March 09, 2005

Why, it's a seamed Kid Mohair cardi! But before you go scrolling down the page in search of customary whack rabbit dance shots, you might want to cool your jets there. What's missing from this picture?

a) Ribbed bands for the neck edge.
b) Big ole button the size of a dinner plate.
c) Weave in ends.
d) All of the above.

If you checked (d) all of the above you get a gold star on your forehead*. The Kid Mohair cardi, despite it's seemingly put-together appearance at first glance, is definitely not finished. But it's already seamed, and that makes me happy because even though I like to take time and care when I seam my knits, it doesn't mean I fully enjoy doing it. (That's why seaming parties are a tradition chez Skinny Rabbit - a cocktail and chatter with Monsieur Le Hubby make seaming more fun, believe me.)

Seaming blab: I used the main yarn to join all seams. [Oh! How I was tempted to use embroidery floss for the mohair cardi! But not this time, thanks.] Shoulders were shaped via short rows, bound off, and joined using backstitch. (I had initially tried the three-needle bind-off but was not at all happy with how it looked in this yarn.) Everything else was joined using mattress stitch. I thought sewing would be difficult with the slightly lumpy mohair, but it was surprisingly easy and I'm pleased with how the seams look.

Now I just need to get cracking on the front bands. Sigh. The front bands are in dreaded 1x1 ribbing. But! They've got some short row shaping, which is always entertaining. I promise not to procrastinate so I can have some fun working those short rows. Plus, I'd love to get this cardi done so I can wear it to dinner at a new Mexican restaurant in Vieux Lyon. I hear that it's owned and operated by a family from Mexico City so I'm looking forward to taking a look at that menu. Arriba!

[Footnote: One of the best references I own for hiding short row wraps has got to be Vogue Knitting's Ultimate Knitting Book.]

*Kids in Mexico get gold star stickers on their foreheads as reward for good work in school. It's cute to see them walking around with a gold star that shows everyone that they did well in school that day. If I don't procrastinate on the front bands of the cardi I'll put a gold star on my forehead when I wear the cardi. (Okay, maybe not to the restaurant.)

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