I (Don't-Know-About-This) Cord

With Thanksgiving, Sis' socks and a house full of people now behind me, I fully expected to be able to finish my 50th Anniversary cardigan 'toute suite' as we say here in bilingual land. Tuesday night I expected completion.

Tuesdays are my night to howl knit as Fred plays darts on Tuesday nights. He leaves at 6:45 which gives me tons of uninterrupted knitting time. Finished pictures Wednesday morning, I so foolishly thought. After all, it is down to two little bands of I-Cord. How hard can it be? Well, hard enough that third time wasn't so charming.

Initially, I began with one of the contrast colours. 'Not a very wise move', I thought. Blips will glare in the contrast colour. Tuesday night's knitting began with ripping out the contrast and starting the second attempt with the main colour.

Now, you might remember that I did I-Cord trim on my Elizabeth Zimmermann Green Sweater during the 2010 Olympics. So it's not that I don't know 'how' to do it, it is just that I can't remember how to do it well.

The second attempt went poorly, but in true knitterly-denial fashion, I kept going until about half way around the neck. By that time - quick learner, me - I knew I had a poor I-Cord on my hands. Rip.

Third time - close to bed time - and I am about half-way up the front of the sweater. One might talk about the charm at this point, but I'm not thrilled with the results. You be the judge. Which picture is a picture of I-Cord? Without the needles in the photo, it's hard to tell. Which to my knitterly mind means - not worth the effort.

My options are to trim in something other than I-Cord, or carry on until the second layer is complete, then decide. Wanting to stay true to the original pattern, I have decided in the bright light of morning, to carry on. It will either work or it won't. The next few days will tell. I'll keep you posted.