Knitting in the Heat of October

In case you’re wondering if I'm knitting right now – of course I am! I’m just not talking about it much. Here’s the sleeve bottom of a cropped cardigan with three quarter length sleeves started almost a year ago. The yarn is Moda DEA 100% washable wool in a rich plum.

It may cool off enough here to wear this by sometime in November. The fabric is worked in a knit and seed rib of knit 5, seed 3 so it lays flat. I don’t really like ribbings on my sweaters so usually design for a self finishing edge. Here’s a peek at my design notes and sketches.

Apparently, I wrote one thing and did another for the sleeve cap shaping. When I worked the second sleeve by my notes, it didn’t correspond to the first sleeve cap shaping at all. That sleeve is fine and fits the arm opening perfectly. So, RIP the second one out and do it over. No matter, there’s plenty of time before sweater weather.

STILL Making Swatches

And, I should really be done with that by now. But an earlier bit of procrastination has now added a little excitement to my days. Actually, I was mulling the whole thing over - letting my subconscious work on it. Yeah, that's it.

After spending most of today knitting bits of fabric, measuring them in all their different dimensions and what seemed like hours of fiddling with arithmetic and schematic diagrams, I am finally happy with the idea. Now, part of tomorrow is set aside to actually draft the instructions.

This one is a sweater and is worked in 5 colors of Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash. I've not used this yarn before and it is wonderful to work with. It is everything you would look for in a good basic yarn. Easy to work with, good stitch definition, huge color range, 100 % wool and washable too!

It works to about 5 stitches to the inch on size 7 needles. So far, I haven't found anything not to like about it. We'll see how it works into an actual project.

A Completed Sweater - Too Little, Too Late

Well, that title just about sums it up. I mentioned starting another sweater for my goddaughter in my last post, and it's finished. Here's a peek:



The problem is that the temperature here is in the mid eighties to low nineties now. That is definitely too late! As for the too little part, it's very likely to be too small by the time cool temperatures roll around in November or so. Even though I made it purposely large, she will have probably outgrown it by then.

Oh well, nothing to do now but move on. That's what I've done with the next little girl project. Because it is warm now, it seemed that a lacy, feminine vest/overdress would be a good choice. Because knitting and crochet have different "personalities," they lend themselves to different applications. This idea is the basis for my book, Knit & Crochet Combined: Best of Both Worlds.

For this new project, I chose to crochet because I like the look and feel of that technique for this type of garment. It has a substantial hand and nice drape and weight. Using a cotton blend yarn keeps it from being too hot - an important consideration here. Another thing crochet has going for it is that it is faster for me than knitting for a similar size item. Maybe this one will be done in time for her to wear it! Here is a preview:



The bodice is a denser wavy shell stitch while the skirt is a much lacier wave stitch pattern. Since it is meant to be worn over another outfit, the neck and arms are a little more open. The yarn may or may not give out, so I'll have some decisions to make regarding the front bands and the edgings, if any, when I reach that point.

The Sweater is Finished!

Well, it seemed to take forever, especially at the end, but I've finished the sweater for my Goddaughter. And, just in time to give it to her this weekend! We'll be seeing her and her parents for a special breakfast at Disney World so I can see if it fits her as well if she likes it. Surely, after all this effort she has got to like it!

Here it is in all it's finished glory.

The front (forgive the adult size hanger, no small ones on hand):


A detail view of the front:



For the closures, I found some decorative coat hooks and loops at Joann's while I was looking for grosgrain ribbon to finish the inside band. There is a hidden coat hook at the top neck to keep it looking tidy. The flowers are all attached individually - there are 18 of them - in clusters of three. The embroidery is simple chain stitch with the darker shade of wool that I split down to two ply.

A bit of explanation about that ribbon facing inside. Normally, the cut edges would have been fine the way they were. But, because I had used a thread color that stands out so it would show in the photographs and changed the band treatment from what I had planned, they were unattractive and really needed to be covered. While the ribbon isn't my favorite thing to have in a sweater, it doesn't give like knit fabric after all, it is better than the edge that was there and still suits the more coat-like nature of this sweater.

The back:



The little decorative belt is just single crochet with coordinating buttons sewn at either end.

Overall, I am pleased with how it turned out. The color scheme is as I had planned, feminine but not babyish and it has a nice overall decorative effect. Maybe, if I hadn't already worked on the finishing for so long, I might have done a different type of embroidery on the fronts or, perhaps, more of that same theme. But, she is only two and will outgrow it if I don't finish it!

Now, the knitting bug is backing off a bit . Embroidery has been calling my name lately! I've already started an old fashioned table runner using the very grannyish, but still attractive, Aunt Martha's transfers and am checking out the Sublime Stitching patterns as well.

In Progress: STILL Working on the Sweater

Yes, I am still working on this sweater. It seems, to me anyway, that I am the slowest needle worker in the world. But, some of that is just because I am working on way too many projects at one time. In addition to this sweater, there are two other sweaters on needles plus a multitude of other types of projects.

Not that I'm blaming the weather, no this dawdling is all my own, but it is hard to concentrate on warm sweaters when the temperature is in the eighties. This looks like one of those years we won't have a winter. I hope my goddaughter gets to wear this sweater at least a little bit this year!

Now, to show off my progress on the front bands, neck and sleeves. Last time, the fronts of the sweater were just cut open and all wobbly and scary looking. I had planned a crochet band, but that just didn't work out. So, falling back on good old garter stitch, I was able to work a nice continuous band on the fronts and around the bottom in the contrasting color.



As you can see, the neck edge is now finished in a lacy crochet collar to match the bands. It is a very simple crochet pattern of mostly chain and single crochet that I made up by trial and error. It is quite full so it ruffles nicely. The same crochet lace is on the sleeves as well, only there are not as many rows.



Another view of the sleeve showing the stitches a bit better:



There's not a lot left now: a closure for the front, the belt on the back, and the flowers and embroidery. What am I thinking? There I go again with that crazy talk about finishing it quickly!

These last details and some inside finishing work should be posted here soon!

Thoughts on Finishing Knitting and Crochet

OK, so I am a complete lunatic thinking that I could finish the pink flower/lace/pirate sweater by this evening. What was I thinking? Chalk it up to baseless optimism.

After working on the sleeve edging and front borders for a couple of hours last night, it's clear that it won't be done today. Everything I tried did NOT work so that means re-thinking most of the details that I had in mind. Fortunately, we are having unseasonably warm weather here in Central Florida right now so she won't need the sweater for a bit.

In my mind, just about all of this work falls under the category of finishing the sweater. You know how that looks in patterns - there's a caption that says "Finishing" and it has short snappy little instructions like "Pick up and work single crochet along front edge," or "Sew side, underarm and sleeve seams," or, one of my old-school favorites, "Finish in the usual way."

The problem with this is that "Finishing" really does make the difference in how well the project turns out, whether it's a full blown sweater or just a simple purse. However, it is a set of skills rather than just some instructions and the knitting and crochet patterns really aren't the place to spell that out.

The good news is that because finishing is a set of skills, it can be learned. The way to go about that is to start with reference material and then practice. Here are some sources to get you started:


The "I Hate to Finish Sweaters" Guide
This book is only about finishing. The author has a blog you might want to check out as well.

The Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques

Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book
This is an old standby with a lot of useful information.

Crafster.org
An online forum for all types of craft and handwork. The place to ask specific questions.

Well, that should be a good start for getting information on finishing projects. Be sure to practice a new technique and ask questions when in doubt.

The most useful, though not necessarily pleasant, tip I can give on getting a professional finish is this: Just suck it up and re-do it if it doesn't come out right. Repeat until correct.

In Progress: CUTTING the Sweater!!

Finally, back to my goddaughter's sweater. Since we missed them at Christmas, I have another chance to finish this up as a gift. We have plans to see her and her parents on Saturday, so I am trying, again, to complete this sweater. Nothing like making another deadline for yourself!

Even though all the knitting is done, there is still quite a bit of work to do to finish it up. Today, I cut it open to make a cardigan. As promised, the process is shown here in pictures.

First, the before picture. The underarms have been woven closed and the ends are worked in. It is a perfectly good, though plain, sweater. Well, except that the neck is way too small to go over a child's head as a pullover. Kids and babies have heads that are much larger in proportion to their bodies than adults. Note that the back neck is higher than the front neck. This helps keep the back hem from creeping up and makes for a much more comfortable garment.



First, using the decreases at the neck edge as a starting point, find the center stitch and mark it with contrasting yarn basted down the length of the stitch. This is the cutting line, so be accurate!



Next, using a sewing machine set to a wide width and medium length zig zag stitch, sew the stitches on either side of the center stitch. I used red thread because it was what was in my machine and it would show up in the photos. Ultimately, it won't show in the finished sweater, but using matching thread is a good idea.



Here is a closer view of the stitching showing how the two side stitches are enclosed by the zig zag stitch. Some people like to sew each stitch twice for security. I've never had a problem with just one row of stitching and the extra stitching adds bulk to the edge that I really don't like.



Time to cut! Using regular scissors, cut carefully along the center of the marked stitch. Be sure to only cut the top layer of the sweater or you will really have a mess.



That's it! Now you have an uneven, wobbly and slightly stretched out edge, just what we wanted.





Don't worry, the unevenness and lenghtwise stretch will be taken care of when the borders are worked. The sewing thread and that ragged front will also be hidden by the stitches worked over the edge. The fronts will be finished with crochet bands of some sort.

Now, it's time to work out the details for the crochet front borders, hem bands and sleeve cuffs. Also, I need to start giving some serious thought to the buttons and other finishing details- like the flowers that I promised her. Thinking about it, I'm not sure if this will be done by Saturday, but let's see what happens.

Girl's Sweater Update and FAST Christmas Gift

Well, it has become painfully obvious that I will not finish my goddaughter's sweater by Christmas. Thankfully, we have gotten her lots of other presents.

Here is a picture of it in progress - in all its edge rolling, yarn ends flapping, underarm gaping glory to document my progress, or lack of it.



When the yoke is deep enough, it will be time to sew and cut the front open. To document that thrill, there will be step by step photos. Then the borders and edgings can be worked to take care of that stockinette curl that develops at the edges.

On the design front, I can say that I've chosen the yarn for the flowers and will be swatching those soon. It is the next darker shade of Woolease-Dark Rose Heather. I found a couple balls of it in my stash.

To address the last minute, or at least last day, handmade Christmas gift, I give you Felted Potholders. These are fast to make and are quite nice to use. I have been kitchen testing a pair for myself and they work as well as any purchased potholder I have had. Here are the Cadet Blue potholders from my kitchen.



To make them, use 100% wool yarn that will felt - be sure it is not superwash wool. I used Lion Wool for this pair in Autumn Sunset. These happen to be crocheted, but you can knit them as well. They are about 8.5 inches square before felting. This photo is before felting.



To Crochet:

Chain 28, work a half double crochet in the 2nd chain from hook and each chain across, chain 2 and turn. Continue in half double crochet until potholder is square and end with chain 12 (for loop) and slip stitch in beginning of chain. End off and work in ends.

To Knit:

Cast on 32 stitches. Work in garter stitch until potholder is square, bind off. With last loop remaining, chain 12 (for loop) and slip stitch in beginning of chain. End off and work in ends.

To Felt:

Wash in washing machine with hot water and a towel for more agitation. Dry flat and adjust shape to square.

If you have a need for a useful handmade gift, give these a try!

In Progress: Design and Knit a Little Girl's Sweater, Part Two

Well, we had a wonderful time visiting with our friends and goddaugther. My goodness, she is really tall for her age! At only 2 1/2 years old, she is 38 inches tall. She looks more like a 3 or even a 4 year old. If I didn't mention she is absolutely beautiful, I should. Sorry, since she's not my child, I can't post her picture here - privacy and all that.

On to the sweater.... The body is nearly to the armhole now and one sleeve is done - all in extra long of course. I did add about two inches of length to each piece after seeing her in person, but the circumference is nearly perfect. Big enough to leave room to grow, but not so large as to be sloppy.

Now that I've had some knitting and thinking time, the details are starting to come into focus. Here's a very rough sketch from my idea book.



A Pirate Meets Princess look will suit her nicely as she likes both. The flowers and other trim will be embroidered or sewn after the sweater is finished. The flower heads will most likely be crocheted for more dimension with the stems embroidered. A little faux passementerie on the sleeves adds a little more decoration.

The crocheted lace on the sleeves will serve a dual purpose. It will finish the plain stockinette. It will also be a lengthening device as it can be folded down as she grows. The construction will have to be worked out, but something along the lines of a French cuff held with a decorative button should work. The belt on the back will be adjustable for the same reason as the body will be a tad loose to start.

The collar is still in the contemplation stage as are the front borders and closure. Another, more detailed, sketch will be forthcoming when they sharpen up. After I finish the other sleeve, it will be time to join it all together and complete the yoke. Then the cutting open - with photographs!

In Progress: Design and Knit a Little Girl's Sweater

Today, I'm starting a sweater for my Goddaughter and thought it would be interesting to detail the design and construction steps as they proceed. The design process is not necessarily as straight forward as design and then knit; the designing goes along with the knitting to some degree. Sometimes it goes along with the unknitting (or frogging, as we like to call it) as well!

I promised her a pink sweater with flowers, so the color and design theme is set. Then, I found some Wool Ease, great for kids and moms because it is machine washable, in the local store. It is Rose Heather, a very soft muted rose that is not as babyish as the candy pinks, but still good for a little girl.

Since I knit better and faster in the round, this sweater will be constructed that way even though it will ultimately be a cardigan. To that end, I'll sew and cut the front then finish with the borders. The yoke and shoulders will be raglan style simply because I think it looks neater and more tailored than the round yoke style.

The body will be basic stockinette stitch so I can go ahead and get started without having to work through stitch patterns or consider too many finishing details. The edges will be worked on at the end along with the cardigan borders and will likely be crochet of some type. That leaves me free to work all that out as I knit. This little sweater will really be designed as it progresses.

Sizing is next but since all I know for now is her general size and that she is tall for her age, I'll just use standard size charts to get started. From those charts, I know that the chest measurement is about 23 inches and the ease to add for a loose-fitting garment is 4 to 6 inches. So, the sweater will be 28 inches around.

We'll be seeing her and her parents this weekend and that will give me a much better idea of the proportions. That will enable me to develop the sizing in more detail in the next post as well as have a sketch of the design idea.