Pattern Release: Drift Cardigan

Another seekrit revealed!  Today I’ve released the Drift Cardigan.

With an easy-to-memorize and fun-to-work lace motif being highlighted on the fronts and back, this is more than your basic raglan sweater.  Dropped stitch details accent the lace and keep the cardigan squarely in the Spring and Summer seasons.  The boat neck gives it a bit of extra sophistication and the shape gives a lot of options for ways to wear it!

This sweater is knit from the top down with raglan sleeves, so there are no seams to sew and just a few ends to weave in! 

You can download it directly from Ravelry, Craftsy or Etsy and get started on your own version!

FO Friday: A Scholarly Cardi

I told you earlier that I had finished this sweater, and I have!  Maybe a few days after I had originally told you I had though…I’d forgotten that I needed to knit and sew the band piece (kind of an integral part of the design, no?).  But! It is still done and it is purty

This yarn was totally fabulous to work with and made knitting the sweater fun!  I love the deep purple color and the slight halo it gives.

I don’t get to keep this version, it’s going have a life at Yarn & Coffee in Santa Fe, where it can be loved and petted and tried on by many a knitter.

Pattern: A Scholarly Cardigan

Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino

Mods: None.

Joining up with Tami!  What did you finish this week?  At least the week is finished, so even if your crafts didn’t bring you any end products, you’ve got the weekend to start anew tomorrow!

WIP Wednesday: A Scholarly Cardigan

First off, I want to wish my Dad a Happy Birthday!

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The past two weeks-ish I’ve been spending some time here and there working on a new version of the Scholarly Cardigan to hang out at Yarn & Coffee!

I’m down past the sleeves and minimal back shaping and am getting into the knitty gritty of the textured section.  This pretty purple color in Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino is going to be perfect – it’s heavy enough to withstand the texture and keep the wearer warm, but with short sleeves, the cardi won’t be too hot for summer.

The project page for this version can be found here.

Oh, and are you signed up for my colorwork class this (and next) Saturday at Yarn & Coffee?  We’ll be making one of my latest patterns!

Moonstruck

Remember last fall when I had so much knitting going on behind the scenes that I couldn’t show you?  Finally one of those garments has been released!

I knit the sample Chandra in ShibaGuyz’ latest Moonstruck book!  The yarn was from Mango Moon’s Nirvana and although winding it into cakes was a headache, the actual knitting was really nice.  I love the colors and the texture, the uniqueness of each skein is due to it’s handspun nature and it makes the finished piece one of a kind.

The sweater is gorgeous, drapey easy to wear, beautiful on a variety of shapes and sizes and was a pleasure to knit while visiting Rhinebeck, traveling, and decompressing.

The Dropped Stitch Pullover – In Real Life

Seeing clothes on a model and then seeing them on yourself can be a stark difference.  My model/friend for many of my latest designs is of that 1% body type – tall, slender, can wear anything she wants and looks amazing.  Myself? Not so much, a little shorter than average, lady-curves, short torso, all things you have to look out for when knitting for yourself.

Today I wanted to share pictures of how I styled the Dropped Stitch Pullover when I wear it out and about.  I’m hoping to start this as a regular thing – knits in the world – and I’d love it if you joined me!  I really enjoy seeing the practical uses of knitwear, and I happen to be a little afraid of wearing my actual garments (another post on this in the future) so this might just push me out of my comfort zone and into my knits.

A traveling outfit

On one of my many travels, I wore the sweater with a pair of dark skinny jeans and little booties.

It’s really not as revealing as you’d think with all those dropped stitches

And I wore it on Sunday at Rhinebeck with jeans, my Sunny Grey Skies Shawlette and a hair scarf (which are quickly becoming my favorite things ever).

Yea, I always wear a lot of rings

How do you wear your handknits?

FO Friday: The Rhinebeck Sweater

It’s about time, right?! The yellow sweater was finally finished, the night before I left for Rhinebeck, ends were woven in during my delayed layover in Dulles and it was “steam blocked” by hanging in the bathroom whilst I showered.

Freshygot the best pictures of it, for sure:

Perfectly fair-themed

Wanna hear the story about how the sweater actually got finished?  Of course you do.

1. The sweater was begunand most of it was knit in a 3-day period leaving me unable to move my wrist and wearing a brace

it all started with a big yellow ball

2. The rest of it was slowly added over the course of a few weeks and sleeves were a topic of concern

The Great Sleeve Debate of 2012

3. When I finally decided to do full length sleeves, I ran out of yarn (as was the concern above)

4. The night before I left for New York I sat and Skyped with my sweater in my lap, unraveling the bottom edging while also knitting this unraveled yarn straight to the sleeve, the two were connected and more yarn unraveled as more sleeve was added

5. After the sleeves were an acceptable length, I had to go back and re-bind-off the bottom border, which required more tinking

6. I still ran out of yarn 7 stitches from the end and decided that in order for my sanity to stay right where it was (which may or may not be questionable in the first place) I would just use the closest matching yellow yarn from my stash for the last inch of bind off.

it is ever-so-slightly neon

7. The sweater was finished. And worn. And it is glorious.

A pattern may be in the works if there’s interest, trust me, it’s warm and cozy and soft and a great addition to my collection.

 

WIP Wednesday: The Rhinebeck Sweater

Rhinebeck.  T minus 3 days and some hours and lots and lots of knitters will be entering the New York Sheep and Wool Festival.  I will be among them.

the one sleeve was completed Monday night at my new Pints and Purls group

And I will be wearing this sweater dammit.  Even if I do run out of yarn after lengthening one sleeve only to find that there isn’t *quite* enough to finish the other the same length…I’ll just fold them up to the elbow or something…fudge it a little.

Linking up with Tami!  What are you working on this week?  Will you be attending Rhinebeck too?

Dropped Stitch Pullover Pattern Release!

I’ve been hoarding this design for a little while now, first the idea came to me almost a year and a half ago, then I got distracted making other things and finally came back to (and finished) the original top earlier this year.

the back

With the changing of the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere and the wonderful versatility of this top I feel like now is the right time to release it to the public!

the front

Details can be found on it’s Ravelry, Craftsy and Etsy pages.

sleeve detail

WIP Wednesday: Yellow and Blue

Happy Wednesday!  I’m back this week with pictures of the yellow sweater and the Compass Rose Stole (finally).

It’ll be done by the time it’s cold outside, even if growth right now is slow

Obviously, the sweater is coming along.  Some time back I decided I wouldn’t have enough yarn to make loves (long sleeves) and certainly didn’t want to make shoves (short sleeves, thanks Freshy) so I’m going with elves (elbow-length sleeves) although I’m debating making the ribbing longer to match the bottom hemline, what do you guys think?

The stole is coming along although slowly, I’ve been busy working at the cafe and training for my race this past Saturday so I’m making some headway on it this week (while also working on products for the show I’m participating in this weekend).

makin’ progress

This picture was taken a day or so ago and I’ve made more progress, the Compass Rose motif is all done and I’m making my way to the edges of the mesh border, the Rose definitely takes more concentration than this part of the project so I’m hoping it’ll fly right along now.

Joining in with Tami as usual   What are you working on this week?

WIP Wednesday: The Yellow Sweater

I promise the yellow sweater is still being worked on (it’s in my lap right now even) albiet very slowly compared to it’s lightening fast start.

I like the way the collar turned out and am glad I did that before I ran out of yarn…

I’m still working on the first sleeve and am mildly concerned that I won’t have enough yarn left to make a second if I want to make them long sleeved.  I want long sleeves.  You know what happens when you combine those two words? Long sleeves? Loves. Loves is what happens and that’s what I want.

excuse the canine, she likes to be wherever I am (although she does kind of look like she’s just an odd growth on my hip)

So, basically, I’m trying to knit faster so that I don’t run out of yarn and if I do, well, maybe I’ll make them elbow length.  That seems to be in style this season. But combining elbow length only gives you “elth” which is less fun to say and doesn’t conjure up the same fuzzy feelings as “loves.”

Join in on WIP Wednesday over on Tami’s blog