Originally, I had bought this yarn for Sylvi, a big cabled coat. I started it, but it was on hold for years. In the end, I decided to frog it and use the yarn for other things. I usually think of sweaters first when I have an abundance of yarn.
I wanted a cozy, easy house sweater. This is an easy and straight forward pattern. It’s a top-down raglan with pockets. I even made it one size larger so it can have positive ease so I can easily throw it over anything in the cold months.
A fingering weight top-down raglan that took many months as I expected but could have been done faster if I didn’t have a lot of other things going this past winter.
I usually choose more fitted sweaters but I wanted to go out of my comfort zone and Veera is one of the few pattern designers I trust with sweaters. Originally, I was going to make a Featherweight Cardigan with this yarn, but I thought Pavement would be a more suitable choice for years to come.
The sweater was not difficult to knit, but I found it exasperating at the end. I didn’t like the look of the short rows and I didn’t understand why there were increases so I omitted it. The pattern does not allow for enough underarm room ether. The neck is wide as well, but that’s probably more me than the pattern.
The sweater is soft and I hope to wear it more often.
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This project used the frogged yarn from Paris. I wanted something with positive ease for this yarn with lots of nice drape. I also wanted something with a good neckline. I must admit my neckline is a bit bigger than in the pattern, but it’s within reason and I can wear a tank top underneath. It is warm and light.
Buttercup, started January 24th 2013, finished March 13th 2013.
Pattern: Buttercup by Heidi Kirrmaier
Size: Small.
Measurements:
Sleeves: 17cm/7”
Underarm to hem: 42cm/16”
Bust: 40cm/15.5”
Neckline: 22cm/8.5” W x 15.5cm/6”
Yarn: Inca Gold Baby Alpaca by Susan Andrew Collection – 100% baby alpaca – 200yds/50grams – used 175g or about 4 skeins out of my 6
Needles: #4/3.5mm long circ for body and #3/3.25mm long circ and DPNs for sideways garter rib and neck
Modifications & Notes:
Lessons Learned: Sideways garter rib.
Cost of Project: Around $20-25 for the 4 skeins I think.
Would I knit it again? Doubtful that I would need 2 of these, but this pattern is easy, attractive and appealing especially as written as the sideways garter was fiddly. I recommend it.
Have a good weekend! For more FOs, go to Tami’s Amis.
Even though I started Girasole before this, I wanted to participate in a Veera KAL in the Sweater Odyssey group on Ravelry. I have wanted to make this ever since I saw it on Veera’s projects, but I did not know it would be so big and use so much yarn. I ran out of yarn so the sleeves are shorter and tighter, but more notably, the right panel is over 4″ shorter than the front. It works out in that two of the front panels would be hot. I just throw the left over the right and can pin it with a shawl or kilt pin.
I am not crazy about this cardigan. It disappointed me especially when I liked it so much, but I must say the colour of the cardigan is lovely! It is baby alpaca that I got on sale for this project too.
Paris, started May 25th 2012, Bound off June 25th 2012. 
Pattern: Paris by Veera Välimäki
Yarn: Inca Gold Baby Alpaca by Susan Andrew Collection – 6 balls – 1200yards/1100m.
Needles: #4/3.5mm long circular
Modifications: I did the sleeves before finishing the right front. I decreased two stitches the sleeves every five rows to make them around 50 sts (I can’t remember). Sleeves were knit to 9″ in total. Did not sew pockets.
Tools/Notions: N/A
Cost of Project: Yarn was on sale, cost around $34.
Would I knit it again? No.
This cardigan took forever to finish. The knitting itself took about a month, but I didn’t block for another month after binding off and another week for the buttons. I was very careless with the button sewing, but I was so fed up with this project by this time that I didn’t care. Maybe in the far future, I will resew it. Until then, I can wear it as it is going out or staying in. It is far from my favourite sweater, but at least I can use it when out.
Garter Yoke Cardigan, started March 13th, 2012, Bound off April 18th 2012. Sewed buttons on May 19th 2012.
Pattern: #22 Garter Yoke Cardigan by Melissa LaBarre from Knit.1, Fall/Winter 2008
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool – less than 4 skeins of the old yardage, not the new one.
Needles: #6/4mm for the CO, #7/4.5mm for the garter, and #8/5.0mm for all else.
Modifications:
Tools/Notions: 9 wood buttons.
Cost of Project: Less than $20.
Would I knit it again? Doubtful. If I were to do it again, KFB for the yoke as pattern says and I won’t be so careless with blocking and button sewing next time.
Have a good weekend! For more FOs, go to Tami’s Amis.
Progress on my blue Garter Yoke Cardigan:
I finished one sleeve yesterday. While I was doing the body, I didn’t want the sleeves to take up my remaining yarn so I put the body on hold (it’s beyond the waist shaping now) and started the sleeves. That way, I can make this a fairly long cardigan. I am really liking this royal blue from Patons Classic Wool.
Let’s be honest, I’d have finished this sweater in less than two weeks given my situation. I’ve been very slow with it and spent a few days not even knitting a bit. I know knitting hasn’t been on my radar as much lately because of that and the fact I haven’t been on Ravelry much. I was a bit sick the other week and distracted with other things. I also haven’t been watching shows or movies that much and I almost always knit during those times. I don’t really sit and knit; I’m usually watching something while doing it. Even with lace!
In any case, the Crazy Zauberball I mentioned a few weeks ago, I bought as a birthday present to myself. Yay! Except I have no idea what I will do with it yet.
I’m nearly done this cardigan and due to my lack of knitting mojo, I haven’t really been excited for my next project. Maybe I will take a break and knit some hexipuffs. I haven’t done that since last year; I can make a couple and then plan my next project.
Do you ever feel you lose momentum during projects and why?
Check out other WIPW at Tami’s Amis.
I have resolved to blog more about knitting so I will be doing Tami’s WIP Wednesday and Finished Object Friday when I can. Lately, I haven’t been knitting too much and to be honest, the last project I did, I hated. Rarely do I hate the end result as much as I did this Andrea’s Shawl I was working on. It wasn’t the pattern’s fault really, mostly it was one of the yarns. Anyway, I have something else on my needles now.
The Garter Yoke Cardigan from Knit.1 Fall/Winter 2008. I wanted to make this for a long time. I can’t even remember why. I finally got a copy of the pattern. Here’s my tiny amount of progress:
I started this project last week, and I usually knit faster than this, but I’ve been doing other things lately so I haven’t been knitting as much.
I am using Patons Classic Wool. I got it on sale at Michaels the other week. I noticed that Patons changed their yardage so now you get twenty less yards per skein. Three of the skeins I got still have the old yardage, but this change is Patons way of adjusting for higher wool prices. I don’t dislike Patons, but to be honest, I do feel I should just save up and buy better wool. When it goes on sale, it is very cheap and affordable, but now with the shortened yardage, I will probably not buy this yarn for pullovers anymore.
I have been struggling not to buy yarn these days as there has been a Crazy Zauberball calling my name. I shouldn’t since my yarn stash is overflowing. I can’t live beyond my yarn means especially given my tenuous situation. Is the yarn calling and you must say no?
Since I am a knitting monogamist, that’s it for me this week. The weather is warmer so I am less sitting around knitting and more cleaning and exploring.
Have a good rest of the week.
For more WIP Wednesday posts, go to Tami’s Amis.
