Category Archives: sweater

Synthe Sleeves

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Over the weekend and thanks to one gymnastics class and full evening of bounce house fun, my Synthe has sleeves!

I didn’t have US 9 needles on short circulars to make the sleeves so I decided to make due with US 8s. I also almost completely ignored the sleeve instructions. My arms are full near the shoulder and then taper past the elbow.

I worked almost six pattern repeats from the body and then added three decreases across the next six repeats. I then worked five more plain repeats before doing one last decrease at the “cuff” and then cast off. These are going to 3/4 sleeves. The yarn is very rustic and I don’t want to feel the fabric on my wrists. For SURE I am going to wear and undershirt under this garment.

Happy Knitting!!

Dividing For Synthe

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My Synthe sweater is moving right along despite how many stitches I am adding each round.

I had to stop several times and measure frequently to make sure I was getting proper length. My gauge is close but not 100% correct. I really like when patterns have measurements and schematics. This pattern, at my gauge, required a full extra repeat of the pattern to get my full yoke depth.

I have divided for sleeves and worked an inch down past the divide. And then I think I will start both sleeves. It is easier to turn a small sweater than a full body!

Happy Knitting!!

Swatching Rainbow Radiate

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I have been excited about working my Synthe and I have had this thought for many years to make another Radiate. This time with a rainbow yoke. I wear my previous version a ton and would love to have more sweaters in my rotation.

I have several skeins of grey yarn that are rainbow speckles. I have two skeins of 316 Dye Studio House DK and four skeins of Wichita Woolery Tweed DK. They are different but close enough I can alternate skeins to make this work. And the kicker is a Hue Loco Phyllis DK in a rainbow sampler set to work the yoke.

I swatched in the round and cut my strings. After a bath and block I measured and I am bang on stitch gauge but my row gauge is off. I will have to adjust my project when I am working sections that are depended on length. I have more rows than the pattern, not unusual with Joji patterns as she is a loose knitter. I can deal with this as long as I pay attention and use measurements.

I can’t decide if I will start this one after or concurrently with Synthe. Do I need two sweaters?

Cast On: Synthe

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I finally knuckled under and cast on my Synthe sweater. My swatch told me I was on gauge and I am making the 44 1/2 size.

This starts at the neck and appears to not have a neckline. Just cast on and get straight to stockinette. The pattern shows no rolling but I don’t have confidence in my version. I may have to add some reinforcement to my neck opening.

So far the knitting is fast as the stitch count is still increasing. The yarn, Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, has a lot of veg matter in it that I am picking out as I go. I am not alternating skeins yet but I may do that as I get to the main body. My biggest hurdle is keeping the stitch markers from opening and falling off.

Happy Knitting!!

Swatch Yes!

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I kind of forgot I had a swatch drying in the laundry room. And I grabbed it yesterday after folding a load of towels. Good news….I got stitch gauge!!

I am short a couple of rows on row gauge. This means I get to use the size/stitch count I want but I need to be careful on the parts that say “Knit to XX inch length”. Shall we take on odds on if I remember this whilst knitting?

Now I just need to plan my cast on…heheheheheh!

Happy Knitting!!

Synthe Swatching

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As I promised myself after finishing my huge crochet blanket, I want to start a sweater with some of the sweater lots I own!

The post Christmas germs finally got me so this swatching process is brought to you by cold medicine, duke snuggles and hiding in my guest room. I wound a skein of my Brooklyn Tweed Shelter and got started.

The Synthe sweater is worked in the round with a purl row breaking up the stockinette. So I decided to swatch the proper way….in the round. I knit my swatch and then moved the work around my circular needle to leave a span of yarn across the back. This means that I should get a truer picture of my pattern gauge in the round.

Once I had my swatch done, I gave it a good wash/rinse in the sink and then bravely cut the strings in the back to get a flat swatch. That was nerve wracking!! The tails are long enough and the yarn is “sticky” enough that they didn’t go anywhere.

The swatch is now pinned out and drying. Once it dries, which should be quick, I can then measure my gauge and determine how close I am to the pattern. I know what size I want to knit based on my bust measurement. I’m hoping I don’t have to adjust too far!

Happy Swatching!!

Closeout Sale Shopping

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I have been packing around a gift certificate from my birthday back in November to the LYS that is near my job. I decided to pop over last Friday and use that sucker up (and then some)

I stalked their website first and looked at clearance items. I was shocked to find Brooklyn Tweed Shelter on clearance…..AND IN A SWEATER QUANTITY. So I snapped up a worsted weight sweater quantity in the color amaranth. It does have a rougher feel to it in skein but I hear that it softens with washing. This is a woolen spun yarn so it should create a lighter feeling but very warm sweater. I have already stalked Ravelry for pattern ideas.

Also in clearance was some Plymouth Yarn Homestead Tweed. I grabbed a skein of Country Blue and Oatmeal to add to my hat stash. We will see if the hat mojo continues into 2025, lol.

I picked some relatively neutral colors so that would fill in some color gaps in my finished hat stash. I realize not everyone loves my personal color palette! Happy Knitting!!

I Have A Color Theme…

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My tiny projects had a tiny resurgence this week. I think this color number six of the 2020 advent calendar from Chromatic yarns.

I got a little giggle out when I noticed these are very much on color theme with my spinning this week. Everything is blue and gold this week, lol!

I just need to crank out the second tiny sock and I can move on day number 8! Happy Knitting!!

What 45 Minutes Makes

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We are back to the normal life grind after the holidays. I thought I would share what 45 minutes of gymnastics gets me. I am still working through my 2021 advent calendar minis from Hannah of Chromatic Yarns.

I had the neck of the sweater started when I sat down in the waiting room.

By the time we got home, I had the yolk done and sleeves on waste yarn. I just couldn’t quite the whole body done before I needed to pack up.

I need like three more rows of body, two rows of ribbing and then cast off. The body of the sweater will be complete. Also, you can see the havoc that dry air, hand washing and tiny sharp needles are wreaking on my finger tips. I’m trying to heal up with some intensive repair creams and it’s working okay-ish so far.

Happy Knitting!!

Ghosts of Advents Past (Part 2)

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When I found my wee advent socks, I also found the mini sweaters I was making. I hated them…they were short sleeved and very tiny. So I ripped them out and figured out a long sleeve and larger version I liked.

They turned our great! I am still using Wee Sweater by Sarah Schira pattern, just with some mods. A wee sweater takes me a full evening of TV knitting. So I only have two of these complete but they are fun and get a little faster each time.

For these, I found some gold ribbon that I plan to “hang” the sweaters from for a sweater garland. This garland will be separate from the tiny sock one. One is good so two must be better!

Happy Knitting!!