The Humble Hobbyist vol.11
Hand knits in the wild, The Darling Cardigan, and some indoor gardening
Knitting
Starting with one of the greatest compliments I’ve received…
Before our trip to Berlin and Copenhagen, I mapped out a few projects I wanted to buy yarn for and The Darling Cardigan by Kutovakika was top of the list! After seeing Kika in the green version of the cardigan, I wanted the exact one.
My amazing wife gifted me this yarn on our trip, so now we have a running joke about what it means to buy a “sweater quantity” (aka A LOT) of yarn!
Cast on the day after Christmas, The Darling Cardigan worked up pretty quickly.
The olive green is so beautiful and fits my wardrobe perfectly. I added round wooden buttons with grooves that have a bit of character but are still understated. With three strands of yarn held together, the sweater has a bit of heft to it that I think will hold up for many years to come.
Things I learned from this project:
Cardigan construction
Italian cast on
Ruke bind off
Double-knit button band w/ button holes
I was petrified to work on the double-knit button band; the technique seemed so involved and fiddly, but thank goodness for the amazing knitters of YouTube who guided me along the way. I am adamant that I am not a “self-taught” knitter but YouTube taught, I wouldn’t be able to do any of this stuff without my incredible teachers.
I say this every newsletter but I’m so proud! Like wow, I made this with my two hands and I’m in love with it 😍.
Indoor Gardening
I haven’t the slightest idea what I’m doing, just vibes…
For Christmas I was gifted a table-top mini garden to try my hand at indoor gardening. I’ve had great success at keeping house plants alive but this is different.
The instructions were basically how to set up the water, pods, and lights and then said go forth and prosper. I’m not really sure what else to do or how long the plants should take to grow 🤷🏽♀️, so like the scientist that I am I’ll treat this whole thing like a little experiment 👩🏽🔬🧪
What I’m growing:
Dill
Basil
Cilantro
Bok choy
Leafy Greens
Arugula
Romain lettuce
Rosemary
Sewing
What ever happened to those trousers? You might ask.
Well, I’ve searched high and low for the perfect pattern and corduroy fabric but have been unsuccessful with both.
Difficulty finding a pattern doesn’t surprise me since I also have trouble finding flattering silhouettes in ready-to-wear garments. I don’t want to rush the process so I’ll let the right pattern find me when it’s supposed to.
2024 shall be a great year for my hobbies, I’ve got some big goals for piano, knitting, and sewing alike. I can’t wait to see what unfolds.
TGM ✌🏾
I can vouch, I was there on the bus - she was excited to see your socks! And I love how the cardigan turned out!! Very inspiring stuff, now I'm thinking I need to pick up knitting too...
The cardigan looks amazing on you! I say this every newsletter, but I’m proud of you! 💚💚