The friend in question has a taste for quality, hence the choice of wool: mohair. She needed a replacement of an old favourite and couldn't find the same one anywhere. I mentioned that I love knitting and she jumped at the opportunity. The pattern I used can be found here, the wool here.
There's Ruby making sure I'm doing a good job.
The most annoying part of any knitting project is blocking and sewing it all up:
Blocking, for those who don't know, is the process of flattening out your work and making it the right shape. The technique I used was to gently hand wash the pieces, and then to pin it out neatly onto a towel, letting it dry properly. I did the front and back first because I had to stitch the shoulders together and knit the polo-neck straight onto the work.
For the sleeves I had a brain wave left it on the Aga, it dried a LOT quicker than the front and back.
And then the absolute worst part - for me anyway - is sewing it all up. However, anything is ok if Ruby is keeping me company.
Here it is all wrapped up nicely - despite the fact that it was ripped open immediately, as my my friend was so excited to see it.
I have decided my new 'design name' is "A Fatcat Creation". My nick name (and all my user names) is Hatbat the Fat Cat, so I felt it was fitting. I don't even like cats... I also have a friend who has created a new cocktail, and on my suggestion he is naming it 'The Fat Cat'. Yesssssssss.
After the chunky knit sweater I will be moving onto another chunky project. Miffy made a blanket a while ago using chunky, green wool. She has given me the left-overs (of which there is a considerable amount) and I am going to make something out of it...
Any ideas for what I could make.....?