Pattern: Modular Tomten Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann from Knitting without Tears (with mods from The Opinionated Knitter)
Yarn: Kauni Effektgarn, 185g in colour: EQ, applied i-cord edging knitted with Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift, approx 10g in colour: Foxglove
Needles: 3mm Prym circs

It’s done! *does happy dance* The zip arrived in Tuesday’s post, so I literally ripped open the envelope, grabbed my pincushion and started attaching zip to jacket. I only wish I were small enough to fit into it, because it kind of needed a finishing flourish of actually being worn.

I really loved knitting this pattern. It’s changed my view of knitting endless rows of garter stitch, because beforehand I thought I’d never manage it without the urge to do myself in through sheer boredom. But combined with the variegated yarn, it looks really rather lovely.

The yarn choice was obviously an inspired moment of genius. I’d been musing about knitting a Tomten and had looked at the many finished ones on Ravelry and decided that the ones I liked best were knitted with handspun or subtly variegated yarns. I realised I wanted something like Noro Kureyon Sock but without the itch, which lead me to the Kauni. It’s very similar to a Shetland yarn in texture (which I guess is why the Spindrift works so well for the edging) and it softens up beautifully after washing. It doesn’t feel like it will be too harsh on a baby’s skin at all.

I followed the pattern directions as written in Knitting Without Tears, except for the sleeves. In The Opinionated Knitter, Meg Swansen adds a note about not casting off the armhole stitches, but knitting them together with the sleeve stitches, which saves sewing up a couple of seams. The only seaming was the rest of the sleeves: the hood is joined by grafting. The applied i-cord edging came from one of the two books; I don’t remember which one, but I suspect it’s in both of them anyway. I love how this finishes off the edges of the jacket and want to use it as much as possible now on everything!

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Just for anyone keeping score, I’ve now completed:

2 cardigans
1 pair of socks
5 hats

for the small person. More feet and leg stuff is needed!