Ester Shrug

I'm back!
Work has been crazy busy and taking up all my time and energy. But I still have been training and I still have been knitting up a storm. Just not bogging about it.

This is my first "full garment" project and I really enjoyed it. I made it as a part of a course offered at The Loop and it was good to do my first larger project as part of a course because it forced me to adhere to deadlines. But that also meant getting up at 5am on a Saturday trying to finish it before class. I took this as a course because I wanted to learn how to do cables. Turns out they are as easy as everyone claims! Now the possibilities are endless with what I can make! This was also one of the very few things I've knit that was perfect - no mistakes or fudging it. The success of this project inspired me to take on a full length sweater - The Stranger Cardigan. Isn't it gorgeous!?

I had a few knitting projects that I had cast on several months ago so I promised myself that I have to finish all of those before I start the Stranger Cardigan. I plan on making myself deadlines for it too because otherwise I'll never finish and get bored of it if it takes too long.

Anyway, back to Ester Shrug. Here is the pattern. Really listen to the pattern when it tells you not to make the bottom part longer, it will really mess up the construction. If you like a longer shrug, you can wear this two ways. If you wear it one way, the collar is higher and the seam of the shrug hits your mid-back. Then if you flip it upside down, the collar is lower and the seam of the shrug will be lower on your back.

I used Cascade Eco + in Turtle. I made an extra small (which is true to size) and only needed 1 skein since a skein has 478 yards. I was really impressed with this yarn. On the Ravelry page it says it's "bulky" weight, but it is decidedly aran weight. It knits up rather soft. This is the first 100% wool yarn that I've used and I am surprised that it does not bother my skin, even if the collar rubs on my neck. In fact, working with the yarn made me fall in love with wool. I love the stitch definition in the cables, I love the sturdiness and I love the warmth. I can't wait to work with wool next!