Tag Archives: sweater

Winning at Sweater Knitting

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My fingers have done the flying and thanks to a few late nights and an early Christmas trip to the inlaws the sweater of doom is done!

It still needs a good blocking to the collar and sides to smooth things out but it’s DONE!

Pattern:  Cuff to Cuff Sweater by Julie Farmer

Yarn: Berroco Vintage (456 grams or 996 yards)

Size: It’s been so long and I’ve lost my notes that I’m not sure

The best part? I finished this before the WIP interception deadline in the Down Cellar Studio Pigskin Party 2015. I’m pretty happy with the overall project but I’m not 100% happy with my seaming. You can see that left is worse than the right in the photo above. I had trouble matching up my bars when doing my mattress stitch late at night.

But for now I’m going to wrap up in this cozy knit and count my 25 interception points!!

Happy Knitting!!

Fly Fingers Fly

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I’ve been staying up WAY too late at night but I’m determined to get my Cuff to Cuff sweater done by Christmas. I got through the final side and sleeve and got the sweater on the blocking boards!

  
(I measured carefully and blocked the back and fronts to the same length for seaming purposes.) After a good soak in Soak wool wash I put a fan on this overnight. And whoosh….it was dry!

  
I’m going to seam up the sides tonight and get the collar/bands picked up. I’m going with the pick up 3 then skip one method for the edging. That will be just shy of 300 stitches on the needles. And then it’s just 5 inches of seed stitch between me and a FO. All in the next 8 days….ack!

Wish me luck!

Sweater Incentive

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Yesterday I blogged about my Cuff to Cuff sweater and wanting to finish this long term WIP. I technically don’t have a deadline but if I do finish it by Christmas then I get some bonus points in the Down Cellar Studio pigskin party KAL. So I’m giving myself a little motivation!

I’m in the mood to KNIT ALL THE THINGS and CAST ON RIGHT NOW. I really want a Momma Vertebrae by Kelly Brooker. One with long sleeves in a nice warm cozy worsted yarn. I even have the perfect yarn! Berroco Vintage in Mushroom…

  
A neutral beige that would suit many of my tops for a great layering piece. Tons of people have knit this and I want to be wearing it already. But first I need to finish the cuff to cuff or I fear I never will! Thus this will be the carrot at the end of my needles.

Do you use knitting incentives to stay on track?

Sweater Resurrection 

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I’ve been on an organizing tear of late. I went through my wardrobe with a ruthless eye and got rid of the clothes that don’t fit post baby. And the ones that don’t make me happy or feel good. They will go to a good home to my sister or to a women’s shelter. And I also tore through my WIPs pile. It was time to knit or frog. I unearthed my Cuff to Cuff Sweater.

  I started this in 2014 but it stalled majorly after Jellybean was born. I was sorely tempted to rip it out as I’m not sure it will fit my new and improved mom hulk shoulders. But all it was missing was one sleeve and the collar/edging. Still a lot of knitting to do but it seemed a shame to undo. I can always gift it to my cousin or sister. 

It’s knit with Berroco Vintage in a teal/blue. I picked the yarn up for a song when a LYS sadly closed its doors in 2014. Also, if I finish this before Christmas I can count this as another WIP interception for the Down Cellar Studio pigskin party KAL!

A Warm Solution 

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So Jellybean is an active wiggling 15 month old and we are heading into the heart of winter. He has several jackets and coats but we never leave them on in the car seat for safety reasons. So that’s lots of on and off clothing wrestling with a marginally cooperative toddler in the bracing cold of the Midwest. I had a flash of inspiration…he needs a open cardigan much like the kiddy or momma vertebrae. Something to keep his arms/shoulders/back warm without anything on the front to interfere with the efficacy of the car seat straps!

Enter the Snugbug by Tiaga Hilliard Designs!

  
@Tiaga Hilliard Designs 

I pulled some Knit Picks Brava Bulky in red from my deep stash. I’ve already cast on and worked down to the armhole divide. I’m in love and may have to make more than one!  

Happy Knitting!!

A Finished Flax

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Jellybean’s Flax sweater has been finished with the knitting for several days but it’s still “a block away” as the Knitmore Girls say. And since my shingles have sidelined my knitting I thought I’d share this in its current state.  

Pattern:  Flax by Tin Can Knits from their Simple Collection

Needles: U.S. 6 and 8 needles

Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Worsted in Pageant

Size: 2-3 years

mods: none
 

I’m hoping a good blocking will highlight the fantastic ridge detail of the garter section on the arms. I used 216 grams of yarn or just over 4 skeins of yarn. I’m glad I chose the 2-3 year old size so that Jellybean will get more wear out of it. He’s almost a year old and firmly in 24 month clothing. Now I just need to find a time where it’s not too hot and Jellybean is in the mood to model this FO after its blocking bath. Cross your fingers for that perfect storm will you?

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Flax

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I’ve squeezed in some more progress on Jellybean’s Flax sweater from the Tin Can Knits Simple collection.

 
Both sleeves are done and I have one full skein and two tiny partial skeins to finish this sweater. I still think I’m in the territory of yarn chicken but we will see. Fingers crossed! And I really want to finish this before fall gets here. Especially since I still have a Gru scarf to finish and I think jellybean needs a vest for fall as well. So many ideas and so little time…

Happy knitting!!

Growing Flax

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 A virus has knocked Jellybean and I for a loop. Not to mention the hubby has been out of town for a conference for several days leaving us sickies to our own devices. Needless to say not much knitting got done. I did get some stitches in on my Flax for Jellybean.

 

I felt a game of yarn chicken coming on with only five 50 gram balls. I knit past the sleeve division and finished my second ball of yarn. So instead of finishing the body I started the sleeves. It took less than one ball of yarn to finish one sleeve so I’m hopeful for winning yarn chicken!

This pattern is easy and relaxing to knit. But some days I just can’t do the dark yarn in the evenings so it’s slow going. But the good news is that baby sweaters go zoom!

Happy Knitting!!

A Sweater For Jellybean

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Its spring here in Kansas but a tiny part of me is thinking ahead to fall. Jellybean is 7 months now and already wearing 12 month clothing. I REALLY want to have some hand knit sweaters for him this fall. I’m guessing I need to knit 18 months or bigger, lol.

My problem is that I don’t have a lot of knitting time let alone Ravelry browsing time. I hopped on my queue the other day and fell a bit down the rabbit hole. So I’m asking dear readers and fellow knitters for help. What should I knit? Here are my requirements:

  • Top down seamless construction 
  • Masculine pattern
  • Sport weight yarn and bigger
  • No lace
  • No cables 
  • Sizes 18 months and up

I might be willing to negotiate on seamless and willing to do seams if the pattern is that good. But I need to know your suggestions and “go-to” toddler knits. I’m looking for chic and simple for this sleep deprived knitter. Please post or link them in the comments. I can’t wait to see what comes!

Happy Knitting

Goals and The New Year

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I have a thriving baby, a career, loving family, and a pretty amazing husband. I just don’t knit as much anymore as the aforementioned things are taking a bit more time. I don’t mind, to all things there is a season. I’ll soon enough have more knitting time and miss these previous days.

That being said, I still have some knitting goals for 2015:

1: Ravel all my projects
2: Keep better track of my yarn in versus yarn out (I heart spreadsheets)
3: Make at least two pairs of socks for my loving husband
4: Knit a winter sweater for Jellybean (12-18 months size)
5: Finish all my 2014 carryover projects
6: Find a space for and use my cedar chest

There you are, nothing drastic but rather logical and reasonable goals for a knitting mommy and wife.

Do you set goals?