Now, you know that driving to Idaho means a lot of knitting for me.  I didn’t get a chance to get my act together for the drive TO Boise, but while I was there I searched Ravelry, settled on a pattern, and got to work.  I finished it right before we left on our llama trip and finally got to wear it yesterday.

The pattern is called St. James by Tonya Wagner, which is generously free.

I’ve decided that I’m all about simple knitting.  When I started knitting I jumped into crazy patterns full of complicated color work and tiny needles.  I still have a half finish Dale of Norway baby sweater I started for my now 9 year old nephew.  Maybe it’ll end up being for a grandchild?  Anyway, I like one color, bigger needles kind of projects.  And after my last road trip sweater, I’ve decided I need to do non-itchy simple knitting.

So, I made a form fitting t-shirt sweater in luxurious Cascade Pima Silk and I love how it turned out.

Simple and pretty and comfy enough to wear everyday.

I love what I can get accomplished on a long car ride.  We had a road trip all the way to New Hampshire planned and I have been scheming about all the knitting I could get done then– it’s 4 times and long as driving to Boise.  That could be 2 whole sweaters, or several kid’s hats, a stash of hand knit washcloths for the kitchen, some Christmas gifts, but now that we’re down the the wire Barry can’t be gone from work for 3 weeks and we have to fly.  Can I get any knitting done on a plane with a toddler in my lap?

Okay, the SweetPod pattern isn’t quite ready.  I guess since I had set the goal of having it ready to sell by the end of this week the universe aligned against me.  We had a wonderful trip to Idaho for Thanksgiving full of food and fun and aunts and uncles and cousins, but we came home with 2 sick babies.  Sick croupy babies= not much sleep or time during the day when I’m not holding someone.

But I will steer you to Raelyn’s blog where she shows off her SweetPod.  It looks perfect!!  Woohoo!

I’m hoping to have it finished soon so I can wrap my brain around things like Christmas.

That said– can I show you what I accomplished while sitting in the car for about 28 hours last week?

My very first big person sized sweater!   I saw Amanda’s sweater a few weeks ago and instantly thought, “That is the sweater I would knit for myself– if I could somehow find the time.”  It’s the Shalom Cardigan by Meghan at Involving the Senses.

When the reality of the length of our Thanksgiving road trip sank in I sneaked in a trip to the yarn store.  I bought some Cascade Ecological wool, which was pretty and super inexpensive.  I tried to find something with a lower itch factor for the same price, but to no avail.  Now I’m kinda wishing I had splurged for some Spud and Chloe outer, which I think my extremely wool sensitive self could handle.  Even with a turlte neck on I’m pretty itchy.

It went really quickly.  We drove from Denver to Boise in one day.  I cast on as soon as the sun came up and by the time we were there I was done with the yoke and a few rows of the body.  I knit a row here and there while we were there and then finished the rest on the drive home.  I love that it is all one piece– no seaming required.

Maybe next time we make that drive I’ll make myself a non-itchy one with sleeves.  And one more button.

Still, I totally love it.