Diary of a Knit Gone Wrong

Of course, this is the weekend of Rhinebeck. For those of us not going, maybe you will see my meager blog post offering. (hee!)

Today, I thought I’d talk about a project which was on the needles for quite some time, my Classic Elite ‘03 Tweed Neck Down Shaped Cardigan (scroll down to see pattern pic). After several attempts with this project, I had to put the needles down and declare defeat.

I started this project sometime in January of this year. Thinking it would be an easy knit, lots of stockinette and oh, yeah, I have to pay attention to the seed stitch. The thing is, this is a simple project and one that should have been a success story.

The great tragedy with this knit, was not with the pattern, but complete and simple user error. This knit turned out to get a lot of play when I was on the telephone at work in the busy, busy months of call center world in January/February. During one of those days, in between phone calls, I somehow managed to select the wrong count (in a multi-sized pattern) for the sleeves/body. Somehow I believe, I was knitting one size for the body and a different one for the sleeves, but not bigger/smaller, i.e. bigger for chest area and smaller for sleeves, but the opposite. The body fit was good, however, the stitch count for sleeves was just off.

As you can see in the pictures below, the first two pictures show the left sleeve, which was the first sleeve I worked. After I finished it and was about to start the second one, I tried it on and a had a lot of bulk under the arm. Didn’t really like how that worked and looked at it again and again and had my expert friend (Susan)take a look. She and the LYS owner both agreed I had picked up too many stitches.

They advised of how many stitches I should pick up and ignore the pattern. I tried that suggestion, cruised along, took it by for a look-see and no, I had a different bulge under my arm this time on the right sleeve. Some referred to it as a goiter(that would be the bottom two pictures here. And please ignore my bathroom shots while in my pjs. It was either with pjs or no pictures and no pictures = no post, so there you have it.

I tried once more and I still had bulges, in all the wrong places, and finally I admitted defeat. For, you see, I was knitting a top-down raglan, and to get those sleeves corrected, I’d have to at least rip back to the armholes and probably a bit before that, to get back on the right track. While I do like this pattern and expect that I’ll try it again, now is not that time.

This project has been ripped and the yarn is awaiting another time on the needles. I guess the best thing is that I’m getting a lot of knitting enjoyment out of this yarn, right?

‘Til next time . . .

WIP It Real Good

Hey knitfriends,
Life has not been too busy, but haven’t really felt much like blogging. Not that life hasn’t been busy, but no busier than normal, really.

I thought I’d mention all the projects that are on my needles, some of which haven’t even made it to the blog yet. It felt nice to get rid of a couple of projects off the needles, but I still have more I’d like to see off. I feel like Jeni. She has a “Free The Needles” project, where she must finish projects on the needles before getting started with new projects.

First off, the Monkey socks, using Austermann Step. I love knitting with this yarn b/c it is so moisturizing, but I just finished the heel flap and am now on the decreases for the sock. I just feel like I’m knitting and knitting and getting nowhere, but that’s not really the fault of the sock, b/c I’ve also been knitting here and there on the Opal “to go” socks in my car and those suckers will never end. I hope to finish these socks in the next 2 weeks, so I can be done with them.

Next up is a project that the blog hasn’t even seen, it is my start to the Diamond Fantasy Shawl. I’m using some of the Hello Yarn I purchased earlier in the year in the color Staggering. I love how the pattern is working with this pattern. I haven’t had much of a chance to work on it, although I cast on during my Spring Break mid-March. But as school is winding down, the classwork is not all done, so I haven’t been able to sit down and concentrate on this one like I’ve wanted to for a few weeks. Hopefully soon it will get some love.

The Classic Elite Top-down Raglan Cardi is getting some attention again. I finally picked up the stitches to start working on sleeve #1. I wish it was done, but I’ve been working a lot on it. The sleeve is now at the elbow, so we’re in the homestretch. I did think alot about the length of the cardi and if I needed to knit it longer. It’s actually at a good length now, but I was thinking of a sweater I have at work and it’s much longer. I compared the two sweaters and the “work” sweater is at least 5 1/2 inches longer. I don’t think I want the top-down cardi to be that long. The work sweater is all about comfort and warmth as I freeze alot at work. The orange cardi won’t be for work and I generally don’t like them this long. After I finish the sleeves, I’ll see if I want to make it longer. If I do, it would be maybe 2 inches longer. I think I have enough yarn to do this and that may happen. I’ll keep you posted.

The last two projects are some baby raglan sweaters. Actually at this point, all pieces have been knitted and I’m in the process of sewing them up. Please remind me the next time I think about doing this pattern again how much I hate all the seaming. It’s just way too much work for one little sweater. Top-down or bottom-up in the round from now on for baby knitting.

The last project that’s being worked on is the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I decided to spare you another picture. It’s just getting longer, although I am getting bored with knitting it. I will definitely be stopping at the end of the skeins I’m using. I’m at about 50 inches now. I think once I reach my height in inches (64″), if I’m not out of yarn, I’ll be stopping then. I really don’t like terribly long scarves either.

Well, that’s it for me today. Hopefully you’ll see another post this week. Things may be scarce on the blogging front between now and May 5th, which is the end of my semester.

WIP It Real Good

Hey knitfriends,
Life has not been too busy, but haven’t really felt much like blogging. Not that life hasn’t been busy, but no busier than normal, really.

I thought I’d mention all the projects that are on my needles, some of which haven’t even made it to the blog yet. It felt nice to get rid of a couple of projects off the needles, but I still have more I’d like to see off. I feel like Jeni. She has a “Free The Needles” project, where she must finish projects on the needles before getting started with new projects.

First off, the Monkey socks, using Austermann Step. I love knitting with this yarn b/c it is so moisturizing, but I just finished the heel flap and am now on the decreases for the sock. I just feel like I’m knitting and knitting and getting nowhere, but that’s not really the fault of the sock, b/c I’ve also been knitting here and there on the Opal “to go” socks in my car and those suckers will never end. I hope to finish these socks in the next 2 weeks, so I can be done with them.

Next up is a project that the blog hasn’t even seen, it is my start to the Diamond Fantasy Shawl. I’m using some of the Hello Yarn I purchased earlier in the year in the color Staggering. I love how the pattern is working with this pattern. I haven’t had much of a chance to work on it, although I cast on during my Spring Break mid-March. But as school is winding down, the classwork is not all done, so I haven’t been able to sit down and concentrate on this one like I’ve wanted to for a few weeks. Hopefully soon it will get some love.

The Classic Elite Top-down Raglan Cardi is getting some attention again. I finally picked up the stitches to start working on sleeve #1. I wish it was done, but I’ve been working a lot on it. The sleeve is now at the elbow, so we’re in the homestretch. I did think alot about the length of the cardi and if I needed to knit it longer. It’s actually at a good length now, but I was thinking of a sweater I have at work and it’s much longer. I compared the two sweaters and the “work” sweater is at least 5 1/2 inches longer. I don’t think I want the top-down cardi to be that long. The work sweater is all about comfort and warmth as I freeze alot at work. The orange cardi won’t be for work and I generally don’t like them this long. After I finish the sleeves, I’ll see if I want to make it longer. If I do, it would be maybe 2 inches longer. I think I have enough yarn to do this and that may happen. I’ll keep you posted.

The last two projects are some baby raglan sweaters. Actually at this point, all pieces have been knitted and I’m in the process of sewing them up. Please remind me the next time I think about doing this pattern again how much I hate all the seaming. It’s just way too much work for one little sweater. Top-down or bottom-up in the round from now on for baby knitting.

The last project that’s being worked on is the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I decided to spare you another picture. It’s just getting longer, although I am getting bored with knitting it. I will definitely be stopping at the end of the skeins I’m using. I’m at about 50 inches now. I think once I reach my height in inches (64″), if I’m not out of yarn, I’ll be stopping then. I really don’t like terribly long scarves either.

Well, that’s it for me today. Hopefully you’ll see another post this week. Things may be scarce on the blogging front between now and May 5th, which is the end of my semester.

Tweed ‘03 Top-Down Cardi and a Question for all you lacers out there?

First of all, thank you to everyone for your supportive comments from my last post. I really appreciate it. Please know that I’m not embarrassed or ashamed of going back to school now, but those were my feelings from the past, just because I never finished my degree. Now I’m excited to be so close to being done. I really enjoy being back in school and am contemplating a master’s. We will see how that goes after finishing the bachelor’s first.

I finished the knitting of the Top-Down Raglan Cardi. I think I’m going to measure it against another sweater that I like the length of. I think this might be a bit short, although it’s not really short, b/c it’s 23″ in length now. What do you think? Sorry for the bathroom shot, but I was home alone and I just wanted to get a picture.

Now lastly, I’ve been hankering for a bit of lace. After the first lace attempt of this year, in the Wool Peddler’s Shawl in the angora/wool, I bought some laceweight, Blackberry Ridge 2-ply laceweight. I found another pattern, the Perfect Pie Shawl from Weekend Knitting. The original shawl was knitted in mohair. As you know, I am allergic to mohair, so that would not be an option. I’m wondering if this yarn would work for the pattern as it’s knit on sz 10 1/2 needles and while I can knit it on larger needles (maybe between sz 3-5), but am just wondering for anyone that may have knit this, is it possible to do another repeat or so to make it larger? I’m curious as to other’s opinions if this yarn would work for this pattern?

Thanks and happy knitting!

Tweed ‘03 Top-Down Cardi and a Question for all you lacers out there?

First of all, thank you to everyone for your supportive comments from my last post. I really appreciate it. Please know that I’m not embarrassed or ashamed of going back to school now, but those were my feelings from the past, just because I never finished my degree. Now I’m excited to be so close to being done. I really enjoy being back in school and am contemplating a master’s. We will see how that goes after finishing the bachelor’s first.

I finished the knitting of the Top-Down Raglan Cardi. I think I’m going to measure it against another sweater that I like the length of. I think this might be a bit short, although it’s not really short, b/c it’s 23″ in length now. What do you think? Sorry for the bathroom shot, but I was home alone and I just wanted to get a picture.

Now lastly, I’ve been hankering for a bit of lace. After the first lace attempt of this year, in the Wool Peddler’s Shawl in the angora/wool, I bought some laceweight, Blackberry Ridge 2-ply laceweight. I found another pattern, the Perfect Pie Shawl from Weekend Knitting. The original shawl was knitted in mohair. As you know, I am allergic to mohair, so that would not be an option. I’m wondering if this yarn would work for the pattern as it’s knit on sz 10 1/2 needles and while I can knit it on larger needles (maybe between sz 3-5), but am just wondering for anyone that may have knit this, is it possible to do another repeat or so to make it larger? I’m curious as to other’s opinions if this yarn would work for this pattern?

Thanks and happy knitting!

Something to Talk About

Man, in my head, I’ve blogged a few times, but in reality it’s a been over a week. I guess life just happens. From the last post, you don’t have to worry, I haven’t lost that knittin’ feeling, but just wasn’t feeling the love for the baby hoodie sweater. Once I put that down, I started feeling better about knitting some new projects for myself.

After finishing the first Monkey sock, I went back to an unmated sock that I put down right before the crazy Christmas knitting. Back to my Regia Stretch socks again. Now, that I’ve picked them up again, I’m feeling the love. Plus, when I finish this sock, I’ll have a finished pair and that always makes me happy. As I wear my store-bought socks more and more, I find them lacking. Lacking in warmth, lacking in proper fit, heels that sag throughout the day, socks that the cuff is too high, too short, not the right color. Not what I want, just not wool. I do love my wool socks and as I foray into handpainted sock yarns, the colors are so vibrant and pretty and looking at it makes me happy. I know that knitting socks from them will make me even happier.

I am knitting a patterned sock using the cat’s paw lace pattern that Wendy charted on her blog a few months ago when she knitted socks from STR in the Lucy colorway. When I saw it, I had the Regia Stretch that was similar to STR but the brown in my sock yarn is much darker. I really like it and am enjoying the lacy pattern in the sock.

Since 2007 is the year of Knitting From My Stash, I’ve been good with knitting from my stash and haven’t purchased any yarn until yesterday. Well to begin with, sock yarn doesn’t count as stash, one of my rules. There has been a lot of sock yarn purchased this month. Much more than I would normally allow. At last count, there were 6 skeins of sock yarn that have found their way into my stash. So the stash depletion isn’t necessarily working so well.

Another friend is having a baby and has requested a baby blanket. Some of you may know that I don’t enjoy knitting baby blankets and the last one I did was for my nephew. Since the mother has specifically requested a baby blanket and knows that I knit, as I am always knitting around them and I see them often, I feel somewhat compelled to knit it and I think I will like the end result, so I am going to do it. I know that I don’t have to, I sort of want to. Hence the yarn purchase was for a gift, as I do have yarn that I could have used for a baby blanket, but that yarn is already set aside for a sweater for me (Candy Blue Cotton-Ease). I felt somewhat mollified by the yarn purchase that it was on sale, but I would have bought it regardless since it’s for the babe. I do have some lead time on this, the baby’s not due until end of May. If I get started sometime this month and work on it sporadically, I should be able to finish it in time. In lieu of a baby sweater, I will probably add a baby hat and baby socks, once the blanket is finished. Not a layette, but an ensemble, if you will.

Lastly, I started another project for myself. Yay, my favorite recipient. The project is the Neckdown V-Neck Shaped Cardigan in Classic Elite ‘03 Tweed. I really love the color, but the yarn is a bit stiff, but that is the fabric of the yarn as it’s a tweed. I can’t wait to wear this one.

I expect to have another update soon as I have tragic news for my latest lace attempt. Have a great week!

Something to Talk About

Man, in my head, I’ve blogged a few times, but in reality it’s a been over a week. I guess life just happens. From the last post, you don’t have to worry, I haven’t lost that knittin’ feeling, but just wasn’t feeling the love for the baby hoodie sweater. Once I put that down, I started feeling better about knitting some new projects for myself.

After finishing the first Monkey sock, I went back to an unmated sock that I put down right before the crazy Christmas knitting. Back to my Regia Stretch socks again. Now, that I’ve picked them up again, I’m feeling the love. Plus, when I finish this sock, I’ll have a finished pair and that always makes me happy. As I wear my store-bought socks more and more, I find them lacking. Lacking in warmth, lacking in proper fit, heels that sag throughout the day, socks that the cuff is too high, too short, not the right color. Not what I want, just not wool. I do love my wool socks and as I foray into handpainted sock yarns, the colors are so vibrant and pretty and looking at it makes me happy. I know that knitting socks from them will make me even happier.

I am knitting a patterned sock using the cat’s paw lace pattern that Wendy charted on her blog a few months ago when she knitted socks from STR in the Lucy colorway. When I saw it, I had the Regia Stretch that was similar to STR but the brown in my sock yarn is much darker. I really like it and am enjoying the lacy pattern in the sock.

Since 2007 is the year of Knitting From My Stash, I’ve been good with knitting from my stash and haven’t purchased any yarn until yesterday. Well to begin with, sock yarn doesn’t count as stash, one of my rules. There has been a lot of sock yarn purchased this month. Much more than I would normally allow. At last count, there were 6 skeins of sock yarn that have found their way into my stash. So the stash depletion isn’t necessarily working so well.

Another friend is having a baby and has requested a baby blanket. Some of you may know that I don’t enjoy knitting baby blankets and the last one I did was for my nephew. Since the mother has specifically requested a baby blanket and knows that I knit, as I am always knitting around them and I see them often, I feel somewhat compelled to knit it and I think I will like the end result, so I am going to do it. I know that I don’t have to, I sort of want to. Hence the yarn purchase was for a gift, as I do have yarn that I could have used for a baby blanket, but that yarn is already set aside for a sweater for me (Candy Blue Cotton-Ease). I felt somewhat mollified by the yarn purchase that it was on sale, but I would have bought it regardless since it’s for the babe. I do have some lead time on this, the baby’s not due until end of May. If I get started sometime this month and work on it sporadically, I should be able to finish it in time. In lieu of a baby sweater, I will probably add a baby hat and baby socks, once the blanket is finished. Not a layette, but an ensemble, if you will.

Lastly, I started another project for myself. Yay, my favorite recipient. The project is the Neckdown V-Neck Shaped Cardigan in Classic Elite ‘03 Tweed. I really love the color, but the yarn is a bit stiff, but that is the fabric of the yarn as it’s a tweed. I can’t wait to wear this one.

I expect to have another update soon as I have tragic news for my latest lace attempt. Have a great week!

Something to Talk About

Man, in my head, I’ve blogged a few times, but in reality it’s a been over a week. I guess life just happens. From the last post, you don’t have to worry, I haven’t lost that knittin’ feeling, but just wasn’t feeling the love for the baby hoodie sweater. Once I put that down, I started feeling better about knitting some new projects for myself.

After finishing the first Monkey sock, I went back to an unmated sock that I put down right before the crazy Christmas knitting. Back to my Regia Stretch socks again. Now, that I’ve picked them up again, I’m feeling the love. Plus, when I finish this sock, I’ll have a finished pair and that always makes me happy. As I wear my store-bought socks more and more, I find them lacking. Lacking in warmth, lacking in proper fit, heels that sag throughout the day, socks that the cuff is too high, too short, not the right color. Not what I want, just not wool. I do love my wool socks and as I foray into handpainted sock yarns, the colors are so vibrant and pretty and looking at it makes me happy. I know that knitting socks from them will make me even happier.

I am knitting a patterned sock using the cat’s paw lace pattern that Wendy charted on her blog a few months ago when she knitted socks from STR in the Lucy colorway. When I saw it, I had the Regia Stretch that was similar to STR but the brown in my sock yarn is much darker. I really like it and am enjoying the lacy pattern in the sock.

Since 2007 is the year of Knitting From My Stash, I’ve been good with knitting from my stash and haven’t purchased any yarn until yesterday. Well to begin with, sock yarn doesn’t count as stash, one of my rules. There has been a lot of sock yarn purchased this month. Much more than I would normally allow. At last count, there were 6 skeins of sock yarn that have found their way into my stash. So the stash depletion isn’t necessarily working so well.

Another friend is having a baby and has requested a baby blanket. Some of you may know that I don’t enjoy knitting baby blankets and the last one I did was for my nephew. Since the mother has specifically requested a baby blanket and knows that I knit, as I am always knitting around them and I see them often, I feel somewhat compelled to knit it and I think I will like the end result, so I am going to do it. I know that I don’t have to, I sort of want to. Hence the yarn purchase was for a gift, as I do have yarn that I could have used for a baby blanket, but that yarn is already set aside for a sweater for me (Candy Blue Cotton-Ease). I felt somewhat mollified by the yarn purchase that it was on sale, but I would have bought it regardless since it’s for the babe. I do have some lead time on this, the baby’s not due until end of May. If I get started sometime this month and work on it sporadically, I should be able to finish it in time. In lieu of a baby sweater, I will probably add a baby hat and baby socks, once the blanket is finished. Not a layette, but an ensemble, if you will.

Lastly, I started another project for myself. Yay, my favorite recipient. The project is the Neckdown V-Neck Shaped Cardigan in Classic Elite ‘03 Tweed. I really love the color, but the yarn is a bit stiff, but that is the fabric of the yarn as it’s a tweed. I can’t wait to wear this one.

I expect to have another update soon as I have tragic news for my latest lace attempt. Have a great week!