Tag Archives: sweater

2014 Stashbustin’ #12: Assisted Hatching

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It’s WIP Wendesday!!!

Bolstered by yesterday’s gorgeous sweater and a ginormous case of start-itis, I cast on another baby sweater. Baby fever + start-itis = more WIPs than my husband can handle!

But how can you resist this? Assisted Hatching by Elizabeth Ditchburn Dew….

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(Photo credit to © kitchenerstitch and the Assisted Hatching Rav pg)

I’m really glad I have two sets of interchangeable needles, lol…..because I have already made good progress on this sweater!

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Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Pagoda

Needles: US 8 circs (Denise Interchangeable)

Size: 0-3 months

Happy Knitting!!!

Stashbustin’ #11: Henry’s Sweater

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After yesterday’s disappointment I had the itch to try a different baby sweater. And having recently pruned and tagged my Rav queue, I did some easy and organized searching to find….Henry’s Sweater

P1050813_medium2(Photo credit to © jennicole01 and the Henry’s Sweater Rav pg)

This is similar to the Sophisticate with the stockinette and shawl collar. But it has more overlap on the chest and those adorable 4 buttons laid out in a square. I couldn’t wait to get started!

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Yarn: Bernat Cottontots in Country Taupe (I think this yarn has been discontinued and it’s a shame because it’s a very soft cotton and easy to work with!)

Needles: US 8s (Knits Picks Options Interchangeable)

Size: 3-6 months

Mods: None yet but I love the pattern so far!

Happy Knitting!

Sometimes It Just Doesn’t Work Out

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I finished my Simple Baby Pullover this week…..but something went terribly wonky. My sweater is huge!

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Pattern: A Simple Baby Pullover by Erica Kempf

Yarn: Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in Pistachio

Needles: US 8

Size: 0-3 months (But this didn’t turn out)

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Now, before you ask, I didn’t swatch for gauge. But this is a yarn and needle size I use a lot so I was comfortable skipping that step. Now I don’t know if I should have done that or if something in the pattern is wonky. The pattern is the same for all sizes in the beginning when you are working the yoke section. The larger sizes get more raglan increases than the smaller sizes. And of course the lengths are different.

I should have come out with a 17 1/2 in chest. I came up with a whopping 22 inches (1-2 yr size). Then the pattern wanted me to work to a total sweater length of 8 inches. Well with my width that would have made this sweater a baby midriff, lol! So I worked to a total of 11 inches to match the 1-2 size that my chest measurement came out to.

I should have only used 1 or so skeins of yarn. But I consumed 2 full skeins! That translates to 206 yard or 170 grams. I had plenty enough yarn so it wasn’t a huge deal.

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It’s a pretty FO, but I was disappointed. Not sure if I did something wrong or the pattern needs to be adjusted for yarn/guage? I noticed on Ravelry (after the fact) that there were a lot mods in other’s projects. But at least 121 other people have worked this sweater so it can’t be all bad!

My verdict? It’s a nice sweater but not a pattern I would knit again. I have some others in my queue that need testing….(rubbing her hands like a disney villian)…..

Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #8: A Simple Baby Pullover

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If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know I’m on a HUGE baby sweater kick. Most notably, Baby Sophisticates (evidenced here and here)

Well I decided to switch it up and try something new!

Pattern:  A Simple Baby Pullover by Erica Kempf

Yarn: Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in Pistachio (I like to knit baby knits out of cotton or acrylic so new mom’s don’t have to worry about hand-washing)

Needles: US 8s

Size: 0-3 Months

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I love top down raglan construction. I could almost do this in my sleep now! I’ve already knit the yoke and divided for the sleeves. I think I will make one mod and knit short sleeves instead of long. I like to layer pieces and in my opinion give the mom/baby recipient a little more versatility and longevity of the sweater. (Not to mention I get to be finished and pet the adorable FO even faster!)

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I also find the the garter rib detail of the partial button band adorable. It’s a wee bit messy because I’m not the best at button holes). Not to mention this design detail helps the sweater fit over the giant noggins most babies tend to have. This button band does mean you have to work back and forth for the “yoke” section for awhile. But never fear, it joins in the round soon enough!

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Antrose

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Embolded by my swatches and encouraged by a dear friend, I finally cast on for Antrose!

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I’m working the garter ribbed collar. It’s back and forth, so no purls but lots and lots of knits! I opted to use lifted M1R and M1L increases instead of the KFB increases. With my tension and style….they just look better to me.

I have to admit, I had never done the Long Tail Cast On before (even though patterns clearly called for it). So I put my big girl pants on and went to YouTube….ITS SO EASY! Here’s the link I used. It so clean looking and makes such a nice stretchy edge! I did have to take several swings at it before I let out enough yarn in the beginning to make all the cast on stitches, lol.

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Now, just a few thousand more stitches before I have a finished sweater! I’m liking the Lion Brand Heartland yarn….although it can be “splitty” at times. And have tinked a few stitches and I could see how this yarn wouldn’t stand up to prolonged frogging. But it’s very soft and creates a nice fabric.

What’s on your needles this Wednesday?

Yet Another Sophisticate

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I seem to be addicted to baby sweaters lately….baby fever anyone?!?

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Pattern: Baby Sophisticate – Free by Linden Down

Needles: US 8s

Yarn: Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in Pistachio (190.6 yards, 157 grams, or 1.85 skeins)

Size: 12 months

Mods: I knit short sleeves by working the garter rib right after separating for the sleeves. I also knit the button band solid with no button holes. I just wanted something that would look great thrown over a long tee to keep baby snugly!

Into the baby shower stash this goes! I love this pattern, but I will admit by the end of this project I was ready for a different pattern….

Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #5: Antrose

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I read too many knitting blogs for my own good, but sometimes I read about projects that I just fall in love with. Enter, Antrose by Shannon Cook

(Photo credit to Nicholas Kupiak and the Antrose Rav page)

My bread and butter when it comes to sweaters is a top-down raglan. I have a unique body shape and I like to try sweaters on as I knit. This way I can make alterations if I don’t like the fit. And this sweater is all that and more.

Top down with a reversible funnel neck. Lots of easy plain stockinette with great chevron details thrown in. Just enough to make you pay attention and not get bored. And worsted weight yarn should fly off the needles!

This will be my #5 stashbustin’ project for 2014. I have some Knit Picks Brava worsted in Dove Heather. A lovely cream/neutral color to be sure. I recently dyed my hair several shades darker and I have been craving some neutral pieces to set off my new hair.

Well, I’m off to swatch! Happy Knitting!

FO Friday: Sophisticate

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Its finally done, buttons on, and tag sewn in! 2013 Stashbustin’ #38 is complete! This officially completes all my (non-hybernating) WIPs from 2013. I feel a great weight lifted off my shoulders!

Pattern: Sophisticate by Linden Down

Size: Medium (I should have made the large)

Needles: US 8

Yarn: Caron Simpy Soft in grey

I used 1,043 yards of yarn or 562 grams. That is about 3.31 skeins of the 6oz Caron Simply Soft.

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I worked on this project on and off for several months. I should have finished waaaaay faster. But I chose to savor the process and the soothing stockinette.

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I love it open or all buttoned up. (Sorry for no modeled pictures….the husband has been working overtime and therefore is unavailable to help me photograph my projects while the light is good.)

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The buttons are my favorite. I found some plastic buttons that look like wooden/brushed buttons in a coordinated grey tone.

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I highly recommend this pattern to all knitters! It’s a paid pattern but so worth the money! It’s creative, yet simple. And the instructions are very clear….trust me, that’s not always the case!

Happy Knitting!

FO Friday….(err I mean Saturday): Abalone

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I did a bit of monogamous knitting the last couple of days. And so I actually have a FO to show you!

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Well it’s done…but despite my best math and knitting know how it’s not quite right. Don’t get me wrong, the pattern is great! It’s written for small size only with directions/percentages given to help you “upsize” your garment. I should have been more meticulous…

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Here it is anyway….

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I completed this sweater in a little under a month. I used 3 skeins of Knit Picks Brava worsted in Wine knit up on size US 8 needles. I simple adore the color! (In math terms I used 657 yards or 300 grams of yarn)

I did my calculations and cast on 80 stitches and increased up to 149 total for the body section. I then knit 17 inches of stockinette up to the arm holes. Then I separated and knit another 7 1/2 inches of height for arms shoulders.

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Now looking at the FO, here is what should have happened:

  1. Cast on 90 stitches (ish) and worked up to 159 stitches (ish)
  2. Knit 19 or 20 inches of stockinette before getting to the sleeves
  3. Knit 8 or 8 1/2 inches for the shoulders/arm holes
  4. Paid attention to the written directions and added increase at the corners of the knit border so it would curl.

This was supposed to have been a gift for a very lovely, elegantly tall, and slender friend. This sweater doesn’t have a snowballs chance in you know where of fitting the intended recipient in any flattering manner. So into my closet it will go after some additional aggressive blocking. I would like it to hit past my butt at least.

Instead my friend for her birthday shall get some local Kansas wine from grape vines that I helped to plant. That’s sort of like knitting her a sweater right? Sigh….

P.S. this is one of my last FO from my 2013 Stashbusting efforts! It’s #45 and I hope to have a post with my final year end stats soon!

Progress: Abalone!

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Remember the other sweater I was going to finish on Christmas vacation? Yeah well, this is that I got done on my Abalone…

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I finished up the last of the stockinette body section (right at 17 inches) and promptly separated for the sleeves. God bless stitch holders!

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Now I get to work just under 8 inches of arm/shoulder sections. They are worked separately and then seamed together using a three needle bind off. I’m well on my way to meet my January 15th deadline. And this the second to last project I need to finish for my 2013 stashbustin’ projects, yippee!!!

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Now if you will excuse me, I have some quiet knitting and coffee sipping to do before I head off to my big kid job!