Knitting up a Storm

The weather here has turned decidedly colder and there is something quite comforting about knitting in front of the fire. I find knitting with wooden needles really helps my hands, so for the first time ever I have two projects on the go! I know a dangerous precedent...

I cast on this cardigan before Christmas, the pattern is 'It's the Berries' by Carol Sunday, you can purchase it on Ravelry here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/its-the-berries

This is Carol's photo of the finished item

I am knitting my version in this gorgeous Cherry Red coloured yarn, it is Fyberspates Scrumptious Aran a mix of 55% Merino Wool and 45% Silk, it is lovely to knit with and shows the pattern really well.

So far I have knitted the back, both fronts and have started the first sleeve.

I really like the front edge detail

I put this project on hold for a few days while I knitted clue one of the Mystery Shawl by Alana Dakos of Never not Knitting. You can find the info on Ravelry here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mystery-shawl-knit-a-long

Alana is releasing one clue each week, I know I am making a shawl with cables etc, but I don't know the finished design. It is a lot of fun and there is a support group on Ravelry to help. I have finished clue one and am back knitting my cardigan while I wait for the second clue on Friday.

I am using a Rowan Fine Art Aran Yarn which is 50% Wool; 25% Alpaca; 20% Mohair; 5% Silk.

I bought it on sale with no real plan for it, I had the last few skeins of the discontinued 'Squirrel' colour. The yarn is a bit 'hairy' due to the mohair but I think it shows the pattern up quite well and I am glad to have found a use for it. The shawl should certainly be warm.

This is clue one, I have ordered a longer cable for my interchangeable needles as I am running out of room already!

I don't really like having more than one project on the go knitting wise, I seem to spend ages trying to work out where I am on the pattern each time I stop. I will keep going with these two for now but then go back to one. I really want to have a go at Fair Isle next. My Ravelry queue seems to get longer daily...