Homemade Friday: Georgia Cardigan, a Wedding Shawl, and socks

It's been a handknit kind of week, which is my favorite kind of week, next to the ones that involve extra sleep and/or copious amounts of booze.

Just kidding.  Sort of.

So, handknits.  I think I've worn something I've made almost every day this week, even if it was only a pair of socks.  Today, as it's extra cold and the first frost of the fall, I'm wearing three different pieces - socks, a cardigan and a shawl.

The shawl is one I made for my wedding, ages ago, while Chris was away in Alaska and I was on my own planning the event and stressing over everything.  I settled on this drooping elm stitch pattern, and found a hand-dyed yarn online that I thought fit the colors of the wedding.

I think this is the only picture I have of me
wearing the shawl on my wedding day.

In hindsight, an elegant, off-white, delicate shawl probably would have been better, or at least a little classier, but I guess that doesn't matter so much when you have Dad-made pulled pork and kegs of beer at your reception.  Also I like color.

She put her slippers on and came outside even though I told
her she couldn't unless she put actually clothes on as it is
literally, freezing cold outside.  She listens well, this one.

This shawl has kind of turned into an everyday object, which is what I love.  It's a tough little thing, surviving the children fighting over using it as a blanket.  And Adele likes to cover up her various stuffed animals when they go night-night.  Also one time a ball.  And a toy helicopter.  She really likes to put things to bed.

Shawl styling straight out of Lark Rise to Candleford, which is an
awesome show and showed me an incredibly useful way to wear a shawl.

It's been a pillow, too, a tissue, and whatever else it's needed to be.  And today it's back to being a shawl.  It may have a couple of holes in it, but I just tie the ends of the broken yarn together and go about my day. 

I want the things I make to be useful - not precious.  If I make your child a sweater - don't put it on one time and take a picture, then never let the poor, cold thing wear it again.  They are meant to be used.  They are meant to be loved because I love making them.

The cardigan I'm wearing is the Georgia Cardigan by Jane Richmond.  I think I messed up on gauge, which I haven't measured yet because eh - not important.  But the neck is entirely too wide, as is the rest of the sweater.  I wanted a fitted cardigan, but I got a loose, sort of awkward one.  Also it's entirely too short.  However, that hasn't stopped me from wearing it over and over again.  I took it camping when we went and it was much appreciated for warmth.  I still love it, and I wear it often, but I think I may try to make another one sometime in the future at a smaller, longer size.  Or maybe just check the gauge and do some math and actually knit the right way!  Ha!

I could always take this one out and do it over, but that's a lot of work.  We'll see. 

Yarn is Knitpicks Stroll sock yarn in Black, leftover from the ridiculous amount of gloves I knit last Christmas.  Apparently I am a poor judge of yarn amounts because I had enough left over to make a whole sweater.  

I'm wearing these socks, which I made a year or two ago, and which I was sure that I've already showed you but can't seem to find a post on them.

It's my own, plain, short-row heel and toe pattern that I use for all the socks I make.  The yarn is a German Sock Wool from my Mother-in-law.


So right now I'm thankful for all the handknits I have, and the ones I can dress my children and husband in.  Chris is wearing the first and best sweater I made for him.  He wouldn't let me post a picture of him in it today, but it's this pattern by Jo Sharp and looks exactly like the picture - same color and everything.  And if Adele ever lets me dress her, she's going to be wearing this Plain Tunic today - provided it still fits as I haven't tried it on her since last spring.

And I have hats to make and my children both need more socks and I've got a hooded vest picked out for Sebastian and a comfy sweater for me and, and, and ...

I'm so happy it's cooler again.