PSA

It's General Election Day in New Jersey. Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Find your polling place and don't forget the statewide public question.

Roundabout Exit 151 a divisive municipal question has overshadowed even the closely contested gubernatorial race. I'm hoping for heavy turnout; I always hope for heavy turnout. Because the partisans for both the municipal question and the 12 gubernatorial candidates have frequently veered into the tiresome and wacky, I hasten to add that that is neither a sizeist slur nor a covert endorsement.

Modest Success

The day's drenching rains spoiled my plan to take Seedy button shopping, so instead I finished [cough] another languishing cardi to the ABB stage, Sitcom Chic, pictured with a seasonal brooch as a fastener. The brooch works sufficiently well it's tempting to just call Sitcom finished and not add a button and button loop.



It was a bit of a surprise to see how comparatively few Sitcoms there are on Ravelry (as of this writing, 293 projects, which places it 42nd among cardigans). The pattern is free, well-written, easy, and fun to knit; the specified yarn is a good value and widely available; and the results are retro-chic yet eminently wearable. Regardless of how others overlook or even spurn it, I could see making another, perhaps in wool with full length rather than ¾ sleeves.

Emboldened by modest success, I'm knitting onward and even joined the NaKniSweMo KAL. For mutual encouragement and support, Nancy and I are doing a mini-KAL within a KAL for Seneca by Jared Flood. The designer's comments are helpful – I'm going to do a full sample swatch, wash, and block on the sideways cable section. Besides, diligence is its own reward – having missed the September Brooklyn Tweed event at Stix-n-Stitches, I hope to wear Seneca to the reception at Knitknack in December.

ABB

Seedy Cardi is almost finished. She's quite wearable as-is, even went to Rhinebeck on Sunday, where she performed admirably in the cold and wet (but my poor digicam misbehaved – sorry, no pix). I love her rustic Noro-esque beauty.



She's just ABB, all but buttons. Once upon a time wearing a cardi sans buttons would have bothered me. No longer. Indeed, I'm brazenly flaunting Seedy's buttonlessness. Behold! – a buttonhole with no corresponding button.



Otherwise, the loose ends are woven in, the leftovers neatly wound, and the trusty tools stowed. I suppose if I hadn't been quite so obsessive about color-matching, there would be a nice full skein left instead of a motley collection of short pieces. Oh well.



Objectively, Seedy isn't heavy for a handknit cardigan – she's well under 500 g (17.6 oz). But she feels substantial, so I stabilized her back neck with a row of slip stitch crochet, using a leftover bit of a smooth yarn, Cascade 220. On the inside of the garment, it looks like a chain.



On the outside, it looks like a decorative running stitch between the collar and the body of the sweater.



The crochet chain works to limit stretching along the back neck, which can be pulled out of shape by the weight of the sleeves, resulting in drooping shoulders. While the effect may have appeal in a luscious angora sweater, I want Seedy to have a firm shoulder line. There's a slight difference in the drape of the sweater, which seems a reasonable trade off for the improved fit.

Ordinarily, I don't much like to wear sweaters with collars, they fidget me. But the turn line on Seedy's seed stitch collar forms crenellations that frame the face, a rather nice special effect. I'm no good at self-portraits, so modeled pix will have to wait 'til DH is available. In the meantime, Seedy's going shopping.

Mixed Bag

This morning I woke to lowering skies and the rattle of sleet against the windowpanes. I hope those heading to Rhinebeck this weekend travel safe!* And... dare I say it? The prospect of cold precipitation on a fiber festival makes me appreciate anew the desirable properties of plastic bags even as I try to reduce my use of them.

On such a gloomy day full of such ambivalent thoughts, it was a particular happiness to re-read the entries for my blog giveaway and to see the level of environmental awareness and commitment to positive action – thanks to all who entered. Is it ironic that the prize comes packaged in a plastic bag? However that may be, by random draw the Sheep 2 Shoe kit goes to Katie. Congratulations, Katie!

In her comment on the previous post, Jessica expressed the hope the Seedy cardi has two sleeves. It does indeed, here's photographic evidence.



Alas, I'm currently picking out the mattress stitching on the shoulder seam of one of them. I was sailing merrily along (tralala), but a moment's inattention led to this horror.



Can't tell what's wrong? Here's a closer view. When properly executed, mattress stitch makes nearly invisible seams in handsome columns. The scissors tips are pointing to – cue Drama Button – a jog in the column.



It's got to go.

*A somewhat self-serving hope, as Tami and I are going in Nancy's carpool.

Gone to Seedy

Oh hai. It's that time of year. Remember the Seedy Cardi from last year? I'm finally blocking it.



I knit the cardigan in a week, but it's taken a year and the pressure of another looming Rhineback to get around to piecing it together. Procrastination, I haz it.

The milkweed pods are drying nicely, but (wouldn't you know it?) according to an article by Lili Pintea-Reed (posted by Leesy), the best floss is collected from green pods and spun while still moist. Naturally, mine are seedy.

Reminder to nonprocrastinators: my Sheep 2 Shoe kit giveaway is open through October 15.