Day: April 10, 2007

crafts · finished objects · knitting

FO: Puff Sleeved Cardigan

stitchywitch19 Comments

 

Pattern: Feminine Puff Sleeved Cardigan, from Fitted Knits

Yarn: Cotton Fleece in Pinecone, almost 3 skeins

Needles: US 5 and 4

Mods: Lots.  I knit far fewer increase rows than called for in the pattern, in order to achieve a smaller size than written.  I also had a larger gauge, so I had to adjust for that.  I lengthened the body, and I did the lace in all stockinette.  I removed two repeats of the lace pattern to comphensate for my smaller number of stitches, and it worked out fine.  In general, this sweater involved more math that I would really like.  I wish this book had more 32″ sizes!
Notes: I am pleased with this sweater, with one exception.  The buttonband.  I have tried and tried to get the buttons to work, but they just don’t.  The sweater fits fine, but the buttonbands are sort of floppy.  Because of this, I’m considering some sort of a configuration involving snaps.  I cannot deal with it coming undone all the time (and this is after I sewed the buttonholes way smaller.)  Other thoughts… the pattern was well written, although I do wish it had included measurements in inches instead of rows.  The collar is also a tad big (I would use smaller needles on that if I could do it again) but it isn’t too bad.  I love the shape, the color, and the purl rows.  But it is still a work in progress as far as I’m concerned, because I know I won’t wear it until the fastener problem is fixed!

Of course, the most important part is that Leon approves.  And he does.

crafts · knitting · yarn

A new WIP

stitchywitch6 Comments

I believe I started knitting just around the time that Cotton Ease was discontinued.  So while I’ve never knit with it, I have seen lots of people hoarding it.  Last week I noted that my Michaels had started carrying the new Cotton Ease, so last night I ventured over there.  First, the bad – I wish they had retained some of the old colors.  I look washed out in faded colors – I need some strong, clear colors to balance out my paleness.  Most of the new colors are of the faded type.  The black, in fact, verges on a sort of dingy blue-gray.  I couldn’t decide, so I told Marc to pick the color he thought would look best on me.  He chose Almond, a color somewhere in between ivory and a very soft yellow.  I would never have chosen this color for myself, but as it turns out I’m pretty pleased with it.  It lacks the tinge of beige that usually makes me avoid ivory colors.  So last night I cast on for the Drops Design (Garnstudio) sweater I showed yesterday (the first picture on the top row.)

Now I get it.  Cotton Ease is a really nice yarn!  It’s similar to Nashua’s new Cilantro yarn (which I love for the name) or a less stretchy version of Calmer. It doesn’t hurt my hands, and it produces a nice, lightweight fabric with even stitches.  It isn’t at all splitty, which is nice after two sweaters using Cotton Fleece (I love Cotton Fleece, but it does split like mad.)  The only other new color I like is the lime, which my Michael’s didn’t have, so it may be time for me to stockpile for myself a few of the older colors!

The translation of the Drops sweater seems to be fine so far.  I chose this sweater because it’s cropped, so it won’t take long to get through all the directions.  Looking ahead, I can see some slightly dodgy neck shaping directions, but nothing you won’t understand if you’ve made a seamed sweater before.

While I was at Michael’s I also bought a pack of those huge coil-less safety pins that seem to be popular as sweater closures this season.  I have at least one sweater in mind that will need a closure, and most of my brooches are too  heavy.

I also have some yarn pictures to share.  I got these from the Yarnzilla sale, with their volume discount it came to 35 or 40% off… very good deal.  Check them out if you haven’t!

L to R: Rowan Summer tweed in Jardinier, Rowan Calmer in Refresh, Rowan Felted Tweed in Sigh.

I’m clearly in a tweedy mood. Love all these yarns.  Someone please go buy up all the Rowan yarns before I get tempted again!