Tag: sweater

Three Knitting Projects On My Needles in September

Three knitting projects recently begun by me. It is nice to have a variety, but three tops at one time is something I do not usually do.

It began with some new yarn I ended up not liking so much. It has ended with a new project using yarn I love. This is how I have ended up with three major knitting projects (tops / sweaters) on my needles.

Many people have more than one knitting project at a time going. I like to have something simple along with something more challenging. Knitters are creative people and working on something that is too simple can, at times, be boring. But a simple project is great for late night (low light) knitting, or travel knitting.

Uradale wool yarn comes in little balls. It has a thick and thin quality which I don’t really enjoy. I had enough yarn to knit a sweater, but decided to use the yarn along with some other wool I like more, and knit a different pattern. This led to the project Simple Stripes. It is a pattern by SuviKnits. I’m making some adjustments to this easy pattern, while using up a lot of the Uradale yarn.

Presently, I’m nearing the end of knitting on the first sleeve. My changes include some colorwork designs and a corrugated rib at the body hem.

simple stripes pullover knitting project

Pascuali Yarn, Cotton Suave

For some reason, I decided to buy some cotton yarn and try knitting a summer top. I say this because I really should know better. I’ve tried and failed to find tops and yarn that work for my climate. Ever since I discovered the Pascuali yarn company, I’ve made a list of their yarns I’d like to use. The Suave cotton was on that list.

A pattern called the Dandelion Whiff Top (link goes to the Ravelry pattern page) came up as a suggested pattern for the Suave cotton. It’s a cute tank. But once I began knitting with the yarn (a swatch), I decided it was too difficult to use for a bottom up, textured top – written by an unfamiliar designer (to me). Bottom up knitting turns me off anyway, and this top also has a textured pattern (I’m still scared of all-over textured patterns thanks to Oxbow). I would love to knit the Dandelion Whiff top in the future, but not using this yarn.

Knitting the Knus Light Top

A pattern for a short-sleeve, textured top, called Knus Light, by Elsebeth Judith, is what I chose for the cotton yarn.

The top is full of various sections of simple texture that seem easy enough for me to accomplish. This yarn is very unusual. You would never know it is cotton! The strand is fuzzy, but very strong. My swatch fabric is very soft and light.

However, I tried to unravel my swatch and couldn’t do it! The yarn tangled together and made little knots. For this reason, I want to knit something that seems pretty simple, without the chance for mistakes. Ripping back could be a nightmare. So I chose Knus Light which seems pretty straightforward.

Pascuali Suave cotton yarn balls in color brown.
Pascuali Suave cotton
Cast on and short rows for Knus Light tee knitting pattern.
Knus Light top
Knus Light knitting pattern in the works
Knus Light top

The Magnolia Chunky Cardigan in Wool

I’ve had these cones of Harrisville Designs Highland wool for a while now. I probably bought them with a sweater in mind, and then got sidetracked. Cones of yarn are cheaper than skeins, so I bought three cones of Highland wool in color Suede, which is gray. Each cone has 450 yards, and I should have plenty to knit the Magnolia sweater.

Harrisville Designs yarn cone Highland wool in color Suede.
Highland wool cone
Cast on, ribbing and short rows Magnolia Chunky cardigan
Magnolia Chunky Cardigan
Magnolia chunky cardigan knitting project on black cat

As soon as I began knitting with this yarn, I felt like I was home! I just love knitting with good wool. The Magnolia pattern is tricky, but many previous knitters have left some helpful notes. I plan to write a whole page about it.

So, my fellow knitters, this is what I am up to. I’d love to hear about your projects, so don’t be shy. Leave us some comments!

Previously on New England’s Narrow Road…

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First Attempt at Knitting Clotilde

I didn’t get far when I began the Clotilde Cardigan pattern, but it’s a good looking cardigan, and I’ll try knitting the pattern again.

The Clotilde Cardigan is made up of a “bold, diamond lace pattern” and the first time I saw it I knew I wanted it.  This sweater is unique and gorgeous.

This chunky sweater is knit using a worsted weight yarn along with Mohair. It is knit with large needles – size 10US for the neck and 15US for the main part of the sweater.

See / Buy Clotilde Cardigan pattern

I have only one photo to share because this is as far as I got with my knitting. I was having no fun, so I frogged it.

Yarn used is Alafosslopi and I had hoped to use up most of my Lopi during this project. Alas… I just can’t do it. I’m not done for good, but I’ll do things differently next time.

knitting Clotilde cardigan
Clotilde begun

Biggest reason I disliked this knit

Big reason I stopped was that I don’t like using big needles. The stitches were so tight on that size 15 needle that I struggled with every one. The collar is knit with a smaller size 10 and it went fine.

I decided to try this pattern using a smaller, size 10US needle. This was much easier and I knit a swatch from the “front” in the XL size.

Clotilde pattern
Size 10 needle

Intricate Pattern, and Knitting From Charts (Many Charts)

I read all the comments from previous knitters of the Clotilde and the big complaints were about the charts. All of the lace parts – which means most of this sweater – are in chart form only. Not only that, there are many charts to accommodate each section of the sweater (ex. sleeve, back, fronts, etc.). As you knit along, you must do each ROW of knitting using various charts. 

I don’t knit lace, but I realized I would have to do so for this sweater. Yarn overs are still something I can screw up nicely, and that “left leaning decrease” got me. I don’t think I was doing it correctly. 

That number 3 is explained on the “Key” page. I saw complaints about no explanation for it, but now it is there.

Ds or Double Stitch

And then I was stumped by the Ds – double stitch abbreviation at the beginning of the new row of knitting. It simply means do the German Short Row stitch. (Pernille Larson, the designer, gives links to tutorials but they are all in Danish.) The work is turned from the previous row of knitting and then the stitch is done first thing on that following row. (Yarn forward, slip stitch from left to right needle and pull the stitch up and over. Continue knitting, or purling, as needed.)

Before I knit this again…

I already know I will attempt to knit this pattern again at some point, because I love the look of this sweater! I plan to do a large swatch (at least one) and learn how to correctly combine the yarn overs and the stitches I had trouble with. I can’t successfully knit this sweater if I can’t accomplish the stitches!

Smaller needles are a must for me. Someone asked if they could knit the Clotilde in a larger size but using smaller needles, to get the same effect. I didn’t find an answer, but I wonder that too.

In the End

While knitting this pattern, I didn’t get far. A couple of rows of German Short Rows and I quit. I’m so glad I did not buy yarn specifically for this project. The pattern is an advanced one for me, so I’ll use one single yarn – not two or more held together. I’ll try it with smaller needles. I’ll practice all the stitches on swatches to be sure I know what I’m doing. 

Any advanced knitter, who is comfortable with knitting lace and reading charts, could handle this pattern. This one is not for beginners.

More on the blog

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A Simple Sweater With Stripes

My newest knitting project is a simple sweater with stripes. A link to the pattern page on Ravelry is further down the page. This one is advertised as a good project to use up stash yarn. I can see how that would be true.

I was finishing up knitting the Warm Up sweater (#3), and I had to decide on a new knitting project. In the queue I had planned on a colorwork pullover and I was looking forward to it.

I began the cast on for the Secret Garden Sweater (pattern page at Ravelry). I messed it up when completing the join. It was twisted! I have not done that since back when I was a beginner. While casting on, I really was not happy with the yarn. It was very thin. And I had my doubts about the pattern. Something told me to move on and skip this one for now.

Uradale yarn skeins in brown and blue
Uradale yarn

If I don’t use the Uradale gift yarn for this planned project, what will I use it for? The Simple Stripes sweater was a pattern I had recently saved. It uses the same weight yarn. If I mix the Uradale with some of my stash wool, that could work. I could incorporate some colorwork into it. 🤔

I almost decided to simply use an old pattern I had already purchased. After knitting a few sweaters over the years, I could easily knit almost any pattern and do stripes, as I did with Warm Ups #1 & 2.

The Simple Stripes Sweater Pattern

The Simple Stripes pullover is a pattern by SuviKnits. I’m using needle sizes suggested in the pattern. Main needle is a 4.

Although this is a straight forward raglan sweater, there are two things you should know before getting started. Further down the page, I explain how to do both.

First, the stripes need to be smooth and even. This is simple until a new color is added. You need to make the Jogless Join. Find a method you like, and do it. You will be happy to have smooth stripes in the end!

Second, learn to weave in the yarn ends as you knit. This is not necessary, but will save lots of time later when the project is complete.

Simple Stripes sweater pattern cast on
Cast on and short rows complete

Know How to Do the Jogless Join

This is important. While knitting this sweater in stripes as indicated, you will need to do the jogless join when adding a new color. What this does is leave a smooth transition from one wide stripe to the next. You will want this!

In my photo here, the jogless join was made up the center of the back, until the separation for the sleeves. After that, the BOR (beginning of round) is placed at the side of the sweater. You will still need to do the special join whenever the colors change. It is easy to do, but there are a variety of methods for this.

Simple stripes pullover doing invisible join

If you simply keep knitting around and around without making the join correctly, there will be an obvious “jog”, or uneven rows, at the location where the new yarn is added. There could be a little hole there as well.

YouTube Videos For the Jogless Join

I could not find a video with the method that I used. But this is how I knit my jogless join. When a new color is needed add the new yarn. Before knitting the first stitch, wrap the old color over the new, so it tightens up the stitch. Knit normally around. On round #2, at the BOR first stitch, lift the right side of the stitch below onto the left-hand needle. Then knit that stitch together with the new color.

If you don’t have a preferred method for doing this, these videos may help.

The Chili Dog has a video for doing the join a bit differently, with the same outcome.

How to Knit Jogless Stripes – with good info on wrapping the yarn so there is no hole.

Suzanne Bryan has yet another way to do this. See her video here.

Weave in The Ends As You Go

Each time a new stripe is begun you will have a two new yarn tails to weave in. The old color will be cut (tail #1) and a new color is added (tail #2).

What I do is grab one of the tails and carry it along as I do when knitting colorwork. I hold the extra strand in my left hand. This tucks the yarn into the stitches for about 8-10 stitches. On the next row, I grab the other color that is left hanging, and do the same thing.

If you need another way, watch this video by Stephen West. He explains how to easily twist the yarn (in Continental or English style) so that the ends are held.

If you choose not to weave in the ends as you go, this leaves LOTS of ends to do all at once, when the sweater is finished.

Simple Stripes – The Beginning

My cast on is complete, and I went with the Jamison’s in a rustic orange. Jamieson’s yarn is a consistent size, whereas the Uradale is not. The pattern is very basic with short ribbing at the neck, then raglan increases along with short rows.

The Uradale yarn is fickle. The darker brown Moorit was quite thin compared to the Jamieson & Smith. When I added the Uradale Aess, which is beige, it is thicker. In general the yarn seems to deviate, sometimes becoming very thin.

I like the fact that Uradale yarn comes from a small farm on Shetland, but I can buy similar yarn in the US that costs me much less. This yarn was a gift, and I would not use it again.

I intend to mix the yarns I have to create stripes that vary in colors. I won’t have enough of the Jamison’s in one color to continue the color palette.

Simple stripes sweater knitting

As I knit this pattern, the raglan increases are done differently than most raglan patterns I’ve knit in the past. I’m wondering how this will turn out.

I’ve separated the sleeve, and there are big cast ons for under the sleeves. Now the knitting is round and round for the body.

Simple stripes sweater knitting project

More to come as I knit on this pattern. It’s the end of summer and here in Central Florida it’s a time to get planning the Fall garden. It means I am not doing a lot of knitting.

Update: Sleeve #1 is Finished

Hey, it’s September and I have finished knitting sleeve #1 of the Simple Stripes sweater. A little kitty-cat colorwork was added, and the cuff is a 3×2 (3 knits / 2 purls) ribbing on 65 stitches. Sleeve length is approximately 17-18 inches.

Sleeve number two will be all stripes and I will try to match colors. I do love the ribbing I chose, and the Rauma wool in off-white.

The Bind Off is normal and follows the knits and purls.

Sleeve number one is finished with a ribbed cuff

The holidays are coming – believe it or not – and any holiday knits need to be worked on. I have one or two on the needles. How about you?

Reading list

Hey Ya’ll I’m Finally Done Knitting Birthday61

My sweater knitting journey is over. At least it’s over for Birthday61. This project was so very slow at coming to the end. I’m glad to be done.

Cheers to me, I have finished knitting Birthday61!

This was a pattern that haunted my days. I’d come too far to rip it out or leave it to mold. I had to trudge on. As I began the sleeves, I couldn’t find a good way to do that small circumference.

On the first sleeve, I tried Magic loop, DPNs, and 9 inch circular. I ended up sticking with Magic loop.

Off the needles
Tighter than I prefer
Washed

As I knit the first sleeve, and of course noticed I was getting nowhere fast, I said the hell with this!

I did the short sleeve version and I’m not sorry. I almost couldn’t believe I was done. I kept wondering if it was really true!

My sweater ended up being a bit tighter than I would have liked, although it’s a bit better after washing. The fabric is very nice, and I was so happy with the yarn. I’d definitely buy Biches n Bûches again. I do have nearly 3 full skeins of yarn left because I had planned to do long sleeves.

I don’t want to dis this pattern. (See the pattern page at Ravelry.) If you are an experienced, and fast knitter, this may be a great pattern for you. It is well-written. Many knitters have successfully made the long-sleeve version.

In a nutshell: One row is knit (in the stitch below) and purl, and one row is all purls. So lots of purling. I don’t mind purling. What I do mind (I’ve discovered) is knitting 2 rows that equal only one in reality! This is what makes the squishy fabric – and contributes to the time invested in the project.

ALSO… No one is ever going to notice the work (time)I put into knitting this top. It is a pretty plain looking, short-sleeved, pullover. I’m the only one who will ever know the months it took to create.

I will definitely wear my Birthday61.

More knitting notes…