Tag: sweater

A Completed Sweater and New Knitting

Miss BB sweater front

My Miss BB Sweater is all finished! I also started a couple of new knitting projects.

Sweater

The seaming was problem free. All the pieces fit together as they should. I got it all done in a couple of sessions.

Miss BB sweater front
Miss BB sweater back

I went to Joann’s and got some buttons and grosgrain ribbon. I hand sewed in the ribbon to the inside of the button bands to stabilize them. It also adds more fabric for attaching the buttons. I am very fastidious when I sew in buttons, but they still fall off frequently. I hope this will help with that.

I am very happy with the finished sweater. The fit is roomy but not too oversized. This is going to be a nice outerwear garment for chilly days.

New Knitting

Now that my sweater is finished, I have cast on a new shawl/scarf. I showed you the yarn for the Veritas Shawl in May. It is Monologue by LMFA.

Now, you have probably noticed if you have been reading my blog for awhile, that I am a pretty experienced lace knitter, right? This pattern is intense. The set up and first chart (about 28-30 rows) took my most of last Sunday afternoon.

I spent a good deal of this Saturday and Sunday working on the set up for the next section. I am now at the point where all the elements are on the go. There are five parts to each row. There are edge stitches at the beginning and end of the rows. In between are three different stitch patterns. I feel like I have a handle on them now. When I was just starting them, it was constant chart checking.

Veritas Shawl 1
First full chart
Veritas Shawl 2
all sections begun

You can see here how I had to print out the pattern so I could easily have everything visible. This is my one complaint about the pattern. The formatting of the charts and row directions are all over the place. The information is there and correct but it isn’t very user friendly.

I am really happy with how it looks now that is starting to look like something. While I was on the first chart, it was hard to tell what I was knitting.

Another New Project

While I was in Joann’s getting the stuff for the sweater, I picked up some yarn I saw on sale. I never do this but I had just been thinking how I haven’t made a summer sweater in ages. I also have not knit with linen and would like to try some. I saw this cotton/linen blend and couldn’t resist.

I went looking for some pattern ideas. I love Anne Hanson’s designs and looked there first. I found a few options but decided on Summershine Top. I did some swatching since this yarn is new to me. I used US 6 and then again on US 4. The gauge and fabric were better on the US 4’s.

patons linen swatches
Summershine Top sleeve linen

Since I was unsure how gauge might change on the project, I decided to start with a sleeve and after washing it I will check gauge again.

I am also thinking that I will make a second garment using my Organic Cotton Sport for a booth sample. I will probably cast on a sleeve in that yarn as soon as I complete the cotton/linen one. I can knit them concurrently. I should have two sleeves completed by next time. I will also be sharing a new product on the website!

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It’s Time to Seam My Sweater

Miss BB all pieces before seaming

All the knitting on Miss BB is complete and it’s time to seam my sweater.

Knitting

Since my last post I knit the second front, and both of the sleeves. I blocked each piece as I completed them.

Miss BB sleeve blocking
sleeve piece blocking
Miss BB sweater pieces
body pieces all ready for seaming

Last night I knit the final section where the side collar pieces meet at the back. My favorite detail of this sweater is that cable that is on the back of the shawl collar. I love how it meets up with the cables on the center back!

I still need to seam the shoulders, sew up the side seams. Then sew up the sleeves and set them in to the openings.

Miss BB body back view
back view of assembled body pieces
Miss BB body front view
front view of assembled body pieces
Miss BB all pieces before seaming
all body pieces laid out

I might sew in some grosgrain ribbon to the button bands. I haven’t picked out buttons yet.

Festival Preparations

We are still working full time on restocking products for the fall festival season. Jerry is busy making more Yarn Swifts at the moment. I have been busy sewing bags for those. I also washed, dried, and labeled some Bare Yarns. We restocked all the Bare Yarns in the wool bases and also the Organic Cotton Sport and Organic Cotton Worsted yarns.

I am getting excited to get back out on the road next month. I am enjoying being home, but I love seeing the knitters too!

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The Perfect Time for Sweater Knitting

Dora Cardigan small and medium

It may seem weird, but I think spring is the perfect time for sweater knitting.

Baby Sweater Knitting

I am continuing my spring sweater knitting with some more baby sweaters. You may recall that after I finished the large size Dora Cardigan, I planned to partially re-knit the other two sizes.

I have already finished the small size sample. In the picture below it is the green one. I have added back the buttons after I took the picture but I am waiting until I finish the white one to wash and block them together.

Dora Cardigan small and medium
yarn swift
dora cardigan re-knit

This morning I ripped back the cotton version with the aid of my Yarn Swift so that I could steam out the crinkles as much as possible. I have it back in the needles so I can work on it this evening. I like to use a needle that is a couple of sizes smaller than my working needle for this task. I find it is easier to catch the stitches.

It may take two evenings to complete. I would really like to have it ready to wash and lay out to dry by tomorrow if I can. I would like them both ready to be back in the booth this coming weekend in Ann Arbor for the Spring Fiber Expo.

Another Sweater and Socks

I finished my Glittering Snowscape Socks while I at the Greencastle Wool Show. I washed them in the hotel room sink, and wore them in the booth on Saturday. I love there socks and can see them being favorites in my stash.

Glittering Snowscape Socks
Glittering Snowscape Socks
Miss BB sweater back cast on
Miss BB
Miss CB's Camp Jacket
Miss CB’s Camp Jacket

Since the baby sweaters were in the booth at the time, I cast on for one of the sweaters I had yarn with me to make. It is the Miss BB Cardigan that I am making with stash yarn. This has been in my queue for many years. I knit it’s predecessor around 15-20 years ago. I am not sure when it was. Bonnie Marie Burns originally released the Miss CB’s Camp Jacket that is shown on the far right. I made that from some Bartlett Yarn and it is my coat on the rare occasion that I need something that heavy. This newer version of that pattern is much smaller and more in sweater territory.

It is a pieced garment. I rather like to knit sweaters in pieces. The knitting is more portable since you can just have the piece you are working on in your project bag. I also like the structure from the seams which helps it keep it’s shape. I make seamless sweaters too and can appreciate their benefits but I don’t shy away from seamed garments. What are your thoughts? Seamless, seamed, or both have their place?

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Spring stuff

I know it doesn’t look like much yet but I am excited about my little garden spot Jerry dug for me this past weekend.

A few tomato, peppers, and herbs

We put in a tomato, a red bell pepper and a jalapeño pepper. Also some of the herbs I use most often in the kitchen; parsley, thyme, oregano, basil, and lemon balm.

An update on my knitting; I have completed both sleeves on the Wonderful Wallaby. I haven’t cast on for the body yet since I began work on one of my design ideas. More on that in a moment.

Now more on my new project. I have in mind to do maybe a series of designs, mainly baby and children’s stuff based on vintage designs. I want them to look like vintage, think WWII era, but with updated pattern directions and possibly construction. Usually older patterns are knit in pieces and sewn. I do like working that way and there are good reasons to do so, but for baby stuff seamless can make sense. Still not decided on that aspect so we’ll see.

So here’s the first swatch for a little cardigan. See the slip stitch diamonds? There will be two above those and one on the top. Then there will be some embroidery probably inside the diamonds. I am thinking lazy daisies but will try a few ideas out. The colors in the bowl are some scraps I will experiment with.

I have charted out the slip stitch diamonds after I knit this and will be testing that as I continue the swatch. I knit what you see without aid of my chart since I needed it knit in order to work out the chart. I should have some more to show pretty soon. 😍

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How is it already the end of May?

Yikes! Where did the spring go? How can it already be Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer? I guess time flies when you are busy (and old, LOL). I knew it had been awhile since I posted but I didn’t realize my last post was April 25th. Sorry about that.

I have been traveling much and basically checking in at home long enough to do the grocery shopping, launder my clothes and throw them back in my suitcase. :-) I have a bit of knitting progress on my Sprossling but it’s still not a sweater yet. I have the back almost finished.  Forgive the lighting please; it’s in my hotel room.

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When I AM home I have been enjoying the wildlife feeders we have in our yard. We see all kinds of critters and birds at the feeding stations. Here’s a feeder Jerry made for the squirrels (in hopes they will stay out of the bird feeder, LOL). Check out the one on the ground eating what the other one drops. :-D

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I am in Wooster, OH at the moment for the Great Lakes Fiber Show.  I hope to see some of you who are regulars to the festival. I am in my usual spot, for those of you who may be new to the show, that is Bldg. 39 booths 31-33.

I have always thought that the drive through Cincinnati is an interesting one. The way the city skyline appears coming in from the south on I-71/I-75.  I decided to try to snap a quick shot on Thursday. I was kind of rainy, but still looks pretty cool.

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The top image is the raw shot and the second is cropped to zoom in the perspective.

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Well, I guess that will do for today. I hope I don’t leave you hanging for a month again. No promises, but I will try. There’s a new grand baby due in a couple weeks so at the very least you will probably hear from me then if not sooner. Thanks for hanging in there. :-)

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Sweater weather? Again?

What’s a guaranteed way to ensure a cold snap in late spring? Yep, you guessed it. Unpack and buy the appropriately seasonable clothing. It never fails that when we finally get everyone suitably attired for the season change, it changes back. Sarcastic smile So all you middle Tennessee folks who were cursing the chilly wet weather that began this weekend, you can blame us.

Speaking of cool weather, I did almost finish the Bel Air. I have the collar knit and the first sleeve sewn in. Yay!  I took a couple self portraits that aren’t that great, but here ya go.

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Here’s one with my head not chopped off, LOL,  and a “laying on the porch” shot.

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I will be casting on the second sleeve tonight. It would be awesome if I could get it finished for the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival.

On the reading side; I did finish Dragonfly in Amber and all I will say is it is hard to not pick immediately on the third book to see what will happen next. Will Claire go back to find Jaime? Will she take Roger and Brianna? What further role will Gillian/Geillis play? But I have also been waiting to start the Hunger Games for the last month and simply must read them now. They are so much shorter that I am sure the brief interlude will be a welcome change to these long novels. Don’t get me wrong. I adore long stories. It’s just that they take me so much longer to read than they used to. I like to dip into shorter stories in between longer ones. It’s kind of like with knitting; having a plain vanilla sock, a sweater and a lacy shawl going for the different complexities and time investments.

I am itching to cast on for Vonica with that blue Cascade 220. Remember that? Must finish the Bel Air and the Sprossling. Well at least the Bel Air. Then maybe a sleeve swatch. Who me?

Cascade 220 Sky Blue Heather-2.JPG

 

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