Me and my Bristow

Ta-da! Here is my finished Bristow. Did I mention that I love it? I knit it up with $35 bucks (Canadian) worth of Elann's Peruvian Collection Highland Wool (13 balls of "Ruby") and though the wool was a little scratchy at first, it was nice to work with and softened up nicely in a Eucalan bath. This is great yarn for the price and I will not hesitate to use it again. Though because of the slight itch factor, I wouldn't use it for baby knits or for anything that needs to be worn next to the skin (but with a light layer underneath, it's fine). Bonus, it is also very warm and not as bulky as you might expect.

The pattern (free from Knitty) is very well written and easy to memorise. It is perfect for anyone who wants to try some cabling because there is enough of it to keep it interesting, but it is surrounded by a lot of stockinette which makes the whole thing knit up faster. It is also more flattering than an all out aran cableknit would be, especially on us curvy girls ;0)

I did not make any mods. To my great surprise, the waist and bust shaping suited me perfectly. The length is just right too. So it's a good thing I resisted making any mods. The pattern is just right as is! Well except for maybe the sleeves...if I ever make this again, I will probably make the sleeves a little narrower. There is a tad too much ease for my taste, though on the flip side, it will be great for layering.

Not bad for my second attempt at a sweater I would actually wear. (The first still doesn't fit...though I'm trying to do something about that!)

And now on a more serious (and hopeful) note, I've started taking evening strolls with a neighbour and friend who is training to participate in the Walk to End Breast Cancer in Ottawa this summer. The walk is an amazing 60km in two days and each walker must raise at least $2000 just to be able to walk. What a challenge! I won't be participating in the walk, but am ready to help anyway I can so I thought I'd post the link to the donation site, because you never know ;0) I mean maybe one of you just rolled up the brim and won a pile of cash today! Or maybe you have a money tree growing in your yard. Or maybe you've been looking for a great cause to get behind. Or maybe you have $5 bucks (or $10 or $20) to spare?

So, if you'd like to help raise funds to end cancer (and help a friend of a friend get one step closer to that $2000 goal) you can do so by clicking this link (it will take you to Jennifer's fundraising page on the Walk to End Breast Cancer site). It is a great cause. I mean who's family hasn't been affected by cancer? Ours sure has. A tax receipt will be automatically generated for any donation (though I think that's just applicable to Canadians?). Thanks for considering it ;0)

Now enough talk about taboo subjects like money and illness...

It's time to knit, knit, knit and now that Bristow's off the needles, I think I'm getting a case of startitis!