the colours and flowers that are still around, perhaps November isn't so grey and dull after all.