Knitting 'Kelmscott by Carol Sunday'

I instantly fell in love with this design when I saw it. I bought it immediately because I knew that I wanted to knit it. I placed it on the coffee table so I could see it often to help me decide what colour and yarn I would use.

Boy, did I swatch for it. Over the course of a week, I must have swatched ten different yarns and yarn combinations. I did not like any of them. So it sat on the coffee table looking at me and taunting me to order the yarn from the States. It just looked so beautiful.

As I was sorting through my stash and relocating it to a new stash station, I came across some Rowan tapestry that I bought somewhere on sale. As a last resort, I thought I would try a swatch.

To my amazement, it worked, still giving the slightly fluffy look of the pattern.

Still cautious, I started by knitting the right front to see if I liked it enough to continue.

With the start of the Olympics it was a perfect knit as most of the sleeves and back are reverse stocking stitch. I have now completed a front, the back and a sleeve and a half. I am  knitting the second front, all the lace, at the same time as the second sleeve, when I have the chance to sit and concentrate on the lace.

Detail at the bottom of the sleeve

It has seemed a very haphazard way to knit a garment and does not appeal to the knitting pedant in me who likes to complete bits before I start the next. However it has worked very well as the garment has developed a lot faster than it would have if I had concentrated on one piece at at time. Strangely enough, I have also enjoyed doing it this way.

The best part about it is that it has been great FUN and it has brought a smile to my face often. The pattern has been easy to follow and I have had great enjoyment watching it grow, however slowly. I will post the finished garment when it is done. I am looking forward to the collar!