Yuzu Knit Cardigan & my Corona Virus Rant

I started this pattern less than a month ago and lamentably, due to current events, it shall forever be immortalized as my Corona Cardi.  This is a craft blog and I intentionally try to avoid discussing politics here or even including much about my personal life beyond its intersection with the craft world.  However, I would be remiss not to address this current pandemic.  As a resident of the Bay Area and an Asian mother, my daughter and I have received no shortage of hateful and racist behavior directed at us as a direct result of the virus over the past few months.  Yet, despite this despicable behavior, in general I cannot complain about our situation.  We are (still) incredibly lucky and privileged to even be able to afford to continue to live here.  My husband can work from home and it's actually been really amazing having him here.  Normally, he's working downtown 50-60 hrs/week and Xena is elated to have this sudden surplus of his attention.

I am OCD hoarder; this isn't an exaggeration but a legit psychiatric diagnosis.  I pioneered self-quarantining as a lifestyle since I was in kindergarten with a bunch of racist assholes who repeatedly told me I was a "dirty Chink".  This developed into an extreme germ phobia and me trying to scrub my dark colored flesh off of my skin and rub the slants out of my eyes every time I went to the bathroom since I was 5 years old.  Needless to say, we haven't run out of toilet paper or cleaning products because I always buy in bulk and am perpetually consumed with a morbid fear of ever being unable to clean myself.  I have been manically using hand santizer since it was invented.  I have literally gone to therapy to deal with uncontrollable hand washing.  Being bullied taught me how to defiantly entertain myself and it eventually led to a lifetime focused on solitary hobbies like philately and fiber arts.  So when all of these pseudo-anxious and hyper-entitled people ask me if I'm going crazy being stuck in doors and/or remark about how terrible it is having to be at home with their kids all day and/or complain about how dry their hands are from having to wash them all of the time, I am like, "Bitch, please."  People are suffering and dying all over the world.  Get a grip.  Get over your insufferable spoiled selves.  It shouldn't take a global pandemic to bring people together, show some empathy, find solace in solitude and look inside of themselves.  Get a fucking hobby!  And when Trump gets on your nerves, repeat what I repeat to myself whenever I've encountered any other fascist, racist tyrant, "I bet he can't even crochet a doily."

ANYWAY, this pattern, Yuzu #924, designed by Julie Turjoman, was a kit from Webs that I bought with a gift certificate from my MIL.

 

 I knit the medium size and used about 16, 50g balls of Valley Yarns 100% Extrafine SWM yarn in the 419 Biscuit colorway.

I still have about 4 balls of yarn left but I like that the kit came with little 50g balls because I started each new part of the pattern with a new ball.

I intentionally knit a size larger than my actual dimensions because I wanted a big, cozy, coverall cardi.  I've crocheted countless cardigans but this was my first time ever knitting one.  I learned a lot of new techniques making this.  It was my first time knitting twisted ribbing, cabling anything, using short row shaping throughout the body of a sweater, seaming a knit sweater, sewing on pockets and picking up a mathematical ratio of stitches to create a repeating chart pattern on a button band.

 This is my first day wearing the cardi all day and it is the softest, smooshiest garment!

Unfortunately, as a result of social distancing, I reluctantly resorted to using my husband as a photographer.  He has an indefatigable talent for taking the least flattering photos of me.  

 You just gotta trust me, but I swear, this looks a lot better IRL!

Xena was also psychotically banging on the opposite side of the door while I tried to capture all of the best aspects of the cardi on its own.

Still, I can't help the feeling of pride I am overcome with when sewing my tag into yet another finished handmade sweater.

Really stoked on these pockets!

When it comes to finishing, the pattern didn't really give any specific instructions at all so I really have no idea if I sewed the sleeves on correctly but I love the skeletal affect.

I actually would've finished this a few days sooner if Xena hadn't of over-enthusiastically unraveled the twisted cabled button band.

I really love how the back collar came out by putting the back stitches on hold and then picking them up to complete the button band.

The cardigan looked so questionable before everything was seamed and blocked.

Even the blocking felt somewhat suspicious but it actually dried in under 3 days.

I enjoyed this pattern and embraced all of its challenges.  I cannot even begin to express how much comfort I have found within the fiber arts community these days.  And while I might yearn for the day when I can wear this cardi to the playground with Xena, I am more than happy to sit my ass down indoors until like, forever.