sunshiney tea leaves

Some knits are just faster off the needles than others. This was not one of those projects, but rather, one of those ones that takes far longer than you first thought. Not for the fault of the pattern either, which is really very good, but more from a series of stops and starts. Firstly for forgetting where I was up to, and then another problem altogether.

I think I cast on for Violet's Tiny Tea Leaves way back in October last year. You may already know how much I love this pattern. Julia's Tea Leave's was worn constantly last Winter, and I thought it would be nice to have a matching one for Violet. In a non matching way of course.

I used a soft bright sunshiney coloured wool from Nundle Woollen Mill's online store. It was lovely to work with and had a fair bit of drape to it. Which was almost my undoing on this project.

I knitted up the size two and it is still quite big. Big enough to fully roll up the garter cuffs at this stage. But not to worry, as I am sure it will be fitting a little better in no time. I'm not quite sure as to what happened to the intended three quarter length in the pattern, but full length sleeves are more practical in these colder parts anyway.

The buttons were from my button collection. A leather pair picked up from an op shop in Wonthaggi. It's a pleasant reminder when you can incorporate little finds from past trips in projects.

I actually cast this off just after christmas. All was apparently fine and dandy, bar a few little decreases that I worked the wrong way. That was, until it came to the blocking part. At which point the neckline stretched like you wouldn't believe. And did not go back either.

So I googled, I gentle machine washed this time and I blocked again. With no luck. Then on a googling session I discovered this advice, from the Yarn Harlot, which essentially shows how to reinforce a loose edge with chain stitch crochet inside the neckline. Written in a most entertaining way, I will add.

Which worked. Thank goodness. It's good to learn these little tricks sometimes. Good for getting yourself out of a knitting pickle.
 

Of course all's well that ends well in the world of knitting.

(Ravelry notes here)