10.16.2011

Wearing one fall project, working on the next.

My nice, warm tunic is done & has been worn several times.  I loved working with this yarn (Berroco Peruvia Quick) and with the large sized needles needed to achieve the correct gauge, this project was a quick knit.  I followed the Big Montana Tunic pattern by Cecily Glowik MacDonald found in my fall 2009 issue of Interweave Knits Magazine.  This tunic was knit in one piece from the bottom up, ending with the cowl stitches being picked up & knit in the round.
Before:                                                                                            After:
 

The panel running down the center front & back is actually a stitch pattern, not a cable, and it was easy to remember once a few repeats had been done.

I am now knitting up a pattern called Glide by Kim Hargreaves from a collection of patterns made specifically for Cotton Tape by Rowan.  Although Cotton Tape was discontinued long ago, I probably wouldn't have chosen to knit this fall cardigan using a cotton yarn anyway.  I needed a warm wool that would give me a gauge of 13 1/2 sts per 4".  I ended up choosing Cascade Ecological Wool.  This yarn is 100% natural Peruvian wool that comes in an enormous hank of 478 yards!

The cardigans back & left front are done and I am almost finished with the right front.  I think I am going to do something new (for me) and knit both sleeves at the same time.  I have always knit my sleeves separately, but several of my students swear by doing both sleeves at once so I'm going to give it a go.  I think that I've never done them this way because I enjoy the quick turn around of completing one sleeve at a time.  Yes, there will always be sleeve #2, but doing both at the same time could be akin to having a back of a sweater on my needles.
I am loving the bobbles at the bottom & edges of this sweater.


10.04.2011

a treat for me & thoughts on blocking.

I have splurged & treated myself to a set of Addi Click Lace interchangeable needles!  I am loving the way my stitches are sliding off of the smooth nickel plated tips & along the flexible blue cord.  I whipped up a pair of fair isle mittens using the US#5 needle & the 32" cord (magic loop method).  I used Cascade 220 Heathers yarn. Cascade is a 'go to' yarn for me with so many colors to choose from.
Supervising from the background is my dog, Lucky : )


I have finished my Fall tunic & have included some pictures of my preferred method of blocking.  Depending on how many knitted items I am washing, I will either soak them in the sink or in my washer.  I will use a small amount of Eucalan added to the cold water & soak the load for approx 10-20 minutes.  The washer is then switched to a spin cycle ONLY and the garments are taken out when they are spun dry.


The pieces are then spread on top of large bath towels, flattened out & shaped just right.  On a nice day, the open, sunny window will have these dry by the next morning.  Blocking is the finishing touch needed for any knitted item to look amazing.  If not blocked, a sweater will look wrinkled & misshaped.