I started this one on vacation, put it down for a while, and then picked it up again a couple of weeks ago. Its the "Birdy Cardigan" from Vintage Knits for Modern Babies (minus the birdy motif), knit in Louisa Harding Lanthe, a cotton/extra fine merino wool blend, in the color raffia.

As I was finishing up the second sleeve and preparing to piece everything together and add the neckband I glanced down at my dwindling last ball of yarn and had the sinking feeling that I was going to run out. I checked the yarn label and the pattern and realized that while I had gotten the grams right, I had overlooked the yardage necessary and would most likely run out. I really didn't want to order another whole ball of yarn just to make three more rows! So I went ahead and made the neckband about half the thickness that it was supposed to be. This meant I didn't have room for the last buttonhole/button, so I just left it off. Who buttons the last button anyways, right? Not me.

I've loved all of the patterns in this book so far, but this one was just alright. I preferred the top-down raglan that I knit for Indy a few months ago. I'm not very good at piecing things together yet, so that's probably why. The mattress stitch on the sides was easy enough, but I was unsure of how to do that stitch along the increases under the arms (notice the waviness?), and of how to pick up stitches along the angled front of the neckline. I do like the look of the seed stitch edges, though.

It should be just the right size to fit Tenny in the fall/winter.

(a random assortment of recent thoughts and happenings. . .)

The farmers' market is still going strong. August and September are peak season for a lot of produce around here, and we usually bring home some berries and other fruit, along with our customary cut flowers and a lemon shakeup (of course!)

This yellow watermelon was ridiculously good - like, how I remember watermelon being when I was a kid. I'm convinced those new emasculated watermelons (you know, the seedless ones?) which happen to be the only watermelons you can find in stores these days, just don't taste as good as a regular ole melon. Plus, what about seed spitting contests?

Brown sugar and blueberry pancakes. Do you still make pancakes from a mix? Stop. It will take you the same amount of time to make them from scratch, they will taste better, save you money, and you can more easily customize (e.g. we always use unhybridized Einkorn flour). I used this recipe, substituted brown sugar, and added fresh blueberries. You can also substitute real buttermilk and soak the batter overnight for easier digestibility. 

Our yard. There is this awesome long flower bed along the driveway that isn't totally filled in. I hope to gradually add a bunch of cottage-y perennials over time. Our first step was digging up the bush and getting a few flowers in the ground.

Much better, right? Those plants should really fill out when they come back next year. I'm excited.

Indy, looking a little punchy. Other than her bangs, she's never had a haircut. I was letting her bangs grow out for several months, but she was constantly pushing them out of her face. Alan and I debated for a while about whether to let them keep growing or to just cut them, and ultimately decided she might look less like a little punk with a cute fringe.

The next morning, post trim and bath. Sipping her herbal tea (I'm serious!)

Much better, methinks.