This yarn is the colour of storm clouds. Very appropriate for this time of year. I picture autumnal walks wearing this cardi, or on the beach with my grandsons on our weekend away at the seaside - they are wearing their Fisherman sweaters in this scenario and we look like something from the Boden catalogue (ha ha).

I was in two minds whether to try to make this. I love the way it looks on the Veera pattern, but I am nervous about how well it will fit me, and the negative ease thing seems to be pretty important. I am not at all curvy and I am short, too. I really don’t want it to be too big. I also have trouble following patterns, so I am sure to make mistakes. We’ll see.

September 11
Ok, now I have given up thinking I am going to finish this in a weekend. Up to the yoke, and somewhere (surprise!) I have made a mistake, and my leaves have turned out different sizes. I have fudged this to get back to the right number of stitches, but the knowledge I’ve messed up is niggling me, and deep down I know I am going to frog it back. I also forgot a button hole, and although the large gauge means it’s possible to force a button through without one, it’s the sort of thing to make me not wear something at all, which is ridiculous after all the effort of making it.

So, no hurry, I’ve decided. I am going to finish Fred’s Fisherman (which I also have to frog back to the yoke) before taking this up again.

October 21
So it’s my birthday, and I have finished my Modern Garden cardi. I love it, despite it being too late for our seaside sojourn (where no one wore any knitwear after all). I am always amazed how, at the point in knitting a seamless garment when the sleeves and body join, I have what feels like total chaos on my needles - yarn ends, needles, loose stitches - and then a few rows later something whole appears. I made a few mistakes in this knit, but whilst I am irked by my lack of skill, this is a really, really clever pattern. (It’s the first thing I’m made where you can’t really tell it’s home made…is this good?) The leaves form the shaping and raglan decreases. I knitted fewer rows between the lower and upper leaves, to accommodate my extreme five foot nothing shortness. (Though the bulky yarn does kind of make you look kind of …bulky? Or maybe that’s just me!?) Perfect for the cold days ahead. AND it’s not even itchy. Thanks Drops. Thanks Veera.