Revisiting Dark and Stormy & More Buttons

 A few of you may remember that I've been hinting about a second version of Dark and Stormy in the last few months.  



 How about this?

 It's a different take on the grandpa sweater, but still deep and dark and a little more interesting than your basic cardigan, just like the original.   I'm thinking of Chocolate Stout as I work on it.   As you can imagine,  I didn't want to create exactly the same sweater, so I'm playing with texture and a different shape this time.   I'm also working bottom up, instead of top down,  and I thought pockets would be kind of fun.   I still have a few sleeve decisions to make, but things are chugging along.

I'm really excited about it, and imagine wearing it to death.   You know that feeling when you knit something you Cannot Wait to put on your body?  That's me this week, and it feels good.   I think sometimes in designing, the knitting turns into a balance between what will sell and what I want to wear.   I do love all the designs I end up publishing, but some are more likely to be worn, and in all honesty, some are designed with people who are Not Me in mind.  Designing for profit has all these other parameters - using a certain yarn,  dictated elements for the sweater, deadlines, and making sure it's easy enough to write up in different sizes.   Not that the designs aren't fun to create, but some  end up spending more of their post knitting lives in my closet.   Not this baby.  

 Today's goal is to add some sleeves and get these pockets finished.    If I get done in time, I could have it done for Rhinebeck!  Or maybe even next week....

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Before I get back to the pockets, though, I need to get sum up the first button contest, and post the second set.   So..... winners from the first set are below.  I see that the yellow knots (A) and the gold etched (F) were not claimed, so if someone loved those, please do ask and I'd be happy to send them to their new homes.  

Set B - Kristen

Set C - Carol

Set D - Turtle

Set E - Jess

Set G- Deeden

Winners:  Congrats!  I'm using the names you gave on your comments, so if you see yourself on that list, please send me an email at theacolman@yahoo.com with your mailing address, and I'll get your buttons out in the mail.    

Contest Set #2

Silvers and Whites

1. etched silver

2, 3. swirly white (two sets)

4. white flowers

(They didn't show up against the paper!)

And below is the green/teal set:

 Just like last time, leave a comment with the color of your sweater and what button set you would like to win!  Be sure to leave either a name, email or Ravelry name so I can find you. 

  Thanks!