Gardening has kept me very busy lately, even though summer is a slower season for growing where I live. For that reason, I am taking a break from knitting. There are a couple of knitting projects I need to finish up, but I do not knit as much now.
The Rebel Cardigan is something I am still working on occasionally. I’m knitting the long version to use up most of my yarn, and I have a ways to go. This project is taking a while, but I am enjoying it.
Knitting on the Rebel Cardigan pattern
I’ve begun another Warm Up sweater but will not be knitting on that all the time either. I’m using three colors of Peace Fleece, and I changed the neckline.
Summer is not the best time to take on a knitting project. Here in Florida it is nearly always hot. I never take time off from knitting just because of the heat.
Maybe it’s the recent knitting projects that didn’t really please me, or maybe it’s the season. At the present time, I feel less inspired to pick up the needles. I do know that I have a pile of sweaters that need to be hand-washed, and that does make me wonder how many more I really need!
I hope you are having a great summer – if it is summer where you live. If you are a sub-tropical climate gardener, check out my gardening blog.
Knitting a summer tee pattern called “Lakeland” and using cotton yarn from Isager called “Palet”. This is my review.
I am finally knitting the Lakeland tee pattern (link to pattern at bottom of page) with short sleeves and a slight v-neck. This wonderful, easy pattern comes from designer Heidi Kirrmaier (link goes to her Ravelry pattern page). The Lakeland sample is knit in big blocks of color, but color choice is up to the knitter. Some knitters have done the top in one solid color. Others have used variegated yarn, or created stripes.
Isager Palet Cotton Yarn
Also, I am using a yarn I have never used before. Isager Palet is a cotton yarn with a flat strand and comes in variegated colors. I am using Ocean blue (5 skeins) as my main color and plan to use brown – color “Dunes” (1 skein) – further down the body for thin stripes.
Isager Palet is a flat, cotton yarn
The Knitting Pattern
The pattern for the Lakeland top is very easy to follow. I have just separated the body and sleeves and will now continue down the body and add some brown color at some point.
The pattern begins with some back and forth, flat, knitting which raises the back of the top (there are no short rows), shapes the neck edge and marks out the sleeve areas. All directions are very easy to read and understand. I used four different color markers as the pattern suggested, which was helpful.
All increases made at the edges of the neck should be done carefully and correctly because this part of the top will be very noticeable when worn.
I’m going to do something different for the sleeves and make them shorter.
The Lakeland tee, knit with Isager Palet yarn.
Knitting With Isager Yarn
I began knitting this top using metal needles and it made the Isager Palet too slippery. I changed to wooden needles and was happier. The yarn is very easy to knit with. I also went up a needle size, and my stitch gauge was exact, but the rows were short.
The fabric created by the Palet yarn is very nice. It is light, and will probably be fairly cool and comfy in the Florida heat. And let me tell you, it’s been hot!
One thing that I’m having trouble with is the way this yarn comes off the skein. If I pull from the outside, I tend to get a bunch of strands that fall off the skein and get tangled. If I pull from the inside, I can’t find the end easily, and there is a tangled mess. So, I’m not sure which is best.
I’m more used to using wool, and changing colors and skeins is a bit weird with this yarn. It seems like it won’t stay put when “tucked in”, but I guess it will.
Creating the Stripes
About five inches down the body I began to add stripes. I am doing two rows of “Dune” brown, and then seven rows of “Ocean” blue. I really didn’t know how I would do the stripes. All I knew for sure was that I wanted them to begin below the boob line. I’m carrying the brown by catching it on each blue row so I don’t have to break it every time.
Lakeland pattern – beginning stripes on lower body
The body rib is 2×2 with a split hem. This means that one half of the hem is knit first, then the other half will be knit to leave a split at each side. I like this look, but have never done it. I’m using a size 4 needle – one size smaller than the 5 used for the main part of the tee. The pattern directions were a little confusing here, when they say to go down one size, but the US sizes listed are 4 and 2. I used a size 5 for the main part of the sweater, then a size 4 for the ribbing.
Needle Problems
Unfortunately, I discovered that the Lykke blue needles that I bought were too rough to use! I ended up using the Chiao Goo metal needle for the ribbing. But, even after sanding down the Lykke needle (for the price this should not be a thing), it measures larger than a size 4! Hmmmm… I bought it on Amazon, so maybe it is not a real Lykke (Amazon is not to be trusted at times). I’ve never had problems before, but this was very disappointing.
Doing the ribbing on Lakeland
July 4th… Happy Independence Day my fellow Americans! Yesterday I tried on my Lakeland tee, once the ribbing section (half of it) was done. The garment fits perfectly! This is exciting, and makes me want to finish up my project.
Corrugated rib on sleeve
One sleeve finished
Lakeland Tee finished!
In The End…
Great pattern. I may use it to knit this top again using a wool yarn and making long sleeves. I love the shallow, v-neck. I’m not crazy about this yarn – for a shirt. The yarn color selection is a bit bland, and the end product is too heavy for wearing in summer in Florida. I wish I had NOT changed the sleeves and simply made them shorter.
I already have a new sweater knitting project in the queue – this time back to using wool. The yarn order is in and the Blueberry Vodka Lemonade pattern is purchased!
This post is a bit about my current knitting and the happenings in a life spent at home during a Florida summer.
It’s summer in Florida, and that always means two things for sure: Afternoon thunderstorms, and hurricanes on the horizon. Hurricane season picks up in another month, but the afternoon storms are here. The ditches fill, power goes out, the cable goes out (along with the AC) and I sit and wonder – Maybe getting an automatic generator IS a good way to spend my meager savings.
Yesterday a lightning bolt hit close by and the power was out for a couple hours. So what did I spend my time doing? Knitting, of course! There was just enough light, once the storm clouds passed, to see my brownish yarn on my green needles (not a good combo). I finished knitting my son’s watchcap.
Homemade Granola For Healthy Snacking
Yesterday, before the power went out, I baked up some granola. It’s been a while since I made granola, but it’s been on my mind. All this sitting around makes me munch, so it may as well be healthy munching.
If you are interested, here is how I made mine: Mix the oats (2-3 cups), nuts, coconut, sunflower seeds, etc., with oil (coconut) and sweetener (honey and / or real maple syrup), then bake for 20 minutes at 300 degrees, stirring halfway through. After it bakes to a crispy brownness, mix in dried apricots, cranberries, and raisins, or any dried fruit. Store tightly covered and eat within a few weeks.
It is yummy. I eat it on my Greek yogurt too.
Basics of making granola with fruit
Knitting Little Quick Baby Hats
Also, in the knitting department, I have been having fun knitting little baby hats for my BBF’s new granddaughter. She (the new baby) lives in California, but I was told it gets cold there, so why not send hats? I made up these little hats, and didn’t like the first one. Tiny hats use very little yarn, so if the end result is not that great, move on and do another. I knit these with 9 inch circular needles, until the top, where I needed DPNs.
On my fourth hat
Gardening and Bird Watching
I do have a job, and I spend a lot of time in my bedroom at the computer doing that job, and I can see the bird feeder just outside my window. Birds in Florida don’t need to be fed, but with the green spaces being torn out right and left, maybe they need a little help. Plus, I love watching birds. This is a leftover habit from living in New Hampshire when I fed birds all winter.
As far as vegetable gardening in Florida goes, my fingers are crossed that something will grow well enough to give me fresh veggies. It is unlikely. I let my straggly garden grow because the birds love to hop around in there in search of bugs and worms. I have one little squirrel who eats the seeds as well.
Summer green
Fair Isle Graph Book Gift to Myself
I’ve been wanting the Shetlander’s Fair Isle Graph Book for a while, but it’s out of stock in many places. I broke down and ordered from the UK, and spent more than I would have liked, but I now have this book which is full of old (1940’s) colorwork knitter’s graphs.
This book is pretty cool. Some of the graph pages show through behind my yarn photo below. I can’t wait to get started on a new Fair Isle project and try out these old designs.
Wool yarn
I do love the Rauma, and Jamieson & Smith wool for knitting fun colorwork patterns. The yarn was bought for mittens, but I never used it for mittens, only for hats. (See Katie’s Kep) Then I found a good place, with good prices, to order the wool, and added to my stash. (If you buy this type of yarn, check out Fairlight Fibers.)
Since I have given up knitting shawls or socks, for the time being, I’m not buying “sock yarn”, except when I come across a beautiful hand-spun. The striped baby hat, in my photo above, was knit with pink and yellow (two different skeins) handspun.
Newly Ordered Yarn
I’m still not a connoisseur of yarns, and sometimes it’s hit or miss. My list of favorite yarns is growing, but that only happens when I take risks and try new yarn.
Yes, I still order yarn, but this yarn has a purpose. I am getting a head start on Christmas gifts, which will mostly be … hats! Big surprise.
Quince & Co. Lark (worsted) – Knitting the Skiff Watchcap and not too sure about this yarn. Review to come. (I already knit the Skiff Beanie)
The Fibre Company “Acadia” – hasn’t arrived yet.
What About You?
I’d love to hear what you are up to while sitting around at home – if you are. Are you controlling your yarn purchases better than I am? Have you begun Christmas knitting projects? Would you share your own favorite yarns list here? What have you knit lately? Have you spent some time organizing that stash?
Here in New Hampshire we are having a gorgeous weather week with temps in the 80’s and 50’s (at night). With sunshine and low humidity, who could ask for more?
It’s a great week to get outside and hike, kayak, swim (take the dog) and pick local berries.
I am planning a trip to my favorite little mountain this week to see what I’ll find for blueberries. Pitcher Mountain is easy to climb and has fabulous panoramic views from the top. This time of year the place is loaded with blueberries – I just hope they are blue by now.
Roxie wades in the lake to cool off
It is not necessary to get into the car and travel on a nice day. Sunny, warm days are perfect for walks and I currently live near a lake in a rural area. My landlady lets me take her dog Roxie with me, and we have loads of fun getting exercise together. On our way home I let Roxie take a dip, and she loves the water.
If we decide to go hiking, we have Mount Monadnock and Pack Monadnock (smaller) close by in the towns of Jaffrey and Peterborough in the southern area of the state. And if my son was younger we’d take another ride up to Ruggles Mine in Grafton. That is a cool place to visit and collect rocks.
New England's Narrow Road 