Finished Object: Maeve

Pattern: Maeve by Carrie Bostick Hoge
Yarn: Malabrigo Rios
Colour: Cereza
Needles: 4mm and 4.5mm Round Needles
Start of project: July 15th, 2017
End of project: August 4th, 2017

On Ravelry

I love garments that can be put on and taken off without problems. Often I have to change what I wear quite frequently. One moment I am sitting quietly at my desk not moving much and the next I am walking around in my classroom and explaining stuff. So shrugs or open cardigans are perfect for me. When I saw Maeve I knew I wanted something like that, but a bit more fitted without feeling tight. I also knew I wanted colour, because most of the time I wear jeans and a plain shirt (very often a black one). When I ordered the yarn it looked like a deep intense pink, a colour I rarely wear but I decided to be brave and go for it. When the yarn arrive, I had to smile because the colour was quite different but probably much better suited because I love deep intense reds.

I started my shrug on my first days of the summer holidays and I loved to see how it grew. The garter stitch at the cuffs looks so soft and I also liked the stockinette of the sleeves. Then we left for Hamburg and Büsum and I had quite a bit of time to knit, I even took it to the beach at Sankt-Peter Ording. I managed to finish the back and the second sleeve while we were there, so I got to see if it would fit.

Back at home I started the band, following two modifications that I found in somebody else's project notes on Ravelry. I used two skeins for the garter stitch so I only had to knit without purling at all. That was such an amazing advantage, it would have taken far longer and it might have ended much more lopsided because I really don't like to purl for hundreds of stitches. I also tried adding short rows at the sides. I actually finished my shrug, but when I tried it on, I didn't like what I had done. There was too much fabric at the side and at the back it was all wavey in an unflattering way.

I was in no hurry for this to be done, I'd much rather have a top that I'd actually love and wear. I tried to come up with a new plan. I frogged back a lot and then I started short rows around the bottom and added stitches earlier.

I had no idea if this would work out. I love to experiment but it doesn't always end the way I imagine it, but this time it did. It only took a few days and then I was done again but with a different shape. I ended with and iCord because that's my favourite bind off.

Today we went to take some final photos and even though it was totally too hot to wear it I know that this will be worn a lot, maybe there will even be another Maeve in a different colour soon.

Finished Object: Silversmith Hoodie

Pattern: Silversmith Hoodie by Meiju K-P
Yarn: Malabrigo Rios
Colour: Teal Feather
Needles: 4mm, 4.5mm and 5mm Round Needles
Start of project: August 5th, 2016

End of project: September 12th, 2016

On Ravelry

It took me a bit more than a month to finish this year's SSKAL project, my Silversmith Hoodie. I wrote about working on it here. I added 10cm of lenght to the original pattern, because I wanted something coatlike, otherwise I followed the pattern. Once the minicables of the back and on both sides were done, progress was much faster even though it got quite heavy and very warm while knitting the sleeves and the hoodie. I mostly knit in the evenings because it was too uncomfortable during the day.

 

This was one of the most interesting projects I've done so far. There are so many amazing and clever details in the pattern that aren't all that obvious but they make such a difference if you look closely. I especially liked the beginning of the body, the short rows at the beginning of the hoodie and the iCord bind off which gives it such a clean neat finish.

I am very happy with the fit of my new coat. I blocked it slightly larger, it was a bit too tight but now there are probably about 1 - 2 inches of ease everywhere which will allow me to wear a long sleeved shirt underneath. I think this might be a bit warm to wear inside most of the time but it will be perfect for cooler days outside and inside when I am not moving a lot.

Antonia and I went to take some project photos today and let me tell you one thing: This wasn't meant to be worn at almost 30 degrees, even when you are in the middle of lots of trees. So if I look a bit flustered, just imagine to wear your warmest blanket in the desert ;-) 

Nevertheless we had fun and I am quite happy with how these photos turned out. Somehow I really need to have photos I like at the end of a long project, it just ties down all the loose ends. I am fortunate enough that I usually have one or two photographers around (well my kids ;-) who know me well enough and are able to take as many pictures as I like.

Finished object: Atlas

Pattern: Atlas by Jared Flood
Yarn: Purl Soho Line Weight
Colours: Oyster Gray, Cardamon Green, Heirloom White and Peacock Blue
Needles: 2.75, 3.75 and 4mm Round Needles
Start of project: August 16th , 2015
End of project: September 12th, 2015

On Ravelry

This sweater was supposed to be my second sweater for this year's summer sweater knitalong. I still haven't started the first sweater on my list up to today (but I have the yarn all ready) because of two babies: I first knit Playdate for the KAL and then another baby was born and I knit a Peanut. When I was finally ready for the sweaters on my actual list, I decided to knit this one first, because my boy is growing and the biggest size is only a 10 and I got slightly panicky. Once I measured him I realised that size 10 should be a good fit and I was ready to go.

I didn't order the proper yarn meant for this sweater - Brooklyn Tweed LOFT. Somehow I was scared that it would break all the time and that it would be too scratchy. (I definitely want to try some Brooklyn Tweed soon, no more shying away from it now). Instead I searched for a similar yarn and found the Purl Soho Line Weight. I really liked the colours (aren't those names the best) and once it arrived I knew that scratchiness definitely wasn't going to be a problem, because this yarn is soo soft. I wasn't sure how well it would hold up because it felt as fragile as spider's webs but somehow it looked ok even though the ends got really felty while hanging around.

The body took a long time and then instead of getting to an interesting part I had to knit two sleeves. More stockinette that went on forever. I decided to learn a new technique and knit both of them at the same time (definitely worth repeating). Finally I got to put everything together and then I could start the colour work. It was slow but I enjoyed knitting it. It was my first time with three colours in the same row and even while the yarn got tangled up in places it wasn't too hard to do.

Before the weekend in Tschiertschen all that was left was the collar, a lot of loose ends and the holes between the arms and the body. I got it all done by Saturday and therefore got to take a few pictures while still in the mountains.

I wasn't totally sure that it would fit Yannick. Today he tried it on and it looked ok. I blocked the arms and the body slightly longer so it will fit him through the next growth spurt which might happen any day. I am really pleased with how this turned out and I am quite envious of the beautiful yoke -  I can see a fair isle sweater for myself not too far away ;-)