Perhaps it seemed that I would never get back to producing any knitting content. Progress has certainly been less than stellar, but nevertheless progress has been made. The pink wool is being reincarnated into a new iteration of an old favourite and I feel renewed confidence in it. In fact, I don’t know why it took me so long to realise that this would be a great project for the wool because the weight and drape are similar to the yarn I originally used.

The pattern is the Square Neck Cardigan by Sarah Hatton from Rowan Studio Issue Eleven. This dates back to 2008 and it features summer tops using bamboo yarn. Bamboo is a fibre that is known for its silky qualities, so when replacing it with a wool it’s best to go with something that has some drape, such as a Blue-faced Leicester or a slinky Merino. You wouldn’t want to substitute a crisper wool like a Shetland unless you were looking to change the character of the garment.

My first dance with this pattern was in 2009 when I knit it using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. This was the knit that broke my heart as I washed it badly immediately upon completion. It shrunk so much that I never even got to wear it. Then I made a second attempt. Unfortunately, the details lie within a notebook I can’t put my hands on at present, but I bought the wool in April 2013 so I think it was knit that year. The yarn is by The Uncommon Thread in their shade Cumulus, it is drop-dead gorgeous and it has stood the test of time, with the cables and ribs still being well-defined and plump. This really is a super little cardi.

I think it’s easy to see why the pink wool will suit this project and I am feeling optimistic, though there’s a long way to go before it’s completed. I’m trying to avoid wrist or shoulder aches, not to mention over-heating in the suddenly improving temperatures, by taking things steadily. One thing I will have to do is find some buttons for the new cardi that are as perfect as the ones I found for the grey-blue version.