Steady Progress

Lizzy is progressing nicely--I'm done with the back, and after all of my angst about how this would fit, I THINK it will fit just right. I have continued to read about making garments my own and adjusting patterns, and I've really enjoyed getting to this level.

My husband,for whom I just started the beautiful Hedgerow Socks with a skein of Sundara Lenten Rose Sock Yarn (from last year's Petals Collection; this yarn is no longer available, Sundara tells me), has asked for a V-neck vest! Now that I have received Ann Budd's Handy Book of Patterns, I was able to estimate yardage with DK-weight yarn (he wants something that is not too thick)and will adapt the Woodsy Ribs pattern from the Winter 2004 issue of Knitter's Magazine that called for worsted-weight yarn. With a couple of LYS's holding Super Bowl sales, I should be able to get him some yarn soon. When he shows enthusiasm for a knitted garment, I'm running with it!

Steady Progress

Lizzy is progressing nicely--I'm done with the back, and after all of my angst about how this would fit, I THINK it will fit just right. I have continued to read about making garments my own and adjusting patterns, and I've really enjoyed getting to this level.

My husband,for whom I just started the beautiful Hedgerow Socks with a skein of Sundara Lenten Rose Sock Yarn (from last year's Petals Collection; this yarn is no longer available, Sundara tells me), has asked for a V-neck vest! Now that I have received Ann Budd's Handy Book of Patterns, I was able to estimate yardage with DK-weight yarn (he wants something that is not too thick)and will adapt the Woodsy Ribs pattern from the Winter 2004 issue of Knitter's Magazine that called for worsted-weight yarn. With a couple of LYS's holding Super Bowl sales, I should be able to get him some yarn soon. When he shows enthusiasm for a knitted garment, I'm running with it!

Making a Pattern My Own

I finished my son's University of Michigan Socks; they were a fun, quick knit and I loved the Cherry Tree Hill Supersock. I may use the rest of it, along with other remaining sock yarn, to cast on a Chevron Scarf that can just be an ongoing project as I feel like knitting a few rows. We'll see.


Now, on to Lizzy. I have learned so much in the past few weeks, communicating with Ravelry friends and learning about modifications they've made to this pattern. Something still tells me that I might not like a ruffle-edged jacket in this "rough" type of yarn, but people who've made this pattern love it in Silk Garden, and it is working up to be very pretty in my muted colorway of greys, wines, purples and some olive. The modifications I've added are a hem and waist shaping. So far, I THINK it will fit well, but I'm not even up to the armhole on the back so it's still hard to tell. I do feel that I'm at the experience level of being able to modify patterns, and now I think I'll think about that routinely with sweaters. I guess I'll see how this one comes out first. There is a nice section on pattern modifications in Stitch 'n Bitch Nation, which I recently took out of the library. I'll read that with interest and keep learning.

Making a Pattern My Own

I finished my son's University of Michigan Socks; they were a fun, quick knit and I loved the Cherry Tree Hill Supersock. I may use the rest of it, along with other remaining sock yarn, to cast on a Chevron Scarf that can just be an ongoing project as I feel like knitting a few rows. We'll see.


Now, on to Lizzy. I have learned so much in the past few weeks, communicating with Ravelry friends and learning about modifications they've made to this pattern. Something still tells me that I might not like a ruffle-edged jacket in this "rough" type of yarn, but people who've made this pattern love it in Silk Garden, and it is working up to be very pretty in my muted colorway of greys, wines, purples and some olive. The modifications I've added are a hem and waist shaping. So far, I THINK it will fit well, but I'm not even up to the armhole on the back so it's still hard to tell. I do feel that I'm at the experience level of being able to modify patterns, and now I think I'll think about that routinely with sweaters. I guess I'll see how this one comes out first. There is a nice section on pattern modifications in Stitch 'n Bitch Nation, which I recently took out of the library. I'll read that with interest and keep learning.

Swatching

Before I discuss swatching, I wanted to show some pictures of my finished Retro Redux Shrug. I blocked this rather aggressively because I'm just not wild about a shrug hitting me in the middle of my back and I couldn't figure out how to best adjust the pattern to make it longer. This piece definitely benefited from blocking and I like how it looks--I just hope I wear it. Perhaps with warmer weather and a tank top or body suit; it does look cute in the pictures, right?

The good news is that my 15-year-old daughter likes it, and she is very fashion conscious and particular about hand-knit items, so if she wears it, I'll be thrilled.

Now, on to my next project, Lizzy, from Naturally Noro. I was a good knitter and made a formal 4-inch swatch, which I THOUGHT was giving me 4.5 stitches/inch (18 stitches to a 4-inch square). Once I started knitting, and upon further scrutiny of my swatch, it looks like I'm getting more like 19 stitches/4 inches. This may not sound like a lot, but the sweater has no ribbing--just straight stockinette--so I am concerned that with the difference, and comments I've read on Ravelry about having to add waist shaping to make this sweater fit properly, I am going to do a swatch with #7's and see if that's better. I've only knit 6 rows so far, so no harm done if I have to start over--it will be well worth it to have a properly fitting sweater.

So far, I'm loving the Noro Silk Garden(my first time working with this highly popular yarn!). I really like color changes and this even has some texture (thicker/thinner) changes, so even though it's straight stockinette, I think it will be fun to knit. More to come after my next swatch.

Swatching

Before I discuss swatching, I wanted to show some pictures of my finished Retro Redux Shrug. I blocked this rather aggressively because I'm just not wild about a shrug hitting me in the middle of my back and I couldn't figure out how to best adjust the pattern to make it longer. This piece definitely benefited from blocking and I like how it looks--I just hope I wear it. Perhaps with warmer weather and a tank top or body suit; it does look cute in the pictures, right?

The good news is that my 15-year-old daughter likes it, and she is very fashion conscious and particular about hand-knit items, so if she wears it, I'll be thrilled.

Now, on to my next project, Lizzy, from Naturally Noro. I was a good knitter and made a formal 4-inch swatch, which I THOUGHT was giving me 4.5 stitches/inch (18 stitches to a 4-inch square). Once I started knitting, and upon further scrutiny of my swatch, it looks like I'm getting more like 19 stitches/4 inches. This may not sound like a lot, but the sweater has no ribbing--just straight stockinette--so I am concerned that with the difference, and comments I've read on Ravelry about having to add waist shaping to make this sweater fit properly, I am going to do a swatch with #7's and see if that's better. I've only knit 6 rows so far, so no harm done if I have to start over--it will be well worth it to have a properly fitting sweater.

So far, I'm loving the Noro Silk Garden(my first time working with this highly popular yarn!). I really like color changes and this even has some texture (thicker/thinner) changes, so even though it's straight stockinette, I think it will be fun to knit. More to come after my next swatch.

New Year Enthusiasm

Maybe it's the fact that New Year's Day fell on a Tuesday, making last week a short week, but I've felt that I've had more knitting time lately, and it feels great.

I received my finished Gatsby Girl Pullover back from Rene at Knits Finished, and she did an amazing job sewing this together.
I still like to finish my own projects whenever I can, but all of the crocheting and hemming involved in this one scared me.
The sweater is very form-fitting and I love it, I just hope it looks flattering.
I have about three skeins of the Rowan Cashsoft DK left, so I'm trying to figure out what to do with that--maybe a scarf, or a pair of wrist-warmers, mittens or gloves. Any ideas?

With holiday gifts behind me, I got back to my Retro Redux Shrug and will probably finish it tonight. This was a really fun and quick knit, and the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran is so soft and a lovely yarn to knit up. I'd love to use it again. I will use almost all four skeins for this project, so probably won't have the opportunity to make anything with the remains, perhaps a headband from 101 Designer One Skein Wonders, one of my new favorite books!

Another book I bought before the holidays and have been loving is Clara Parkes' The Knitter's Book of Yarn. I loved all of the up-front information about origins and uses of all the different types of yarn, and the patterns are wonderful. I've already tagged about 10 that I want to make, and I'm not even halfway through the patterns section!

Back to the shrug--hopefully FO pictures of that later this week! Then, the big decision is what to make next: a pullover or cardigan from the Naturally Noro Book using Noro Silk Garden I've had for over a year, or a shawl with my stashed Sublime Mohair...such decisions!

New Year Enthusiasm

Maybe it's the fact that New Year's Day fell on a Tuesday, making last week a short week, but I've felt that I've had more knitting time lately, and it feels great.

I received my finished Gatsby Girl Pullover back from Rene at Knits Finished, and she did an amazing job sewing this together.
I still like to finish my own projects whenever I can, but all of the crocheting and hemming involved in this one scared me.
The sweater is very form-fitting and I love it, I just hope it looks flattering.
I have about three skeins of the Rowan Cashsoft DK left, so I'm trying to figure out what to do with that--maybe a scarf, or a pair of wrist-warmers, mittens or gloves. Any ideas?

With holiday gifts behind me, I got back to my Retro Redux Shrug and will probably finish it tonight. This was a really fun and quick knit, and the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran is so soft and a lovely yarn to knit up. I'd love to use it again. I will use almost all four skeins for this project, so probably won't have the opportunity to make anything with the remains, perhaps a headband from 101 Designer One Skein Wonders, one of my new favorite books!

Another book I bought before the holidays and have been loving is Clara Parkes' The Knitter's Book of Yarn. I loved all of the up-front information about origins and uses of all the different types of yarn, and the patterns are wonderful. I've already tagged about 10 that I want to make, and I'm not even halfway through the patterns section!

Back to the shrug--hopefully FO pictures of that later this week! Then, the big decision is what to make next: a pullover or cardigan from the Naturally Noro Book using Noro Silk Garden I've had for over a year, or a shawl with my stashed Sublime Mohair...such decisions!