Redesigned Mariah

I finally sewed in Mariah's zipper a couple of days ago, but due to adverse weather conditions, I was unable to photograph the completed sweater until this afternoon (it's very hard to photograph a black sweater indoors). The picture I took still doesn't show much detail, but it's the best I can do. If you click on the picture, you may be able to make out some of the cabling detail on the sleeves.
This picture was taken during a short-lived stoppage of rain. It has been raining off and on all week. It'll be pouring, then 10 minutes later the sun will be out. We get all excited that the rain has stopped, only to head outside to look up and see black skies rolling in again. I think this weather is supposed to continue through the weekend. On the bright side, all of this rain means lots of flowers in our gardens. Want to see?
I also finally finished a pair of socks I had been slowly working on for the last couple of months. They're the Whitby pattern from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road. I knit mine in Mountain Colors Bearfoot, the Winter Sky colorway. This yarn is a pleasure to knit with. Unfortunately, the picture doesn't show the color accurately, but at least the pattern shows up. In real life, the colors are darker, more navy blue than purple. I kept trying to get a better photo of the true color, but it wasn't happening.
   Now that the 2.5 mm Addi turbos I was using to knit those socks have been freed, I cast on for a plain pair of stockinette stitch socks with Regia yarn. All of the projects I had on the needles seemed to be cabled, fair isle, or patterned somehow. I really needed some plain stockinette stitch to relax. The socks are great, because they can be shoved in my bag for traveling in the car, or having to wait somewhere. I also picked up the Sitcom Chic that I started last summer, but for some reason put aside. I was tired of it using up one of the cables for my Denise set, so I figured it was time to pick it up again. I had completed the bottom of the sweater, and stopped at the sleeves. I finished the second sleeve this morning, and put all of the pieces together to begin the raglan decreases. I'm worried that I won't have enough yarn, though. I'm using the yarn specified in the pattern (Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Bubblegum) , and I have 2 balls left. For  some reason, I think I only started out with 4 balls, rather than the 5 called for. I'm hoping I don't run out, because I don't know where I'll get more. I can no longer run to Hobby Lobby to grab an extra ball of it, because there is no Hobby Lobby here in Germany. Not to mention the fact that Lion Brand is discontinuing Cotton Ease, which is a shame, because it's one of their better yarns. If anyone knows where I can get an extra ball of Cotton Ease, let me know!

Comments

[Erica]

Uh, welcome to spring in Germany! You'll learn to take your umbrella with you everywhere. Sometime in mid June it'll settle down and get hot. Try googling for the cottonease, not many stores have it left, but it's worth a try.

[Karma]

Your Mariah looks fantastic! I like the collar modification you made. Congratulations!

[Jessica]

Mariah looks great! Congrats on finishing her. That is one of my immediate missions in life at the moment. :)

As for cotton ease, I think you can still order it from the Lion Brand website. It really sucks that they are discontinuing it though doesn't it?!

[sarah irene]

The sweater looks great! I like the collar option, maybe next time ...

[patti]

oh, those socks rock!
Thanks for the kind words on my blog! I hope to get through it soon! I am sort of in a spot where I have lost my mojo about my job, too...

[CJ]

Very pretty! Love your rolled collar variation.