Even better than a project that slips off your needles exactly as you had imagined it, is a project that takes an unexpected turn and you love it despite its deviation from THE PLAN. Rescued from the brink of disaster is this cardigan I’m calling Kimono-ish. It began as a reason to use Habu Tsumugi Silk with which I’ve had a long love affair but have never used in a garment. An ideal between-season yarn, it provides a little bit of warmth, but is not wintry, and best of all, has structure, which makes the difference between a cardigan and a jacket. It’s casual but dressy too, my favourite combination. I meant it to be worn open, but added the little button loops on both front edges just in case and discovered that I like it buttoned, too.

Kimono-ish has the three essential F’s–

it:

1. fits

2. feels good

3. fills a need in my wardrobe

Like its Habu siblings (it’s a large family, you can see a few of them here), Tsumugi Silk wants to be appreciated for its understated beauty, so fancy stitches are unnecessary.

In case you’re under the impression that this svelte figure is mine, it’s not. Although I’m quite happy with the way Kimono-ish looks on me, photos are a different story. My trim friend Marian agreed to be my body double.  Hey, if it’s ok for Nicole Kidman……

P. S.

So excited after the finishing touches, I put it on over my new blouse and set off for my neighbour’s birthday party (she who will receive the Fiesta Bath Mitt). Noting the absence of cars on our street, I realized that I’d arrived a week early!

Happy knitting!

–Mel

This entry was posted on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 12:59 pm and is filed under designs, yarns. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.