Pullover #2: Aunt Fred

 

Yes, it's true. It's the TENTH month of the Year of the Pullover, and I've finally finished another pullover!

Pattern: Aunt Fred, by Pamela Wynne, from The Rhinebeck Sweater

Yarn: Quince and Co. Chickadee; Cypress (6 skeins) and Leek (4 skeins)

Needles: US 5 and 7 (2 sizes up from pattern suggestion)

Ravelry

 

This is the first sweater I've knit from The Rhinebeck Sweater, though I ultimately expect to knit almost all of them. I actually bought the book for Pumpkin Ale, which is still my dream sweater, but it doesn't fit into Year of the Pullover, so it will wait until next year.

I finished most of this sweater in July, but wasn't happy with the collar, so I ripped it out and redid it.
I'm still not happy. The instructions for the short rows are a bit vague, and I'm not sure I've done it correctly. The edge seems tight. The seam at the base of the collar looks rather messy too, but I made a good faith effort to do it neatly, and don't see any way to improve it.

I originally purchased 5 skeins of the main color, and as I got close to the end, panicked and ordered a sixth. When I started the collar, instead of using the rest of the fifth skein, I started right away with the sixth so I wouldn't potentially run out in the middle. So whether I actually needed a sixth skein is unknown, but I was happy to have it.

This sweater was my first adventure in steeking, which you can read about here. I'm happy to report no unraveling or other steek-related issues!

Overall, I'm happy with the sweater, but still need to lose some baby weight before I can actually wear it.

So, where does that leave me for Year of the Pullover? I'm still working to finish up my I Heart Aran, and have started Artichoke French, another great sweater from The Rhinebeck Sweater. Can I squeeze 2 more pullovers into 2014? Wish me luck!

Adventures in Steeking

After months of stranded knitting, one minor pattern misalignment mishap, and tackling stranding on the wrong side, I finally reached the point where I could go no further with this sweater without tackling the steek!

Since the sewing machine I got for Christmas last year is still in the box, unopened, a crochet steek was clearly the choice.

I am no great crochet wizard, but a crocheted steek really requires no previous crochet experience, just a hook and some yarn. Push the hook under 1 leg of each stitch you want to join, wrap the yarn and pull it through--it's not much harder than that.

The lines of crochet stitches ensure that your yarn won't unravel when you cut through the middle stitch. I did a swatch in the round for this sweater, and intended to practice steeking on it, but  . . . I couldn't find it. So, I just went right ahead with the sweater--if I ever do find the swatch, I can use it for a tutorial!

Snip snip! You can see the lines of crochet holding the knit stitches tightly--no unraveling here. The only places I had some trouble with unraveling were the top and bottom of the steek--not being an expert, I don't know the best way to handle this issue, I just used the ends of the crochet yarn to catch a few floats and stitches and tie them all together. The two loose edges from the steek fold back behind the collar, so you'll never see the mess.

And voila! A big gaping hole in my sweater. It just needs a collar.

Bound Off: Sprig

Have you checked your calendar recently?

No?

Then I have the sad duty to inform you that, somehow, tomorrow is the last day of June.

2014 is half over!

And what do I have to show for Year of the Pullover so far?

Well, I'm proud to say that I've finally finished a pullover!

Pattern: Sprig, by Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting, from Botanical Knits 2
Size: 36.75
Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Isadora, 4 skeins
Mods: none
Ravelry link

What a beautiful, beautiful sweater. The construction of this pullover is so inventive, you just have to go with it. Starting the asymmetrical neckline seems utterly bizarre when you cast on, but it all works out in the end.

Most of the sweater is stockinette, with some waist shaping, so it's great for car knitting or when you need something mindless and soothing to focus on.

Knitting on the collar and sleeve cuffs is the fun part, and it goes quickly too!

As usual, I loved working with Madelinetosh yarn; it's soft but sturdy, and colors are just gorgeous. This dusty rose is going to look so good with a pair of well-loved jeans and brown riding boots.

Assuming I ever fit into any of those things again.

If you've been paying attention, you'll know that I'm not modeling this sweater because I'm currently nearly 8 months pregnant; the dress form is optimistically set to my pre-baby measurements.

I followed the instructions for the 36.75" bust; the actual measurement is closer to 35". I can't remember if I did a gauge swatch, so we'll assume I didn't.

Just a little more motivation to lose that baby weight.

I opted for the button loop closure for the sleeves, and now I need to find, either in my stash or on Etsy, two perfect buttons.

(I guess technically the sweater isn't done without buttons, but far too much is at stake in the button decision-making process to rush it!)

I'm thrilled with the sweater, and can't wait to cast on my next project from Botanical Knits 2--my hard copy of the book arrived just last week (there's just something about having a paper copy, isn't there?) and I've been leafing through it excitedly.

But first, I've got a lot more pullovers to finish. Only 6 months of Year of the Pullover to go!

2014 Year of the Pullover: WIPs

I can hear you wondering, "Whatever happened to that Year of the Pullover Kristen was so excited about?"

You'll be pleased to know, I have not one, not two, but THREE pullovers currently on the needles.

First up, Aunt Fred.

Yarn: Quince and Co. Chickadee, Cypress and Leek

This one is moving surprisingly quickly for a stranded sweater. Of course, I'm not even close to the tricky part: steeking. I'm so happy with the colors I chose, and the yarn is squishy, soft and delightful.

Next, Sprig.

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh DK, Isadora

I've made significant progress on this one. I've finished the entire body, including the fun collar, and am now working on the left sleeve (the pattern indicates knitting the sleeves before the collar, but I didn't want them flopping around in the way while I finished the neckband). This is the very first time I'm trying magic loop, and I don't know why I waited so long. I think the word "magic" threw me off; I assumed something called "magic" would be extremely complicated, but it's not. I can see using this technique for all sweater sleeves from now on!

Lastly: I Heart Aran

Yarn: Knit Picks Andes del Campo, Dove Heather

As you can see, I just started this one, but despite being knit in pieces, I expect it to move fairly quickly in heavy worsted weight (I could modify to knit in the round, but I do find side seams give sweaters more structure). This will be a great cozy fall/winter sweater, I can just tell.

Any pullovers on your needles?


P.S. Don't forget, tomorrow, May 19, is the last day to use coupon code MAMA14 in my Ravelry shop to get 50% off Javi, Hugs and Smooches, Nevado or Cielito!

Pullover #1: Sprig

I've decided to stick with my original decision to make 2014 the Year of the Pullover. Even if they never fit me (and let's hope that's not true), they'll fit my sister, my mom, or someone.

First up, Alana Dakos' Sprig:

Photos courtesy of Alana Dakos

In this fresh green color it looks quite springy, but I'm planning an early fall sweater, and picked up some Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Isadora, a muted dusty rose:

 

I've got deadline knitting to do, but I still think I'll swatch for this tonight--it's been ages since I've actually finished a big non-design project, I'm hoping this will jump start the sweater knitting mojo. Especially since, despite me declaring it to be Spring, we're facing 8+" of snow on Monday. Ugh.

Anyone else Pullover-ing for 2014? What's on your list?