Ghaaa! I’ve snapped!

…they say pride goes before a fall….

Little Miss “I only work on one project at once” must confess to starting a third WIP 😳

I was being very good. I was totally focussed on the Blankie (72 out of 81 squares done). I was even managing to resist the allure of an insanely fine project on 1.5mm needles 😯 . A project that followed me home from Alexandra Palace Knitting and Stitching Show. (that’s a teaser!)

I am so bloody bored with knitting little blue squares !!

Here’s how I finally snapped…

My friend Judie is a huge fan of the She-Knits podcast. I have also been chuckling along while I knit!

When Sharon (the “She” who knits) asked what people had knitted and liked the best, Judie sent this picture of her favourite jacket…

It was raved about in the next podcast! (Quite justifiably – I’ve seen it in person – it looks fabby on Judie). So many people liked it, there is now a Judie Jacket knitalong on Ravelry.

Way to Go, Judie! You’ve inspired a knitalong!! 🙂

The really strange thing is – I once knit this very same pattern, long before I knew Judie!

I did it in a purple mottled shade of Sirdar Denim Ultra – a yarn I have tried several times and always hated the results (you’d think I’d learn huh?)

The pattern is Sirdar 5903 for Denim Ultra…

I must stress, this was in the distant dark ages of my knitting (about the early 1990’s). Before terms like mattress stitch, gauge, tension squares, substituting yarn or “measuring” had embebed themselves in my knitter’s psyche.

It was too small. Badly sewn up. Had gappy pickups for the button band and collar. The colour didn’t suit me. I looked like a walking, lumpy bruise.

I was with Judie when she excitedly bought the yarn to make a second, charcoal grey version with the knitalong. Her enthusiasm was contagious. That coupled with the fact I had a large stash of Rowan Ribbon Twist just aching to be made into this jacket!

It’s a yummy colour…

I’ve just swatched it – going up a needle size to 12mm, I get perfect gauge….

How could I resist?

  1. Fame by association with Judie…
  2. I already had the pattern…
  3. I already had the yarn taking up too much room in my stash…
  4. I can get gauge…
  5. I really need a big brown warm jacket…
  6. I’ve never done a knitalong before?…
  7. It’s a very quick knit and I’ll be back to the blankie in no time…

I’ve come up with seven excuses to myself (it’s not like anyone is going to tell me off is it??)

I’m off to cast on… 😀

9 Responses

  1. Jane
    Jane October 25, 2007 at 9:01 pm | | Reply

    well well well – what can I say now you have 3 WIP’s at this rate you may well get up to the group average of 7!!!
    Looking forward to see the jacket in progress

    Jane

  2. Rachel
    Rachel October 26, 2007 at 4:25 pm | | Reply

    Yay! Go for it. Why am I not surprised that you have more Ribbon Twist? Your Willow jacket is one of the nicest I’ve seen. Really looking forward to seeing the new Judie jacket, which if I know anything about you, should be done about ………………. now.

  3. Cheryl
    Cheryl October 26, 2007 at 9:58 pm | | Reply

    I have that pattern,but have yet to knit it.Cant wait to see the jacket:)

  4. Firefly
    Firefly October 29, 2007 at 2:36 pm | | Reply

    Hi Susan,

    just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading your website. There are some real lol (laugh out loud) moments on it, so I know I’ll be checking back in from time to time, so thank you very much.

    I have met you and Judie a couple of times on courses, and I would like to say that Judie looks fabulous in the Sirdar jacket she knitted – much better than the pattern and I would never have thought it was the same one, so power to her knitting needles and yours too. Hope to see the results of your version soon, judging from the other comments.

    Best wishes, Firefly

  5. Vikki
    Vikki November 1, 2007 at 8:08 pm | | Reply

    Personally I think the photo of her looks much better than the one on the pattern! It looks brilliant! Hey 72 squares is still loads of the blankie. Can’t wait to see the jacket knitted up, great yarn choice!

  6. Sharon
    Sharon November 2, 2007 at 7:24 pm | | Reply

    Hi
    I’ve just found your blog through googling ‘felting’ – not quite what I was expecting but hilarious! I thought your stash was moderate, if that makes you feel any better. I have now hidden part of mine in my daughter’s empty wardrobe as she’s at uni. Luckily it is quite large and so I still have a way to go.
    The blanket is interesting as it has been on my mind as a project for some time, but not so sure now!

  7. Fibigibi
    Fibigibi November 3, 2007 at 2:11 pm | | Reply

    3 WIPs is nothing! Wasn’t Ally Pally a fab day out. I dfo like the jacket you’re planning to make.

  8. Richard Taylor
    Richard Taylor February 22, 2012 at 9:01 pm | | Reply

    Where can I get a copy of sirdar pattern 5903 my friend Carol wants one I have the wool but pattern is eluding me Regards Richard could you e-mail it to me

  9. Janice hollingshead
    Janice hollingshead January 28, 2015 at 8:38 pm | | Reply

    Hello, I love that pattern. Do you know where I could find that pattern? I jus thought the perfect yarn for it!!! 🙂

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