The peaceful days of camping in the wilderness go perfectly with knitting. What could be better than having coffee outside, with knitting on my lap? We camped twice in the last month and here is a look at the knitting projects I took along.
I live in Florida where we can camp year round. We take our travel trailer north to the Ocala National Forest and enjoy the natural springs, or old Florida settings which are free of traffic and commerce. Sometimes, out in the woods, the internet is sketchy or nonexistent.
As an older woman I am perfectly able to live without access to the internet, at least for a short time. I do work online, but it can wait a few days. Camping for me means relaxing around the campfire, bike-riding, and knitting. Usually my two cats don’t go with us, and that is a form of freedom in itself!
During this trip, my son took off on his dirt bike, and I worked on my recent knitting project. I’m knitting a fun, little project with wool, which I will use when we camp!
Seating pad project and Fontana my cat
The item is meant to keep your bottom warm while taking a sitting break in winter. The SkiBUM Felted Seating Pad comes with a color-work graph. I began by following it, then changed to more simple designs. I do a lot of knitting while riding in the truck. The bumpy ride makes it difficult to follow a chart.
My wool chair pad will be used when we camp. My folding chair has no padding. During cool nights around the fire, my butt was cold! I was using a little foam seating pad for some insulation. The wool felted pad will also be used when eating at the picnic table. I’m sure I can use it year round on our trips. This project is perfect for using up some wool stash! I’ll be writing a post about it soon.
Two Weeks Before This
We also camped on the days following Thanksgiving. During that two day trip I worked on my cotton top (Knus Light) while enjoying the grassy woodland view from our campsite. I saw a lot of Woodpeckers and heard Carolina Chickadees. From over by the lakes, the calls of the Sandhill Cranes could be heard all day long. Lots of deer crossed our path while bike riding. This area is full of wildlife.
Mornings were a little chilly, so I wore my fingerless mitts (Stellar Parallax pattern). I LOVE it when I can wear my hand knits.
Our campsite for 2 nightsKnitting the Knus Light top
I really enjoy this cooler weather. Getting outdoors, without sweating, is such a treat. It won’t last long.
Advice For Knitting on the Go
Be sure you have all the items you may need! Needles and yarn of course, but scissors, a crochet hook (for those dropped stitches), stitch markers and holders, and embroidery needle, in case you finish and need to weave in some ends. I like a simple project for the ride, and maybe one other for day knitting. We always have more than one project on the needles, right?
Thanks for reading. Here are more knitting stories.
This sweater knitting project was a fun one. Although there were a few things to figure out, I recommend the pattern to any fairly experienced knitters out there.
The Magnolia Chunky Cardigan is a beautiful sweater design. It is offered by designer Camilla Vad, and you can find the pattern to buy here.
I like to read through the comments by knitters who have previously knit a pattern. In this case, I think it was very helpful. I wrote a blog post about this when I first began to knit the sweater in September.
My finished sweater is a size Large, knit using 1 + cones of Harrisville Designs Highland wool in color Suede.
These photos were taken in the early morning, before the bright Florida sun could interfere.
A Pattern That is Fun and … Quick
I don’t think I have ever said that a sweater pattern was a quick knit. I always see knitters saying this, and usually I completely disagree. Being quick while knitting is not something I care about. I knit for fun, and it’s not a race. But, this time was different.
The types of sweaters I have knit usually become more boring as I knit down the body. Sleeves are usually slow-going as well. Because this pattern gives us something to concentrate on toward the hem and cuffs, I was not bored.
The body, with the nupps (or bobbles) did take some time. That one row with double bobbles was super time consuming…! There was always something to look forward to when knitting this project.
The sleeves were the fastest sleeves I’ve ever knit. Yes, they are 3/4, so that helps. Also, it is worsted yarn on size 10 needles. This also helps. LOL … The lace before the cuffs is easy – with no nupps.
Mods I Made
I really only changed a couple of things while knitting this cardigan. I added about 3 extra rows after the sleeves and body division. This is a good place to make the body longer. The few rows I added didn’t make much of a difference.
The nupps, when I made them, didn’t look great. I practiced on some swatches and ended up doing bobbles instead. You can find the link to making Bobbles that Pop on my Ravelry page. They take more time, so it’s your choice.
Yarn
The yarn came from my stash. Like most knitters, I have a stash to use up. I loved the “Suede” color of the Highland Wool (Harrisville Designs) but I had purchased it on cones. The color is mostly gray, but with some brown. It’s so hard to capture the color, but trust me, it’s nice.
Leftover Highland woolSweater from a cone
Cone yarn is a bit different because it’s meant for weaving and machine knitting. Because of this, the yarn (I used) is thin and a bit stiff. Cones usually contain oil, which means the yarn needs to be washed well once the project is complete. Some people wind the yarn onto hanks and pre-wash it to remove the oil.
Below are photos of the lace part of the cardigan taken before and after being washed. It may be hard to tell, but after washing the fabric softened and filled out (bloomed). (The color comes out differently because of lighting.)
UnwashedWashed
The Highland wool creates beautiful hand knits. It comes in skeins as well. Most buyers use the cone put up for weaving. The cones tend to be without knots and ends – just one very long strand (450 yards). I remember finding only one tiny knot when knitting from these two cones. And the knot was way at the end of the first cone.
Cost is another consideration when knitting a larger project, like a sweater. Sweater yarn usually costs me around $100, give or take, depending on the yarn. I knit the Magnolia Chunky Cardigan using less than 2 cones, and each cone cost $25.50. That is less than $50 for the yarn to knit this sweater. And the yarn is nice wool.
How I Washed My Sweater Knit From Cone Yarn
Washing a garment made from yarn on a cone takes a bit more effort. I am no expert, but most places I found for advice said to wash in hot, or very warm, water. (This could be a problem if you use cones for colorwork, or combine various colors in a garment. I’m not sure about colors running and bleeding together in warm water. The addition of vinegar can usually help, but I’m not sure about that in warm water. Please leave a comment if you have some experience with this.)
My sweater is all one color. I washed it twice using Woolite. Some people use shampoo, or dish detergent. Those first two washes were done in quite warm water. I couldn’t bring myself to use hot. I saw a lot of gray water in those washes, meaning something yucky was definitely coming out. I let the sweater soak for about 10 minutes each time.
I did a cool water rinse, and then a second. The last rinse was clear, and that is when I added the Eucalan (Amazon paid link) to soften the wool.
A Worthwhile Knitting Project
The Magnolia Chunky Cardigan is unique and beautiful. It’s not the fit that looks best on me, but I couldn’t resist giving it a try. It is an elegant sweater, and probably deserves to be knit with some very pretty (and probably expensive) yarn. But my choice of wool works too, and I’m very happy with the outcome. Now, to find buttons.
Update: Since finishing (minus buttons) this sweater, I have been wearing it often. Thankfully, it’s “winter” weather here in Florida – at least for part of some days. I love the 3/4 sleeves, and the fabric is soft and warm. I love it!
A simple ribbed hat pattern with enough brim folds to keep ears warm. The Weekend Hat is a pattern by designer PetiteKnit.
Petite Knit has a few hat patterns that I’ve saved in my knitting library. While searching for a good pattern to use with Camel yarn, I settled on the Weekend Hat.
This is a fairly simple ribbed hat. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to spend money on such a simple hat pattern. Why couldn’t I figure this out myself? I’ve knit many hats, but this one includes rows of knitting that designate where the hat folds. And this brim folds twice for keeping ears extra warm.
But for less than $6.00 I can follow a pattern and have the hat come out correctly, with no figuring on my part. Also, I enjoy supporting designers for their hard work.
This hat comes in six sizes – but… size 0-1 years measures 18-19 inches in circumference. This seems quite large to me. However, using a thinner yarn with smaller needle size, would keep the hat smaller. This size information can be found on the hat pattern page – you don’t need to buy it first. (Link below)
The hat sizes change as follows: Cast on numbers are the same for 0-3 years. Also the cast on is the same for the ages 3-9, small and medium, but the length (height) of hat changes. The Large size has a larger cast on and is taller.
The knitting needle size suggested for this hat is a size 4. I cast on (I used this join to knit in the round) and began knitting using this size. It seemed too small, and after about an inch, I measured the stitches. Sure enough it was smaller than intended.
I wanted to go up one needle size but did not have a 16″ circular needle in size 5. So, I used my size 6. The camel yarn ball lists sizes 6-7 as the size to use with this yarn. Listed as a DK weight, this yarn is quite thick, and seems closer to a worsted weight to me. So, a size 6 needle seemed right.
The Yarn
It is a chainette construction yarn. Instead of plies, the strands are combined into a chain that is light and airy. Read more about the benefits of chainette on this page. Once it is knit, you will not see the “chain” texture. I was successful at spit splicing the yarn, but it took a lot of rubbing. This hat took 3 plus balls (buy 4) of Pascuali Camel DK yarn. I had quite a lot of yarn leftover, so the hat could have been made longer, or larger around. I knit the size Small.
One fold, with second fold line showing.
As mentioned above, this hat will have a brim that folds twice. For this reason, the cast on edge will not show. I did a long tail cast on, and even though I began the hat with a small needle, it all worked out fine.
I knit size small and the hat fits me, although it is not for me. I was knitting for someone who has a small head.
Full length with 2 fold linesFolded
I had enough yarn to make the hat longer / taller, but it would not have been necessary. I think it ended up the perfect height.
I took this quick (and non-perfect) photo wearing the hat. It shows how there is a little point at the crown.
Final Thoughts
The pattern is easy to follow and is mostly a 1×1 rib except for the few rows that make up the fold lines. If you would rather not include them, it would be easy to leave them out. Also, some Weekend Hat knitters knit the pattern but did only one fold for a more normal brim.
I suggest that you consider using the needle size suggested for the yarn being used. I did not knit a swatch to check gauge. My Camel yarn was closer to being a worsted weight and needed a larger needle.
This was my first project using Camel hair. I loved the feel of the yarn, which was soft and strong. Unlike sheep’s wool, the hat did not change much after washing. It also took three days to dry – but I live in a very humid place.
Now that I have finished knitting this hat, I can recommend the pattern. For the first time ever, I used Magic Loop to finish the top of a hat. I’ve used Magic loop for sleeves, but never for a hat. Small circumference knitting is always my least favorite thing to do.
If you are looking for an easy hat to knit, that covers the ears with many layers of warmth, I do recommend the Weekend Hat. I will be knitting it again using another Camel yarn. Be sure to watch for that yarn review.
I’m knitting a beautiful cardigan pattern by Camilla Vad. The Magnolia Chunky Cardigan is knit top-down with lace and bobbles on the body and sleeves. On this page I cover some issues I had in the beginning.
This is such a pretty cardigan, with lace at the bottom of the body and sleeves. The Magnolia Chunky Cardigan(Ravelry page) is a design by Camilla Vad. Although “chunky” is in the name, it is knit with a worsted weight yarn, or a combination of yarns held together that equal a worsted weight. The finished sweaters on her Ravelry page (link above) are so beautiful.
This button up sweater is shorter, with a boxy shape and 3/4 sleeves. Many knitters have lengthened it and knit long sleeves as well. Usually, I like a longer sweater, but this one is quite pretty as is. Personally, I like the way it is meant to be, so I will probably follow the pattern as written. Don’t hold me to it….:)
Heads Up
This is not a beginner pattern. It includes lace, which means yarn-overs done correctly. It includes bobbles (new to me), increases, knitting and purling through the back loop. There is a button band, or one with buttonholes. You should have experience with most of these things to complete this pattern.
The Yarn I Chose
Harrisville Designs Highland Wool, on a cone, is the yarn I chose for this cardigan. It is worsted weight, in the color Suede. The light gray yarn has a bit of brown in it, but the color is very neutral. Each cone contains 450 yards, and I have three cones. The yarn came from my stash, but I love the color for this project.
Highland wool cone – color Suede
This yarn is awesome. I love wool, and it is strong and consistent. There are knots, but they splice nicely.
This one can be a little tricky
Almost as soon as I began the sweater project, I had some trouble.
With this pattern, for whatever reason, some things could have been made much clearer. Thankfully for me, I am late to the party, and over 2,000 cardigans have already been knit from this pattern…. so it is popular! I want to thank the knitters who kindly shared helpful notes on their Ravelry pages.
Edge Stitches
This seems to be the biggest problem knitters have with this pattern: Edge stitches. At times they are included in the line by line directions, but not always. More about that in the “yoke increases” section below. But first…
The First Wonky Thing
The cast on and twisted rib neckline are done on smaller needles. Once the rib is complete, you simultaneously switch to a bigger needle while also beginning short rows.
If you are familiar with how short rows are done, you will know that a short row is just that – it stops short of the entire row, and then turns to knit back (or purl back) the opposite way. Knitting goes back and forth like this to lengthen the back part of the sweater so it will fit correctly. It is needed. You will be working off two different size needles until all the short rows are complete.
When I got to the “turn” I mistakenly picked up the smaller needle to knit because it was there! I had to rip back and use the larger needle while letting the stitches on the smaller needle just hang there. This was very odd, but worked out fine when I paid attention!
When expanding past each turn, just knit those few stitches off the small needle. And remember to pick up the larger needle as you knit, or purl, back.
Short Rows while changing needle size means some stitches hang from the smaller needle.Short rows completed
Yoke Increases
The designer makes a note at the beginning about making sure we don’t stagger the yoke increases. They should line up over one another. Each knitter must figure out how to space their set of increases. For the size Large sweater, which I am knitting, 11 evenly spaced increases must be figured.
I THINK that the trick here is to not include 2 stitches (the edge stitches) when dividing up the number of stitches for increases. Now that I’ve passed that part of the pattern, I can’t be sure. Next time I would try that.
I used Mimi Codd’s Knitulator to figure my stitch increases. I divided up the total number of stitches. I should have reduced that number by 2 (for the uncounted edge stitches).
This threw off my subsequent rows. Things did not match up to the pattern, but I marked the increase locations and kept my increases lined up – even though they were not exactly where it seemed they should be. All my stitch counts were correct.
The Lace and bobble making
If you follow the pattern, the lace section will begin right after the body and sleeve separation. I knit a few extra rows here before beginning the lace. This is a good place to add length to the body, if you want it.
The pattern has some stitches that do not show up in the lace chart, or the lace written directions (the pattern has both). These stitches are mentioned before beginning the lace section. We simply must remember to add them when we knit, or purl, each row. The best way to do that is to use stitch markers.
Place one marker after the first stitch on the right side, and one just before the last two stitches. Also mark off each section for the lace repeats.
I’m following the written out lace pattern. I rarely knit lace, and when I do, I usually have trouble. Those darn yarn overs get me every time!
Markers for end stitches
Those end stitches will remain knits – except for the extra one. Refer to the directions for changes to it.
Nupps or Bobbles – Swatching for Practice
I’ve never done a knitted bobble, but this pattern has something called nupps. They look like little knitting bobbles.
Before trying my hand at bobble making on my sweater, I decided to practice on a swatch. I practiced making the bobbles shown in this video. She goes a little fast, but it’s easy to pause and catch up.
To practice my bobbles and nupps, I knit a couple of swatches. I had a hard time at first with the pattern nupps. They are easy to do, but didn’t look very good.
Image below: Nupps tan swatch, and bobbles gray (many mess ups).
A bobble is fairly easy to unravel FYI, just in case it looks really awful.
My question is this, will the bobbles be too large compared to the nupps? Maybe I can find a nupp video. YAY… Mostly Knitting has a good Nupp making video which you can watch here.
To Be Continued
The directions for this sweater are actually pretty good. It’s just that you have to be careful and go back and reference particular rows and stitches. I’m grateful that all the lace rows are also written out! I’m not good at reading charts.
Now, I am going to finish the lace and ribbing and then start the sleeves. If I come across any other tricky directions, I’ll be sure to share. And if anyone who has already knit this sweater wants to chime in, please do so in the comments and help us out.
By the way, Camilla Vad has other beautiful sweater patterns. Her pullover, Magnolia Bloom, contains this same lace pattern, but it’s on the yoke. I have already knit the immensely popular Field Sweater.
New England's Narrow Road 