Matching cardigans for the kids!

SUPER-AWESOME DEALS!

• From Julia Farwell-Clay: Promotion code is “knitmore” for a 20% discount on the “Welcome to the Flock” pattern, through June 15
• From Sincere Sheep: Free Shipping code of: KnitmoreLove (With this code your entire package - including anything you add to their order - will ship for free within the US.)

CHANGES:

• Steeked.

• Getting 5 sts/in on size US 5 needles. I like the fabric, so I’m going to knit the numbers on the 12 month size, with the length measurements from the 24 month size.

• Using KinoKnits project suggestion, having half the sheep face one way, and half the other: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Kino/welcome-to-the-flock

• The original cardigan I saw at Stitches West had the sheep in garter stitch, so I have one set of sheep in garter.

• … and the next set NUPP-ed! (If you’re going to do the nupps, here’s how I did it: every other stitch, every other row, do a 5 stitch nupp, and on the alternate rows K5tog the nupp stitches.) I love how curly they are!

• Worked sleeves to 9.5”, to accommodate his delicious long limbs.

• I took a screen grab of the chart, flipped it using these directions for Word (sort of), and then printed it BECAUSE COUNTING IS HARD, PEOPLE. - You need to initially have a few stitches in your MC between flipped charts unless you want your sheep butt-to-butt. (Kino has ONE, and it looks pretty great.)

• Buttonband: 79 sts on size 3, work 9 rows st st. Work 1 row in purl (turning row), change to size 2 needles, work 9 rows st st, use crocheted slip stitch to simultaneously bind off and attach the facing. (Idea from Anna Zilboorg’s Splendid Apparel)

• Buttonholes: Perfect Buttonhole, again from Splendid Apparel

FUTURE JASMIN, PAY ATTENTION: When you get to the sheep, go up a needle size. You’ll think, “This time will be different.” DO NOT IGNORE ME, FUTURE JASMIN.

NOTIONS:

• Large sheep buttons
• Tiny Sheep Buttons
• Sheep Ribbon (bought on clearance at Michael’s, can’t find it online)
• Wolf buttons (Genevieve’s idea, one wolf on the back amongst the sheep)
• Sheep stitch markers, because I have low impulse control and THEY’RE SO CUTE.
• Sheep mug
• Stitches West Sheeple bag from Erin.Lane Bags
• Walking foot for my Singer Featherweight (221)
• 4” Gingher embroidery scissors with enameled handles
• Susan Bates Silvalume Handi Tool (the crochet hook/cable needle combo doodad)
• Leslie Wind Flame Eye darning needle (behind the sheep button)

Some thoughts, upon finishing:

• Anna Zilboorg knows her stuff when it comes to finishing handknits. While the perfect buttonhole was fiddly as all get-out, the results are unbelievably gorgeous. (Totally worth it.)
• The way I knit this, I had to pull a few yards out of the third skein of green in order to finish the buttonhole facing. My bands are WAAAAAY wider than the directions say, AND I added an inch to the sleeve length. If you want to avoid this and still have the same beautiful finish and long sleeves, use the white (or brown) included in the kit to - perhaps- stripe the inside of the facing. (I didn’t do this because I need the CCs for matching Baaa-ble hats.)