twylem.

It is overdue but it is finished! I started this test knit back in early February. It was moving along very quickly but we had some weekends of rough teething (we are officially up to 3 teeth!) and my knitting was laid to the side. Do you experience a lull in momentum on a project when you constantly have to put it aside? I know I do.

I have wanted a new black cardigan for a long time – unfortunately this is going to be way to warm for a summer-over-the-shoulders-cardigan but it will be perfect for the rest of this winter and then the fall. It is almost more like a jacket due to the collar.

Pattern: Twylem by Vanessa Smith

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Worsted in colour black

Needles: 5.5mm for the yoke, collar and body; 5.00mm for the sleeves; 4.00mm for the belt

I really wanted to test this because of the super cool collar. The construction was interesting – I loved working the top-down collar with the yoke, then picking up and working the ribbing. It makes the collar bulky. I think that was very smart that it isn’t double layered all the way to the bottom of the cardigan – it would have been a lot of heavy fabric and warmth.

The seaming on this is minimal – the collar join at the back of the neck is a 3-needle bind-off. But the one seam is the double collar edge to the lower single ribbing. It was challenging to figure out how to seam it to get a clear line all the way across. Vanessa’s tutorials are fantastic and the finished edge looks perfect.

While I was knitting this I lost 10lbs. So by the time I got to the sleeves, it was too big. I did decide to size down the sleeves, though, and knit the 34 1/4” size sleeves instead of the 36” sleeves. I’m glad I did as it actually helped with the rest of the sweater even though it is too big. I should have knit the 34 1/4” instead of the 36”. It’s only 2” but in this case, for me, it made a big difference. And here I was concerned about whether I should knit the 38”! It would have been huge!

That’s the difficult thing about knitting while you are pregnant or just postpartum – everything for me felt too tight and now that I am getting back to my pre-pregnancy size, everything is too big! It is a small problem to have but when knitting sweaters, it is a little frustrating :)

How have you been doing with fit ‘issues’ lately?

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. 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 than works in progress…

 

Last weekend, during a bout of teething, I was able to continue working on a test knit that I am very excited about. It is going really well and I can’t wait to share the finished item with you once the pattern is released. The construction is ingenious – I’ve been really enjoying working on this one.

 

 

A sneak peak for you! I hope you are working on something stimulating, interesting or just plain enjoyable as well :)

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 :)

favourite-est.

So baby can come any time after today – I finished the cardigan I was working on that I was determined to finish prior to baby’s arrival! I know life/pregnancy doesn’t work that way but hey … I’m ready whenever baby’s ready :) I’m 39 weeks today actually.

I just want to gush gush gush about this cardigan. I absolutely love it. It is my favourite-est knit EVER. Remember how I was feeling a bit mojo-less and wanting something inspiring to work on? I decided in a moment of weakness to go down to my LYS on Friday and see if there was something that would inspire me. I’ve wanted to make Acer since … Amy published the pattern, probably. I finished the last seam last night and let it dry overnight (thank goodness for warm summer weather!). My one-week cardigan!

Pattern: Acer Cardigan by Amy Christoffers

Yarn: Malabrigo Arroyo in colourway 054 Escorias

Needles: 4.5mm for body & sleeves, 3.5mm for collar and seamed button bands

The Arroyo is closer to a sport weight than a DK. The recommended needle size is 3.5-4mm but I swatched in 4.5mm, got gauge and liked the slightly loose fabric the swatch produced. I was a little nervous about how the lace and cables would look in the finished sweater but they turned out beautifully.

The slightly more open lace leaves the cardigan feeling light and airy, not heavy and very pleasing to wear.

I tried a new technique that I now wish I had tried sooner. The seamed button band from Norah Gaughan is a great addition to this. I think it finishes the cardigan in a slightly cleaner way – and certainly looks very professional. And I love that you can’t see the buttonholes! Especially since I have no intention of ever buttoning this up :)

The ‘formula’ I used for the button band was simple:

For the RIGHT front band, on 3.5mm needles (I used DPNs since there were so few stitches), I cast on 8 stitches.

Row 1 (WS): P2, (K1, P1) 3 times

Row 2 (RS): Sl1 Purlwise, work across in pattern as stitches appear.

Continue until desired length.

For the LEFT front band (buttonholes), repeat above cast on.

Row 1 (WS): Sl1 Purlwise, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2

Row 2 (RS): Work across as stitches appear.

I wanted between 9-11 buttons. I placed the 1st on row 5 as follows:

Buttonhole Row (RS): K2, P1, SSK, YO, K1, P1, K1

When you reach the YO on the WS as you work back, just knit into it as you would if there wasn’t a buttonhole there as this keeps the 1x1 rib pattern going and disguises the buttonhole perfectly. Any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!

The only thing I will say about the sewn-on button bands is that they are a little finicky when you get to the top – you want the top edges to match up perfectly to create a beautiful edge and this took some re-knitting, ripping and re-seaming. Completely worthwhile though.

The buttons were from my stash and look perfect with this yarn. They are just cheap Countess Basic 99cent buttons :)

I hope that what you’re working on is going well & that you are loving the finished project too! I’d love to hear about it :)