Blues and Reds

Since hanging out on Facebook, reading the thoughts of kindred spirits has not made me feel even a little bit better about my election blues, I’m staying off of social media for a short while and distracting myself with a happy red sweater show-and-tell. Care to join me?

It’s a Porthole Pullover with all of the pattern’s optional shaping (neck, bust, waist, hips, sleeves) and improvised short sleeves.

I think it’s got a nice vintage vibe to it. I was inspired, in part, by some of the period dramas I’ve watched on Acorn.TV and PBS. If I’d made it just a little bit shorter and worn it with a pencil skirt, I could see it in a scene from Marple, Grantchester, or A Place to Call Home. They’re very big on the short-sleeved pullover sweater thing, I’ve noticed.

I knit it to be my Christmas sweater, and maybe it still will be, but I also kind of want to wear it rightthisveryminute. It’s cheery, and as alluded to earlier, I like to suppress unpleasant feelings with good cheer wherever possible (such healthy behavior, I know). This top makes me feel like putting on red lipstick, dress pants, and high heels.

In fact, that’s exactly what I did when I was taking these pictures!

Do you know what I didn’t do? I didn’t straighten up the room I was in before I started my shoot, and I don’t really care 😜

The Details

• Pattern: Porthole Pullover by me!
• Yarn: Cascade 220 in Christmas Red and Mint
• Needle: US5 everywhere except US3 on sleeve ribbing (my gauge is so loose lately! I now use 5s everywhere I used to use 7s).
• Modifications: Short sleeves. I did an extra 2 decrease rows for the Sleeve Shaping, and I started the ribbing after only 26 rounds. Ribbing is 6 rounds of k1 p1 on the smaller needle.

This was a fun one to knit, and so fast. I love knitting pullovers because there are very few purl stitches. Purls just slow me down.

So. Back to reality now? Eh. Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe some Netflix first 😉