Category Archives: sweater

Let’s Just Do The Sleeve

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On Monday I had managed to achieve sleeve separation and knit down a few rows. I did sneak away, despite my family’s best efforts, to a local Joanns and grab as 16 inch circular needle in size 7 to start my sleeves. I really think I’m going to be happier if I knit the sleeves without having to turn the entire body of sweater.

The body is still on a cord with some cord stoppers I dug out of my interchangeable set. I think this is the first time I have every used them for this purpose. However, they are coming in really really handy now. It’s nice to feel like my live body stitches are secure and just hanging out waiting for me to come back.

This pattern has the sleeves worked flat and seamed up. Yeah…I’m not doing that. I modified this pattern to omit about six stitches and then to knit in the round. And I pulled my row counter from tool bag and its helping me keep track of my decrease rounds. Normally I would just make tick marks on the paper but I didn’t trust myself this time around. I’ll let you know how it works out!

Happy Knitting!!

A Good Chunk of Stockinette

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Y’all….stockinette is giving me life right now. Round and round on nice fast metal needles is my jam. And my Worsted Boxy is seeing the results.

The bottom hem is still rolling like crazy. It drives me crazy to try and get good photos of the project. But since my last post I have managed to add about a hands span of work. My Tikka Masalla progress keeper has been making me smile as I pass it every round.

I think based on my last measurement I need like three more inches of body stockinette and then I can separate for the sleeves! I’m both dreading and looking forward to it. I will halve the number of stitches I have to work when I separate but I will also have to purl as I will be working flat. But I know I’m looking forward to a finished sweater for the impending Fall!

Happy knitting!!

Sleeve Separation!

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This past weekend I got some decent knitting time sans kiddos thanks to the miracle of naps and play dates. I managed to slog through the rest of the raglan increases on my Autumn League Pullover and get separated for the sleeves.

I had one tiny hiccup where I dropped a stitch and didn’t notice for like 10 rounds. I steeled myself and then laddered down to the dropped stitched then worked both stitches back up. It was a tight squeeze but I managed to make it look decent by pulling on some of the surrounding stitches to even it a little bit.

I think my next step would be to find a shortie size 7 circular and start the sleeves so I don’t have to turn the full weight of the body while doing the sleeves. I also want to try three quarter length sleeves, but I’m not sure how they will look and feel with this oversized fit. I might develop this as I go. I mean the worst that can happen is that I rip back and start over right?

 

My First Sucre Sucre Miniature Progress Keepers

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After my foot disaster this week, I got a cheery little package in the mail.  In a fit of weakness after a long work day and a glass of wine after the kids went to bed I fell down in the Sucre Sucre miniatures online store a few weeks back. I’m not going to pretend to apologize. My bills are paid and my children want for nothing so I decided to treat myself. (I felt at the time this was better than a pint of Mint Chip from Ben and Jerry’s while watching Big Bang Theory re-runs.)

I had picked the Swiss Cake Roll and Chicken Tikka Masala process keepers. I have been seeing and hearing about Sucre Sucre miniatures from all kinds of blogs, webcasts and podcasts for literally years and I wanted in. And these just made me smile. The swiss cake roll is already in service on my Autumn League Pullover.

I haven’t decided where I am going to put the Chicken Tikka Masala yet…oh the possibilities!

Happy Knitting!!

Wipe Out

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Well I started my Autumn League Pullover last week and boy am I glad I did! While innocently walking through my dining room I stubbed my last two toes on my foot on a dining room chair. I went down HARD. It literally took my breath away. I’m not sure if I broke the pinky toe or just jammed it all to high heaven. But holy cow it hurts! All I can manage these past couple of days is stockinette in the round.

So I’m sitting with foot up and knitting on my pullover per doctor’s orders. The hubby is going to get to wrangle the kids for a few days with this one. It was an epic wipe out! The swelling has set in already and I’m sure I’ll end up with a WICKED bruise too.

Thanks heavens for knitting, ice packs and ibuprofen! Happy knitting!!

Cast On: Autumn League Pullover

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I have had crazy sweater mojo here lately. It’s all I feel drawn to right now. I have a Worsted Boxy on the needles in a neutral colored Berroco yarn. But that didn’t stop me from casting on the Autumn League Pullover by Alexandra Tavel after I saw one being worn by the Jodi of the Grocery Girls podcast.

I printed the free version of the pattern and marked it up for the medium/large size, grabbed some needles and yarn and just started knitting. I pulled some Lion Brand Heartland yarn in the Acadia colorway (that has been in my stash for 5 year) because its a pretty soft 100% acrylic yarn that had the appropriate yardage I needed. It’s basically the same color as my Worsted Boxy. whoops!  I didn’t gauge swatch or pre-plan at all. This could be a total disaster…for real.

Speaking of disaster, did any of you catch the minor disaster in the photo above? When I pulled needles I just grabbed my plastic interchangeable that I have had since 2009. They had the right needles size and cord length so I could cast on right away. Well….these needles have seen better days. And as I was pushing the growing number of stitches around the cord….it came unlocked/un-clicked and I dropped about 25 stitches.

I grabbed a tapestry needle and some scrap yarn and scooped  up those stitches before they could run. I was pleasantly surprised that for 100% acrylic the stitches stayed pretty much put. I got wise after this and dug out my Knit Picks aluminum interchangeable needles and transferred my work to those. I made sure to use the key to tighten the cords.

I’m not sure if changing needle types will change my gauge or not. But after looking at my work I can already see places where I was purling flat that have some noticeable tension/gauge differences that I can see. So what the heck would a few more of those bother? This is comfy sweatshirt style pullover that I probably will just wear around the house. I just really want to be knitting soothing stockinette in the round forever and ever.

I am wondering if I am switching from a product knitter to a process knitter…zounds!!

Happy Knitting!!

WIP Wednesday: Worsted Boxy

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Thanks to many nights of re-watching the Big Bang Theory series over from the beginning I’m making fairly decent progress on my Worsted Boxy by Joji Locatelli.  Despite doubling the ribbing rows, this darn thing still flips and wants to roll. Hears hoping blocking helps!

I’m most of the way through my second skein of Berroco Vintage. This is the Mushroom color that has a decent chance of washing me out completely. But I’m knitting and loving it anyway! I took a quick measurement and I’m about 10 inches into the body. So I still have a ways to go before splitting at what I assume will be the armholes. I really should read ahead in the pattern!

P.S. Both my mother and my husband keep giving me crazy looks because I’m knitting a worsted weight HUGE sweater in August…..in Kansas. I’m just a special kind of crazy I guess! Happy Knitting!!

Self Care Renewed

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It’s hot and my kids are extra special kinds of wound up because of the heat and limited hours outside. So this week’s self care is brought to you by….

Leftover cake I found in the freezer from PB’s 1st birthday in May, vanilla ice cream, my Progression Shawl, my worsted boxy as a back up knitting project, and knitting podcasts on the TV.

I mean, whats the worst that can happen? I drip a little cake or melted ice cream on my shawl. I think I’ll risk it. Fall shall be here soon!!

Happy knitting!!

Round and Round

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I have been in need of some zen knitting lately with stress and extra work of remodeling my kitchen and office flooring. And my Worsted Boxy has fit the bill!

After reading some other project notes, I decided to double the ribbing from four to eight rows. This was theoretically to prevent flipping of the hem. As I’m knitting I’m still getting a lot roll and flip. But I’ll withhold judgement until it’s blocked.

I’m about halfway through my first skein and I’m thus far with the fabric I’m making. This has been the only project I have been able to pick up and work on after I’m exhausted from flooring. And boy howdy does 200+ stitches take a LONG time to work a round. With luck I may have this knit by fall?

Happy knitting!!

Cast On: Worsted Boxy

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I consistently find myself late to any and all knitting trends. I mean I knit my first fade only this year and how long has that been around? I have been finding myself attracted to some boxy garments lately. I have been working on my post-PB baby weight loss and I find myself comfortable and pleased with a skinny pant, boxy shirt or sweater and a cute pair of shoes look.

So I decided to try knitting Worsted Boxy by Joji Locatelli in some Berroco Vintage from DEEP DEEP stash. My line of thinking is:

  • This yarn has tried to be several things and it has never quite worked. So why not a comfy sweatshirt style neutral color garment?
  • I’ll get this sweater quantity out of my stash for good if I finish this
  • A worsted sweater should go faster than the fingering weight boxy
  • If I finish it and it look hideous or the color doesn’t favor me…I’ll find it a good home somewhere!

I’m knitting the medium size in the pattern. It won’t give me quite the full ease that Joji calls for but enough ease that it fit loosely but still be flattering. I have managed to cast on the 200+ stitches WITHOUT TWISTING and I have started the ribbing. Based on reading other notes I think I’m going to double the ribbing called for in the pattern to prevent the hem from rolling. Wish me luck!

Happy Knitting!!