Tag: knitting

Memorial Day Week: 2 New Projects & (more) New Yarn

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I’ve started two new knitting projects as of Memorial Day…both of which are raglan style knitted tops. The first one is Nuuk from Jonna Hietala (using Noro Tennen yarn “Alpine” colorway) and the second is Wedge Yoke Lace Pullover by Eunny Jang (using Louisa Harding Trenzar yarn “Pumpkin” colorway). The first is worsted weight yarn and the second is chunky weight, so they should work up quickly (and have so far). I’m alternating projects…knitting one in the morning and one in the evening so I don’t get bored with either.

Here are pics of my progress as of two days ago:

(Left) Nuuk by Jonna Tietala in Noro Tennen yarn; (Right) Wedge Yoke Lace Pullover by Eunny Jang in Louisa Harding Trenzar yarn

On Friday, I stopped by a Huntsville, AL yarn shop, Fiber Artwork, and picked up some British wool yarns: Lore by The Fibre Co. and Soft Donegal 2-ply by Studio Donegal. On Saturday, I revisited Thread in Florence, AL for more Hedgehog Fibres yarn and another bar of lotion by Love+Leche–this time in Lemongrass scent.

Yarns from Fiber Artwork (Huntsville, AL)
Items from Thread (Florence, AL); The skinny singles yarn is the same colorway I bought last week (“Bramble”). They didn’t have anymore “Teacup” colorway in Merino DK, so I got all they had in “Ferrum” colorway.

It is FINISHED!! Anker’s Summer Shirt

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I finished my Anker’s Summer Shirt by Petiteknits a few days ago and I’m super pleased with the end results. Part of me already wants to make another one, but I would like to try a few other top-down raglan tops before I circle back around to this one again.

Yarn used on this top: Sublime Yarns Merino Cashmere Silk DK (Cinnamon colorway)

Almost there! Anker’s Summer Shirt by Petiteknits

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I pushed really hard this week and finished the body on my Anker’s Summer Shirt. I wanted to start on the sleeves last night, but my right hand wouldn’t allow it, so I’m taking part of the day off from knitting today in hopes that my hand will stop hurting.

I’ve already spotted a mistake in my ribbing at the bottom edge of the shirt, but I’m hoping it isn’t too noticeable. I do plan to knit another top like this using a linen blend yarn at a later date, but my next top involves 100% silk yarn.

Yarn used on this top: Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK

WIP: Anker’s Summer Shirt by Petiteknits

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I’m making steady progress on the Anker’s Summer Shirt pattern by Petiteknits. I started knitting it on April 30th–while also knitting the seamless raglan sweater and other projects–so it has taken me a little while to make real progress on it until the end of this last week. I’m on the home stretch now, however, and hopefully will have it finished by this week or next. I sometimes jinx myself when I set knitting deadlines for myself. Any other deadline, I have no trouble meeting…just my own personal project deadlines. Anyone else have that problem??

Rather than using a cotton/linen blend yarn, I decided on a merino/cashmere/silk blend by Sublime because I’m not a huge fan of plant fibers (even for a summer shirt).

It’s Finally Done! My 1st adult knitted sweater

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After about 6 weeks of off-and-on knitting, my first adult knitted sweater is finished. Although it’s made to be oversized, I wish I had chosen the smaller size because it does feel really big, but I’ll deal with it. I’m super proud of it…mostly because I’ve always shied away from really large projects like this one.

Now that it’s done, I’m excited about knitting other sweaters and tops. I’ve already started on Anker’s Summer Shirt by Petiteknit. I’ve already separated for the sleeves on that project.

Sweater Update: April 25th

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I finally finished the body of my seamless raglan sweater and now I’m working on the arms. I was getting low on the orange color yarn, so I had to improvise and add in a dark brown color of the same yarn to make sure I had enough for the whole sweater. I’ve reserved a ball of orange for each arm (92 yards/ball) and when I start getting low, I’ll start the stripes in the dark brown and transition to brown like I did on the edge of the body. So far, I’m pleased with the results of this sweater…but I am ready to be done with it and move on to other projects.

“Wee Fast” Baby Cardigan by Taiga Hilliard Designs

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My niece is about to have her first baby, so I wanted to knit something for the soon-to-be newest addition to our family. I wanted something that would work up quick since my niece’s due date just got bumped up by several weeks (due to potential complications), so I chose the “Wee Fast” cardigan by Taiga Hilliard since I knitted the “Wee Speedy” in the past and liked how it turned out.

I used “Odin” by Conway+Bliss Yarns in Lilac colorway. It took less than one skein of this super bulky weight yarn.

Sweater Update: It looks like a sweater now!

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I’ve been working on my first (adult) sweater for a week and half now (minus the 3 day break I took to knit my uncle’s beanie) and I’m almost halfway there, I think. Because I’m not used to knitting so much (hours everyday), my right shoulder has been giving me some problems and I’ve taken a day off here and there for fear of doing myself a mischief.

I mentioned in my first post about this sweater that I felt I was using the wrong yarn. I still feel that way, but there’s nothing for it. I’ll just have to finish and learn from my mistakes next time. I’m using Schachenmeyr Merino Extrafine 85…and the twist is so loose that I know this sweater will get snagged easily. Also, while the stitch definition is awesome, that can also be a problem, especially around join areas. Again, live and learn.

Here’s my current progress and I’m hoping to be finished by next week? We’ll see, I guess. If my shoulder gives out on me, it’ll be longer for sure.

“Be Loving” Beanie for my uncle

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I took a break for a few days from my sweater knitting to make a beanie for my Uncle Eugene’s 82nd birthday. He is my oldest uncle and sends me a birthday card (most years)…and his birthday falls one day after my own.

This year, I decided that I would knit him a beanie since it has been so cold lately. It’s rare that I knit anything for extended family members, since most of them have no clue the time and energy that goes into handmade objects. But, I felt that my Uncle Eugene would be thrilled to have something I made, so I settled on this easy beanie pattern “Be Loving” by Melissa Simpson (free on Ravelry).

I know it’s super simple, but I didn’t have a lot of time to get it knitted. Otherwise, I would’ve chosen a “fancier” pattern. Sometimes simple is best…and this pattern was super easy to follow and it worked up great with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran Tonals yarn (the same yarn I used in my Pine Lake Shawl by Jaala Spiro).

So, here is the finished beanie modeled by my husband, Brad.

My first (adult) knitted sweater project

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As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’m not the kind of knitter who likes long, drawn out projects, but one of my friends was knitting a sweater recently and I finally broke down and started knitting one myself. I’ve knitted baby sweaters before, but never an adult sweater. I’ve crocheted tops for myself, but never knitted any kind of garment other than scarves, cowls, socks, shawls, etc.

So, that being said, I found a raglan sweater pattern that was labeled “easy” and cast on. I have no idea how long this project will take since I’ve never knitted an adult sweater, but others have said it took them about two weeks or so with this weight of yarn (worsted/aran), so we’ll see how accurate that time line works for me. This is my third day working on it (knitting about 1-3 hours per day), and I’m about halfway finished with the yoke portion of this top-down pattern.

I wish I had chosen a different yarn already, but I’m committed at this point. (Schachenmayr Yarns, Merino Extrafine 85, 100% superwash merino). (This yarn shows every little flaw in my stitch definition and looks like it might snag easily since the strands are so loosely twisted).

My husband bought me a row counter ring (knitter’s Pride) as part of my mystery bag of yarn from Hook A Frog Fiber & Fun (Madison, AL) for our wedding anniversary, so I’m using it while working on this project instead of writing my completed rows down like I usually do. I prefer the ring method since it’s one less thing to keep up with over pen and paper.

Here’s a picture of my progress so far, minus about four rows or so.