Catching Up Part 2

I'm still trying to catch up with the Christmas knitting report.  But first, a giant thank you for all the recent love and support you've sent my way.  You'll never know how much it's been appreciated.  

Christmas Day is my mom's death anniversary and as much as I've always loved the holiday, I struggle with it now.  And December was just comically bad.  We definitely experienced a Murphy's Law December.  And then starting 2019 off with the loss of Minnie...  I haven't been in the best place, but your support and thoughtfulness have kept me going.  And I thank you!  I also apologize for all the whining I've been doing.  But mostly, I thank you.  

But enough about my weird head space.  Let's talk knitting...

Easy Ragland Christmas Eve Cast On

My Christmas Eve Cast On project was Easy Ragland from The Green Mountain Spinnery Knitting Book.  The sweater's name says it all!  It's truly an easy ragland pattern that I've knit... gosh, probably 15 times.  

I got home from my December 23rd shift in the wee hours of Christmas Eve morning and knew that if I was going to get something cast on on Christmas Eve, it must be cast on then.  So, around 5:00 a.m., I started knitting.  

I started with a mock cable neckline...  And by 6 a.m. I decided the sweater needed some color.  An hour into the project and I was already bored.  Not a good sign!  (If you're wondering, the yarn I'm using is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Mineral Heather.)  

Being 6 a.m. and starting to get sleepy, I didn't put a lot of thought into modifying the design.  I simply grabbed my nearby copy of Alterknit Stitch Dictionary and quickly chose Beacon (p. 42) and a barely used skein of Blossom Heather Wool of the Andes that happened to be laying near my desk.  (It's these wee hours of the morning/end of shift times when I'm always glad I'm a slob and don't put things away when I finish with them.) 

If I had it to do over, I'd have chosen 1) a different ragland increase,  2) a different accent design, and 3) a different color yarn for said accent.  I didn't try the sweater on, or really even pay that much attention to my modification until I'd already knit more than half the body.  

My mods aren't Horrible but they aren't great.  I followed the written pattern for the ragland increases and they break up the color work.  Instead of being rounded, the design came out squared.  And I probably should have knit two repeats of the design instead of one but....  And the pink....  as pinks go, I love the Blossom Heather colorway and it looks good with the purpley Mineral Heather but... it's kinda a little too girly for me.  I just keep thinking, am I really going to wear a pink and purple sweater?  But like I said, it's not Horrible so yeah, I will wear it.  And feel like I'm a 12  year old girl when I do.