FO: Hourglass Sweater

Pattern: Hourglass Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Hardware: 24” size 6 bamboo
Software: Knitpicks Andean Silk in Orange – 12 skeins.
Start: December 26, 2006
Finished: March 14th, 2007

I really like this sweater in the end. If you look back or notice how long it took me to finish, you can tell that I kind of lost interest along the way– starting and finishing CPH before wrapping this up, etc. I think the reason is that, well, if you're in the stage that I'm in - which is eager beaver new knitter who has a short attention span and who wants to try every new technique she crosses, this could fall by the wayside.

But in the end, I love it. While it's easy and some could say boring (your call - it's many many rounds of stockinette), someone could probably whip this out in 2 weeks and it's just a classic sweater with a bit of a twist.

The first picture I took was this one below. This shows me wearing the sweater before I blocked it and how short it was. This was tres scary.

But then I blocked. And this next picture was the first picture taken post-blocking. The sizing made me very excited and I requested an immediate photoshoot. We were just back from Loreley and several beers (hey, it was that first of the season 70 degree day and what better way to celebrate than at an outdoor German beer garden). Hands on hips and stilll wearing work skirt is indicative of excitement level.

Here is the final photoshoot:

The above and first photo of this post were taken this past weekend (with new camera, btw). You can tell I am in the exact same position so that I could see pre-post blocking. Important to note is that I actually wore the sweater to work on Thursday and then took these pictures on Saturday. Maybe I’m crazy but it seems to have shrunken in length from the previous picture?

Details/Modifications

In terms of yarn/gauge/amount – the pattern calls for a different yarn using size 7 needles. As you may know, Andean Silk has been widely used as a substitute, calling for a size 7 needle. When I swatched, I was running too big, which is kind of weird because I’m a really tight knitter. I probably wish I used the size 7. Blocking did a lot for me but I do wish this was a little roomier. It’s not too tight, it fits well, I just wish it was looser.

In terms of Modifications - I saw a lot of sweaters with serious boat neck action – which is really not that obvious when you look at the picture in the book. This is, in reality, the style of the sweater. This works for a lot of people, mostly those who wear strapless bras or have super bra strap invisible powers, but it doesn’t work for me.

I read a post by a woman who started doing decreases every row instead of every other row, to make the neck more narrow. I am fortunate enough to live close to Purl (owner is author of book), and so I strolled in for some direction. The staff recommended that I NOT decrease every row, but that I instead knit more rows, but continuing in the pattern of decrease one row and knit the next straight. Instead of 38 rows (I knitted the size for 37) of decreasing (19 decrease rows, 19 regular), I knitted a total of 44 – which nets 3 additional decrease rows.

I really wish I would have knitted this longer and while the blocking did wonders for me (added 3 inches in length without looking wonky/stretched)

And about that finishing. Yes, it’s annoying but it wasn’t at all hard. I have since seen some references to attaching/seaming the “turning round” as you go, vs finishing it after, and I would recommend that.

If you want a couple more pictures, click here.

I really need to step it up in the post-frequency department. I have so many random things to say but instead of doing 5 minute posts every day – they all stew in my head and come out all at once in a marathon post. Sometimes it's so overwhelming I quit before getting everything out. It’s not efficient and it makes me unhappy.

A bit of knitting progress to report – an almost FO and a new project.

Almost Finished: Hourglass
I almost finished Hourglass last Saturday. It is blocking as we speak and more on it next time with lots of details but here’s a final progress shot.

Next Up: Rusted Root
I finally made the decision last Thursday, when it was really hot out. Knitting Demi seemed entirely impractical. I raced over to Downtown Yarns after work to buy this yarn – at least right now Downtown Yarns (need my apt) and Yarn Connection (near my office) are the only places carrying Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece.

As for the color – I was envisioning yellow and while I was hoping for a brighter more pastel-ly yellow, this buttercream was the closest option and I’m happy with it.

I have a LOT to say on experiences with Hourglass and Rusted Root – more next time.

status

First, thanks for all the kind comments on my Central Park Hoodie. Like in all parts of life, it is incredibly motivating and great to get words of support and encouragement about my knitting :)

So I don’t really have anything exciting to share but there’s a lot I’ve been thinking about. I have a habit of turning into a psycho surfer, discover 45 cool websites and then forgetting them all. What I should really do is set up that link list on the left. That would be smart, right?

I’m not really sure what I’m going to knit next. Two things on my mind are Demi and this crazy hat that I saw on Knitty Gritty.

1.0 Demi probably needs no introduction:

BUT – I did discover something cool that everyone else probably figured out years ago, but that is The Knitting Garden. You can go on there and look, CLOSE UP, at all the patterns in Rowan, not only in their books but in their magazines. LOVE this. This takes browsing for patterns to a new level.

2.0 The Sundown Lid
As for Knitty Gritty, I’m not sure there has ever been anything on KG that I’ve wanted to knit but I just like Vikki Howell and love the Knit Bits. But then I saw this crazy hat – unfortunately there isn’t a good pictures but here it is.

This pattern is by Lisa Anne Auerbach. If you’re a tivo-er or dvr-er, this is actually a great episode, although unfortunately it’s not names so it’s not really searchable. I just love that it’s a. unique/cool looking without being too much and b. that it looks really functional. Plus, look at this math action. I happen to LOVE math.

Summary:
Er, it’s March, it’s getting warm out, and neither of these projects are practical. I have to admit – I am very scared of non-winter-associated-knitting. I have never worn anything knitted during warm months but I think it’s mostly just because I haven’t been exposed to what’s out there. I have a standard uniform for summer which includes various skirts paired with Old Navy tank tops. I swear they are the best thing ever – I kid you not, I have about 20. They are like a dollar and fit perfectly. Ah, I digress.

As for status:

Although I’m staying with her and I hope I’ll be wrong, I’m not feeling it with Hourglass – no matter how much I want to love her. I love knitting this because it’s easy and the yarn is soft. I’m just worried that it’s going to look awkward and frumpy at the end and if I had taken a step back before I even started, I would have realized that this is not a style of sweater I gravitate towards.

I have done two sweaters so far – Ms. Marigold and Central Park Hoodie. I love both and I’m happy with how they came out, except they just don’t fit me perfectly. I haven’t tried this yet but when I blocked Ms. Marigold, she came out too big around the neckline. I should just buckle down and re-block. Right?

There’s not much exciting about status shots of a sweater knit in the round in stockinette, but:

Remember Me?

Dear Katyaflutes,

I remember when you didn’t know how to knit and you looked at me longingly in Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

You said I was too hard, but then you tried Ms. Marigold and you were willing to give me a shot. You casted on, you got pretty far a long, started one of my sleeves in fact. You were so, well, into me, that you (were stupid to forfeit the obvious DPNs and instead you) invested in a 12 inch circular needle to do my sleeves.

But then you got greedy. You saw the Central Park Hoodie about the same time that you finished your Irish Hiking Scarf. I knew it was deadly but didn't think you'd put two and two together. But you did - Gorgeous sweater plus cables (which you now know how to do) = betrayal. Then you went and joined that KAL.

I just want to remind you of the fact that until either you or Hart get home from work before 8pm (and I’m sick of you whining about that), you’re not going to take any decent pictures of CPH. I also want to remind you that you were smart enough to take pictures of me when it was bright out. You're not Brooklyntweed, okay? You need light and the stars to line up (and a new camera already, right?)

And man, look at how gorgeous I am. I'm orange, I'm bright, I'm soft and let's be honest - you were smart enough to have seen an Inconvenient Truth. Yes it is sort of still cold but at this record, that CPH is only going to suit you for a short while longer. You need me.

You don’t know what you’re missing.

Sincerely,
Hourglass.

*******************************************************

Dear Hourglass,

Point taken. I’m back.

Love,
Katyaflutes

Field Trip

I'm happy to report that I am almost done with Ms. Marigold. Since we last spoke, I picked up stitches (successfully), did the border for the neckline and did my first crocheting ever, thanks to the many websites with close up pictures and step by step instructions. I'm almost finished with weaving the ends, will hopefully lay it out to block today and have some final pictures to share in the next couple of days.

Saturday Field Trip: Yesterday we had a wonderful little field trip to Tarrytown, New York. It all started about 2 months ago when our friends Kelly and Jared suggested going to Blue Water Grill. It was November, the leaves were turning and apparently BWG is beautifully decorated in fall colors. It was crisp and cool and definitely cider weather but we already had plans and it didn't work out. After Hart and I had dined at Blue Hill in NYC a couple of years ago, we've been eager to check out the Blue Hill restaurant at Stone Barn Farm in Westchester and, yes, the first available reservation was 2 months later, at 5:30 pm mind you.

We made a day of it - we left at 2pm and stopped at the Lyndhurst Castle, a really beautiful and historic gothic castle - with a boatload of history. It is gorgeous and we went on the tour, which was great.

We then headed over to Stone Barn and as it was already 4:30 and a little rainy out, we walked around the grounds a tiny bit and settled in to big club chairs in front of the fire for cocktails. The background is really interesting and exciting - the restaurant opened only a couple of years ago, and is located on the Stone Barn farm, a working farm that is also the SB Center for Food and Agriculture. They have lots of educational program, and Blue Hill uses all its ingredients from the farm.

We began dinner at 5:30 and left the restaurant at 9pm. This was the best dinner and dining experience I have had in a long time. We splurged on the tasting menu (5 courses + 2 desserts) and chose local wine which was amazing. The staff was incredible - and the service amazing. Usually I'm the tough diner - as I'm vegetarian but in our party we had 1 person (Hart of course) who could and would eat anything, one no-red meat eater and the best - one who wanted no vegetables. I kid you not.

I can't say enough about this place. It was luxurious, delicious and just a wonderful experience. The day was an adventure and a perfect excuse to get away from the city and be surrounded by nature.

In other knitting news, I am making progress on Hourglass but I have to say, this is going to take a long time and will require endless rows of stockinette. A new thing for me is this turning round thing - knitting a bunch of rows and then purling one. I wasn't sure what the purpose was but a couple of days ago I was watching Knitty Gritty and they explained it. They also showed a very simple way to seam it up as you're working but as I was too far past that point, I guess I just need to deal with it at the end. Not so much looking forward to that as well, we know I hate the whole finishing thing.

Future Projectos: I am getting really excited about the Central Park Hoodie from Knitscene, and if I can just get my act in gear, I'm going to run to either Purl or The Point this afternoon and grab the magazine and either buy yarn on the spot or ponder it for awhile. I'm loving all the pictures on the KAL and eager to start a little bit more complicated project.

Hourglass Swatch

Drumroll for the Hourglass. Learned my lesson on swatching and good thing - pattern calls for 19 stitches for 4 inches on size 7 and this netted me over 5. Switched to size 6 - close enough.

Start Date: December 26, 2006

Yarn: Knitpicks Andean Silk in Orange

Needles: size 6, 24"

Pattern: Hourglass Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts