wonder-pole.

Knit in less than a week, this will definitely be one of my favourite sweaters going forward. Simple but interesting construction to keep it a little spicy, this cardigan is surprisingly flattering. I have to admit, I was a little sceptical when I read peoples’ comments about how flattering this sweater was – I am a convert!

It really is as flattering as they say – it hugs where it should and drapes where it should.

Pattern: Opposite Pole by Joji Locatelli
 

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool (Worsted) in colour Mercury
 

Needles: 5.5mm
 

 

Those who know me, know that my two favourite colours are grey and yellow. So what could be better than a comfy yellow t-shirt under this cozy, chunky-ish knit … my favourite scarf of course!
 

 

Yup, I`m in love! I made no modifications to this cardigan. The only thing I would do differently next time is knit the next size up sleeves. I chose the bust size 36-38” and while that is perfect, I just always need that extra inch or so in the upper arms.
 

 

However, because this is a little bulky, I would not want any more bulk in the sweater body itself. The length is perfect. The oversized collar is awesome – have I mentioned how much I love big collars?!
 

 

While this project was all about stash-busting and I started it on a whim when I was home alone last Tuesday night (yup, it was a 7 day knit!), I kind of want to knit it again … and again … and again …
 

 

Lovely pattern, Joji – I really enjoyed this one!

weekend work.

“What’s a weekend?”

-The Dowager Countess of Grantham, Downton Abbey, Season 1

The weekend seems to be the best time for me to work on my various crafting projects as I usually have some quiet time to myself. It is nice for me to have some small breaks from the routine of the week. And it is even nicer for M to have some catch up time with Tiny and enjoy some father-son bonding that he misses with his weekday schedule! What has sort of ended up happening is that I get a chance to work on my knitting. I thought that going forward, I would continue to share some of this ‘weekend work’ with you as I am able since I tend to mostly share finished projects rather that works in progress…

Last weekend and this weekend (in whatever free time I have), I have been working away on a gem of a knit! I am completely in love with this one – and it’s not even my usual style!

 

I chose yarn from my stash that I did not know what I was going to do with – thankfully I had enough as this is a yarn-eater! There is a deceiving amount of knitting in the collar/skirt.

The only regret I have about this knit is that I wish I had not done the three-stitch garter border on the outside of the large cable. I just love the look of a cable border but that’s ok – I am happy with it anyhow.
 

 

Isn’t this just the coolest? It is surprisingly slimming even though it is quite bulky. The short rows cinch it in nicely and I am really looking forward to wearing this one! I have not made any modifications to this yet – and I do not think I will. Hard to believe, I know! I hope you are working on something you are thoroughly enjoying :)

muck muckin’.

My brother loves to muck around. Along with his wife, my sister-in-law, he just moved to Vancouver Island where the weather is colder than here on the mainland – mostly because they protect us from the Pacific Ocean storms! I decided that for Christmas I would knit him a simple sweater vest for when he’s working on those projects outside that he needs a little extra warmth without the bulk and annoyance of sleeves.

Pattern: My own inspiration based on more-than-I’d-like-to-admit photos of men’s sweater vests online.

Yarn: Cascade Ecological in various colours from my stash

Needles: 6.00mm

I love stripes but I decided to do big block stripes instead of 2x2 striping (or some variation of 1-3 rows before changing colours). I like and dislike the results. Because I made the vest a typical mans length (15”), I was only able to work one blue stripe. Maybe it looks like it was meant to be that way?

Unfortunately, this is too big for my wee brother who seems to have lost weight. I knit a 40” chest but it’s about 3-4” too big. Lets hope he bulks up again in the Spring when he can get out and bike!

Can you believe that the most difficult thing about this sweater was the v-neck? And it wasn’t the actual working of the v-neck that was difficult but the exact placement!

Many of the men’s vest patterns start the neck shaping at the same time as the armhole shaping but when you look at commercial sweaters (Banana Republic proved a timeless resource!), the neck shaping starts about halfway up the armhole to create a smaller opening and a more classic fit. I decided to follow this approach and I’m really glad I did!

The neck opening is neither too big nor too small. Thank goodness!

Overall, I am really happy with how this turned out. I hope it sees at least some wear! I’ve promised him another sweater that he and K saw in a window while they were travelling … they’ve taken a photo for me to design off of and I’m looking forward to the challenge. It even has a zipper! I’ll keep you posted ;)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, dear readers!

jacket of Inuit.

I was born in Northern British Columbia, where my parents had been transferred around for years due to their jobs at the time. Growing up, I remember their Cowichan sweaters, which were so warm that you really couldn’t wear them down in the Southern part of British Columbia at any time during the year. If it was warm enough to wear them, then it was Spring or Fall and of course, raining. You needed a rain jacket more than a sweater (although they do repel the water really well because of course they are 100% wool).

I have had a wool-acrylic chunky blend in my stash for what seems like forever. For many reasons, namely the thickness of the yarn, I wasn’t sure what to do with it. Do I make a Cowichan-like sweater and risk not wearing it? Do I make a jacket-like cardigan and again, risk not wearing it? Or do I knit it into something to give away? Do I take a deep breath and give the yarn itself away (maybe someone else will use it?) and move on? Do I continue to stare at it on the top shelf of my bookshelf indefinitely? What to do? What to do?

Jane Richmond released Twiggy, which is a super neat sweater. But I wasn’t totally sold that that was what I wanted to do with this yarn. I have mentioned before about my wrists – the chunky weight wool-acrylic would wreak havoc on my poor joints.

A blog that I thoroughly enjoy reading, MOONSTITCHES, has been away from her PC for the past year, coping with the devastating effects of the tsunami in Japan. With her return to the blogosphere, I had a look at her projects over the past while and stumbled by chance on this little gem.

Can you believe I have not actually knit a DROPS pattern to completion before? I have a few printed and in my pattern binder … but I haven’t actually committed and knit to completion.

Thank you to Alex for her inspiration both on her blog and pattern page because otherwise … this yarn would still be on the bookshelf staring down at me, longing to be something!

It was difficult to find buttons I liked but I stumbled on these at Fabricana. They are plastic but they washed nicely and they suit the yarn so score! And I quite heart them.

So … you can see that I modified the pattern to a top-down raglan. I did this for two reasons:

1. The bulky weight yarn in a bulky seam around my shoulders would not be flattering on me (plus the thought of sewing through all that kinda put me off), and
2. I wanted something I could try on as I knit since I wanted this to be relatively close-fitting due to the weight of the yarn … the look of an extra 15lbs was not enduring me to this knit!

On 9mm needles, my gauge was 2.5stitches x 3 rows per inch, washed and spun in the washer, then laid out to dry. I calculated for a 38” bust jacket (3” of positive ease for long-sleeved shirts and a scarf beneath).

I cast on 50 stitches (11 front, 6 sleeve, 16 back, 6 sleeve and 11 front). The first and last 10 stitches were garter. I placed the buttonholes as the pattern had called for. I worked the yoke until I had 21 (front), 28 (sleeve), 38 (back), 28 (sleeve), 21 (front) stitches and an 8” yoke depth. I cast on 4 stitches under each arm and knit another 18 rows of double moss stitch, 5 rows of garter and switched to 32 rows of ST st prior to my 8 hem rows.

The sleeves are 13-14” long – slightly longer than 3/4 length. I cast on 4 stitches under each underarm again, knit 34 rows, then 8 hem rows.

Lastly, the hood. What a brilliant way to knit a hood – so simple! I knit it in one evening of watching Castle (love that show!). I knit 3 rows of garter, then 37 rows of double moss and cast off. The sewing up took about 10 minutes.

M says this looks like an elf hood :) I love this knit though – I’m looking forward to wearing this as we wait for the Spring to warm up … I just can’t button it up now since I am a little too pregnant!