New England native, Florida resident. Blogging about boating, beach-combing, gardening, camping, and knitting. Work for Zazzle as a designer since 2008.
Want to know more about knitting a first sweater? I have some advice for beginner sweater knitters, as well as pattern suggestions.
After fiddling around with dishcloths, hats and scarves for a while, and getting basic stitches learned, I needed a bigger knitting project. I yearned to make a sweater just like all those pretty knitted sweaters I was seeing everywhere online.
I tried to find out as much information as I could before choosing the pattern. I read blogs, Ravelry pattern reviews, and visited the forums, but I still felt indecisive. What type should I choose? A top down, or bottom up? Cardigan or pullover? Plain or colorwork? I had done a bit of colorwork and liked it. A cardigan seemed like too much to handle with button bands, buttonholes and buttons! So, I chose a bottom-up pullover with some colorwork at the top by a designer I’d seen mentioned quite a bit, and bought the Umpqua sweater pattern by Caitlin Hunter.
Some info here on beginning the Rebel cardigan. This is a top down sweater with a very unique construction at the beginning, which sets up the remainder of the knitting.
The Rebel Cardigan has been on my list of “to knit” items for a few weeks now. I had to finish knitting the Field Sweater, which I did, and immediately cast on this new pattern. (Pattern link at the bottom of this page.)
I’ve never begun a sweater like this. It’s begun in small sections, putting stitches on hold, and then knitting in another direction. It honestly looks a little weird.
Picking up stitchesUnique way to begin a sweater
This will be a long-sleeve sweater with an open front and no buttons or button-band to knit separately. This greatly appeals to me! I love the look of it.
Getting Started
The yarn I chose is by Knitting For Olive. I’m holding two strands, merino and mohair, together. The colors are Pea Shoots and Dusty Artichoke.
I’m knitting the Rebel sweater size 4, using needles size 6US.
Pea Shoots and Dusty Artichoke colors by Knitting for Olive.
The Rebel Cardigan pattern is written very well. Schematics are included so we are sure to know exactly where to begin knitting each of the sections. This is very helpful.
While knitting, we are putting stitches on hold (waste yarn), picking up stitches from edges and from waste yarn. All this is forming the collar, back, and right and left front. Soon it will all come together and make more sense, I’m sure.
Below is my photo after all sections of the Rebel cardigan are attached. Now knitting is done back and forth – knitting on the right side and purling on the wrong side, while increases are made for the sleeves and the back / body.
All section attached
The sweater will end up with a wide 1×1 ribbing down both sides of the front. The sleeves and remainder of body are knit in smooth stockinette. It’s a pretty clever design. One reason for doing the knitting this way is to help keep the sweater sitting correctly on the shoulders, and not slipping off as some cardigans have a tendency to do.
If you are interested in knitting this unique sweater, I have provided a link to the pattern here, which goes to the designer’s Ravelry page.
Pattern ideas for take along knitting projects, including hats, socks and more.
Knitting can become an addiction. Avid knitters will agree that the repetitive movements are soothing and relaxing. And what better place to pass the time by knitting than during travel?
I have not had a car for almost three years. My son drives me around when I need to get to the store. My Subaru was traded in so we could get a big truck to pull our camper. The truck is huge, and I don’t drive it. So I am always the one in the passenger seat, and often I take along a small knitting project.
Hats are perfect for travel knitting. My knitting journey began by knitting hats and they are still one of my favorite things to knit.
This ribbed beanie takes a long time to knit! It is a 1×1 rib all the way up to the decreases and top, using a size 1 needle. I have knit two hats from this pattern and love wearing them during Florida winter months. This slow and steady project is worth the time spent. Both of my hats were mostly knit while riding.
Keep it Simple
I like to keep it simple when knitting while riding. If I am making a hat, I like to have the cast on completed. That way I can do the knits, or knits and purls, while traveling. Of course you can knit any way you choose, but we are usually pulling the camper and the road is a bit bumpy because I am riding in a truck. Simple stitches are best for me. Choose what you can handle.
Any type of knitting that is round and round, without any guidance needed, is my preferred way to travel knit. If I had something more complicated – like a chart or colorwork – to follow, I’d use Knit Companion on my iPad.
I recently jumped on board the Musselburgh knitting bandwagon and knit this unique hat. My goal was to use up some stash yarn. This pattern begins with a tough cast on – it is knit from the center / top out. Get that over with and then it becomes a great take-along project. See my notes on knitting the Musselburgh on this page.
MusselburghUnique construction
Plan For Mistake Fixing – Bring the Tools
For a short trip to the grocery store a simple project with yarn, stuffed into a small bag, is fine. But for a longer trip, be sure to have the tools that may be needed to cut, mark, and fix mistakes.
A crochet hook is one thing a knitter should always have close by. If a stitch is dropped, the crochet hook (how to fix a dropped stitch video link) is needed for this fix. I’ve gone on short trips and dropped a stitch and had to wait until I got home to use my crochet hook.
Also take a project bag, all needles needed, scissors, stitch markers, measuring tape, the pattern, and enough yarn!
Socks Projects
I’m not much of a sock knitter, but I have made a few pair. Socks are the perfect take-along item because they are small.
A link to my review page (and pattern links) is at the bottom of each photo here.
Sometimes it’s nice to take some yarn and wing it. Make some new dishcloths, or begin a simple scarf. Just cast on and knit. It’s a good way to use up stash yarn. (Hint: choose the right type of yarn for the project, cotton for dishcloths, etc.)
Caution – Avoid the Sun!
One thing I have to be careful of where I live is to keep the knitting out of the sun. My little take along project must be kept in a bag, and especially if I am away from the vehicle for a while.
The sun can fade and damage the yarn. The Florida sun is very strong, but I don’t think any project should be sitting in a sunny car. I think it’s risky. So be sure the garment is packed away in case the sun shifts.
More Pattern Ideas For Take-along Knitting
Classic Ribbed Hat, by Purl Soho (Free Pattern) – DK weight yarn suggested
How to fix some common knitting mistakes. Every knitter needs to know how to un-knit, and frog to get back to their mistakes to be corrected.
One reason I refused to learn to knit when I was younger, was the difficulty in fixing mistakes.
When crocheting, we simply remove the hook and pull the yarn back past the goof, and begin again. This can’t be done when knitting.
How to “Tink” or Un-knit
While happily knitting along, suddenly you look back down the row you just knit (and it’s a good idea to get into the habit of doing this) and see something is wrong. Maybe what should have been a purl, is a knit. Maybe a stitch has dropped. Maybe the wrong color was used in a colorwork pattern. Whatever it is, it needs to be fixed. Now the stitches just worked need to be taken out, or un-knit / un-purled – back to the spot of the mistake.
Please note that if your mistake is waaaay back and it would take forever to un-knit to make the fix, read the next section about how to fix that type of booboo by frogging back.
The Chilly Dog has a good video showing (very slowly) how to take out knits and purls.
Sometimes your row will also have other stitches, such as K2tog, SSK, or more involved stitches. Good luck! Look that up on YouTube if you need help. Basically, undo the stitch by remembering how you made it in the first place.
HELPFUL HINT: Use stitch markers to divide a long row into sections. Unless you are simply knitting, or purling, divide each row into the sections used in the pattern. This way, if the count is off within that section, it’s a short way back to the fix.
While knitting the Field Sweater (left below) I used lots of stitch markers to divide my knitting into sections. I did the same for the ribbing in the Venlig sweater, mainly because the type of yarn made the stitches difficult to see.
If you knit to the end of the section, and something is off, you haven’t gone too far and the Tinking should be manageable. This is especially helpful for repeating patterns and colorwork.
Field sweater markersVenlig markers
Ripping Out Many Rows in Knitting, or Frogging Back
When I began knitting I feared making some huge mistake that would mean I’d have to start the whole project over. I actually took out entire hats because I couldn’t get back to the place I needed to be. This is known as Frogging in the knitting world.
Sometimes I’d slip the stitches completely off the needles and then attempt to put them back on at the desired place! Nightmare. I don’t recommend this.
Now I know the correct way to remove rows of knitting and begin fresh from the last correct row. It’s tedious and a bit scary for a big project, but doable. And, it’s a very good thing to know how to do.
I’ll be honest, I can only do this on a knit row. I use a small size circular needle, with a long cord, and pick up the right leg (or left – but do the same for every stitch, and only pick up one for each V) of each row of stitches. Do this all the way around, or across, to get every stitch held.
First time doing thisThis colorwork will be gone….
HINT: A sewing needle and waste yarn can be used in place of a knitting needle to hold the stitches. But the stitches held with waste yarn will have to be put back onto a needle, so it’s a bit of an extra step.
While picking up those stitches, be sure to stay on the same row – stitches picked up should be side by side, or in the same knit row. Once the spare needle is full with stitches from all the way around, or across (however your project is being knit – in the round, or flat), remove the project needle from the stitches.
Pull the knitting yarn (unravel) until only the stitches on that spare needle are left. Go slowly, and re-wind the yarn that has already been used. All stitches should now be on that small needle and are ready to be knit. Begin knitting according to the pattern, using the correct size project needle.
I did this for the first time when knitting the Marshland sweater. I’d done too many increases at one point, and had to go back many rows on the yoke to fix it.
Sometimes, depending on how you have picked up those stitches, they will be on the needle the wrong way. If the stitches are twisted, fix each one (quick video) as you knit the new row. HINT: You can also knit through the back loop to un-twist the stitch.
Gather Knitting Knowledge
In knitting, like many things, the more you know, the more you can do.
This frogging back many rows also comes in handy if you are unhappy with a finished, or partially finished, project. For instance, when I knit the Calliope sweater, I re-knit the first sleeve a few times before I was happy. I could never have done this without knowing how to frog many rows of stitches.
I plan to take out the neck ribbing on my recently finished Autumn Alpine and replace it with a better one. I’ll need to pick up stitches before I do that.
In other words, you are now free to correct and fix things you don’t like in a pattern. Even if you’ve finished the entire knit!
We Aren’t Perfect
We aren’t perfect and our hand knits don’t have to be either. I am a firm believer in leaving the little mistakes and moving on. Often it is something that only another knitter, upon close inspection, would notice. I don’t let it bother me.
Sometimes if I am off in my stitch count, I discreetly add, or remove, the extra stitch with a simple “make one” or “knit two together”. I’m becoming more creative in fixing little goof ups.
Knitting, for me, is a calm way to spend my time. If fixing a mistake will be more stressful than it’s worth, I ignore it.
I’ve only covered a couple of basic ways to fix knitting problems. Thank goodness for YouTube because we can usually find generous people who share their info with us.
New England's Narrow Road 