I am writing this in the Airport Lounge at Phoenix Sky Harbor while waiting for a flight to take me home. I have spent the past week in Tucson, visiting my mother and stepfather, Marylou and Stuart. Both my step-sister, Alison, and my daughter, Leah, flew in for the weekend as well. We had a fabulous time. Leah had just survived the rainiest October on record in Vancouver and this intense burst of sunshine has refilled her batteries. As she said: “I seem to be solar-powered.” I can agree with that!
Before heading out to Arizona, I was struggling to finish knitting the pieces of Emma’s Tinder cardigan. My secret plan was to block the pieces before I left, and to bring them to Tucson and do all of the finishing while on holiday. Leah would then be able to take the finished garment back to Vancouver for her sister. I knew that I would have to block them by Sunday evening in order to take them with me on the plane, but I had to finish knitting the right front first! I finished at about midnight on the Sunday after a marathon session. Doug took a photo of me collapsed on the floor after I finished blocking (not the best photo given the poor lighting, but a good representation of how I was feeling at the time).
Despite this mad rush, the truth must be told: I had vastly underestimated the amount of time the finishing would take and also underestimated how difficult it would be to piece together a worsted wool sweater in the record-breaking Tucson heat. The sweater is now back in my suitcase, returning with me to England.
I can, however, confirm that Tinder is a lovely cardigan with some very clever details. The raglan seams and the collar came out great:
Here I have borrowed my mom to show off how the shoulders are shaped:
Isn’t it gorgeous!
Despite the disappointing amount of knitting I managed to do on this holiday, I had a fabulous time. I always enjoy being in the desert and it was fun to have so many of us together. Here are some photos from the Desert Museum. If you are ever in Tucson, it is a must-see!
Marylou and Leah:
Javelinas:
Unbelievable vista with Saguaro cacti:
Leah, me, and Alison:
Alison and Stuart:
Random cactus photo:
Now, I am going to sit back, enjoy my wine, pull out my knitting and zone out until flight time!
It’s interesting what you say about things taking longer than you imagine, all year I have been working on various time management ideas culled from books and blogs and I have come to the conclusion that I’m hopeless at planning!
I actually teach a bit of time management now which would make those who know me laugh! Good luck with that, Jen!
I am so glad you are almost finished with that sweater! I think the finished product looks wonderful, but I know it is a project you will be glad to see the last of. 🙂
Sounds like you had a wonderful visit with family, glad you got to have some sunshine and heat and see Mom and Lea and others. 🙂
Hi. I am a little worried that the cardigan is not long enough for Emma, but I can always re-block. But I am really happy with the fit of the shoulders. It is a very good pattern.
What?! You were in Tucson and I didn’t get to meet you or buy you a coffee (or a beer, or something) ? Waaahhh!! This is what I get for not keeping up reading my blogs… 🙁 Maybe next time. .. always enjoy your posts! !
Oh no! Next time I go out that way, I will give a shout-out in advance. I’m always happy to meet up with fellow knitters.
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