January Aran

First of all...thanks to everyone for their encouraging comments! I am really not the blogging type and wasn't sure if I would be able to do this. I hope I can post more regularly and add more educational information on knitting and yarns in general. For now, I will just do pics and small blurbs :)

So, for my January Knitters Almanac Project, we had to do an aran sweater. I swatched the cable charts that were given, but they did not show up well enough in the yarn I chose, so I browsed through my books and picked out three cables that I really liked. They are separated by purl stitches. I also wanted to learn how to do a steek, so decided to knit my sweater in the round, then cut it up the side to make it into a cardigan. Yes, I CUT MY KNITTING! I also had to take into account the fact that my yarn is not %100 wool, it is %60 silk and %40wool. So, I researched the best way to stitch it before cutting to prevent unravelling. EZ recommends having a glass of wine before you cut your steek to calm the nerves. Well, it was Sunday morning, so not really wine time :) I just cut without agonizing over it....

My vest still needs buttons, which I ordered from Camilla Valley Farms. 8 Fir buttons with button loops will finish this off nicely. Right now, for my photos, I used a wooden double pointed needle to give you the idea of how it will look.

So, I learned quite a bit. How to steek and chart my own cables. I knit the entire garment in the round, right from the bottom to the finishing borders. If you were to find the end, you would be able to unravel the whole thing! I also made up my own pattern as I went as far as sizing and adding a hood. I used up almost all the yarn I had (hence it is only a vest) and have enough left to just do the button holes.

The yarn I used is Katia Scotch Tweed in the Dusty Lilac colorway. I used all 10 balls. It is a chunky weight yarn so I used 4.5mm needles and it knit up quickly, especially because there was no seaming, only a few ends to sew in. I think I will get alot of use out of this vest considering it was -31Celsius this morning!

Many photos ..... Few Words

I haven't had much time to update my blog with my finished projects. I have just been way too busy! I did manage to get a whole blog post almost complete when my computer shut down. I didn't have the heart to re-write everything so have waited a bit...Here goes; photos on top, info below each one :)

"Little Miss Muffet" by : Zephyr Style
Made for Willow in 100% cotton, this pattern runs small so it will end up for Scarlett sooner rather than later. Very pretty!

Octobers Knitters Almanac Project - Open Collared Pullover for Sage.
100% merino wool, so it is extremely soft and he can wear it next to his very sensitive skin. This was a lot of fun to knit and I learned a lot of new techniques. In the beginning, I didn't even want to knit this pullover, but now i am happy that I did!

Novembers Knitters Almanac Project - Moccasin Socks.
Ironically, I broke my baby toe so had plenty of time to get these socks done! I should have made them tighter but they do fit well. I love the colors too :)

Matching Hat for Sages Tweed Sweater. Nice and soft, ribbed hat with a diamond cable pattern added. He wears this all the time; even to bed!

Leg Warmers and a matching Ballet Wrap for Mady
This is the same type of yarn that I used for Sages pullover so it is nice and soft. I have added a free leg warmer pattern to my Ravelry page and will add the wrap once I have finished writing it up.

A chunky cabled pullover with drop stitch and dropped stitch sleeves. Unfortunately, the sleeves are way too long; still! I have taken them out and adjusted them three times now and will have to do it yet again. The problem? The pattern schematics don't allow for the growth that takes place once you drop the sleeve sts. Doesn't matter too much with the main body as the cables tend to help hold the shape. I love the sweater, love the soft Debbie Bliss Cashmerino yarn, but am not loving the sleeves. Showed it anyways because we all have projects we need to fix :)