Finally finished.

Here it is all finished. This was a very satisfying sweater to knit, and the rose patterns were a fun challenge. I'll still be checking the blog to see other sweaters. I think it's fun that we've all changed it a bit.

Thanks, Jean, for having the idea and thanks, Astrid, for the blog and timely yarn supplies! Thanks to everyone for posts and comments. This has been a great experience.


Leslie

Crazy person flies to Florida

We had our first snow in Washington today and the sweater looks right at home.

Friday I'm going to Miami for our family Christmas. We'll be opening presents on Dec. 9 because that's most convenient for us. We're flexible: opening presents and eating a turkey is Christmas, no matter what the calendar says.

Of course, I'm taking along the sweater and I expect to finish it . I'll be there for over a week and all I have left is the sleeve cuffs, raw edge finishing and blocking. I'm doing carry-on luggage (presents were mailed last week) so.....I'm going to wear this sweater on the plane. If I have any more time I'll try to take care of the hanging threads. If anyone notices my sleeves aren't the same length, will they mention it? Stay tuned.

I see in this photo that the front patterns don't line up; in real life they're okay. Maybe my next photo will involve tropical foliage and lipstick. I seem to think of blogging on my commute and take pictures late at night. Not very flattering.

Jean, I can't wait to see a photo of your birds! Astrid, can we see a photo of your gorgeous sweater being modeled, or is it being saved for a Chrismas present?

Blog to you next week: Mom doesn't have a computer. But she knows about blogging!

Still Knitting on my sweater

I am almost done with my patternwork before the roses at the shoulder/neckline. still plugging away and loving every minute of it. the yarn is so soft and nice to knit with. i still think a colorwork sweater in browns with squirrels and acorns would be pretty!

Duplicate stitch the winner.

If I had to do it again, I would duplicate stitch the rose bands and not try to knit in the pattern. In this photo you can see the knitted in shoulders and the duplicate stiched button bands in the same picture. The knitted band took a lot of tweaking and wet blocking to look that smooth.

I have discovered that balling my hands into fists before I put the sleeves on prevents getting fingers caught in the floats. Put your watch and rings on after you don the sweater.

The reason you're not seeing photos of the completed buttonhole band is that I've reached another snag. The buttonholes on the lining don't match up with the buttonholes on the front.

The arithmetic to calculate buttonhole spacing was painful enough; I'm avoiding revisiting that problem. I suspect I should have verified that I had the same exact number of stiches on the front and back before I started. I hoped for the best and you see where it got me.

This knitalong is my first time participating in the knitting blogosphere, and I wish I'd jumped in sooner. I was telling some friends about it at Thanksgiving. Educated computer users, ages 60+ and 90+. Neither one had heard of blogging. (!) The hardest thing for them to get was "Why would anyone else want to read your blog?" The knitalong concept was a little easier to grasp.

Any discussion of why you want to read blogs leads to the Yarn Harlot. We went to her site and found "Mummy's Little Sweatshop" and read it aloud. The whole gang laughed and laughed. I was too shy to admit I read knitting books in the tub, too.

The first button band is coming along nicely:
Here's how I did it: I picked up stitches from the right side the usual way:

This is what the inside looked like. There was a loop on the back for every picked up stitch.

Using a smaller needle to help, I knitted up a stich in each loop. I used a second long circular needle.

Then I knitted the band circularly, as you would knit a sock on two circular needles. One needle for the right side of the band, one needle for the lining. When I finished, I wove the two sides together.

I pulled the yarn very firmly when changing needles. The transition looks good, I think. I used Cindy's technique and only knit the rose pattern in blue and green. I cut the green after every pattern row to keep the lining in one color. Before weaving, I duplicate stitched in the other colors.

Here it is partially woven:

My duplicate stitch is tighter than my knitted rose pattern but I don't think it matters. I couldn't think of another way to do it. I think the pattern is unrealistic thinking we could knit the multicolor pattern back and forth.

My extra yarn arrived in eight days and was a perfect match. Thank you Astrid!

Unfortunately I didn't order enough. The button band takes over half a ball of blue. So I've ordered more. It should be here by the time I need it.

Next challenge: Buttonholes!

Leslie

I've outfoxed myself

I finished the second sleeve and basted it in. I like the way it looks:



Here it is with the steek in the front:

The problem is that I've run out of blue yarn. I had to take out part of the sleeve hem to finish the second sleeve. That hem was too tight; I was planning to re-do it anyway.

It's not surprising I ran out: look how much knitting I cut away for the armholes:

I felt bad about a lonely ball of yarn traveling from Holland by itself so I ordered some Kaffe Fasset sock yarn to keep it company.

I have plenty to do before the yarn arrives. I can finish the inside of the bottom hem with white. I think I'll knit in my name and the year. That's an Elizabeth Zimmerman idea I've always liked. I'll experiment with the sleeve cuff. And I have to permanently sew in the sleeves.

Have you seen what Jean Townsend is doing? On her blog http://www.justmejeanie.blogspot.com/ she shows the bird pattern she's knitting on this sweater. I can't wait to see it. I think it will be lovely.

Leslie

Set in sleeve

I've been thinking about setting in the sleeves. Here's the sleeve basted in with the traditional dropped shoulder. Here's the sleeve set in:

This is what the armhole looked like:

I cut a slit in the sleeve to allow it to fit. The slit is the same width as the armhole, 10 cm in this case.

What do you think? I'm favoring the set in sleeve.

Yes, I'm planning a cardigan. The steek is in the back for these photos. I really love the rose pattern on the button bands. Has anyone started them yet? How are they going?

Leslie

Help with sleeves

I am starting the sleeves and I am not sure how to handle the increases. I am doing the middle size, that tells you to right away after doing the edge increase 12 stitches (final 58) and begin doing M4, but the pattern repeat is 12 stitches, so I am planning on increasing 2 more stitches to make it to 60, a number divisible by 60. Then they want you to increase 2 stitches at a time for 32 times every 3rd or 4th row, but if you do that there will not be enough stitches to repeat full pattern stitch for a while, what do you do then? How you handle that?

Thanks

Aurita

New KAL idea?

This is a cardigan that makes me drool.... really! Not just the pattern, but also the yarn.

100% extrafine merino (superwash) and not so very difficult to knit, needle size US 4-6 (3.5-4mm).

http://www.astridsdutchobsessions.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=2428

Have a nice weekend!

love,

Astrid.

xoxoxo

Help

Well I was moving right along enjoying to the max the knitting and here we are. I finished chart M3 and my sweater measures ~22.5 inches. According to the instructions, it should be 21.65 when I am next to done with the next chart M4. I know I am off but I like it like it is , longer. I just need your help to figure out what I need to do now. I know that the sleeves will have to be wider I guess to fit the steeks, but I deal with that when I get there.

I am planning on knitting chart M4 complete because I want to see those roses like they are. I need to figure out when to start casting off for the front neck. In the pattern it says knit M4 and when pieces reaches 21.65, cast off 34 + 5 steeks ( I am doing the middle size). Since I am past that length and I have not even started chart M4, how many rows in general of chart M4 do you knit when you had to cast off so I can use that as a guide? Or what should I do, I do not want to rip, it is not that I do not want to do it, I like it like it is now and desperately want to find a way to do it.

Assuming that you and me can figure out the above question, now the second. Somebody I think Annie, after casting off the necessary stitches, added back the steeks stitches to keep knitting in the round, but if you do that, how do you then keep casting off 2 stitches every other row to shape the neck.

I am getting all confuse here, so I am stopping until I hear from you or I can understand this, I keep reading and reading the instructions and nothing clicks.

Thanks and looking forward to your input

Aurita

Completed

Well, here it is, all done, steamed, buttons sewn on, and photographed. The buttons were from Joann Fabrics and are absolutely perfect on this cardigan, and were fairly inexpensive as well. The button band fabric is the best I have ever made, being very firm and even. My buttonholes leave something to be desired however, but I suspect I will get better at that in the future.

After looking back on the techniques, I'm not sure that I would change anything, except to attempt to knit in the rose border. Mine looks messy on the inside but looks great on the public side. Okay, I would change one thing: I would knit the armhole steeks in pattern instead of having extra steek stitches. That way, I could custom size the cutting of the steeks to absolutely match the sleeve width. (My sleeves matched quite well, but sometimes they don't.)

This is my most successful stranded sweater thus far, but now I have to take it off. It's way to warm!! Come on winter!!!

It has been a real pleasure being part of this KAL. Thank you everyone, and especially Jeanie and Astrid for organizing and putting up the blog site.

Sweater finished !

Fresh from the needles .......

love,

Astrid.

xoxoxo

Update on my sweater

Wao that is gorgeous, I wish I was that close. Right now, I am on row 37 of chart M3 and I am getting worry. I have 5 balls of gray left and 2 of the white, besides a little more than half of the working gray and a tiny amount of the working white. I don't see how it is going to be enough but I also don't know how much more I will need and i have to order it overseas from Astrid. I am doing the mid size cardigan.

Do any of you have any idea of how much to order or should I wait until I ran out completely and see where I am? I am afraid there will be not by the time that i use all of my balls and I absolutely love this sweater but also I do not want to go ahead and order more of what I need. Advice please

Aurita

Home Stretch

I'm done with the knitting, but have a little bit more duplicate stitch to finish up and then the buttonholes need some attention. (I did a 3 stitch buttonhole instead of the 2 the pattern suggested.) I will probably not do any embroidery on the button bands, mainly because I've run out of steam, but I sure do think it would look great. Buttons have not been found nor purchased yet.

I'm mostly very happy with how the sweater turned out. My techniques are improving greatly, with all the help from everyone.

One other note: I ordered and used almost all of two more balls of the gray. I knit the medium size which was very generous.

I have loved watching everyone's progress. Thanks, Astrid.

Steeks !

Just made the steeks, my husband was taking pictures over my shoulder..

I chose to make not a zig-zag stitch, but a stretchy lock-stitch.

The shoulders are now closed as well and I'm off to sew in the sleeves.

After that the collar :)

love,
Astrid.
xoxoxo

Making progress

I am making good progress on my sweater and enjoying every minute of knitting it!
No pics right now but I am just about to finish up chart M3 and then on the roses and all those colours.
Has anyone wondered why there is no M5? for this sweater? makes one wonder doesn't it?
Hope you are all enjoying knitting this wonderful sweater as much as I am
Thanks Astrid..
btw, I am using some Canadian yarn. Briggs & Little from New Brunswick. A little more friendly to my yarn deprived wallet at the moment but wonderful just the same. Will need a good vinegar soak when complete but that is ok.
take good care everyone and Happy Knitting!
Susanne in cooler Edmonton, AB Canada

Sleeve 1 finished and close-up rose border inner side

Hi everyone,

Just finished the first sleeve and asked my DH to take a picture of it.

Also a close-up of the inner side of the rose border, so you can have a good look at the spaghetti.

On with sleeve 2 :) Hope you all are having a great weekend.

love,

Astrid.

xoxoxo

Think I have messed up

Okay I have messed up good this time. Don't ask me what I was thinking my brain must be mush or something.
The 188 stitches for the ribbing is for the entire sweater correct not just half of the sweater. The sweater is being worked in the round so there is no side seam right!
I think I need to finish one big project at a time instead of doing 3 big projects at the same time. I have gotten 2 of my projects confussed! ouch!
Thanks for the help for a crazy lady right now!

Question about front ribbing

For some reason my mind will not wrap itself around knitting this sweater. I am just working on the back but I have a couple questions about the front of the sweater.
I understand about adding the 5 extra stitches for the front of the sweater for the sweater band. 2 things I cannot understand is where to put the extra stitches for the armhole streeks need to be added, I have read the comments and the directions and I know my sinuses are driving me crazy but I don't get where to add them. I am making the small by the way!

Also when you are working the ribbing for the front, how did everyone do this, Can I cast on half the stitches for the ribbing with one ball of yarn then cast on the other half of the stitches for the ribbing with another ball of yarn all on the same needle. Then I thought I would knit the 2 halves separate on the same needle but using 2 balls of yarn knitting them until I needed to start the first row of the body of the sweater then I would knit the 2 halves together with 1 skein of yarn and go from there. That way the ribbing would not be cut it would already be separated! Does this sound right?
Thanks for the help!

Some pics

Hi Everyone,

Here are pics showing the rose border I knitted on the body of my sweater, plus the spagetti on the wrong side (which, as you said, Cindy, I'd prefer not to display). Cindy, your knitting is gorgeous...it's so interesting to see the sweater with the body and your knitting of the shoulder is so superior, I think, to sewing it together. About the button bands.....although the model's sweater has the rose border on the button bands, the directions don't describe that. My inclination is to do a plain gray button band, with a red stripe....but I'm fascinated to hear what others think. Astrid and Cindy, I'm so grateful to you two for forging ahead so that I can benefit from your experience! Annie

Sleeve Lined Up with Body

For your viewing pleasure, a completed sleeve lined up with the body. It looks as though it will be a good fit, although next time, I would knit the body up to the neck with no steek, keeping it all in pattern, and cut a slit for the armholes. That way, if the sleeve did not fit correctly, I could adjust the size of the slit. I'm committed at this point.

The sleeve has been steam pressed and everything evened out quite nicely. The body has not been pressed yet but should improve as well.

I have used up all my gray yarn and have ordered more from Astrid, with a couple of inches to go on the second sleeve. She says she has plenty on hand, so not to worry. You could use another color for the facing if you wished in order to stretch it. My sweater is the medium size and I actually made the sleeves somewhat shorter than the pattern indicated.

Now I am thinking about the button bands. I'm thinking of putting on duplicate stitch after they are finished. Can't imagine trying to knit in buttonholes AND knitting the rose border too. Anyone have other ideas? Maybe I'll wait until Astrid paves the way!!!!

I adore this yarn and pattern.

Sleeve started

Hi everyone!

I'm back, a year older ! :) Had a great birthday, thank you all so much.

I started on the first sleeve and again, the roses were the hard part.
I'm knitting the sleeve in the round as well and because you don't have such a long row, it tends to curl up on the needles, therefore it's quite difficult to determine the right lengths of the different yarns on the back.

But, it worked and a picture will follow later.

Is anyone else doing the sleeves? And how did you do the rose border there?

love,
Astrid.
xoxoxo

View of Duplicate Stitch on Inside

In order for people to help decide which technique to use for the rose border, I've posted a picture of the inside of mine. Normally, I would not show this in public because I don't care for the look of it, much preferring a nice, orderly series of floats. But it is what it is. You can see the green floats above, before I did the duplicate stitch. And in addition, you can see the three-needle bindoff of the shoulders. I love that part.

Are You Having As Much Fun As I Am?

This is the greatest knit project I ever have been part of. I am working on the rows of graphs around the chest part. I am substituting a graph I found but it is still gray and white. I am so jealous of those of you that are done with the roses rows. I can't wait to get there. I will cast on a steek for after I bind off the neck stitches too so I can keep working in the round also. Come On Roses Rows!!

I did it!! I did it!! Steeking after casting off for the front

After knitting for the entire day today (really, I'm shameless, no laundry or anything else done), I've finished the knitting on the body of the sweater. It took me probably about 8 hours to do the rose border chart but it was worth it. I stranded yarns the way Astrid did and am very pleased with the front of the work. The back looks like spaghetti and isn't as even as Astrid's. Although picking up each yarn as I needed it was slow going, it worked quite well and didn't result in tangles. I'll send pictures soon (I'm using my daughter's computer, working around computer problems.)

One variation I did: after I cast off the front neck stitches, I cast on 5 steek stitches there so that I could continue to knit in the round which made doing the rose border much easier.

Aurita, I'm glad to hear that you find holding the white yarn in your left hand useful. I did that throughout the body, with the gray in my right, and continued to pick up the gray with my right hand (I kept that yarn to my right) in the border pattern, stranding it on top of the other colors (so it wouldn't "pop"). Incidentally, I kept the other balls of yarn lined up on the table in front of me the whole time. Miraculously, after taking out a few rows (pattern above the big Xs), I got the specified body length!! Who knew that would happen?!

Finally, I'm making size small and have 4+ balls of gray yarn left, so I think I'll be fine with yardage. Don't know if that'll help anyone else.

Happy knitting! And Happy Birthday, Astrid!
Annie

Update and question

First Happy Birthday Astrid, hope you get to enjoy it with your family.

I have been happily knitting but slowly. I only get ot knit a few minutes and not all days, but enjoying it. I have like 9 inches from the bottom, so tow more and I will be doing the increases for the arm steeks.

I have a question about how to handle the 5 middle steeks stitches. At first I was doing all of them in gray, than I did 3 in white and two in gray, intercalated. Then I read that it was better to do the two outside stitches of the steek (the ones that will be close to the knitting), in the color that was in the sweater, which means to have the two outside stitches in gray, I kept using the white in the middle but they look funny, because the last white stitch for the steek was kind of 2 stitches away when I pick that yarn to make the first white steek, it kind of came from the left, so those 5 stiches are looking kind of funny to me.

I may go back adn do all of them in white. How have you done it?

Also, I ended up using I think Cindy's suggestion about having the white yarn in the left and that has almost completely solved my problem of having very small lice. And to think that at the beginning, I knew the effect of having yarn in one hand vs the other and have decided to have the gray always in the left hand, because somebody else also said that you are better off being consistent through out. Well, that proves that every situation is different and you have to judge it and see what gives you the best result.
The only thing that I am not happy is with the 5 middle steeks.

Also, I decided to try the russina join I think is called, so every time that I start a new ball, I use that technique and will not have any ends to tuck in at the end, but the first ones.

Aurita

Inside picture

Here it is, a picture of the inside. You can see the long floats in the rose border.

Hope this is of help to you? I'm enjoying the KAL just as much as you, it's much more fun to do it together than alone and it helps you to knit just a little more (and more and more.....)

love,
Astrid.
xoxoxo

Dang where have I been i've been wait'n for us to get started and hadn't heard anything yet but now I see we have started.
I was wondering if you could post an upclose picture of the back side of the rose pattern area both in the knitted as you go and in the duplicate sts........to maybe help decide what way to attach the pattern,,,,,,Swede

Body finished in blue

Hi everyone,

The body is finished and I just started on the first sleeve.
The 2/2 rib is done and I really have to start on the rose border again, luckily the rows aren't that long on the sleeves :)

It's so great to read that we are really helping each other making this cardigan/sweater.
A lot of techniques are used and I think we're all enjoying it!

Have a great weekend,
love,
Astrid.
xoxox

M3 Pics

Here is the back of my sweater containing the rows you asked for, Jean. I hope this helps. Annie

Chart M3, Rows 25-45

I sure wish someone would post a pic of their chart M3. I am wondering about the rows with the section of M3 that are Rows 29-40 in particular. I looked at a pic of a sweater that was finished past that area, but it does not seem to look like my chart. I realize we can change up our charts if we want to so I would love to see some of the work done on any or all of chart M3.
I think your roses are just wonderful Astrid. I am looking at the blue and gray sweaters and just can't wait to get that far.

Rose border knitted in

It's possible !!

It took me almost an hour per row, but I did manage to knit the rose border without duplicate stitches.
As you can see, I'm only half-way (of course I didn't expect it would really take that long) but at least we know now that it's possible. I don't carry any yarns along, nor hold any in my hand. I simply leave them all hanging and pick up stitch by stitch the yarn I need, that's why it's taking so long.....

Enough yarn + roses

Hi everyone,

Don't worry too much about the extra yarn, I still have plenty of the grey and white and I managed to get 15 extra balls blue that are a closer color than the new delivery. Some are even of the same dye lot! So I'm sure there will be no problems at all.

This morning I will start on the roses border and I intend -stubborn as I am :) - to knit it in completely, we'll see how it goes. As soon as it's finished, I will post a picture of course.

I'm very happy with the way the sweater is going to look, it's even better than I expected!

love,
Astrid.
xoxoxo

My Tension Problem and Solution

it seemed every row of the little lice/ white dots, my white/ natural wanted to be tighter than the gray. sort of giving me squinty small dots. Each 12 stitches is a repeat. Each of my repeats is seperated by a marker. I do one repeat as given, the next one , for one of the dots i do a yarn over, k1 with the white. that gave me the little bit of extra white yarn in the yarn over.
on the next row , all gray, i drop the yarn over, knit the white stitch with gray.
the dropped yarn-over loosens up my tight white yarn tension just enough. it does not show at all for my own tension. it gives me one yarn over worth of extra yarn every 24 stitches, not too much, just enough.

Duplicate Stitch Photos

Here are the closeups of the duplicate stitch I am doing. You can see the progression that occurs: I knit in the green areas, and then started the gold in duplicate stitch, and finally the completed band. It takes some time to get used to it, but I sort of like doing the embroidery on the sweater. It sure does look a whole lot better.

I am starting to think about the front bands, and what I should do with them. Maybe the duplicate stitch, but then again, maybe just gray with the row of red on the edge, as the neckband shows in the original design.

How Is Everyone Doing for Yarn?

Hi everyone! I would like to know how the yarn amounts are working out, since some of you are getting pretty far along on this sweater. I remember that there was some concern early on about whether there would be enough of the main color in the kits, and that the blue was going to be more difficult since the new lot was lighter in color.

Could some of you that are close to finishing let us know what size you are making, and if there was enough yarn in the kit? And if you had to buy more, how much was required? This will help those of us who are a bit slower (ahem...), and lets Astrid know if there is going to be a crunch of orders for extra yarn.

Thanks!

Question about knitting a sweater in the round

Hi all,

Yesterday I began my knitting again but this time as a sweater. There is a slight jog where the rows join and I would like your opinion on where to place the join in the finished sweater as I think it would be too unsightly on the front. Would it be best at the back or at the side? Is there a way of avoiding this jog? Hope someone can help!

Thanks,
Julie

My Progress: Tensioning Two Color Knitting

Having said that I use the Philosopher's Wool method of tensioning two color knitting, I realized that my tension is tighter when I'm weaving in the yarn I carry in my right hand because I am not a continental knitter and I hold the yarn less comfortably and more tightly in my left hand. Sooo, the areas where the white yarn (held in my left hand) is dominant are trickier for me. I am not weaving in every other stitch in those areas and, instead am stranding 2-3 stitches. Like Cindy, I'm also concerned about the row gauge since I'm on gauge in the gray/peri M2 area but am averaging 23 rows/10 cm in the more lively M3. I may have to do some adjusting also like eliminating some rows in M3 (rows 43-50?). All of that said, I love knitting this sweater. The yarn is a pleasure to handle and the "real stuff" of patterning in M3 is great fun. I've never attached a picture before so I hope this works. One picture will show my project just after I cast on 90% of the total stitches with size US3 needles. I folded the bottom band and knitted it in before proceeding to the body (on US size 7 needles). The second and third pics show where I am now (the third is the inside). How are other people doing? How's the duplicate stitch coming, Cindy? Annie

I am starting over

I have not been happy with my color work...I am working too tight and it doesn't lay flat like your picures I have even avoided working on my sweater the last few days due to this...so today I frogged my work and will start again...First of all I am changing to the ribbed bottom..
I have seen Philosopher's wool color method mentioned... How do I find it? I am not giving up I love this sweater and wool.....This is a learning project for me...Any advise would be appreciated....Thank you so much.....Becky

Intarsia for the Rose Border?

Cindy's beautiful work is such an inspiration! I, too, use the Philosopher's Wool two handed technique for two color knitting and have found it very useful with this project. Has anyone thought if using a combination of two yarns carried (in one or two hands) and then picking up the extra colors used in a few stitches, like the green and reds, in an intarsia method? I'm into M3 and am contemplating the border. Annie

Frogged Rose Border

I couldn't stand it any longer, and I frogged the entire rose border and redid it. It took some time to untangle the mess, but it's done and I have reknit it using only the green and the gray. I intend to duplicate stitch the other colors. I am much happier.

Pics to come.

Body Finished

Here are pics of the sweater thus far. I will now machine-stitch the steeks for the sleeves and cut them open, and then knit the shoulders together with a three-needle bindoff.

I have had quite a few problems along the way. My major, major problem has always been my tension. I had to frog part of M3 chart (rows 29-38), because of my tension, since I could not live with the results. I am still trying out new techniques for stranding and weaving, and knitting with both strands in my left hand and sometimes one strand in each hand, attempting to see what works for me. I ultilmately replaced the original rows with another chart which had shorter floats, and it was much better for me. I also had to skip a few rows of M3 in order to get the length required for the diagram of the sweater. My row gauge was not totally consistent either.

THEN, the really hard part: M4. Talk about wonky tension!!!! I carried multiple colors in my left hand, and the gray background in my right. I sort of picked out the color in my left as needed. I am not really happy with my work in this area, as the the floats were really too loose on the back. (I sort of used the Philosopher's Wool method every other stitch, but I was so concerned about the floats being too tight, that I overcompensated. I have pulled up some of the longer floats on the back to diminish the size of the stitch to make it more even.) It became better as I worked. However, I can't stand to think about ripping it out and starting again. I'm thinking that duplicate stitching may be the way to go, but I was simply determined to get better at my knitting technique, and it IS better, although not up to my standards. :-) I am going to let this sit overnight again, and maybe 'think' about redoing M4.

At this point, I can't even consider doing M4 for the button bands!!!!!

Next KAL info

For the Atelier Zitron Cambio vest you need a total of 15 balls for size M and a total of 16 balls for size L.

They are US$ 5.95 per ball, so that's a total of US$ 89.25 for M and US$ 95.20 for size L.

Of course I'll make it a better price on this blog: US$ 84.95 size M and US$ 89.95 size L.

Pattern is available in German, not yet in English, it will follow of course....

If you are interested in knitting this for a next KAL, please let me know.
Other ideas are welcome too, or if you want to see what's available at the moment on my website, please look here: http://www.astridsdutchobsessions.com/scripts/prodlist.asp?idCategory=64&sm=64


I've almost finished the M2 chart on the Garnstudio and am so looking forward to the "real stuff"!

love,
Astrid.
xoxoxo
http://www.astridsdutchobsessions.com/

Steek Stitches question

I finally have the sweater on needles. I absolutely love this yarn. I have a question about the first row. I chose to do a 2 by2 rib at the bottom like Astrid used. Now it says to increase 5 stitches for the steek and continue to knit. Then increase at the beginning of chart m1 increasing 54 stitches for the large size. Here's the question does that 54 include the 5 steek stitches because if it doesn't then the total stitches do not add up to 252. SO do I just add 49 more so I end up with the 252 number? Also, it says not to knit the 5 steek stitches in pattern, so can I do a vertical stripe instead?

How is every one doing??

Hi,
I just thought I would check in...Haven't heard much on this blog just lately, is everyone too busy knitting???? I am loving this yarn and pattern I am just starting M2...........(I am not there yet but thinking ahead) I don't understand where to put the armhole increases...it says on the sides but for me that isn't enough explanation so if someone can help out a little.... How are you all doing????
Becky

Next KAL? Way too early of course, but still...

Hi everyone!

Got2Knit asked for a link to the pictures, but there isn't a link, as this will be in the new Atelier Zitron book that is due to appear only in October... So I contacted them and they sent me those 2 pictures. I saw them in real at the Atelier Zitron factory in August and was quite impressed, not only by the design, but also the yarn. It's Cambio, a lovely 50% merino/50% alpaca and very special too, as this yarn is undyed! So pure nature..... It's amazingly soft of course.

If anyone is interested, just tell me, I know the pattern will be ready quite soon, so maybe I can arrange something....

If you want to see the yarn on the ball, look here, 3 pages (all the colors are in stock)

http://www.astridsdutchobsessions.com/scripts/prodlist.asp?idCategory=96&sm=96

The sweater version:

Picture of Sweater

You can't see it real good but that is because I am having a little trial period with the new scanner. I found a good printer / scanner combination at target on sale last night for under $25. So I tried laying the sweater on the glass area. Sweater pic HERE. You can see the inside and outside of the sweater and way down in the bottom left area you can see the picot edge. I will try to take better pics. I never enjoyed knitting so much before. This is a SUPER KAL and I am loving every stitch of it!! This is the greatest wool ever.

Advice

Ok. I read last night about provisional crochet cast on. I went ahead and did 216 crochet chains (10% fewer of the 240 for the medium size) using Sinfonia, a mercerized cotton, using an F crochet hook. The total length of the chain is definitely longer than the length that I got when I did the same number of stitches in the yarn for the project with US 2.

So my question is: if now I switch to my yarn and US 2 and pick up the same number of stitches using the back loop in the crochet chain, at the beginning it will look kind of wider but I guess it will shrink as I knit the rows with these needles. So, should I kind of knit 1 or 2 extra rows until I get the right gauge and when is time to pick up the bottom stitches of the hem so I can join it with the top, just unravel a few of those extra wides rows.

or
you think as soon as I picked up the stitches will go to the right gauge?
Or I can try to do the crochet chain more tighter but they said to do it loosely.

Hopefully I am making myself clear. Thanks

Aurita

Another progress picture

This is how far I got, as you can see I knit a 2/2 rib and just finished the M1 graph.

Hopefully I can do more today :)

Cindy, you can be proud of yourself, you're obviously enjoying it!

love,

Astrid.

xoxoxo

Progress Photos

Here are a couple of pictures of my progress. The first shot shows the knitted-in hem, on the private side, done on #2 needles, as called for in the pattern. The second picture is of the jumbled up sweater, but I think you can see how the hem sits in relation to the body. It is a very firm hem, which I like a lot, but it stretches considerably. For your information, I am knitting the medium size.

I am continually monitoring my gauge, since it is crucial to do so, especially the number of rows per inch. If the row gauge isn't right, the shoulders will have more or fewer rows for the pattern, and I want it to fit correctly.

I'm already thinking about the best (ie, easiest!!) way to knit the rose border. It has a LOT of colors on some rows. Sigh.

I know that it seems like I am a champion speed knitter, but let me be the first to say that I am not. I started immediately upon receiving the yarn, and I had the good fortune to be home this weekend with very few things I needed to do. I'm also retired. So please don't let my progress intimidate anyone!!!

Knit on!! I can't wait to hear how others are proceeding.