I know. I’ve been AWOL for a few weeks. I has my reasons. But I know you’re going to forgive me, because a way cool thing happened on my needles while I was gone.

Project monogamy for the win once more! Since my last post, I have worked on nothing but the Comfort Fade Cardi I started that very weekend. I cast off the collar last Thursday night, but needed a few days to finishing blocking and get all modeled up for the “hero” shots.

Here’s Squishy (yes, I named my sweater Squishy. Judge me if you must) being all pose-y on a flat space:

I am so feeling this colorway…I can’t even. I want to knit every project from this day forward in these very yarns. Socks, hats, cowls, all of it. Can you blame me?

I can tell you’re in love with it already, but watch what happens when I put it on:

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Right? Right?!? It’s so me I can hardly stand it. I am going to wear the bejeezus out of this sweater. Why oh why did it take me so long to cast this on?? Take notice, dear knitters, life is short – quit being all precious about your special yarn and knit it into something fabulous now. Go on – go do it. I’ll wait here.

Contrary to my usual modus operandi, I only made one modification – I added pockets, cleverly hidden behind the ribbing. Sometimes I wear pants without pockets and I hate not having a place to put my phone when I need free hands. And also, really, all cardis should have pockets. I dare you to disagree.

Here’s Squishy pre-collar, showing off the groovy pockets:

For those of you technical nerds, I wrote out the pocket instructions on my Ravelry project page here.

Two lessons I learned from this project:

1. Knit the good stuff now. You won’t be sorry.
2. If you really want to get something done, join a Knit-a-long. There’s something very inspiring and motivating about working on a project with a community. Knitters are amazingly supportive and helpful humans. You can be as vulnerable as you like in a KAL forum and swarm of cheerleader mentors will come to your aid and give you all the confidence, tips, and love you need to carry on and make something awesome.

Banging out this sweater in less than three weeks has motivated me to get cracking on my Affiknity and Longline cardis. Not to mention, I’m starting a new Patty Lyons video class in a couple weeks, Gramercy Park. Here’s my swatch all prepped and measured:

Purdy, yes? Looks fancy, but I think it’s going to knit up relatively quickly. You will, of course, get all the deets when the action is…acting.

Whaddaya think? Can I finish another WIP sweater between now and April 25? Go ahead and double-dog dare me. I’m feeling cocky.

Keep safe and knit well. You got this.

Knicoleknits