KNIT LOUNGE

Obscene

It's official! I have lost my mind. Would you like to know what I did?

I spent an obscene amount of money for one single knitting pattern! Want to see what pushed me over the edge?

Georgie, from Kim Hargreaves.

 

Are you in a state of shock? So am I. 

The collar makes this positively fabulous in my humble opinion.

Can you imagine it fastened with this silver shawl pin?

Yes, I know I can copy this pattern fairly easily, but not enough people in Ravelry left me helpful photographic clues on how to do reproduce the simplistic design.

It's the hood/collar that is causing me such frustration. I just don't know how to manage it so I had to make a choice. 

Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Anthropologie Knits

Year after year Anthropologie consistently designs fabulous knit wear at breathtaking prices. For example this $98.00 cotton ivory cape, with a pretty fluted edge. I need to add this to my wardrobe right away. Its a good thing that I'm a knitter.   

 

The shape is simple enough and I think I can reproduce it reasonably well. Though I would prefer to have a stockinette body instead of the texture.  For the past few days I've been sketching ideas and developing a contruction plan.

On Sunday I tossed my stash about and I think I found the right wool for the project. 

Years ago I scored 10 balls of Debbie Bliss Prima, a bamboo merino blend at half price and it's been marinating ever since. The color is magnolia and has a beautiful sheen.

I did take the time to read the reviews in Ravelry and was rather leery of using this lovely yarn. 

Quite a few people reported excessive amounts of knots which translates to more joins than normal. A hassle but not impossible to manage. Now that I'm aware of the issues I won't become frustrated should it occur.

I worked a few swatches and settled on a size 8 needle and the resulting fabric has a nice fluid drape.

All I need to do is crunch a few numbers and then the knitting begins in a few days. I'm so excited.

Busy Knitter

I could hardly wait to cast on and get going on my own South Pole last Wednesday evening. The pattern is dead simple if you know how to short row.

Then its been miles and miles of stockinette for my knitting enjoyment. At this time I've used three  and half balls of the yummy City Tweed DK, which I am throughly enjoying. To be on the safe side I purchased twelve. The milage is turning out to be pretty good. I can get three pattern repeats out of each 123 yd ball.

Should my math be correct six balls should take me around the entire body thus leaving five and half for the sleeves. I think I'm in pretty good shape and I'll have a few balls left over for cowl or a scarf. 

Naturally I made a few modifications primarily because I tossed the recommended gauge out the window since I choose to use a lighter weight wool. The needle I selected is an eight and I am getting four SPI.

For the back rectangle I choose to knit it fourteen inches wide, for me narrow is better. Though I did knit the proper armhole depth at nine inches.

 

As for the width of the circular strip I made it a touch wider so that it fits more like a jacket and the bottom edge lands in the most flattering place on my lower body. 

 

George gave it a once over with a healthy steaming to reassure me that I am on the right track. Fingers crossed.

Copy Cat

So I find this fabby sweater in Ravelry and the pattern is from 2003. 

 

The chances of locating the gem would be a hassle and not worth the effort when I could be knitting or reading or both this past weekend.

On Thursday I spent a bit of time studying the notes and pictures in Ravelry. I felt confident that I could recreate it without the pattern.

The original calls for each section to be knit independently and from the bottom up. Yuck.

Why do people continue write patterns this way? This is terrible for new knitters who have not developed the skills or patience for finishing work and advanced knitters don't want to be bothered with seaming. I would be the later. I have better things to do with my time.... I digress. 

A plan began to form in my wee little brain. 

I'm going to work it from the top down and use short row shaping to give the boat neck a graceful curve whilst giving my neck a little more comfort.  

 

As for the cables I don't care for the asymmetrical placement on the original. It would bother me to no end so mine are going to be symmetrical and retain the triangular shape.  

The back and lower body will be done in a 8x2 rib.

When all is said and done I'll only have two little seams to graft at the shoulders. That I can live with. And look, it's done already and took 10 minutes of time.

 

Once the front and back are done, I'll begin working in the round.

The sleeves will be "set in" similar to a short row heel and I'll carry on with the 8 x 2 rib. 

Well the plan seems to be working and the first sleeve cap is in. 

Woosh!

This week went by so very fast that I shall recap in bullet fashion....

* Stonewall Jackson and I quietly celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. I am amazed - that's a whole lot of crazy shared between two people. I want 20 more. Yeah! I like him that much! 

* By a strange course of events I managed to purchase a Nook for my Mother which included a fancy red leather case for 50 dollars!!!! Her signature color is red too. I gave it to her for her birthday. God is very good indeed.

* Ellie got a micro chip on Tuesday and her yellow id tag is huge.

* On Wednesday Ellie got into something on her 3 o'clock walk and her poor little face swelled terribly. Off to the vet we went. $75 bucks and one allergy shot later the swelling began to reduce. The doc thinks she might have been stung by a bee. There's no surprise since she chases them. Silly puppy.

* Ellie has gained almost a pound since her arrival making her a heavy weight at 6 lbs. even.  Her coat is shiny and she shed her puppy coat which has been replaced silky black wavy hair.  

* I finally finished my Plain Jane commission knit. Worked in Comfy Fingering. Love that stuff.

 

* Do you Lendle? My handle there is Knit Lounge. Feel free to friend me.

* J.K. Rowling announced that Harry Potter is coming to e-books! I can't wait. Though I'm sure it's going to cost a fortune to purchase the entire set. It's a good thing I have a job.

* I started a new sweater for my winter collection. Comfy Sport in Black. Lots of cables. Pictures to come.

* Somehow or another 20 lbs. of excess weight has attached itself to my petite frame. Scandalous. I have eaten every bit of junk food in the house and vowed not to buy anymore. I'm renewing my walking and bike riding again. Wish me luck, strength and determination. Mostly determination.

* I got a lovely bonus from my first and favorite Fetch and Carry Client and the money went straight to Knit Picks. Stonewall says money just does touch and goes in our bank account! I say that I am being a good citizen by keeping the money in circulation! After all it is good for the economy. I did my part, did you?

Blush

No, dear reader, this is not what you think it is but it does bear a strong resemblance to it's older sister Breakwater.

 

I became quite enamored with the Linen Stitch detail on the collar whilst working on my Crimson Breakwater. Then inspiration hit me upside the head. OUCH! It has no choice since I'm so thick headed that it has to take agressive measures to get my attention. I digress.

It would be just fabby to have another top with similar details in a material that is more appropriate for the near tropical weather conditions that I must endure during my incarceration in Key West.

I dipped into my extensive Comfy Cotton Stash and selected a sport weight in Flamingo pink.

As I began to knit the collar, ideas began to take shape in my head. Linen stitch for the collar, sleeve and bottom bands, and the rest in simple Stockinette. Short sleeves would be a must. The upper body would be fashioned with negative ease to create a more shapely silouette. 

 

Just past the bust line I would add a wide band in the Linen stitch pattern, giving the top an Empire waist. Then I'd finish by fashioning a flattering A line shape in Stockinette then add one last section of Linen Stitch before binding off.

I love it!!!!!  The fit is positively divine and it came together exactly as I envisioned it.