Divide Those Sleeves!

After some fiddling and a few dropped stitches, I have my Rainbow Radiate ready for sleeves!

I finished the short row shaping, put sleeves on waste yarn and worked about 6/7 rows of the body. I have decided I like working the sleeves first before the weight of the full body of the sweater exists. It’s less fabric to have in my lap and “turn” as I work sleeves.

I grabbed some shorty circulars and put the first sleeves on and going. This has a second silver lining….I can maximize the yarn used in the body without having to save any for the sleeves. I have two kinds of grey main color that I am blending so I need to be careful.

These will be full length sleeves so I have some way to go to get these done but those short round and round circles are mostly satisfying. Lots of progress develops quickly! Happy Knitting!!

Volcan Body

Professional development is turning out to be great for my knitting productivity. My Volcan Hat has a completed body!

I probably could have finished this hat during my all day training except for I didn’t bring my DPNs to work the decreases. One good evening of TV and actually locating my DPNs should get this hat all the way done!

A couple of coworkers have complimented this hat. So I am thinking about a potential recipient. It’s almost May here so hats are NOT necessary anymore. I think I have some time to decide 🙂

Happy Knitting!!

Peaks Of Pinks

We are back to golf lessons and patio time for mom. Which is great as my Rainbow Radiate has reached my first pink color!

I am glad I went back and corrected the stiches that were bothering me. The rows are long now that I have fully increased for my bust but the rainbow is worth it. I have three more colors to add after this hot pink. So I am CLOSE.

Of course after this it is miles and miles of stockinette body in the main color of the speckled grey. I should be careful what I wish for! Happy Knitting!!

Azules Hat Decreases

I did 12 hours of strategic planning at work this week. And for that time I have a lot of things to absorb and the brim (plus a little) of my Azules Hat.

I opted for a folded stockinette brim as I was knitting at work and didn’t have my full set of tools. It’s also easy on the brain when I am trying to think and participate in group discussions. I am about 1 inch into the hat body so I need several more before I can start decreases.

I think this hat will end up being a gift for a coworker who has been kind to me AND got his but kicked in the meeting we were in. I think he has earned a knitterly gift….

Happy Knitting!!

Developing Rainbow

I am MUCH happier with my Rainbow Radiate after ripping back and redoing the colors and types of increases. Turns out I used backward loop and then knit them with the wrong leg in the first try. I twisted them and they look much better now.

I was worried about my choice of a rainbow gradient when in the lime and yellow sections. I was not digging it. But now that I am adding orange and I can picture the red I think I will like it in the end.

Now I just need to find some mojo or alone time to get more stitches on this. I am feeling a post-winter creative crash. Trying not to force it and maybe I need to dig through some stash or hibernating project?

Happy Knitting!!

A Luminous Hat Body

I had some long and tedious budget meetings at work. And my Luminous Hat was the benefactor of that time.

The brim is folded and almost all of the main body is complete. I need to dig out my DPNs to be ready for the decreases. The yarn continued to swirl based on the pooling pattern. I think it turned out kinda neat.

Still digging the square needles and would use them again. I don’t notice less hand fatigue but they are light and make a nice gauge. Happy Knitting!!

Ripping Back

I done messed up my Rainbow Radiate. Back when I was calculating out my gauge and color usage, I only got one of those things right. And thankfully it was gauge.

I mistakenly took some of the short rows in the yolk for full rows. And therefore now have fewer rows that originally thought to get through my full rainbow. I also hated how the increases look in the lime green section. So I am ripping back.

I thought about threading my try it on tubing into it but that was too complicated. So I pulled out the needles and ripped back. Then had to carefully pick up loose/life stitches. I mostly got them all on the first try but did fix on the first knit row.

Going forward each of my remaining colors will only have four rows. And I will need a couple of extra plain rows before dividing for sleeves. Which is fine as I actually do need to add length based on my row gauge from my swatch. Was a little heartbreaking to rip out almost a full weekend worth of work but I want this sweater to work.

Happy (ish) Knitting!!

Starting The Rainbow

Since my Synthe is (mostly) off the needles, I got myself to get my Rainbow Radiate on the needles!

I have stitch gauge but I am off in row gauge, which means I need to pay attention to length by measurement and not row count. I am using a DK mini set from Hue Loco as my contrast that I hope creates a rainbow effect on the yolk. I am 50/50 on whether this will be gorgeous or hideous. Have to knit it to find out!

And Oy Vey…..I will have ends to weave in!!

Happy Knitting!!

Synthe: Needs Minor Alterations

My Synthe sweater has dried nicely. And PB helped me take some preliminary photos. I really like the overall fit but it could do with some alterations….

I knit the 44 1/2 inch bust size and altered the body increases as well as added length. I really like where it falls on my hips. The sleeves blocked longer than I had hoped. I will give it a few wears or think on it a bit before I decide to rip them back and shorten them.

I do not love how wide the neckline is with the raw cast on edge. I plan to find a crochet hook and “tighten” up the opening to make it less wide and showing so much of the undershirt. I really like how it feels with the underlayer and I don’t mind the feel of the yarn at all.

I am going to carefully and lightly bury my ends in to make future changes easier. Happy Knitting!!

Blocking: Synthe Sweater

Home from travel and my sweater off the needles, my Synthe got a bath and is drying in the 70 degree windy spring weather.

I left my markers in both the body and sleeves, just in case I am not happy with the finished/blocked measurements. There are only two increase rounds in the body as I wanted to maintain a straighter body line versus the called for a-line in the pattern. I also did not weave in the ends, partly for that same reason but also because I finished this in the dark and didn’t want to lose them.

I will let this dry and then try on before I either make final finished or rip back for changes. It did soften with the first wash and hoping that continues as this yarn is quite rustic. Now I just need this to dry faster!

Happy Knitting!!