Dandelion Meadow

I have a new pattern out this weekend: Dandelion Meadow. 

This is definitely my new favorite cardigan.It is a top down raglan knit to just after the sleeve separation. The body is knit sideways then seamed to the fronts and back. A garter stitch border is worked along the hem and around the fronts and collar. 

Knit in the amazing Anzula Squishy (color Dusty Rose) this cardigan has some serious drape! It comes in 8 sizes and is available for purchase on Ravelry.

Middlebury Cardigan

I have a new design available through Knit Now Magazine. It's the Middlebury Cardigan!

I really love how this design turned out. The cardigan is a simple shape with waist shaping to give it a more structured fit, and a textured plaid design to keep your knitting interesting. Knit in a rustic Aran weight wool (Jamieson's Shetland Heather Aran), it works up quickly and makes a thick and cozy sweater.

Currently the pattern is only available through Knit Now Magazine but will be an individual pattern later in the fall. For now, check it out on Ravelry!

Lesley

The Lesley sweater is part of Hannah Fettig's newest book, Home and Away, which is available for preorder now (preorder of the hard copy includes a digital copy too!).

Back before Thanksgiving I had the opportunity to knit another sample for designer Hannah Fettig. I started sample knitting for her over 4 years ago in 2010 (how has it been that long?). She had sent the yarn for this pattern during the summer but the pattern didn't come until much later. And I think it was perfect timing. In August I started working on my own all-consuming design project and didn't have much brain (or knitting) space. But in November, we had a family crisis. My father-in-law went in for a routine procedure and suffered a stroke 3 days later. Three days after that he suffered a second stroke, never regained consciousness, and passed away a few days later. 

During that time, I was so overwhelmed with work, trying to keep our home afloat, and still be supportive to my husband who was the one suffering the most. I wanted to knit. I needed to knit. But I was completely incapable of thinking. Then this pattern showed up and the aran weight Osprey and seamless construction of this lovely stockinette sweater saved my sanity. I needed to loose myself in something, to not have to think. And what resulted was this simple and beautiful pullover. 

I remember when Hannah posted photos of the photoshoot day. It was a freezing day in January and I'm pretty sure I was home for a snow day. What an amazing model to stand in those frigid temps and not look at all cold! 

When people tell me what a faster knitter I am, I say that I used to be. It's hard to find a lot of knitting time with a 2-year-old running around. But this sweater really did fly off the needles. I knit the entire thing in 10 days! I'd credit it to Osprey and and a seamless stockinette design. I love the gentle scoop of the neck.

I'm already planning my own (I seriously have said this about every design of Hannah's I've ever knit!) and since the smallest size uses less than 4 skeins of Osprey, this will be a fantastically economical knit. 

As much as I love Lesley, this is just one in an amazing collection of patterns from Hannah. My favorite might be Georgetown. What also makes this collection really unique is that each pattern is written for seamless or seamed construction. I love this since for some shapes I have a preference to what I think fits well and maintains shape. 

You can preorder the collection on Knitbot, or you can queue and view the entire collection on Ravelry. Have you seen this collection yet? Which is your favorite?

Timetable Pullover

It happens without fail. The middle of January rolls around and I have a hard time imagining ever being warm again. Then, the Spring issue of Interweave Knits comes out and tah-dah! There might actually be a season after this one! 

Even better, this year I have a design in the Spring 2015 issue:

   

All photos courtesy of Harper Point for Interweave

This is the Timetable Pullover. It's knit in one of my favorite lightweight yarns, Manos del Uruguay Serena (I also used it to knit Mustill last winter)

This pullover is a top down raglan that uses increases and decreases to make a simple geometric pattern. The pattern runs down the raglan lines to the hem, where it turns and runs along the back before being grafted together. 

I am really excited to have the sample come back home and get a chance to wear this myself! 

Check out the pattern on Ravelry or take a look at the whole issue on the Knitting Daily.

Abate Again

I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of Halloween. We didn't really make a big deal out of it when I was a kid. After I moved to Ohio we happened to live in a neighborhood that doesn't get a lot of kids. Additionally, Akron does their trick-or-treat night on a night other than Halloween which had me fairly well confused for about 4 years. 

Now that I have a son, I will use just about any excuse to make something for him. For this reason, I decided the Abate pattern was the perfect sweater to use for a gnome costume!

There wasn't too much involved. We had the boots and pants, Mary (ever the gracious and giving friend!) knit and felted the amazing hat, and I just cut out a few felt circles to stitch to his sweater. There was a beard too but he didn't like wearing it (and you really have to pick your battles with a 2 year old). 

I love that the Abate pattern is such a quick knit. It took a total of 2 weeks with me working on about a thousand other things for work and The Book at the same time. I used less than two skeins of Stonehedge Shepherd's Wool Worsted. Last year's Abate was knit in a size 2 and this year a size 4! I did shorten the length by about a half inch and the sleeves by about an inch. I still need to add the drawstring. Maybe tonight...

Pattern: Abate by Alicia Plummer

Yarn: Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool Worsted

Needles: US 8

Began: October 10

Completed: October 24

Ravelry Link

Christmas Sweater 2014

Last week we met up with my friend Marianne to take our yearly family photo. I managed to finish D's Christmas Sweater just in time (like, that morning). While he won't wear it again "officially" until Christmas, I like him to be able to wear in for the photo as that's what I use for Christmas cards. 

Photo copyright Marianne Barta

This year's sweater (you can see the first two sweaters here) is knit in a sport weight alpaca. The color work  is relatively simple with only a couple rows that use 3 colors. I'm super excited about this design and think he looks just so handsome in it :) The pattern is off with the tech editor and will be available soon!

There's also still time to enter the Eucalan giveaway!

Where Does the Time Go?

Working full time this year has really made me reevaluate my priorities. It's also made me realize I can no longer be a doer of all things. I love my blog. When I started this 4 years ago (eek!) I had just started knitting and had finally found a creative outlet that fit. My knitting has come a long way in this time. I even have a new pattern out:

Welcome Weekender! A simple pullover with a few pops of garter stitch detail on the sides and back neckline. Around the beginning of December I was looking for a pullover to make D that would be casual but still interesting. I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for, so I designed it. 

After we got these pics done last weekend, I was looking back at the first sweater I designed, Little Fisher, and I am amazed at how quickly this little boy is growing. Time is flying and now that he's a toddler, walking, running, jumping, and talking, I'm so excited for him but also missing that baby time. 

As always, this pattern is available in sizes 6 months to 12 years for all the little and bigger kiddos in your life. 

I'm going to keep blogging, because I do love sharing my knitting with you, but if I'm not around as much know it's because being with this kid as he grows up is so important to me. 

Happy knitting!

(I also wanted to mention this sweater is knit in Malabrigo Rios. I used less than 2 skeins for the 2 year size.)

Mustill

I've been meaning to share this new pattern with you but things have just been getting away from me lately. Allow me to introduce a new children's pullover, Mustill. 

I designed this sweater to be D's Christmas Sweater this year. It a couple extra inches of positive ease built in for a relaxed fit that is easy to wear. D is modeling the size 2 which has a finished chest circumference of 24" (61 cm). 

The yarn used was Manos del Uruguay Serena. At my LYS it was listed as a dk weight, which it definitely is not. The gauge on this project is 28 sts = 4" on size 3 (3.25mm) needles. I'd call that more of a fingering weight. But I still love it. It's an alpaca/cotton blend which make the yarn smoother, less alpaca-y tidbits floating up to itch your nose. And the alpaca keeps the yarn soft and easy to work with. 

If you're worried about a crew neck with little ones, fear not. There's a button flap worked into the the last third of the yoke to make getting this gem on and off a breeze. 

The pattern is written for sizes 6 months to 12 so make one for every kiddo in your family! 

 You can get this pattern in my Ravelry store for $5.00.

Happy knitting!

Cynthia's Cardigan

I'm so excited to finally be sharing this pattern with you! I have a new cardigan pattern, available in the Winter 2013 issue of Interweave Knits, Cynthia's Cardigan.

I finished this sample way back in April and have been sitting on this secret for some time. This cardigan is knit in the luscious Madelinetosh Pashmina Worsted in the colorway Amber Trinket. It features a deep funnel collar that folds into a cowl and a double-knit button band. I really love the button band on this piece because I think it adds a nice, tailored detail to the cardigan. 

I love the thick hems of twisted ribbing on this design and while that many inches of 1x1 twisted rib may seem daunting, keep in mind it's knit on size 7 needles!

I'm still kicking myself that I didn't keep the sample but I guess this just means I'll have to knit another! 

If you have a minute, go check out this pattern on Ravelry. 

Adult Navajo Pullover

For all those who have asked, I'm excited to share with you the 

Adult Navajo Pullover!

This sweater is knit in the round from the bottom up, with sleeves joined at the yoke.  I used Spud and Chloe Sweater for this design, one of my favorite worsted weight yearns. The Fair Isle design has been modified from the children's version to be a bit wider. I really like this version and since it's also  a 16 stitch repeat it can be used on most of the smaller sizes as well (the 12 month and 2 are done on a 17 stitch repeat).

This is a free design on Petite Purls available in sizes 32" to 54 1/2" chest circumference. So now you can make one for your whole family! 

Thanks again to my friend Marianne for the amazing photos and to her husband for modeling!

Towpath Henley

Thank you to everyone who helped with naming this little gem! Let me introduce to you the Towpath Henley (congrats Franny G.! I've sent you an email).

 

 

One more long-sleeved sweater to round out the season. I know so many people still have snow and even though we don't, it's still only like 37 degrees (F) here. So brr.

 

The Towpath Henley is knit out of fingering weight yarn, making it the perfect sweater to transition your kiddo from winter into spring. The sample is knit in the 12 m. size and uses just one skein of The Plucky Knitter's Merino Cashmere Nylon Fingering (in colorway Trusty Rusty).

 

Towpath Henley begins with a provisional cast on to achieve the folded hem. It is knit in the round from the bottom up, sleeves are knit separately and joined at the yoke which is finished with raglan shaping. The button bands are also folded to give the sweater a more tailored look, along with an applied i-cord on the collar.

 

 

 

 

What I'm really excited about is that this sweater is available in 10 sizes! From 3 months to 12! So now you can make one for all the kiddos in your brood.

 

 

I like this picture because those cheeks look like they are terribly heavy to carry around.

 

 

The particulars:

 

Sizes:

3 m (6 m, 12 m, 18 m, 2, 4)[6, 8, 10, 12]

 

Finished Chest Measurement:

18¾ (19¼, 20½, 21½, 23, 25) [27, 28½, 30, 32]”

 

Yarn:
The Plucky Knitter Merino Cashmere Nylong Fingering (80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon) 385 yards/352 meters, 101 grams: 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2)[2, 3, 3, 3] skeins.

 

Neeldes:
US4/3.5mm - or size needed for gauge
16" circular (smaller sizes)
24" circular (larger sizes)
2 - 32" circulars (all sizes)
Set of 5 dpns

Gauge:
24 stitches x 32 rows = 4" in Stockinette Stitch

 

 

Neighbor Hoodie

Meet my newest design, the Neighbor Hoodie (Ravelry Link), now available for purchase!

My goal was to create a unisex garment that would be easy to knit and could really pack a punch when knit with a luxury yarn. For this, I chose The Fibre Company's Road to China Light. This yarn is so delectable! It is an amazing blend of alpaca, silk, camel, and cashmere. This may be my new favorite yarn with which I'd like to knit all the things!

This hooded pullover is knit in the round, top down with a round yoke. The sleeves are knit in the round as well, with the hood being picked up at the collar and grafted along the top. A small hidden pocket is the final fun detail to make this sweater really special.

While this is categorized as a sweater, I could easily see the length increased for the 3 and 6 month sizes to create a tunic to go over sweet little onesies and leggings.

I was thoroughly please with how quickly I could work this pattern up. I hope you enjoy knitting it as well!

Sizes:

3 months [6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2, 4, 6]

Finished Chest Measurement:

18 [19, 20, 22, 22½, 25½, 26]”

Yarn:

The Fibre Company Road to China Light

MC: 3 [3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6) skeins in Peridot

CC: 1 skein in Autumn Jasper

Gauge:

24 stitches x 32 rows = 4 inches

Needles:

US 4

Go ahead and cast on!

Christmas Sweater: Take One

As I mentioned previously, since it was D's first Christmas, I decided my new tradition would be to knit him a Christmas sweater (from now until he's 100, as I told my husband). I think this will be a great tradition. Although he may not think so around the age of 15, which will be the year of the intarsia Rudolph...

Anyway, I knit this little beaut out of Cephalopod Yarns Traveler in the color Arkham. I was aiming for fisherman-style and think I pulled it off pretty well. I knit it a little bigger than what he actually wears, hoping it will fit though the winter. He's almost 4 months old and is already starting to break into the 9month-sized clothes.

I kept pretty good notes while creating this gem and will hopefully be publishing the pattern soon.

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday!

A Christmas Sweater

There will be no parade of knitted Christmas gifts this year. While I generally fancy myself a doer of all things, a new baby and going back to work are about all I can handle right now.  

I have been knitting, though (albeit very slowly). I have one pair of socks on the needles (that WILL be done before 2013!!) and a new little project going on.

With the new family addition this year, I'm all about starting new holiday traditions. We got a live Christmas tree (a must each year we celebrate here in Ohio), I've been baking up a storm, on Christmas Eve we'll read The Night Before Christmas (the same book my dad read to me each year since 1985 when we first started writing the date inside the cover), and now I'm thinking of starting a new one: the Christmas Sweater.

A few months ago I purchased some really lovely Cephalopod Yarns Traveler in a gorgeous, silvery colorway called Arkham.

 

I knew this would be destined to become a sweater for little D. But not just any sweater will do. I've had one in my mind's eye for quite some time now. So I've done some math, swatched and am over halfway done with the beaut. I have no pictures yet, but there are cables and buttons and raglan, oh my!

Still Standing

Who would've thought that such a small person could take up so much of your time?  What's that I hear? Mothers around the world laughing at me?  Well, I've still managed some knitting time for myself, although it is harder to get pictures of my projects these days. I just finished a sweater that will be a sample in an upcoming Knit Picks catalog and all I managed was a lousy iPhone photo. 

This is the Star Gazing pattern by Jennifer Thompson. I knit this out of Knit Picks Stroll Tonal Sock Yarn in the color Gold Rush. I liked the yarn, as it seemed like a pretty sturdy sock yarn, but I'm not sure the tonality of it really played up the lace panel in this pattern. I think a more solid yarn would have looked better. It was a pretty slow going pattern since it's done bottom up with over 250 stitches on your needles at most times. Those purl rows were killer. There was also a sash to go with it. If I were to knit this for myself, I don't think I would include that. It's like 57" of the lace panel and I kind of think it's lace overkill.

In other news, today was D's 1 month birthday! I can't believe how quickly this month has gone or that it's now been one month since I had a really good night's sleep. He's wearing 3 month sized clothes and I'm sure he's well over 10 pounds now. We tried to get some pictures of the little guy but it seems like he has a perpetual scowl on his face.

To celebrate? Mommy managed a nap this afternoon then suffered through an hour of screaming this evening!

Big Montana Vest (Again)

Those of you that have been following my blog since the beginning (has anyone, really?) might think you've seen this project before. And you'd be right.  This is the original Big Montana Tunic (from Interweave Knits Fall 2009), reworked in the same (frogged and washed) yarn, only with a few modifications this time. 

After reading that old post, I realized that I originally inteneded to reknit at a tighter gauge, but I didn't do that. I did however, take out the shaping. The tunic is A-line but I don't think that's very flattering on me since I'm on the short side and the piece is already so bulky. I cast on for the smallest size and did one set of decreases to get the bust size for the second size up. I also knit the sweater to 16.5" instead of the 19" recommended by the pattern. I think the mid-hip length will be more flattering. I'm aiming for a "hug your curves" kind of look. That's all to be determined considering I can't try this puppy on quite yet.

I was also able to pick up the appropriate amount of stitches for the cowl (didn't pick up enough last time) so after blocking it's laying a bit better than it originally did. 

My final modification is yet to be made: I'm thinking of over-dyeing this. My goal is more of an olive green so I'm on the lookout for lemon-lime Kool Aid (you have some? Send it my way!). I'm not sure why I bought this color, besides the fact that it was on sale and being discontinued. Either way, I'm not in love with it and it's headed for the crock-pot.

Pattern: Big Montana Tunic by Cecily Glowick MacDonald

Yarn: Tahki Yarns Montana in Cherry Blossom #006 (4 skeins)

Needles: US11 (8mm) for ribbing, US13 (9mm) for body, US15 (10mm) for cowl

Began: July 27

Completed: August 1

Ravelry Link

I feel like I'm making good progress on the 2012 knitting goals. I've knit the four pair of socks (Goal #3), fixed the Montana Tunic (part of Goal #2), and have made 3 of 5 sweaters for myself (Goal #4). I'm swatching tonight for sweater #4 and have yarn lined up for #5. 

Finally, I'm still looking for test knitters. Please email me if you're interested or have any questions. Details can be found here. 

Featherweight Cardigan

Just a quick post tonight since I just realized I finished this project and never posted about it! 

 

I knit this Featherweight Cardigan back in May out of Malabrigo Lace in a color called Bergamota. I'm still kind of surprised at my choice in this color but I love how it turned out. The pattern tells you to knit the body to a 10" length. I added an extra 4" in the length. Even with this modification I used less than two skeins! I purchased this yarn online (and on sale!) for a total of $13.50 making this the most economical project I've ever knit. I finished it on my birthday (which makes me thing I should start a tradition of completing sweaters on my birthday like this one last year) and was still able to get quite a bit of use out of it before the heat really set it. And I think I'll like it even better once the whole fat arms thing settles down. 

Pattern: Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig

Size: 36"

Yarn: Malabrigo Lace in Bergamota, 2 skeins

Needles: US 4

Began: April 16

Completed: May 13

Ravelry Link

Do You See What I See?

That's right. Buttons. And do you know what a button purchase means (in relation to a knitted garment of course)? That I'm almost done! I spent yesterday finishing the last button band and the I-cord collar. I also made a trip to the fabric store to make my button purchase (along with some grosgrain ribbon and thread as I'm feeling the need to back the bands so they're a bit sturdier). Before I went to bed I pinned and steam blocked the bands all in preparation for today. But, you know what? I'm having second thoughts on the buttons. 

For the past six months, I've had almost exactly these buttons in mind (my mind's buttons were square but I decided round was better). I've never thought about using a different button. When I went to the fabric store yesterday, I went straight to the section of buttons where I would find these. However, now that I've brought them home (and of course removed them from the little paper thing buttons come on), I'm starting to think perhaps I should've purchased a more matchy-matchy button. 

I did some pursuing on Ravelry and found some sweaters in a similar red color as my own, and of course they all seem to have matching buttons. Just take a look at some of these:

haveyouanywool's Lady in Red

catsplusme's Audrey in Unst

Liek's Audrey II

I like the way they blend in and kind of let the lace and sweater be the show stopper. I took one picture (all the pics in today's post were done on my iPhone so I can't be blamed for blurriness, colors, etc.) with the buttons placed on the band and I'm not sure what to think.

Here's one project that would be similar to my own: gwenwagneradair Audrey me!  I'm interested to see what you think. 

I've resigned myself to the fact that today I'll do some swatching, maybe sew on the grosgrain ribbon latter and add the buttons some time this week. If I decide to change buttons I'll go to the store again during the week so this buys me some time. 

Bayside Pullover

If you've been wondering what I've been doing all November, here it is. Another Coastal Knits sample knit has been completed and sent away. This one is the Bayside Pullover, designed by Hannah Fettig.

This particular sample was knit in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine in a chocolaty brown color. While it is a really simple pullover, I love how the cables add some visual interest. 

Hopefully I'll be able to knit myself one in the coming year (because I'm sure it won't happen this year!).

Pattern: Bayside Pullover by Hannah Fettig

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine (about 2.5 skeins) color #1279

Needles: #5

Began: November 12

Completed: December1

Ravelry Page