Marled Beige and White "April Cardigan" // Petite Knits

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	FO
Started	12/21/2022
Completed	5/25/2023
Pattern Name	April Cardigan
Designer	Petite Knits
Measurements	5'4" // B: 35, W: 26.5, H: 38.25
Pattern Size	XS
Yarn	Camel Palette Twist(100% wool) // Oat Aloft Mohair (72% Super Kid Mohair and 28% Silk) HELD TOGETHER; 4 LaMode 22mm white, beige, and camel colored buttons
Needles	US 6 (4 mm) body // US 4 (3.5mm) hem and cuff, US 2 (3.0mm) button bands/collar, 40" Circular

NOTES

This is my second April Cardigan. As predicted, this is fast becoming my TNT cardigan pattern. This pattern is worth every pattern. I kept my modifications from my first April Cardigan. I decided to go down a size to XS.

MODIFICATIONS

• TIP: I only used the fingering weight yarn (not the mohair held double with the fingering weight yarn) for the Italian Bind Off. This helped the yarn not tangle as I worked with a very long tail for sewing the bind off.

• Button band: Instead of doing a button band with ribbing, I decided to knit the button band from the Champagne Cardigan. That button band is double knit and adds a nice finished look to the final cardigan.

RESOURCES

• Knitting Increase Calculator // Website

• No Holes For Sweater Sleeves // Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

• Tubular CO in the Round (1x1 Ribbing) // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

• Difference between Italian Bind Off vs Tubular Bind Off // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

• Kimmie Munkholm // Champagne Cardigan Button Band + Buttonhole // Youtube (Button Band) + Youtube (Buttonhole)

• Double Knit Button // Cotton Gin and Tonic // Part 1 (Youtube) & Part 2 (Youtube)

• Attaching Vertical Button Bands // Knitting the Stash // Youtube

• Handknitter’s Double Knit Button Band // Into the Wool // Website

• Covered button tutorial // KDD & CO // Website

Final Thoughts

For some reason the button band on this version feels perfect - buttoned or unbuttoned.

Tip Top Tank FINE #1 - Teal // Maker Maker [Free Pattern]

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	FO
Started	4/1/2023
Completed	5/7/2023
Pattern Name	Tip Top Tank FINE
Designer	Maker Maker
Size	XS
My Measurements	Bust: 35" Waist: 27" Hips: 38.25"
Yarn	Patons // Light (very) DK Yarn // Patons; 2 balls, TBD yds./50g, Color: TBD
Needles	US 3 (3.25mm) // US 2 (3.0mm) 40" Circular

NOTES

I found this yarn - Paton’s Linen (50% Linen & 50% Cotton) - at Joann’s and I was over the moon to give it a try. I went a bit overboard and bought the yarn in three different colorways to knit three “Tip Top Tank FINE” tanks.

My gauge was loose compared to the pattern:

• 21sts./4” with US 4

• 23.5 - 23.75sts/4” with US 3

• 24sts/4” with US 2

However, after blocking the swatch plumped up a bit.

I ended up knitting the XS size using US 2 for the ribbing and US 3 for the body of the tank. The drape of the fabric was even better after blocking.

MODIFICATIONS

• 1x1 tubular cast on for both hems

  • Used Andrea Mowry’s Cast On

  • After Cast On, 1st Row: Purl, Slip 1 knit stitch (as if to purl); 2nd Row: Knit, Slip 1 purl stitch; Row 3: Purl, Slip 1 knit stitch (as if to purl); Row 4: Knit, Slip 1 purl stitch Be sure that the stitches (purl and knit) are not twisted on the needle. If they are knit, purl, or slip into back leg to untwist.

  • After set up rows for 1x1 tubular cast on, begin slipping the 1st stitch each row for cleaner edge

  • I knit 10 rows of 1x1 rib, end on WS row

• Used a genius modification by Recreates (on Ravelry) to raise the back by 6 rows

• I also added some extra rows for the length.

RESOURCES

• Tubular Cast On (Flat) // Andrea Mowry // Youtube

• Tubular Cast On // Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

• Ravelry User Recreates’ Tip Top Tank Modification to the back

• Three Needle Bind Off:

  • Martha Lyons // Three Needle bind off for shoulders // Youtube

  • Three-Needle Bind Off (3NBO) Basics // Technique Tuesday // Youtube

  • Very Pink Knits // Youtube

  • (Timestamp: 5:29) Finessed Three-Needle Bind off // Roxanne Richardson // Youtube

Final Thoughts

I really like this top and the fabric that the yarn created. This will be my 3rd Tip Top Tank (and 1st Tip Top Tank FINE). This pattern is definitely becoming an unexpected TNT for me. For my next version of this top — yep, there are more in my near future — I will try reversing the pattern to be knit from the top down.

I don’t mind knitting from the bottom up, but I am finding that I don’t use cotton blend yarns very much outside of summer, and I do not want a lot of leftovers. Bottom up construction makes it hard for me to use up as much of the yarn as possible without worrying about having enough to complete the top portion. This sometimes leads me to crop the tank unnecessarily (in an effort to conserve yarn) only to find that I have plenty of it left.

LYS // Andrea Mowry

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	FO
Started	1/2/2023
Completed	4/16/2023
Pattern Name	Little Red "LYS"
Designer	Andrea Mowry
Size	XS
My Measurements	Bust: 35" Waist: 27" Hips: 38.25"
Yarn	Palette // Fingering // Color: Pimento; 5 balls
Needles	US 1.5 (2.5mm) // US 0 (2.0mm) 40" Circular

NOTES

I like that this cardigan is designed for fingering weight yarn. I always try to keep my stash to mostly fingering weight as I find this weight to be super versatile. It took me longer than I thought to finish up this cardigan, and I am super happy that I had a make along to encourage me to finish this project and not let it sit (and sit) forever until November when my WIP anxiety kicks in.

MODIFICATIONS

• SO MANY BUTTONS. I was good, and I went ahead and knit button holes, just in case I decided to add ALL. THE. BUTTONS. I’ve had so many issues finding buttons in Anchorage that match my cardigan color — and with this many buttons, it is essential to me that the buttons are a similar color to the yarn. In a moment of desperation, I even contemplated ridiculous things. Perhaps, I could paint white buttons? Or make my own? If we were talking about 3-7 buttons, maybe… But 21? Nah.

RESOURCES

• Tubular Cast On (Flat) // Andrea Mowry // Youtube

• Tubular Cast On // Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

• Substituting German Short Row for W&T // Patty Lyons // Website

• Reminder for how to do a kitchener stitch // Tin Can Knits // Website

Final Thoughts

While this is probably not a TNT pattern for me, the finished project will be a welcome addition to my growing, hand knit cardigan collection. I think the color is a good accent color that will go with many items in my wardrobe. It will also give my pink, April cardigan (by Petite Knits) a break.

"Caturra" // Rachel Brockman // Interweave Knits Spring 2023

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	FO
Started	4/9/2023
Completed	4/13/2023
Pattern Name	Tomato Red "Caturra"
Designer	Rachel Brockman
Size	36.5"
My Measurements	Bust: 35" Waist: 27" Hips: 38.25"
Yarn	Swish Knit Picks // DK // Color: Serrano // 4.75 balls
Needles	US 6 (4.0mm) // US 7 (4.5mm) 40" Circular

NOTES

Some knit projects sneak up on you. This sweater top was just such a project.

Last year, I purchased a ridiculous amount of tomato red colored (colorway: Serrano) DK Swish yarn from Knit Picks to make my “Candy Cane Lane Sweater”. My sweater was primarily made up of white yarn. But I over bought my contrast color yarn after modifying the pattern, which was written as more of an afterthought than actual instructions for how to make a thing.

It was just under enough to make any sweater and just over enough to be forced to make several accessories in a color that is just not my red. My red is a delicious, classic, lipstick red that has a blue undertone but would never dare cross over into merlot.

Personal preferences for red are tricky that way.

Enter the Caturra - an odd top, with a center lace/cable pattern that I felt ambivalent about. The more I stared at the picture of the model wearing the sweater, though, tiny shifts in thought began to occur. First, it was the seed stitch. The more I stared at that inviting texture, gently draping the shoulders, the more intrigued I became by a stitch pattern that I hereto had seen as a bit of a chore. Second, my eyes kept dancing back to the center panel of lace and cables, bookended by the ever faithful stockinette battalion.

All the pattern’s key words pointed true north to the yarn that was at greatest risk of aging right along side me. Being regretfully carted from apartment to apartment, a reminder of how stashes can go terribly wrong. My pattern size called for 984 yards of yarn. I had roughly 62% of that amount. I wasn’t deterred. The sweater would be cropped, the sleeves so short as to be called “cap sleeves,” and any ribbing past the collar would require a magnifying glass.

MODIFICATIONS

• Collar - I used the Norwegian cast on. I find this cast on to be my preferred cast on for folded collars.

• Sleeve length - I made the sleeves cap sleeves for two reasons: (1) yarn management and (2) I tend to like shorter sleeves on DK weight sweaters.

• Short rows - There are no short rows included in this pattern, and I debated not adding them. I opted to add them after I had divided for the sleeves. I find that my body shape does not need very many, so I added about 4 rows of length to the back using the German short row method.

• Body length - This sweater is cropped and hits about 2” past my belly button. The yarn is superwash, and I expect that it will lengthen significantly after it is blocked.

• Ribbing - I modified the sleeves to have 5 rows of ribbing and the body to have 4 rows. I would have preferred that the body have at least 5 rows of ribbing, but I was dead set on doing an Italian bind off and couldn’t manage to squeeze out 1 more row of ribbing without running out of yarn.

RESOURCES

• Casting on Cable Cast on Underarm Stitches // Youtube

Final Thoughts

I hate yarn chicken with a passion and it shows in my stash.

This project was a surprise joy - even with some minor, lazy knitting imperfections. The pattern was the perfect fit for this yarn, and playing yarn chicken kept me maniacally focused on this project until completion. This sweater has earned its place as my official Christmas sweater for 2023.

I am happy with the final outcome and could see myself eyeing this pattern again should I fall in love with a DK yarn in the future.

There is, after all, a little more room in the stash.

Fluffy Pink Cloud "April Cardigan" // Petite Knits

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	FO
Started	11/19/2022
Completed	1/24/2023
Pattern Name	April Cardigan
Designer	Petite Knits
Measurements	5'4" // B: 35, W: 26.5, H: 38.25
Pattern Size	Small
Yarn	Juniper Moon, Moonshine, Fine (30% Baby Alpaca, 30% Wool, 25% Nylon, 15% Silk) // Color: 1007 + Malabrigo Mohair (72% Mohair, 28% Silk) // Color: 057 English Rose HELD TOGETHER
Needles	US 6 (4 mm) body // US 4 (3.5mm) hem, button bands/collar, sleeve cuff 40" Circular

NOTES

This cardigan is going to be a wardrobe staple. I have plans for more.

MODIFICATIONS

• Body stitch counts: 64-114; stopped at row 115

• 1x1 Rows 1-29; end on row 30 (RS)

• TIP: I only used the fingering weight yarn (not the mohair held double with the fingering weight yarn) for the Italian Bind Off. This helped the yarn not tangle as I worked with a very long tail for sewing the bind off.

• Button band: Instead of doing a button band with ribbing, I decided to knit the button band from the Champagne Cardigan. That button band is double knit and adds a nice finished look to the final cardigan.

RESOURCES

• Knitting Increase Calculator // Website

• No Holes For Sweater Sleeves // Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

• Tubular CO in the Round (1x1 Ribbing) // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

• Difference between Italian Bind Off vs Tubular Bind Off // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

• Kimmie Munkholm // Champagne Cardigan Button Band + Buttonhole // Youtube (Button Band) + Youtube (Buttonhole)

• Double Knit Button // Cotton Gin and Tonic // Part 1 (Youtube) & Part 2 (Youtube)

• Attaching Vertical Button Bands // Knitting the Stash // Youtube

• Handknitter’s Double Knit Button Band // Into the Wool // Website

• Covered button tutorial // KDD & CO // Website

Final Thoughts

I get the most compliments on this hand knit garment. I think it’s the combination of the color and the way it fits. I adore switching out the button band as recommended by several Ravelry users. It just adds a level of finishing that is beautiful and functional - but it does take extra time to execute.

I may still go back and add in a sewn ribbon button band to decrease distortion, but I rarely button the cardigans that I wear so it is not high on my list.

L 9450 McCall's: NYE Knit Dress // View D // Size 10 (2022)

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	Finished
Started	12/31/2022
Finished	12/31/2022
Pattern Name	L 9450, View D
Designer / Company	McCall's
Size	10; To fit: 32" upper bust, 35" full bust, 26 3/4" waist, 38 1/4" Hip
Fabric	Spandex
Notions	All Purpose Thread
Machines	Serger

Notes

A NYE dress.

Modifications

• I took the time to check the intended stretch of the fabric used in the pattern; my own body measurements; the finished measurements of the pattern; and my the stretch percentage of my fabric.

Resources

• How to Choose a size with Negative Ease // Brittani Bumb // Website

• How to Determine Stretch Percentage in Fabric // Seamwork // Youtube

Final Thoughts

I really wanted a flashy dress for New Year’s Eve and other fun events. This pattern is a TNT and never lets me down when I need something quick that fits.

DROPS Design: Candy Cane Lane - Pattern 205-22 // [Free Pattern]

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	Finished Object
Started	7/16/2022
Completed	12/4/2022
Pattern Name	Candy Cane Lane
Designer	DROPS Design
Measurements	5'4" // B: 35, W: 26.5, H: 38.25
Pattern Size	Small
Yarn	Knit Picks // Swish // DK Weight Yarn // Colors: Bare & Serrano // 10 balls (4 Bare/6 Serrano), 246 yds./100g (Bare) / & 123 yds./50g (Serrano)
Needles	US 3 (3.25 mm) // US 6 (4 mm) // US 7 (4.5mm) colorwork 40" Circular

NOTES

A good, free pattern to modify to your preference.

MODIFICATIONS

• Crochet Provisional Cast On; Started with120 stitches and 1 knit row using size 6 (4.0mm) knitting needles; then moved onto Yoke using S-M-L chart;

• Used knitting increase calculator to evenly space increases; on increase #5 (row 35 of chart) I increased on row 36 of chart instead, which is a plain row to avoid increasing on a colorwork row;

• Stopped doing increases at increase arrow #6; this led to me having 280 stitches total versus 300 (making a loose fitting sweater, could probably stop increases sooner);

• I made sure that the colorwork join was at my shoulder instead of center back;

• I divided for the sleeves as follows: 90 front stitches (moved more stitches to front for larger bust), 80 back stitches, 55 sleeve stitches for sleeve #1 and sleeve #2 (with 9 stitches added at the sleeve);

• Finished body with a 1x1 rib using US 3 (3.25mm needles) - also knit 1 row before 1st ribbing row using size 3 needles - and then knit 9 rows of 1x1 rib before finishing with a tubular bind off

• Picked up collar stitches (120) and knit 1 round with 3.25mm needles; next round decrease 20 stitches around (K2, [K2tog, K4] 19 times, K2tog, K2); work one, German short row in 1x1 ribbing before working 5 rows of 1x1 rib around, before finishing with a four row tubular bind off

RESOURCES

• Knitting Increase Calculator // Website

• No Holes For Sweater Sleeves // Suzanne Bryan // Youtube Tutorial

• How To Knit: German Short Row // Brooklyn Tweed // Youtube

• Tubular CO in the Round (1x1 Ribbing) // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

• German Short Rows 1x1 Rib // Lauren Peterson // Youtube

Final Thoughts

I love the final result! Very festive.

REViVAL Sweater #2 // ANIKESTRiCK [Isabel Kramer]

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	FO
Started	11/1/2022
Completed	11/18/2022
Pattern Name	REViVAL
Designer	ANIKESTRiCK / Isabelle Kramer
Measurements	To fit 35" bust, with 0-1" positive ease
Pattern Size	Cast on Size 4, Ended Increases at Size 1
Yarn	Various: Malabrigo Lace // Pearl
Needles	US 4 (3.5 mm) // US 3 (3.25 mm) 40" Circular

NOTES

A nice, simple sweater that uses the contiguous method to shape the shoulders for a top-down seamless sweater.

National knit a sweater month stats

Total # of stitches: 56,490

Daily stitch goal: 2,200

Total # of knitting days: 18

MODIFICATIONS

• Used two strands of lace weight yarn to approximate fingering weight yarn

• Used a gauge comparison calculator to figure out how to size up based off of my gauge versus the pattern’s gauge

• Cast on for a size 4; however, stopped increases when I reached the final stitch count for size 1. This allowed me to accommodate my broad but narrow shoulders, while ensuring that the contiguous shoulder and armscye (the shape / outline of the armhole) hit my body in the right place. It was important to me that the placement mimic the placement of a set-in sleeve.

RESOURCES

• No Holes For Sweater Sleeves // Suzanne Bryan // Youtube Tutorial

• Italian Bind Off // Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

• Italian Bind Off // Purl Soho // Youtube

• Knitting Gauge Calculator // Website

• Crochet CO // ANKESTRick // Youtube

Final Thoughts

I found it a bit of a pain to hold two of the same weight of yarn together for this pattern. Ensuring that I did not only catch one yarn instead of two proved to be a hassle. The end result, though, *is* extremely squishy.

I finished knitting this sweater in 18 days in November 2022, and I completed my first NaKniSweMo challenge successfully.

REViVAL Sweater #1 // ANIKESTRiCK [Isabel Kramer]

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	FO
Started	8/29/2022
Completed	11/8/2022
Pattern Name	REViVAL
Designer	ANIKESTRiCK / Isabelle Kramer
Measurements	To fit 35" bust, with 0-1" positive ease
Pattern Size	Cast on Size 4, Ended Increases at Size 1
Yarn	Malabrigo Lace // Pearl // 6 skeins; yarn held double
Needles	US 4 (3.5 mm) // US 1.5 (2.5 mm) 40" Circular

NOTES

A nice, simple sweater that uses the contiguous method to shape the shoulders for a top-down seamless sweater.

MODIFICATIONS

• Used two strands of lace weight yarn to approximate fingering weight yarn

• Used a gauge comparison calculator to figure out how to size up based off of my gauge versus the pattern’s gauge

• Cast on for a size 4; however, stopped increases when I reached the final stitch count for size 1. This allowed me to accommodate my shoulders, while ensuring that the contiguous shoulder and armscye (the shape / outline of the armhole) hit my body in the right place. It was important to me that the placement mimic the placement of a set-in sleeve.

RESOURCES

• No Holes For Sweater Sleeves // Suzanne Bryan // Youtube Tutorial

• Tubular Cast On (using knitting needle only) // Andrea Mowry // Youtube

• Tubular CO in the Round (1x1 Ribbing) // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

• Revival Pattern // Ravelry

• Knitting Gauge Calculator // Website

• Crochet CO // ANKESTRick // Youtube

Final Thoughts

I found it a bit of a pain to hold two of the same weight of yarn together for this pattern. Ensuring that I did not only catch one yarn instead of two proved to be a hassle. The end result is extremely squishy.

I also think I may go up several needle sizes for the hem and possibly switch to an Italian bind off to give a bit more stretch at the hem, cuff, and neckline.

I will also consider adding an inch of length for the body.

Overall, I like this pattern and I plan on knitting another one for National Knit a Sweater Month in November.