princessdeia

Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Classic AL in North Sea (Darker Blue) & Rooster Almerino DK in Sugared Almond.
Pattern: Hourglass Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts .
Needles: 4.5 mm.
Notes: Well, I did finish this sweater in a month – even I am shocked. I loved this pattern, simple stocking stitch on the round on large-ish needles. I think my love of this sweater was doubled with the combination of my Addi Turbos and the lovely soft baby alpaca/merino yarn.
Modifications: I made the Medium (41) sized sweater for the body, but found the arms to be too wide, so I cast on the next side down for the sleeves, I also found the length of the arms to be way too long (about two inches). As mention on several blogs/boards, I had to add several more rows of decreasing, I am not sure how many I ended up doing, I just kept knitting and randomly trying it on until it fit.

1. Hourglass – Hem, 2. Hourglass – Side, 3. Hourglass – Raglan

Tags: Finished Project, Hourglass, LMKG, Sweaters

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Well, I am still working on the Hourglass Sweater, I have finished both sleeves and am now working on the raglan decreases – this should be finished by the weekend.

I have been thinking about my new year’s resolutions for next year – I think I need to stash-bust (it is getting a little silly, that I keep buying yarn). I also think I need to control my startitis for next year. I am need to become a two-project gal, I figure I will always need a small project for carrying around, a major project to potter on at home.

So last night before, starting this new exciting knitting life, I decided I needed to finish what is on the needles. Attack the projects hibernating the bottom of my knitting bag, finally weave the ends on the Entrelac Scarf, sew the sleeves on my Central Park Hoodie. I thought I would start with the Flower Basket Shawl.

Now, I loved this pattern, and I like the yarn – I just don’t think they would well together. I think the pattern will look better with a solid coloured yarn, as for the yarn because it looks like water I am thinking it will be better suited for a River Stole or Print O’ the Wave Stole. So I frogged it – one project down – five to go!

Tags: Hourglass, LMKG, planning, Sweaters, WIP

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For months I was planning on knitting this sweater, if I am going to be honest, I think I planned on knitting this pattern soon after buying the book in New York way back in June 2005.

Now after a week of knitting I have nearly finished the first arm (I have a long knitting session planned tonight). I know this pattern is in the “Over Eight Hours” chapter of the book, but I thought that meant way more than eight hours, I think I have been knitting for around seven hours now.

I love this knitted on the round yoke type sweater, and I am already on the hunt for the next one to knit, I love the IK’s Equinox Yoke Pullover and Aftur (especially after seeing Lolly’s completed version), however I think that fair isle pattern is out of my league, so I think I will opt for Neiman, now begins the hunt for the right yarn.

Tags: Hourglass, LMKG, planning, Sweaters

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I spent most of the weekend working on my Hourglass sweater, I have to say this is knitting up so quickly, I have finished all the decreases and increases on the sides, I was thinking of knitting this as part of NaKniSweMo, but thought I would never knit that quickly now I am having second thoughts – maybe I could have who knows. I think part of the joy of knitting this sweater (apart from it being knitted on the round) is the yarn. Both wools are so soft, I just love the feel on the yarn in my hands and also the knitted fabric.

Recently my new obsession has become knitted things for the home, I have had Erika Knight’s New Knits for a while and love most the patterns, and she is about to publish another book Glamour at Home, which I can’t wait to see. After hours of searching I have found several things I want to knit (Mason-Dixon’s Absorba Bath Mat, Mug and French Press Jacket and Reverse-Bloom Flower Washcloths), but I started off with these lovely Flower Scrubbies. I adapted the pattern a little, to cover one side to protect your hands whilst washing.

Tags: Hourglass, knitting for the home, LMKG, scrubbies, Sweaters

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As well as being a showcase for all my present and past projects, it has helped me organised my stash and needles. But my favourite section has to be the “queue.” Of course I always have a list of planned projects – used receipts in knitting books, post it notes in magazines saved web pages and the odd scribbled note in the bottom of my knitting bag.

At the top of this list was always the Hourglass Sweater from LMKG, I got as far as buying the yarn for the project in the summer some Elsebeth Lavold Classic AL from Coldspring Mill. Before, I cast on the project I was checking out Ravelry (as you do), and discovered that you actually need more yarn than the project suggests, knowing I couldn’t get the same dye lot for this yarn, I decided to get another colour and add a few stripes to the sweater.

I then discovered it was almost impossible to get Elsebeth Lavold yarn in the U.K. so I asked the London Knitting Group for advice, I found out the Rooster Almerino Aran is a very similar yarn (50% Baby Alpaca wool and 50% Merino Wool), and comes in some amazing colours.

I managed to get the yarn in at Ally Pally, and now whilst ill in bed this week, I finally got around to casting this project on. For the hem, I used the provisional crochet chain cast on, and folded hem, similar to what you would use for a Picot Hem, done with the Almerino Aran and then changed to the Classic Al for the main body.

Tags: Hourglass, LMKG, picot hem, Ravelry, Sweaters

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Like most of the knitters in London, yesterday I headed up to Alexandra Palace for the Knitting & Stitching Show. Originally, I was meant to go on Thursday, but due to a heavy workload, I decided to go on Saturday, luckily Alice brought a ticket which she no longer needed, as she was now exhibiting, so I used her ticket. This helped me as well as I got to meet up with the girls – who had a list of stalls they wanted to visit.

1. Rooster Almerino Aran, 2. KnitWitches Pure Silk, 3. KnitWitches Pure Silk,
4. The Natural Dyed Studio – Alba, 5. KnitWitches Sock Yarn/4ply, 6. KnitWitches Sock Yarn/4ply

I managed to get some yarn for the swaps I am currently doing (not shown), and of course a lot of sock yarn – I also discovered a new store – KnitWitches, as well as selling some amazing, sock yarn they had some fabulous silk dyed in the most amazing colours. All I wanted to do after the show was go home a knit – but I decided to go to the pub and watch the rugby.

Tags: Hourglass, Meet Ups, Stash Enhancement, Sweaters

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Over the last week the weather in London has been very autumnal, it is not quite scarf and gloves weather – but we are getting there. As a quick project this I thought I would cast on some Fetching Gloves, I know last autumn these were all the rage in knitting blogland – but I am always late on the bandwagon (I still haven’t made any Monkey socks).

I had brought the Andean Silk with this project in mind, a quick check on Ravelry I found it is a popular yarn for these mitts, and I also discovered it is advised to going down a needle size.

As we had the three day weekend in the UK, why would I cast on one new project, when I could cast on two so I ordered the Gretel Beret from Ysolda, I am also making this in Andean Silk.

Of course, my knitting this weekend did include some work on the Central Park Hoodie, I have now finished the hood and all I need to do is the ribbed edging (what would be the button band without the buttons).

I am slightly concerned that all my knits are blue and feature cables – I have to admit I love the colour blue – but I think this might be a little excessive.

Tags: beret, Central Park Hoodie, Gloves, Gretel, Hats, Knit from your Stash, Knit Picks, Knitscene, Stash Along, Sweaters, WIP

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About once every six months, Jason has to work night shift, thiis means we get to spend the evening together and once he has gone to work I get to stay awake until the early hours of the morning knitting. This week I have managed to complete both sleeves, for my Central Park Hoodie.

Last night, I worked on and finished the hood. As part of the pattern you have to place the stitches for the cable onto a stitch holder, then cast off the stitches for the neckline. All these stitches are then picked up and worked into the hood, Rather than cast the stitches on the neckline off – I worked then in short rows and added them to the stitch holder.

The pattern suggests using a three needle bind off on the hood, but I opted to graft the stitches, as I think it will sit better and also leave a flat seam, I started the grafting at the cable edge to make use the two cables matched up perfectly – it took quite a bit of effort to make sure it looked like a continous cable – but I am really pleased with the results.

Tags: Central Park Hoodie, Knit Picks, Knitscene, Stash Along, Sweaters, WIP

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The body of my Central Park Hoodie as complete. I used the short-row technique for the neck decreases (which will be picked up and used for the hood), as well as on the shoulders – these were then grafted together.

I have even managed to cast on the sleeves; I am knitting them both at once. The yarn just glades over the needles – which brings me to my letter…

Dear Knit Picks,
Please can you start selling Wool of the Andes in the UK?
Thank you!

Dee

When it comes to knitting larger garments, I tend to use a lot of vintage patterns and which mainly use 4 ply cotton and tiny needles. One of the reason I was first attracted to knitting the Central Park Hoodie was the thicker yarn and needles, as well as the piece being so amazingly wearable. I knew I wanted to knit this piece in a chunky dark blue yarn however I never seemed to find anything that fitted the bill.

When I was offered the chance to be part of the Knit Picks trail, I knew I wanted to buy some Wool of the Andes – but was unsure what to make with it – originally I was think about purchasing a few balls to make a hat or some gloves, when looking through the colours, as soon as I saw the Arctic Pool Heather – I knew this was the yarn for my Central Park Hoodie.

I have to admit I have found it very hard to find wool I like, Rowan makes some wonderful wool blends (Felted Tweed or Kid Classic) and Debbie Bliss’ Cashmerino, is a dream to knit with. But I have not found plain wool in such a range of colours in the UK – and certainly not one as cheap as Wool of the Andes (I think it comes in at £1.25 a ball including taxes), so here is hoping that we can have more of this lovely yarn in the UK.

Tags: Central Park Hoodie, Knit Picks, Knitscene, Stash Along, Sweaters, WIP

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Inspired by the group on Ravelry, I have decided to try and knit from my stash again. With my knitting budget linked to Knit Wars (I have nearly 30 pounds saved up), a guilty feeling every time I see the two boxes of yarn in the corner and this bi-monthly colour triad for Project Spectrum (why do I collect purple yarn).

1. Texere Top Cotton, 2. Araucania Patagonia Nature Cotton (to make a v-neck sweater).
3. Natural Dye Studio, (Pomatomus Socks) 4. Knit Picks Palette – Brown -(top-up socks, maybe Baudelaire).

I have been working on my Central Park Hoodie most the week, following Lauren’s lead on at the KAL, I decided to knit this baby in one working on the back and sides at the same time.

I have adjusted the pattern slightly to accommodate knitting as one piece, eliminating a stitch at each edge for selvage, then adding an extra set of cables – which will be under the arms (where the seam should be).

Also, I have finished my Silk Shrug, I am just waiting for some sunshine to get outside and take some decent photos.

Tags: Central Park Hoodie, Knit from your Stash, Knit Picks, Knitscene, NDS, Project Spectrum v2.0, Sweaters, WIP

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