On My Needles || Twenty Ten

Twenty Ten is a short sleeved, asymmetrical cardigan designed by Veera Valimaki.  Project number three that I have knitted in the past year from her designs.  I'm going to call this my "knitting rule of threes".  First, my obsession with Hannah Fettig's knitwear wonders, now Veera.  I wonder who will be next?
In any case, I began this project as an early summer knit - actually, I'm pretty sure I cast on for the flight to see my niece graduate from high school in Denver last May.  Sadly, Featherweight took priority over it after my return and I didn't pick it up again until this fall.  That's okay, since the turmeric colorway of Knit Picks' Billow yarn really put me in the autumn mood.  I had been starry-eyed over this smooshy-looking, bulky cotton since they debuted it - was that last year?  And for the record, it's just as smooshy as it looks.  They have a way with product photos, those Knit Picks people.  If you haven't seen the recent release of kettle dyed Hawthorne, prepare to lust.
When I first saw this pattern, I was really drawn in by the asymmetrical button band, again by the moss stitch texture, and the cowl neck really did me in.  The model is shown wearing it over a long sleeve top, and looks about as comfortable in it as I look curled up on the couch in my fluffy robe watching Gilmore Girls on Saturdays (while knitting, of course).
I finished it over Christmas and it's been blocked already.  I think it might end up fitting a little bit large, but I'm waiting to attach some buttons before I determine that for sure.  It's possible that I may sew the buttons on further onto the front panel from the hem than they are meant to go, partly to add a little fabric to restrict airflow, and partly for a more snug fit.  I'll let you know how that goes.
Moss stitch is my new jam, folks.  I've been using it on other small projects since finishing this one, just because I enjoyed looking at it so much.
Happy Friday!  I'm going to mope around because the weather is supposed to be gross AGAIN, but March begins next week so I know I have something to look forward to.  :)

Off the Needles || Featherweight Cardigan

Phase four in my saga of Hannah Fettig patterns.  This cardigan was knit with lace weight yarn.  Yes, lace weight!  It certainly lives up to its name, however, as it's light as a feather.  Featherweight.  As I've said with all of these Knitbot projects, despite the small gauge the stockinette pattern makes it a breeze to get through.
I added an inch to the body length since I'm not a big cropped top type of person, though it's still not what I would call a "long" garment by any means.  Perfect for a high waisted skirt or perhaps worn over a tunic, however.  I had to block it a little more aggressively than usual to stretch the arms a little, because initially they turned out a little tight.  The cardigan is fitted, but has great drape so it's not the sort of piece that I feel like I'll be tugging on all the time or uncomfortable in by any means.  This will more than likely go into my bank of repeatable patterns and eventually I'd like to have one or two more in solid colors!
The final comment I have about this project is related to my folly in recognizing that my yarn came in different dye lots.  I was halfway through the first sleeve before I noticed that the yarn used for the body was much duller than the rest which had more of a chestnut hue (the living room where I mostly knit is rather dim…)  Since both sleeves were knit with this other dye lot, it turned out rather symmetrical and to be honest I don't really even notice the difference much.  Sigh of relief!

Top - Loft; Skirt - Forever 21

 

Off the Needles || Brise

Brise was really a breeze (see what I did there?).  A long-winded breeze, but a breeze nonetheless, just like the other Knitbot projects I've taken on.  Effortless Cardigan... Walpole... who says miles of stockinette are mundane?  I like having at least one project going that doesn't require my full attention so I can keep my hands busy while watching our fave HBO shows (who caught the True Detective premiere last night?!) or a movie with my husband.  Truth be told, now that this piece is finished I will likely move on to the Featherweight Cardigan (also designed by Hannah Fettig aka Knitbot) using some gorgeous Malabrigo yarn I ordered with birthday money last summer... but that's another blog post.
This pattern called for Quince & Co.'s Sparrow, a linen yarn that the collection was designed around.  Since Hannah's patterns are of course simplistic genius, they are on the queues of many and this yarn was totally sold out when I went to buy it.  This may actually have been lucky for me, because I've been looking for an excuse to splurge on some Louet Euroflax Sport for quite some time... so in the spirit of seizing opportunities (as seemed to be my theme for the year), I went for it.  My normal color choices fall under the bold and bright categories, but since I do like to wear such bright colors I figured it would be great to have a neutral tone in my wardrobe.  This shade is called Ginger and had just enough punch to grab my attention.  (Hey, neutrals can be enticing too).
As I've said before on other Knitbot projects, the seamless design of this cardigan made it simple and non-stressful to create.  Sure, it took FOREVER, but that was due in part to my over-zealous period of cast-on addictions, and then it sadly sat on a shelf for the majority of the fall while I was working furiously on Saprobia and then preparing to move.  If you erase September, October and November from this timeline, it really didn't take all that long.
What do you think?  Have you tried any Knitbot patterns yet?  Have I convinced you yet that they are AWESOME?!?  I do feel like I should put this out there for those of you who have not ever knitted a sweater but are interested in attempting it:  Knitbot patterns are a great place to start.  Seaming is a chore, and it can be especially confusing when you're not that familiar with sweater construction and shaping.  Lining up pieces to sew them up can be tedious.  Why not just get used to the sweater knitting part and not deal with the seams?  All you have to do is put live stitches on waste yarn and then return them to your needles later, or pick up stitches along an edge and knit on.  Just something to think about.  You can do it!

 

 

 

 

Top and Jeans: Loft

On My Needles || Cardoon

Don't you love those flecks of color?  This yarn is quickly becoming a new favorite.  I've partnered with Love Knitting again to try out more of their eco-friendly products, and this time it's a recycled yarn by Rowan, called Purelife Revive.  It's made with recycled cotton, viscose and silk fibers, and has the feel of a plant fiber yarn that has me thinking it will just get softer with wear.  I love the statement on the label, "Recycling is becoming increasingly important in a world coming to terms with the challenges of environmental, economic and climate change.  Rowan Purelife Revive is made from used garments which have been selected according to the silk, cotton and viscose content.  These are then carded to make regenerated fibre, which is then spun into this beautiful, high quality yarn, which gives life to new hand knitting designs." The colorways are named for different geologic formations, and the one I chose is called Pumice.  I love the Pink Granite colorway as well - it really does look just like granite, with the various shades embedded into it.  Very fitting for the theme of the yarn as well to name them after a unique set of natural formations.

Love Knitting sent me a copy of the coinciding pattern book, the Purelife Recycled Collection.  The first garment I'm making from this lovely array of organic, down to earth pieces is Cardoon, a one button cardigan with rib texturing.  It's knitting up pretty quickly, so I hope to share the finished product with you in just a few weeks!  This would be a great pattern to make for a Christmas gift - since it goes fast and the cardigan is not too particularly fitted - no wonky shapes here to deal with.  It looks like both the yarn and the book are on sale on their web site right now, too!  More on this piece soon!

Off the Needles || Walpole

Yes, it's finished!  I started Walpole just after Christmas and after a slowdown in late February I buckled down last month to crank out the second sleeve and finish up the yoke.  The pattern is designed by Hannah Fettig, who is also the brilliant knitter who dreamed up the Effortless Cardigan (which I also LOVE).  I used Knit Picks Capra yarn for the project, in the Celestial colorway.  Capra is 85% merino and 15% cashmere, making this my first project to utilize even a small amount of cashmere.  It is seriously cozy--- super soft and warm, but also light since the gauge was so small.  TINY gauge by my standards, when it comes to sweaters.  This piece definitely worked on my patience, but I'm so happy with the outcome and have already worn it multiple times.
My sleeves for the Effortless Cardigan ended up a little shorter than I wanted, so I knitted an extra couple of inches on the Walpole sleeves.  Maybe I should have measured instead of guesstimating it, because after blocking I found that the sleeves hang nearly to my fingertips.  I'm not really bothered by it though, because in the cooler months I enjoy pulling my hands inside my sleeves when I'm outdoors, and the sleeves are easy enough to roll up.