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.

Malabrigo "Leaves" // Valentina Fezova-Georgieva

PROJECT DETAILS

Status FO
Started 12/9/2022
Completed 12/10/2022
Pattern Name Leaves
Designer Valentina Fezova-Georgieva
Yarn Malabrigo Washted, Worsted Weight, 210 yds. (100% Superwash Merino): 722 Fortaleza
Needles US 6 (4.0mm) - cuff, top ribbing, and thumb and ribbing; US 8 (5.0mm) - hand

NOTES

This is one of my favorite quick and easy TNT patterns for fingerless mitts.

Modifications

  • US 6 (4.0 mm) - for the cuff, thumb & top ribbing; US 8 (5.0 mm) - for the hand

  • Two-at-a-time socks, magic loop

  • Andrea Mowry tubular cast on, one mitt cuff at a time for 4 rows; then put both mitt cuffs on one circular knitting needle (10 sts. each mitt, each needle) for two-at-a-time knitting

  • Stopped at 18 rows of 1x1 ribbing; 2.5” (worried about yarn chicken)

  • For the thumb: Pick up stitches with size US 6 (4.0mm); knit 2 rounds past the “no holes” pick up rows; 5 rows of 1x1 ribbing (start on row 3)

  • Italian bind off for thumb and cuff ribbing at the top of the mitt

RESOURCES

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

Final Thoughts

I love this pattern. This time it took less than two days.

Color Dipped "Ariel Socks" // Sari Norland

PROJECT DETAILS

Status FO
Started 8/25/2022
Completed 12/7/2022
Pattern Name Ariel Socks
Designer Sari Norland
Yarn Stress Knits (Leftovers) Favorite Base (80% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon): Succulents & Ophelia colorways
Needles US 000 (1.5mm) - foot; US 0 (2.0mm) - leg; US 1 (2.25mm) - ribbing

NOTES

This is an ambitious pattern for me for a sock. But I’ve wanted to try one of Sari’s patterns for a while, and I couldn’t resist the light, spring like feel of this sock.

Modifications

  • US 000 (1.5 mm) - for the foot; US 0 (2.0 mm) - for the leg, after the heel; US 1 (2.25mm) - for the ribbing

  • Two-at-a-time socks, magic loop

  • Alternate between Increase rounds [M1R, M1L (both needles)] and Knit rows until 64 stitches (32 stitches each needle); adjust so there are 33 sts. instep needle & 31 sts. sole needle; knit an additional 4 rows at the end of the increases for toe

  • My foot length is 9.25”, so I stopped at 6” of knitting (round 15)

  • For gusset: 33sts. (instep) / 51sts. (sole); knit four additional rows for heel (no increases); back to 33sts. (front needle) + 31sts. (back needle)

  • Worked leg chart 2 full times; on the 3rd time stopped at row 8 (5” from the top of the heel flap)

  • Worked 10 rows, 1x1 rib; worked the bind off recommended by Sari on one sock and then switched to my TNT bind off (minus the 4 rows of slipping purl or knit stitches) for the other sock

RESOURCES

  • Tubular Bind Off in the Round (Recommended by Sari in the pattern) // Stitches n Scraps // Youtube

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

Final Thoughts

This makes a very elegant sock.

Ultimately, I don’t need very many lace socks in my wardrobe, so this will probably not be a TNT pattern for me.

Also, I really needed to reference the chart for each round, which meant that this was a full concentration knit. I tend to prefer my socks to be a bit simpler, as I often use them as my travel / guild knit.

A tip for the charts: After knitting several rounds of the chart (which are on the small side), I realized that I was having trouble seeing which stitch was next. So, I put purple X’s in the empty “knit stitch” boxes, highlighted the purl stitch black circles yellow, and used pink and blue colored pencils to denote the left leaning and right leaning decreases. This turned out to be key.

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.

Tin Ceiling Washcloths & Dishcloth // Sandi Rosner

PROJECT DETAILS

Status Finished Object
Started Teal WC: 11/22/2022; Red WC: 11/25/2022; Mint Marl WC: 11/26/2022; Pumpkin DC: 11/26/2022
Completed Teal WC: 11/23/2022; Red WC: 11/25/2022; Mint Marl WC: 11/26/2022; Pumpkin DC: 11/29/2022
Pattern Name Tin Ceiling
Designer Sandi Rosner
Size Made Teal, Red, and Mint Marl: Washcloth Size; Pumpkin: Dischcloth Size
Yarn Teal & Red: The Original Sugar 'n Cream (100% Cotton); Mint Marl: Sugar 'n Cream, Green Twists (100% Cotton); Pumpkin: Creme Cotton, Loops and Thread (87% Cotton, 13% Nylon)
Needles US 4 (3.5mm)

NOTES

I made these as a gift. I may end up keeping the pumpkin dishcloth.

Modifications

  • I used different yarn.

    • Teal & Red: 1 ball of Sugar ‘n Cream (had tiny bit left over)

    • Mint Marl: 1 ball of Sugar ‘n Cream twists (which has 95 yds. versus 120 yds.) + a little bit of the red Sugar ‘n Cream left overs

    • Pumpkin: Creme Cotton, Loops and thread (this has nylon in it, so it is not suitable to be used for hot dishes; it is also super soft and has very little twist - not sure how this will hold up, but it’s pretty)

  • I went down several needle sizes — to a US 4 (3.5mm) — to get gauge.

Final Thoughts

I love the tin ceiling design. It shows up very well on camera and is more subtle in real life.

The small size is quite large. In the photos they look potholder size, but are actually over a foot long.

Also, if following the chart, remember to do the opposite stitch (knit or purl) on the WS row from what the symbol means on the RS row.

Fingering Weight Oslo Hat // Petite Knits

PROJECT DETAILS

Status Finished Object
Started 11/21/2022
Completed 12/2/2022
Pattern Name Oslo Hat
Designer Petite Knits
Size Made N/A - I altered the pattern to accommodate fingering weight yarn.
Yarn Malabrigo Yarn Ultimate Sock, Leftovers (Boneyard Hat & Socks on a Plane), Main Hat Color: Cote D Azure, Brim: Camaleon
Needles US 1.5 (2.5mm)

NOTES

I made this hat for a coworker. She wanted a hat that fit her head (circumference 22”) and that was not slouchy but more fitted at the crown (similar to a skull cap).

Modifications

  • I used fingering weight yarn and a 2.5mm needle.

  • I cast on 128 stitches. Note: The original pattern sizes increase in a multiple of 8 stitches.

  • I followed the directions and measurements as listed on the pattern.

  • I followed the decreases as listed in the pattern; however, I added one decrease round (as listed for the largest size in the pattern) to make sure that I had 40 stitches before doing the last set of decreases on the last of page of the pattern.

Final Thoughts

This hat has a snug fit, which I believe will work for the recipient.

If I were to knit this hat for myself I would consider going up another increase of 8 stitches for a total cast on amount of 136. I would also knit 5.5 - 6” for the hat length after the WS turn for a slouchier hat.

Socks on a Plane // Laura Linnemann

PROJECT DETAILS

Status FO
Started 9/24/2022
Completed 11/20/2022
Pattern Name Socks on a Plane
Designer Laura Linnemann
Yarn Malabrigo
Needles US 00 (1.75mm), US 1 (2.25mm), US 1.5 (2.5mm)

NOTES

This was my knitting project for a trip to Greece and Germany in 2022.

Modifications

  • Followed the pattern mostly as written, but I used smaller needles to achieve gauge for the foot, switching to 2.25mm needles for the leg (after the gusset turn) and 2.5mm for the ribbing.

RESOURCES

  • SSP // Very Pink Knits // Youtube

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

Final Thoughts

This is a great travel project! It turned out to be just the right size and amount of knitting to take with me on a 3 week trip filled with activities.

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.

Headband with a Twist // Mirella Moments

PROJECT DETAILS

Status FO
Started 11/6/2022
Completed 11/9/2022
Pattern Name Headband with a Twist
Designer Mirella Moments
Measurements N/A
Pattern Size One Size
Yarn Spun Right Round // DK Weight Yarn // Left Overs
Needles TBA

NOTES

I am knitting this as a gift.

MODIFICATIONS

  • None

RESOURCES

Final Thoughts

A great quick knit, and a great way to use up left overs.