On my needles...

A while ago I bought 1500g (yes, you read it correctly, 1500g!!!) of this

It's a very nice yarn being 20% wool and 80% acrylic so it's soft, warm, easy to work with and has a fabulous drape. I had intended to make this

but for one reason or another I subsequently decided against it so was left with a HUGE amount of the yarn. It's a gorgeous cappuccino colour but I stashed it away, not really knowing what to do with it. Then, a few weeks ago my gran (actually she's my step-gran but who's asking?) said she needed a new cardigan for the winter. Sadly she suffers from chronic arthiritis in her hands so cannot knit or sew any more. As soon as she said it I thought of this yarn as it's definitely one of her colours. She suits all ranges of browns so I knew she'd like it and when I showed it to her she thought it was fab.

We discussed exactly what she wanted (a small amount of cable, a button up with a round neck, no collar etc., etc) and I jumped on the internet to find a pattern. Ravelry (of course) is always my first stop for all things knitting but although I searched for nearly an hour, I just couldn't find the right pattern. There were many 'it'll do' types but nothing that really made my heart leap. Do you know what I mean?

To say the least I was a little despondent. Ravelry had NEVER let me down but now it seemed I was asking too much...... I wandered around for days not knowing what to do and then it hit me - DESIGN YOUR OWN PATTERN!!!! That made my heart leap, I can tell you. I was a little daunted at first but I've been knitting all my life and have made all kinds of sweaters so I took a deep breath and began......

So far I've done this

What do you think? This is the right front so the arrow is where the button band will be joined on. Obviously the left front also has an identical cable. Do you like the double cable or do you think it should have been a single? I'm still in two minds about the double but I've done the left front and am almost finished this side so I'm not ripping back now. There is also space to the left of the cable to put on a patch pocket if she decides she wants one but I think it will look just as good without pockets. The back is plain stocking stitch.

So, that's what I've been up to over the past week or so. I really like how it's coming together and I'm very excited that it's my first very own made up pattern!!!! You see, you're never too old (or too young) to start designing!!!

I've called it Granny Anne and will blog the pattern when it's a FO rather than a WIP. Please let me know what you think.

Til soon.

xxx