swallows return

spring forward, fall back

Although it still awaits buttons, after a four month knitting hiatus and then picked up again at the end of August, I am FINALLY finished my Forecast.  I'm pretty pleased with it.  I did a circular yoke on this one and like the way it sits on my shoulders with no increases along a raglan "seam".  It really lets those beautiful cables and bobbles stand out in all their tactile lusciousness.  Not sure when I'm going to be able to make it to the fabric store for buttons but I will post more pictures of me wearing it when I get them sewn on.  Hmmmm...what to make next? I love these Latvian mittens...

?

 

I'm curious how a yarn company can earn profits from a creation that already exists? I suppose that happens in fashion all the time.  About two years ago, I posted this and perusing through Classic Elite's new Autumn 2009 patterns, I spotted this replica.  The leaves are inverted and the lace pattern ever so slightly different but I'm thinking this pattern should be free n'est-ce pas?

cables and bobbles

Finally getting around to making Stephanie Japel's Forecast. I'm using just your plain, basic Cascade 220 - not even dyed.  I love how the cables and bobbles pop out in such a light shade.  I love the smell of it too - so sheepy and farmy.  I don't know why but I find that smell really comforting - perhaps I worked in garden and pasture in a past life?

I'm attempting a circular yoke with this one too and I really like the "seamless" seamless look of it.  Am working on a baby sweater pattern too.  I don't usually work on more than one project at a time but Forecast helps when I don't want to think too much, just knit!

Aside from knitting, I am loving this, this and these exquisite handmade Polish shoes, found via a link on tinyhappy.

buds and sprigs

A hat to mark the now-established, no-going-back evidence of spring in forward motion, kindly modeled by my sis.

I made two versions, one for me and one for her.  Both use one skein of yarn, the green is a slightly relaxed version made from Cascade 220 Heathers, the pink is a touch more fitted in RYC's Cashsoft Baby DK in the crocus colourway (leftover from my Jemima pullover).  Pattern available here.

 

circular yoke notes

I've had a couple requests for my notes on how I did the increases for a circular yoke on the FLS, so here they are:

I made the XS size so there were a total of 182 increases over the entire yoke and my yoke ended up being 50 rows of garter stitch so I laid out the increases as follows:

Row 5:

8 increases spaced evenly over the 63 yoke stitches (for size XS, there are 20 buttonband stitches, so these don't count)

Row 11:

24 increases spaced evenly over the (now) 71 yoke stitches.

Row 19:

32 increases spaced evenly over the (now) 95 yoke stitches.

Row 33:

56 increases spaced evenly over the (now) 127 yoke stitches.

Row 49:

62 increases spaced evenly over the (now) 183 yoke stitches so you end up with 245 yoke stitches.

With the other sizes, I guess the same guidelines would apply...just do your increases in multiples of eight (except, if you have too, the last one - just make sure the number of increases is larger that your previous number of increases) on the appropriate row (that is, if you were doing 8 increases every odd row as the pattern states, then with the circular yoke, 4 odd rows would equal 32 increases, 6 odd rows would equal 48 increases and so forth until you have the required amount of stitches on your yoke but the numbers have to increase in order to have the yoke lay nice and flat, like it's smiling!)  Eek, I sure hope that makes sense!

Hooray for the beginning of April - it's finally beginning to smell like the earth is warming up - love it.

madame fevrier

It's finished - just sewed the buttons on today.  Cascade 220 is alot softer and fluffier than I thought it would be although I think it still needs a soak in a bit of fabric softener.  I'm glad I did the sleeves on a smaller needle as they fit a lot more snugly than if I'd done them on a 5mm.  The garter stitch border at the end gives them a slight flare too which is nice.  It feels more like a little jacket when it's on - definitely puts the "lady" in february lady sweater.

 

 

february lady no. 4,368

I am the 4,368th person to knit a February Lady Sweater on Ravelry.  What took me so long to begin?  Who knows, but I can't wait to finish!  Using some purpley Cascade 220 Heathers from the yarn cupboard.   I'm trying a circular yoke with this to see if it's a bit more flattering on me.  So far so good - did 8 increases on the 5th row, 24 on the 11th row, 32 on the 19th, 56 on the 33rd and then 64 on the 49th.  That will total 50 rows of garter stitch so I'll probably be able to start the lace pattern by then.  It also leaves me with two extra stitches (184 increases instead of the 182 stated in pattern) but I can decrease these at each end of the button band on the first lace row.  

Hoping I can find some nice vintagey buttons to go on this one.  Using the one row buttonhole method from Montse Stanley's "Knitter's Handbook" and they are divine!  Firm, flat and secure.  It's such a great feeling when you discover a new and magical method of doing something.  More progress pics soon!

koigu pullover

I had 4 skeins of this KPPPM sitting in my cupboard for almost a year - too many for socks but not enough for an entire sweater so top-down was the way to go.

I began this sweater last August and finally, it's finished.  This is my first adult-sized top-down sweater.  I'm not sure I like the look of the M1 increases along the raglan so for the next one, I'm going to try something different.  Barbara Walker lists about ten ways of doing the double increases in her "Knitting from the Top" book.  Looking at the photos, I think the ribbing on the sleeves might be a bit too long but I didn't want them to be too skimpy either.  There are short rows along the keyhole opening so that they taper off at the top where the button sits.  I should have done short rows at the back too so the neckline would be a little higher but oh well, knitting hindsight...Overall, I'm pretty happy with it; it was a good learning project (but aren't they all?).

S1, k2tog, psso double decreases at corners of neckline (yeah, not totally symmetrical).

Increases at sides on ribbing makes it not too tight.

Yarn:
Koigu Painters Palette Premium Merino (4 skeins)
RYC Cashsoft 4 ply in Monet colourway (3 skeins)

Needles:
3.25 mm for body
2.75 mm for ribbing

Gauge:
26 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches in st st.

Raveled here.

interlude

I seem to be on the fold as to whether or not I should cut my hair or let it grow so this is the temporary solution for those days when it just needs to be covered up and forgotten about.

I used my last 1 1/2 skeins of RYC Cashsoft DK from my Bridie sweater and had just enough.  Knit on 4mm circular and dpn's.  It took me forever to decide upon a stitch pattern but this lace herringbone rib seems to fit just right and I quite like the radial pattern the knit ridges make over the decrease section.

Raveled here.  Pattern here.

On the toddler front, we are five days ("day" being the important word here) out of diapers and there's no turning back now.  Buying two sizes of diapers was making me crazy!

a thin grey line (part 2)

(See part 1 here).

Picked up the January Vogue as a little birthday present to myself last week (trying so hard not to buy magazines) and found so many gorgeous inspiring things inside.  A few of them:

This ensemble from Oscar de la Renta but mainly that cardigan - light and lacy.  I am subsequently in search of a laceweight cashmere that would knit up into a frothy cloud such as this (pretty sure I wouldn't be able to carry off a wide white leather belt though).

Jacket and dress by Chanel.  The winsome texture of that fabric taunting my curiousity and craving to inspect that jacket.

This cardigan by Opening Ceremony (as worn by M.I.A.).  I've looked for it online to get a closer look but haven't found it yet.