Hemp Raglan FO

I finished off the Incredible Custom Fit Raglan this morning. I'd completed the second sleeve last night with a few episodes of Deadwood so it was just the neckline that needed doing and it was really easy to pick up the stitches which was a relief considering my aversion to that activity!



DH and I are both happy with the way it turned out. The pattern is free online here, you basically plug in your own measurements and it tells you how to make the sweater that size, very very easy! I will be using this pattern a lot in the future I think, I may do a hemp/wool sweater for Little One soon using it.

The yarn was the hemp/wool that I was sent instead of the hemp/cotton I ordered. If you like your yarn spun evenly with no thick and thin bits and the occasional big blob of unspun wool then don't knit with this yarn, especially if you like soft yarn. With a good soak it should soften up quite a bit but it was nowhere near like knitting with higher end yarn and was irritating at times that it was so rough and uneven. What really irritated me though was the knots, some balls had about 4 or 5 knots in them and they weren't neatly tied or uniform in any way....

Anyway, I think it looks ok so it's not a problem in the end! I used 4mm and 3.5mm bamboo circulars and I have no idea how many balls I used as I don't remember how many I bought, lol.

Besides that I have finished off the first Spine Stitch sock bar the kitchner and end sewing in, finished the first chart of the Lotus Blossom shawl and finished all the pieces of Claude. The fronts of Claude are now blocking so in a few days I can start the finishing (blocked the rest while I was working on the second front). I hope to have it done by the end of next week.

I cast on for the brown hooded sweater for Little One after I finished the last bit of Claude. It's stocking stitch on 4mm needles so it will be easy tv knitting and should be a fast knit considering it's size! I haven't touched anything else recently, but I will get back onto Arisaig soon as I really want to get it done and I was enjoying the knitting a lot.

As for preparations for tomorrow all we have left to do is to tidy out Little One's toybox after he's in bed so that he has room for his new toys! All the presents are wrapped, the house is tidy (well, relatively so!) and the vegetables are peeled and cut and ready for cooking tomorrow. Tonight will be a nice relaxing one after Little One is in bed, tv and knitting, no work for me until Tuesday. Tomorrow we'll just let Little One open presents as and when he wants to give him time to play with each one, have a big meal, walk the dog and generally relax. Boxing Day we'll be at DH's parents house and then his Aunt's house for the customary buffet, no doubt Little One will pick up another huge haul of gifts as well!

Here's wishing you all a great day tomorrow however and whatever you celebrate!