Gathered Pullover

Gathered Pullover

Pattern Source:  Interweave Knits Winter 2007 or Knitting Daily

Yarn:  Henry’s Attic Peruvian Tweed

Needles: #6 US Knit Picks Options Circulars

Size: 32″

I love this sweater so much.  I fell in love with the colors in this yarn about 1.5 years ago.  I used some of it to make a scarf for a friend but because this yarn comes in 600 yd hanks, I had a ton left over on top of which because I love it so much I had bought a second hank.  I only used about 1.25 skeins of yarn.  I went down two needle sizes because I prefer fitted garments, I also added waist shaping – 4 decreases/4 increases.  This pattern was extremely easy and quick, I love the simplicity and though there is a cable motif, even that was simple.  I can’t say enough about this sweater, I love it, and my husband insists that this sweater is my best yet!  It’s definitely going to get a lot of wear this winter and winters to come.

Has it really been a month?

Wow.  I hadn’t realized that it had been so long since I posted.  You would think since the kids are back in school I’d have a ton more time to dedicate to my “art.”  Unfortunately just because they aren’t around eight hours of the day, doesn’t mean I have tons of free time, although I admit I have more free time than I should.

I have been busy knitting, designing, and ripping.  It seems like I’ve been doing the latter the most.

Flared Sweater – Own design (poorly thought out.)

Knit with Hempwol from Knitting With Hemp.  Lovely yarn.  I think it would have looked a lot better with less buttonholes and bigger buttons.  I also did not like the collar, it was too tight.  RIP.

#28 Short Sleeved Blouson – Knit.1 Summer 2007

I fell in love with this shirt after seeing several FO’s on Ravelry, and even though many people had issues with the bagginess, I assumed that since I am a pro at taking bigger patterns and scaling them down to fit, I wouldn’t have the same issues as others.  I was wrong, so very very wrong.  The top was so huge it could have only fit if I had magically grown double F’s (do those exist?) overnight.  Fortunately I am determined (ie. crazy) enough to try and discover the mystery of this short sleeved blouson.  RIP.

DROPS Lace Tank

Third time might be the charm.  I had to restart this top because I had done the rib in a smaller needle only to find that it was really tight, but not so tight that it wouldn’t have worked, but being the way I am (crazy) I chose to frog and go up a needle size so that there was not as much stress on the yarn.  Again, this is coming out fairly baggy, but according to the pattern it’s supposed to be pretty loose (but not as loose as a two bit whore.)  I’m thinking about making a few changes, one of which might be 3/4 sleeves instead of short sleeves.

I’ve been itching to find the perfect sweater because for some reason I’m really determined to knit a sweater before the cold weather comes (which lasts for maybe 2 hours here in Central Texas.)  Oooh.  Slightly off track, I did take the opportunity to pull out my girlie cobblestone and wear it the other morning when it was a nippy 60 degrees out.  Yay!  I was thinking of using the hempwol to knit Gathered Pullover but I’m not entirely sold on the idea because the hempwol has speckles of cream and I can’t get over the idea that the Gathered Pullover has to be in a solid color.

BTW, hope everyone is planning on tuning into the big debate on Friday!

Molly Ringwald

Pattern:  Molly Ringwald – Knitting daily, or Knitscene Fall 2006

Yarn:  2.5 skeins of Gloss, Knitpicks.com

Needles:  #4 US Knitpick Options Circulars

Modifications:  I did some research before jumping into this project and had read several people’s notes about the loosenss of the top with all the ruffling.  I took that into consideration when choosing the yarn on top of which, the smallest size is a 34″ bust.  Gloss is a fingering weight yarn and I took the chance that by using a thinner yarn and smaller needles I would be able to knit a top that fit my bust size and without doing a swatch beforehand, I think I did a pretty good job.  It is a 3×1 rib, so I cast on 92 stitches and ommitted all selvedge stitches because once again, I knit this top in the round.  The decreasing and increasing was a little tricky and I’m not entirely convinced it looks that fantastic but I thinkit works. Because of my modifications, I didn’t have to add the single crochet along the edge to keep it tight.

Notes:  Of all the tops I’ve knit, this is definitely my favorite.  I went outside my comfort zone and went with a bluish-grey color.  I love everything about it, the color, the style, the design, the fit.  It is absolutely PERFECT!  I have some Gloss in Cabernet and I think I’m going to knit another.

Raspy

Raspy

Pattern:  Kim Hargreaves, Rowan Denim People

Yarn:  8 balls Cotlin (Cotton/Linen blend) – Knitpicks.com

Needles:  #4 US Knitpick Options Circulars

Modifications:  It has been awhile since I finished this sweater so I’ll try and remember all the modifications.  I enjoy knitting in the round whenever I can, and considering this sweater was so simple, I decided to use circular knitting.  Instead of setting in the sleeves I used a chapter out of the Cobblestone experience and set aside stitches for the underarm, which I kitchener stitched to the body of the sweater.  I added a couple more waist decreases, omitted several bust increases, and lengthened the entire sweater. I chose not to do the boat neck because I really don’t like them.

Notes:  I’m so-so on this project.  I like it enough and I’m sure come winter, it will get some wear.  I like the fact that I used a yarn that can be machine washed and dried.  The dropped stitches make it look interesting and kind of trendy.  Overall it was a very simple pattern, even a beginner could turn this sweater into an “in the round” project.

Show-Off Ruffle Skirt

Show-Off Ruffle Skirt

Pattern: Can be found in Lace Style

Yarn: 7 balls of Knitpicks Cotlin

Needles: #4 US Knit Pick Options 24″ Circulars

Pattern Notes: Another Kat Coyle creation. I wasn’t impressed by the pictures in the book but every Kat skirt I have ever knit I have loved so I assumed that the Show-Off skirt would be no different and I was correct! I love this skirt! The bobbles started out as fun but after the 5th row they became tedious. I modified the lace and bobbles section by splitting it in half – front/back, so I wouldn’t stress myself out with having to knit 307 stitches at one time, plus I rather like my slits to be on the side. I am a huge fan of brown but after knitting the front half of the lace and bobbles, I wasn’t exactly sold, but after I finished it and added the red ribbon I was definitely sold on the brown. I only completed sevens bobble rows, I also only knit 12 rows after each decrease. Instead of a knit waist tie I just added more red ribbon.

I am not a huge fan of knitting with cotton but this yarn was a cotton and linen blend and I really really like this yarn a lot. I will definitely knit with Cotlin again and this may be my go-to cotton/cotton blend yarn.

How now brown cow

Brown is the new black.  You heard it here first.  Brown is the redheaded step child of colors.  It doesn’t help that people equate the color of brown with poop….  It is a perfectly lovely color, and usually in its various shades, looks perfectly lovely on all people of different color tones.  Right now I’m going through a brown phase, so you may see a lot of brown colored items coming from me.  Can I just say how much I dislike making bobbles?

Prairie Tunic

Prairie Tunic

Pattern: Available at Knitting Daily. http://shop.interweave.com/Prairie-Tunic-P350C44.aspx

Yarn: Just under two skeins of Buckingham, Bristol Yarn Gallery

Needles: #3 US Inox Express Circulars

Gauge: 6 stitches/per inch

Pattern Notes and Modifications: Where to start? I went into this project with an open mind and tons of knowledge because I did a lot of research from other knitters who had made this top before me, so I was prepared to modify this project as much as possible in order to make it work for my body size. With my calculator in hand and pen and paper I did some quick math. I started with the back and cast on 94 stitches. I followed the pattern until the triangle extension, in which case I repeated the four edge stitch section 11 times, and then again followed the pattern instructions for the rest of the pattern. For the front I cast on 84 stitches and followed the pattern exactly just taking into account the 30 less stitches I originally cast on. Instead of keeping the slits on the sides I decided to sew them up, I like the way it looks a lot better. The length of the top ended up longer than I expected, but overall it works. I love this top a lot, it’s extremely delicate and it looks extremely intricate, but the pattern was so incredibly simple that I might make another one.

Cobblestone For Her

Cobblestone

Because I liked this sweater so much I decided to knit a version for myself.

Yarn: 5 skeins Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool in color 59.

Needles: US #4 – 24″ Knit Pick Options Circulars, US #5 – 16″ Inox Express Circulars

Gauge: 4.25 stitches per inch on smaller needles

Modifications: Where to begin? There were many modifications, mainly the substitution of moss stitch instead of garter. I feel that moss stitch looks more feminine… whether that’s true or not…. I also added waist shaping and omitted all the short rows in the yoke. While I love the look of the moss stitch, it was very difficult to make the decreases look good. As it is, you can see where I decreased but it doesn’t look terrible, it actually gives the yoke a more interesting look and almost looks as if it was purposeful. The sleeves were knit flat and seamed. I love this sweater and it is my first long sleeved garment.

Unfortunately the pictures do not capture the color or beauty of this sweater all that well.