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.

"Water Bubbles" Socks // Anna Lange

PROJECT DETAILS

Status FO
Started 3/13/2023
Completed 3/28/2023
Pattern Name Water Bubbles
Designer Anna Lange
Yarn Scrappy Yarn Left Overs - Succulents (Stress Yarn Knits) & Malabrigo Cote D Azure; New Yarn: Malabrigo 362 Under the Sea
Needles US 2 (3.0mm), US 1.5 (2.5mm), US 1 (2.25mm)

NOTES

I was drawn to the idea of knitting up this free pattern for the March Grocery Girls sock challenge. The theme for March was “under the sea”. Both the pattern and the turquoise yarn (Malabrigo, “Under the Sea” colorway) fit the theme.

Modifications

  • Knit smallest size - 56 stitches total: US 2 (3.0mm) for the leg; 5” length, 2 repeats of Chart A; US 1 (2.25mm) for the heel flap and turn only; US 1.5 (2.5mm) for the foot and instep

  • Two-at-a-Time (TAAT), until the heel; I then went back to TAAT after all foot decreases had been completed

RESOURCES

  • Knitting Help - Decreasing in a Charted Pattern // VeryPink Knits // Youtube

  • Tubular Cast On // Andrea Mowry // Youtube

  • Nbgriz Water Bubble Notes // Ravelry

  • Tubular Bind Off in the Round // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

Final Thoughts

This was a fun sock to knit. I had some trouble with the instep until I charted out the decreases in the pattern using graph paper.

"Overbury" Mitts // Lydia Gluck

PROJECT DETAILS

Status FO
Started 2/13/2023
Completed 3/9/2023
Pattern Name Overbury
Designer Lydia Gluck
Yarn Left Overs - Palette Yarn, Knit Picks; 2 left over buttons from sewing project
Needles US 2 (2.75mm)

NOTES

I am always in need of a good hand knit. This pattern has become a TNT. I decided to try to make the overbury pattern as basic as possible, and it went smoothly.

Modifications

  • Two-at-a-Time (TAAT) knitting of fingerless gloves

RESOURCES

None used this time.

Final Thoughts

This project turned out exactly as I thought it had - minus the open thumbs. I knit those by accident, but I’m not mad about after giving them a try.

Pink New to Me Designer "Everyday Socks" // Sandra McDaniels

PROJECT DETAILS

Status FO
Started 2/1/2023
Completed 2/12/2023
Pattern Name Everyday socks
Designer Sandra McDaniels
Yarn Bad Sheep Yarn, Spell On Yarn
Needles US 00 (1.75mm), US 1 (2.25mm)

NOTES

It was great to try out a new sock pattern from a new to me designer.

Next time, I would do a tubular cast on versus folding over the cuff due. I felt like it made the cuff a little too thick for my liking.

Modifications

  • Knit smaller size: US 1 (2.25mm) for the leg; US 00 (1.75mm)

  • Two-at-a-Time (TAAT)

RESOURCES

None this time.

Final Thoughts

This was a relatively quick, simple knit.

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.

Garia Socks // Erika Lopez (52 Weeks of Socks)

PROJECT DETAILS

Status FO
Started 1/12/2023
Completed 1/22/2023
Pattern Name Garia
Designer Erika Lopez
Yarn Bad Sheep Yarn, Currant
Needles US 000 (1.5mm), US 1 (2.25mm)

NOTES

My first time knitting a sock pattern from the book 52 Weeks of Socks.

I enjoyed knitting these socks until I got to the Spikelet Motif. Like other folks have mentioned, I found the directions and chart confusing at first.

I finally settled on following the written instructions, and it helped when I visualized the 5 purl stitches like this:

XX **X** XX

Most of the motif is worked using the middle purl stitch as the starting point of the pattern. Sorry, that probably is super confusing, but that's what worked for me.

Modifications

  • Knit smaller size: US 000 for the foot; 7” foot length when sock is stretched;

  • Two-at-a-Time (TAAT), until the pattern recommends switching to knitting one sock at a time for the motif; I then went back to TAAT for the cuff.

  • US 000 (1.5mm) for my narrow foot, switched to US 1 (2.25mm) for the heel, the leg, and the cuff.

RESOURCES

  • Tubular Bind Off in the Round // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

Final Thoughts

I chose this pattern because I bought the yarn for the Grocery Girls 2023 Sock Challenge and I wanted a sock pattern that was simple enough to let this yarn - superwash merino, nylon, and silver stellina - shine.

I followed the pattern exactly. I still think I prefer a Fleegle heel for my foot, and though the Russian Bind-Off is stretchy, my version flared out. I'm thinking I probably cast off too loosely.

Pioneer Gloves // Kelly McClure

PROJECT DETAILS

Status FO
Started 12/13/2022
Completed 1/9/2022
Pattern Name Pioneer Gloves
Designer Kelly McClure
Yarn Left Overs
Needles US 2 (2.75mm)

NOTES

I am always in a need of a good fingerless glove pattern. I decided to go ahead and make the long version, but I think when I make this again I will make the small version. The long version is very dramatic and warm, though.

Modifications

  • Two-at-a-Time (TAAT) knitting of fingerless gloves

RESOURCES

None used this time.

Final Thoughts

I like this pattern - even though it is hard to photograph flat (the ribbing really pulls in the fabric) - I do wish I could use a more beautiful cast on and bind off. When worn; however, they look just fine.