First Kofte

If you recall from some winter posts (here, here and here) - Elsa and I entered a new field of knitting with the Norwegian kofte (cardigan/jacket/sweater) this year.

After swatching...

... and then ordering Norwegian yarn... 

... the adventure began! 

The first yoke was too small and the final yoke too large! But I learned a lot and still have a very warm kofte.

The scariest new skill learned was "steeking" - knitting in the round with a strip of extra stitches, then reinforcing along both sides of the steek stitches and taking out the scissors to cut it open!

Next came hours of sealing the raw edges in a knitted sheath, knitting the button band and button hole band, and adding traditional Norwegian pewter buttons!

Though this was finished back in April, it is still awaiting the last step of wet-blocking to smooth out stitches and adjust the shaping. Then I have a reason to look forward to cold days again!