Why I Knit the Same Sweater Twice

...or, when you sense something's wrong with your knitting, frog it. Don't keep going on telling yourself it'll be fine, when a little voice in the back of your head keeps saying it won't :)

So last summer I started Buttercup with 7 skeins of Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy - six skeins of one dyelot and a seventh of a different, noticeable darker dyelot. I told myself it'd be okay, and started the top-down sweater with the one odd skein. After starting the second skein the difference was very noticeable and I frogged the sweater with plans to make it again this summer. (You can see my original post here.)

I decided to try the sweater again this summer. In a fit of brilliance (not!) I decided that instead of using the one odd skein by itself in the first half, I'd alternate rows with another skein. Let me just say, bad idea. I somehow convinced myself it was okay and finished the sweater.



You can see the striping in this photo. Also, the neckline was too low for my taste - it just looked weird with a shell under it. I like my sweaters to be about 15" from the underam to the hem. After trying it on, I decided that even though the sweater was about 2" short of that, it felt okay, and bound off. Another bad idea. It was too short, ending at the widest part of my hips, not flattering at all.



I decided to try again, with only the six balls of yarn, and using option B of the pattern, which has a higher neckline. I also decided to make the body length 15", and not go by the try-on length. I'm so glad I tried again, because I love this sweater!



Pattern: Buttercup by Heidi Kirrmaier
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy, color 14, 6 skeins
Needles: US 4 & US 5



This is the second time I've used this yarn, and I love it. It's a bit rough to work with, but it wears incredibly well, and makes a very comfortable sweater.



I finished this in late summer and didn't get a lot of time to wear it before fall, but I hope to enjoy it next year.

And I'm so glad for this lesson that I was able to use this past weekend. I was working on my Tree Jacket and made a mistake which I realized a few rows afterwards. I tried to brush it off, but finally decided to rip a few rows and fix the mistake. I'm so glad I did, because the mistake would have thrown off the pattern of the whole sweater yoke.



I'm absolutely loving this knit, and the Cascade Venezia - it's sooo soft and silky smooth!

Crazy Goals

So I've sat down to write this post several times and just have never finished it - but now I've finally done it!

At the beginning of this year, even though I failed miserably last year, I decided to try to knit 12 Sweaters in 2010. I also decided to knit 12 pairs of socks this year. I'm still hoping I'll be able to meet my goals, but I'm not so sure I'll be able to.

The first sweater - the Tangled Yoke Cardigan - has been completed and worn several times, I just need to get photos now.



This sweater seemed to take forever, especially the yoke cable rows, but it was an enjoyable knit as well. It's definately a new favorite!



I also started my February Sweater - a Noro Striped Vest. I started off alternting four rows of the Noro Silk Garden and Cascade 220.



I really didn't like how it was coming out and I hadn't added any waist shaping, so I ripped down to the ribbing and started again, doing two row stripes. I like it much better now.



I started a pair of socks in January and finished the first one. I still haven't cast on for the second.



These are the Dead Simple Lace Socks from Socks From The Toe Up by Wendy Johnson.

I also cast on for but did not get very far in my February pair - the Basket Weave Rib Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks.



So, March will be a month for finishing! I've also go my Gentleman's Shooting Stockings that have been on the needles since July of last year, and the February Lady Sweater that's almost done. I hope you all are having a great March - I'm so glad that all our snow has melted and the weather's finally warming up!

The WIP Post

So last time I blogged I said I'd write about my WIP's. I've some to show you and also an FO.

It seems that socks are the only thing I'm finishing regularly right now. Here's my 5th pair this year.



Pattern: Diagonal Cross Rib Socks from Favorite Socks
Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote Sock, 2 skeins, color sy-27, Pine
Needles: US 1 & 2
Modifications: Went down a needle size to fit a woman's foot.



When I first started these socks in February, I made the cuff and then lost interest and set them aside. I picked them up again in April, and once I got into a rhythm with them enjoyed the pattern a lot, especially since a cable needle is not needed!



The Wildfoote Yarn is great to work with, and I love how the socks fit. Another keeper!

In the UFO pile, first up, I'm almost done with my 4th sweater for the year, Wendy Bernard's Somewhat Cowl.



I just need to pick up the neckline ribbing and finish the sleeves.

I've also been working on another pair of socks in Noro Kureyon Sock.



These are the Waffle Rib Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. I'm working on the leg of the second sock.

And, lastly, a pair of mittens that hasn't received much attention. I love how the colors are coming together, and hope to finish them by the end of the summer.

Tree Jacket - Finished!

Pattern: Tree Jacket by ZephyrStyle
Yarn: Reynolds Soft Linen, 13 skeins
Needles: US 7 (4.5mm)
Modifications: None



This was a great pattern. Like any top-down pattern, it was quite quick and easy. The yarn was great to work with also. I was using it at first for the Dollar-and-a-Half Cardigan, but it came out horribly (all my fault) and I frogged it.



I started the sweater with size 8 needles but it was coming out way too loose, so I started over at the raglan increases with size 7's. The sleeves are a bit loose, but they're also quite comfortable, and the sweater is warm and light enough for the 50 degree weather we've been having.


Just a little sleeve bokeh for you.

FO: Ariann

Ariann is finished. And I'm sure she'll be a favorite.



Pattern: Ariann by Bonnie Marie Burns
Yarn: Cascade 220, color 4008, 5 skeins
Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) & US 7 (4.5mm)
Mods: Lengthened the body by about 2", worked buttonholes every 3".
Ravel It!



I started this sweater in late January, and then got sidetracked with other projects. I just wasn't feeling very enthusiastic about it, but after finishing a couple of other projects, I picked her up again. And I'm so glad I did.



The pattern was enjoyable and the two-row lace repeat was very easy to memorize. The seamless construction is a huge plus, and it was just plain fun to work on. I love the garter stitch collar on it as well.



I think I'll probably be making another one of these - my Mom asked for one after seeing mine:)

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Cabled Spiral Pullover

So I'm finally getting around to blogging about my NaKniSweMo Sweater. It was finished on December 6th. I've worn it quite a bit - it's now one of my favorite sweaters.



Pattern: Cabled Spiral Pullover from Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan
Yarn: Rowanspun DK, mist, about 5-1/3 skeins
Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm)
Modifications: Added waist shaping.



This was a great pattern, very easy to follow and of course, yoked sweaters are always enjoyable. The yarn was pretty good. I discovered during seaming though that it's also very delicate - if you pull too hard it will break. I have to be careful taking it off to not snap the seams (yes, I did that the first time I took it off!). Overall, this is a great sweater and I'm very happy with it.

Josephine Top

I finished the Josephine Top, and I've worn it quite a bit.



This is the first time I've made a garment on size 4 needles, and I really like the thinner material you get with the thinner yarn. The Karabella Vintage Cotton was really nice to knit with, too - soft and silky. Definately a cotton I'd use again.



I finished the front and back, and then let them sit for a couple weeks before doing the finishing. I wish I would have done it right away - I could have worn it a few more times when the weather was warmer. We had our first real fall day today - I don't think it got above 65 degrees - and it's soooo nice! Almost cold enough to wear fall sweaters.



Here's the Specs:

Pattern: Josephine Top from Interweave Knits Summer 2007
Yarn: Karabella Vintage Cotton, color 320, 6 balls.
Needles: US 4 (3.5 mm)
Modifications: The empire and a-line top styles do not look good on me so I made changes for the fit. I cast on the number of stitches required for the 36" bust, and increased to the number required for the 40" bust when I got to the bodice. I also continued the textured lace pattern to the armholes, and switched to the textured purl stitch pattern just before I began the armhole shaping. I was hoping this would work out well, and I'm so glad it did.

And, here's one more photo - thanks to my sister Priscilla for doing the photo shoot with me.

Moving to Blogger

Well, I've decided to move my blog over here to blogger. I hope I like this better than Wordpress.

So I said I'd blog about my cowls on my next post.

I've made three cowls so far and plan on making at least two more. They're really perfect, warm and cozy (funny to write that during summer!) and they are so fast!

So here's my first cowl. I think I cast on about 100 stitches on a size 6 US circular needle (16" cable). I did seed stitch for the first and last five rows. The yarn is Kathmandu DK Tweed, which I really enjoyed working with and hope to use again. It has a very rustic, tweedy feel to it.



I knit my second cowl out of the leftovers of my Chevron Scarf. I cast on 120 stitches onto a US 6 circular needle (16" cable) and followed the pattern for the Chevron Scarf in Last Minute Knitted Gifts. The only change you will have to make is to do three rows of knitting after the pattern round instead of one knit, one purl, one knit round.



And, here's a modeled shot.



My third cowl was made out of Auracania Nature Wool Chunky. This is the roomiest cowl and my favorite of all three in regards to it's fit. I knit the first few inches on US 10 circular needles, then switched to 9's for about an inch-and-a-half, and finished the cowl on size 8's. I was trying to shape the cowl, and i did a little, but it's not what I was aiming for. It still fits and looks great, though. I think I cast on about 94 stitches for this one and once again knitted in seed stitch for the first and last five rows.



I hope you all have a great weekend!