I'm privileged to be test knitting Jeri Rigg's new design "St. Margaret". This is an innovative way of knitting from the top down, with raglan sleeves and incorporating a lot of cables. The sweater grows out of the initial back neck and can become a pullover or cardigan.

This is a view of the full sweater to Row 51.

Currently I'm 6 rows away from deciding on cardigan or pullover and probably will keep it a cardigan. Jeri has written this pattern for a finished size 38" chest, using DK weight yarn. I need the sweater larger so am using Briggs & Little Regal, a full bodied worsted weight on a US #8 circular.

Jeri and I have been writing back and forth with a few corrections, suggestions and thoughts on making the design clearer. Her charting is impeccable and easily followed. Lots of fun and the first test knit
I've ever done.

Here's a closer view of the work. It's really exciting to see what comes next and how it will grow below the armholes.

I so thoroughly enjoy the knitting stitch designs of Annie Maloney of Canada. She is a self published author and her books are available through Unicorn Books. Lots of us on Ravelry had been eagerly awaiting "Aran Lace". Annie has designed 101 stitch combinations of lace and cables. Here's a sample of a mixture of three of the charts - #3, #18 and #72 in the middle. This is a test swatch and I might continue with it for a scarf.

I need to get back to stranded color knitting. Miss it and have too many things on the needles. Also waiting for Ravlery friend BlueDragon to start a KAL (knit a long) for a top down sweater for a summer project. This fall we'll do a KAL for a top down sweater taken from a design for the reprint of Alice Starmore's "Aran Kntting".