Making Progress

Well. My Forecast sweater is definitely coming along.
Its squishy, textury, fun to knit.. I really think I'm going to love this sweater!

This last week I picked out some buttons that I really like, even though I will never use them...

Um yea... I am quite certain that this sweater might be a little small on me. I never know what size to choose!!! I fall between the small (32") and medium(36") size on this sweater. I measure somewhere around a 34 and it seems that every time I try to knit a 36 inch size it looks boxy and baggy. So lately Ive been leaning towards 32" sweaters and it has turned out well. My Lush and Lacy Cardigan and Cap-Sleeved Eyelet Top are both good examples of this. But this one is a little bit too snug. My gauge might also be to blame. I don't know.

Sometimes I knit tighter than my swatch.

Its a little disappointing but I'll be fine. I still haven't blocked it yet which might loosen things up, and if all else fails I can just wear it open with just one button keeping it together. I tend to wear all of my sweaters that way anyways. And there is also crash dieting, which is a last resort of course.

In case you are wondering. I am not ripping out and reknitting. No way.

So the body is all knit and I am just working on the sleeves now. I love the bobbly panel going down the sleeve. Its so cute!

Looks as though I won't even need a 5th skein to complete this sweater. I only have a sleeve and a 1/2 left to knit and I still have this much left on my 4th skein of O-wool Classic.

Think I'll make it?

The Knitting Forecast is Saffron-y

I don't know if you've noticed but I've taken up a new hobby.

One that I enjoy almost as much as knitting. Photo taking and photo editing!!

Introducing my new obsession: Photo Collage.

I cant stop. Really. I've tried.

So here are pictures of the new sweater I'm working on. In a collage format of course.

I love this sweater project! It has really been a joy to knit. Its worked up in one piece from the top down and has these fun bobbly panels on the fronts, back and sleeves. The pattern is called "Forecast" and can be found here.

I love all of the textural changes. Its a really cute, unique design. I can visualize this as being a really fun garment. Funky and different. Especially in this color, right?

The yarn that I chose to work with is O-wool Classic in Saffron. I own nothing in this color so it will be a welcome addition to my wardrobe. I was attracted to this color right away. Its cozy or something...

The yarn is a slightly thicker gauge than the Cascade yarn that this pattern calls for, so this sweater is more structural, kind of jacket-like, which I almost like better. It suits the style in my opinion.

(Listen to Episode 14 for a review of O-wool.)

Yesterday I was really sick so I just sat around and worked on this sweater. I made some serious progress so I should have this thing finished up shortly. I cant wait to wear it!

Watermelons For Sale!

The Watermelon sweater pattern is finally finished!

I am really really pleased with how this one turned out. The sweater fits my daughter perfectly!

This is such a whimsical little pattern that is simple and fun to knit. I think that this is a perfect little sweater for a beginning knitter because there is no ribbing, picked up stitches, or seaming! The sweater is knit in one piece from the bottom up.

I also included 2 different closure options for the cardigan. Click here to see pictures of the "ribbon-tie closure" version.

Here is some pattern information for those who might be interested in knitting it.

SIZES
3 months [6mos, 9mos, 12mos, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] (shown in size 2)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 18 [19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28] inches

Length: approx 10.5 [11.5, 12, 13, 14, 14.5, 16.5, 17.5, 18] inches after blocking

MATERIALS
[MC] Manos Cotton Stria [100% Peruvian Cotton; 116 yd/106m per 50g skein; color: #204; 2 [2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5] skeins[CC] color: #205; 1 skein]Scraps of black yarn (I used Panda Silk sock yarn doubled up in Black)

2# 32-inch US #6/4mm circular needles
1# 24-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle
1# 24-inch US #4/3.50mm circular needle
1 set of US #6/4mm double pointed needles

4 pieces of scrap yarn to hold underarm stitches
Stitch Holders
Safety pin markers
One medium button for button loop closure or 1.5 yards of ribbon for ribbon tie closure
Tapestry needle
GAUGE
20 sts/28 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch on size 6 needles

The Manos Cotton Stria yarn is super soft and so pretty with the slight color variations. I felt that it complimented this design perfectly!

You don't have to make this pattern into a watermelon. If you'd rather, you could knit it using one color which would give it an entirely different look.

I know that this is going to be such a great springtime sweater for my little one. The colors are vibrant for the season and the cotton is ideal for springtime evenings.

(This pattern has been updated into a beautiful new pattern layout August 2010.)

NeverNotKnitting Podcast : Episode 14 : The Enlightenment Of A Wannabe Knitter

Shownotes:

Dancing Ewe Yarns

Watermelon

Stuart

Mousie Pattern

Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino

Rowan Kid Silk Haze

Forecast

O-wool Classic

O-wool Website

O-wool Classic projects on Ravelry

Kmclark on Ravelry

NeverNotKnitting Ravelry Group

If you'd like to give the O-wool yarn a try, Dancing Ewe Yarns is offering a special discount of 20% on all O-wool Classic and free shipping for all orders that include this yarn.

This offer is only valid for the month of March and is exclusive to the Nevernotknitting podcast listeners and blog readers.

In order to receive your discount, click on the Dancing Ewe link and in the checkout process enter in the special code " NNK1 "

Enjoy! :)

Stuart

Recently my daughter has been obsessed with the story of Stuart Little. A tale of a mouse who has been adopted into a human family. She has been running around the house having all sorts of adventures with an imaginary mouse friend, so I thought it was necessary for me to surprise her with a knitted version of Stuart.



Introducing... "Mousie", a pattern designed by Ysolda Teague.

I found this pattern a while back and fell in love with it right away. I love knitted toys. I also love the knitted toys that arent the everyday typical knit toy, like say a teddy bear.

This pattern was fun and surprisingly fast to knit. Stuart has gone from yarn to knit and blogged in 24 hours time. It also took such a small amount of yarn. It was a perfect way for me to use up a few scraps. Dont you love scrap knitting? Its like making something from nothing...

For the tail, ears, and nose I used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in Dusty Pink. The body of Stuart is made up of Off White Cashmerino with a strand of Rowan Kid Silk Haze held together.

I love the way the Kid Silk Haze adds some fuzz and halo to his tiny little body.

He has been a big hit around here.

I am so happy to make my daughter things that she loves to play with.

Hand knit toys are so special and fun.

It's Watermelon Season!

....well in sweater land anyway!

I am now finished with the Watermelon sweater and I love it! 

I am so happy that I made the 2T size for my daughter. It fits perfectly!!!

I will be getting this pattern sized and it will be available for purchase shortly.

My little one has been visiting Grandma and Grandpa all day so I have been feverishly working on the finishing details.

If you notice from the above pictures I've had some difficulty deciding whether to go with a ribbon tie closure or a button and loop closure.

I think that I will offer both options in the pattern. 

If you notice, I show the sweater with a more froo-froo dressed up ribbon and then with a plainer ribbon for a more casual style. I chose the green striped one for the photo because it resembles watermelon rind. How fitting. I especially love the hand dyed silk ribbon. It makes the sweater look so feminine and lovely. I think that the ribbon tie closure option  looks a bit too babyish for the 2T size. But however it would look so precious on the sizes for smaller babies. Since my 3 year old is now a "big kid" Ive decided to go with a button and loop closure and keep the eyelet row as just a nice added detail.

I will be sharing modeled shots of Watermelon soon!

NeverNotKnitting Podcast Episode 13 : The Magickal Earth And The AstroTurf

Shownotes:

Dancing Ewe Yarns

Selbu Modern

Sienna Cardigan

Watermelon Sweater

Playful Stripes Cardigan

Manos Cotton Stria

This episodes knitting tip was brought to you by Kristoemily

KnittingHelp.com

The "Hungry Stitch" Method

Jamiesons Shetland Spindrift

Stitches West

The Magickal Earth Shawl on Ravelry and Photobucket

KnitsWithPenguins

NeverNotKnitting Ravelry Group

If you'd like to give Jamiesons Shetland Spindrift yarn a try, Dancing Ewe Yarns is offering a special discount of 20% on all Jamiesons Spindrift and free shipping for all orders that include the Jamiesons yarn. This offer is only valid for the month of February and is exclusive to the Nevernotknitting podcast listeners and blog readers.

In order to receive your discount, click on the Dancing Ewe link and in the checkout process enter in the special code " NNK1 "

Click here to download the MP3

Upcoming Design

There is a new design in the works....

... and it's going to be delicious.

Selbu Modern

Truth be told.. I have a hat phobia. I love hats on others, but on me. Well. I just feel so silly. I want to get better. I want to get over this. There are too many beautiful hat patterns out there, and too many cold drizzly days where hat wearing would be in order. So I'm starting here.

With Selbu Modern. My new hat love.

This hat was so fun to make. I haven't done stranded colorwork in a really long time, so it was fun to get reacquainted. I was oh so scared that with changing colors my tension would be all over the place, but it wasn't. It was fine. I just followed some really good colorwork tips that I've heard in the past, and that is what I credit to my success.

Helpful Tip #1: I put one one color in my left hand and the other color in my right. I never switched hands. The left hand always held the gold, and the right always held the brown.

When using this method, I knit all of the gold stitches in the continental knitting style and all of the brown stitches in the English style. I am a continental knitter usually so this took a little getting used to.

Helpful Tip#2: Slightly spread out your stitches that you have just knit on the right hand needle before adding another color. This helps the tension not be too tight, which can be a big issue with stranded knitting.

Helpful Tip #3: Keep one ball of yarn on your left side and the other ball on your right. If they are together in your lap there is much more chance of annoying tangledge and twisting of your strands. Not a good thing.

For this pattern I used 1 ball of Jameson's Shetland Spindrift in Grouse and 2 balls of Scotch Broom. I almost got the entire hat out of only 2 balls, but on the last few rounds I had to break into that second ball of Scotch Broom. Dang. I hate that.

I also went up one needle size than the pattern recommended, and I am really happy with the ending hat size.

I am all around very happy with how the Selbu Modern turned out and who knows.. Maybe I'll become a hat girl after all?

A New Hat Obsession

I recently fell in love with the Selbu Modern hat pattern and just had to cast on right away.

I think that this colorwork pattern is just soo cute!

I am using Jamiesons Shetland Spindrift for the project. The pattern says that I need 3 skeins 2 of the main color and 1 contrasting color. But I am almost done and still have yarn left. Lets hope it is enough. I would hate to break into that 3rd skein for just a few yards.

The yarn is nice. Its very "au naturale", not processed like a superwash merino which is the wool that you usually find in this weight. It isn't smooth or super soft but rustic and full of texture. I know that when I wash it the hat will soften more, but I am not too worried about it because it hasn't bothered my skin so far.

What I love about this yarn is the beautiful heathered shades. The heathered colors look so pretty in colorwork. I did a complete review of Jamiesons Shetland Spindrift in Episode 12 if you'd like to find out more.

I look forward to blocking this project because the stitches will smooth out and the pattern will look a lot nicer.

Its true what they say, knitting in a colorwork pattern is soo addicting! I cant stop knitting this because its so fun to see the designs form as I work.

I must keep knitting..