Category: knitting

  • FO – “Cotton” raglan

    It’s done! Finished in time to actually get worn a few times before winter’s over.

    Organic Wool Raglan

    Organic Wool Raglan
    Pattern: Cotton Raglan from Melissa Leapman’s “Cables Untangled”
    Yarn: O-wool in Oatmeal, 8 skeins – one a different dye lot
    Needles: Denise US 8

    Notes:
    There’s an error in the chart for this pattern – the right and left twist stitches in each pattern row should be the same as for the first row in order to make the column of stitches look as in the photos.

    I really like the sweater, but it’s a bit chunky-making, so no modelled photos today. It’s perhaps greatly the fault of the sleeves; they are too baggy at the upper arm for me, and it just makes the whole thing look big. I actually did kind of realize while I was knitting it that the sleeve looked a little wide, but I didn’t do anything about it…oh, well. It’s okay.

    The raglan is also a bit long for me – could have been solved by binding off stitches at the beginning of the raglan shaping! Strangely, this pattern just has you start decreasing, so no underarm gusset. The neck was also really wide before I did the collar; could’ve been solved by doing more raglan decreases.

    Instead of the cabled collar in the pattern, I just picked up (2 of every 3 stitches because I wanted the neck to be narrower) and knit some stockinette for a rollneck. It actually doesn’t roll enough when I’m wearing it! The stockinette just sort of flattens out.

    cables closeup

    The cable pattern is fun to work and easy to memorize. I cabled without a cable needle – I’d say that’s pretty imperative in a pattern with lots of twists!

    It’s nice and toasty. And the organic wool is SUPER. I love it – lots of plies, feels sturdy but isn’t at all itchy. Great yardage and price, too! (If you want to order some for yourself, we’ve got lots at lettuce knit!)

    Now, the new project of the week (along with some socks I’m trying to get done):

    ladder lace shrug

    A ladder lace shrug to wear with my hot black halter dress to rachel m’s wedding next weekend! I’m using super soft and luxe Sublime Merino Silk Aran (it’s black). Done the first sleeve, now motorin’ along the back.

    P.S. I’ve added some more stuff to the destashing page, mostly sock yarn. Email me at cosmicpluto at cosmicpluto dot com to claim!

  • go on, button me up

    Finally…FINALLY. I’ve been wrestling with the pattern for some weeks now, not because of the actual pattern itself, but making up the pdf – turns out Acrobat is a handy, handy program. Many thanks to some almost-family for use of said program.

    BUTTON ME UP PULLOVER

    Button Me Up! is a fun, fast and easy pullover knit seamlessly in the round from the bottom up with raglan sleeves. The functional buttoned yoke is knit flat, with button bands picked up and finished afterwards. Just the thing to show off unique or vintage buttons – the ones on this sweater were pulled from a thrifted vest!

    The yarn used in the pattern, Cascade Pastaza, is incredibly warm and quite durable. But if you don’t require such insulation, feel free to substitute any chunky-weight wool, wool blend, or cotton!

    FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
    Chest: 32[36, 40, 44, 48, 52] inches
    Length: 21[21, 22, 22, 23, 23] inches

    MATERIALS
    Cascade Yarns Pastaza [50% llama/50% wool; 132 yards/100g]
    [MC] colour 060: 4[4, 5, 5, 6, 7] skeins
    [CC] colour 062: 2[2, 3, 3, 3, 3] skeins [color 062]

    5mm/US 8 double-point needles
    4mm/US 6 16” circular needle
    5mm/US 8 24” or 36” circular needle
    4[5, 5, 5, 6, 6] 7/8” buttons
    stitch markers
    tapestry needle

    GAUGE
    In st st using larger needles, 15 sts/20 rows = 4” (10 cm)

    DIFFICULTY
    This pattern is suitable for beginners. Skills: cast on, knit in the round, purl, decrease, cast off, and a wee bit o’ crochet.

    TO ORDER

    $6.00 CAD

    RAVELRY DOWNLOAD
    Just click the button to purchase through Ravelry – you will receive and automated download link, and the pattern will be saved to your library! Payment is through Paypal, credit card or balance transfer.

    Note: As of July 5, 2010, sales tax will be added to this price for all Canadian residents only. The rates are: British Columbia 12%; Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador 13%; Nova Scotia 15%; and everywhere else in Canada 5% GST. Tax will be added in the Paypal payment process.

  • time for a recharge

    I have been so wiped from school. It’s finally reading week, and I’m…trying to catch up on work. Seriously, I have no idea how people go away for reading week – if I went away for the week I’d been way more behind! Not to mention the fact that I have a test on the first day back.

    I’ve been taking the weekend to kind of chill out, though. Sleeping in, eating, knitting. My wheel’s down at the store still so no spinning, but I hope to fix that up soon!

    Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Tuscany. This is only the first sock – I’d intended to gift these during January, maybe, and now I’m rather worried that they won’t be done before winter is over!

    I don’t care how many people are whining about the weather, I like the winter and feel gypped by this particular season. I’m sad it’s going to be ending soon – usually by this time of the winter I am sick of the slush and snow, but since it didn’t snow until January (and I went biking at new year’s) I’m really not ready for it to be over. Also? I don’t think you should complain about the winter if you live in a place that, you know, gets winter. If you hate it all so much, move somewhere warmer! It’s used to be much colder in the winter (I remember going skating in -25 C weather and that was only a few years ago) so we’ve been pretty damn lucky that it’s been so warm this season. /end rant

    Ahem, where was I? Right, socks. My sock mojo seems to have been missing the last little while, but I think a new sock in Colinette Jitterbug is actually helping – I really want to knit it! Photos of that one to come.

    I’ve been working on a sample sweater for lettuce knit – the Jane Origami Pullover from Handmaiden, in a pink/brown colourway (lightbox success!).

    And! I have an FO to share. Soon. I should probably be finishing up some of them heavy-winter type garments soon as well…