NuttyIrishmanKnits

In Progress

This has truly been a mild summer, and it seems that when the weather is cooler my mind really turns to wool... and needles.  Last week I had a hankering for some good natural wool and I have to say I love Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool.  I know this might not be the first place one's mind goes to when thinking about a good earthy wool (or even second or third) but it really is great stuff.  And it comes in such a large amount... (227 g) that you can leave the store with two skeins and be ready to knock a sweater quickly.

I also knew which pattern I wanted to pair my wool with as well.  I found it on Ravelry a few weeks ago, Francis Revisted, by Beth Silverstein, and I loved it immediately.  This is my first time to knit a top down sweater, which is fantastic.  Or a sweater with raglan sleeves, which is also great!  This may be my favorite combination by far, and the design ideas are endless. 

I've finished the body and first sleeve, so only have the second sleeve and cowl to finish.  I'm hoping to gain some length on the body when blocking.  I'm knitting the small, which fits perfectly, but is a little short for me.  I know that one of the joys of knitting from the top down means you can try on as you go... but I'm too lazy to put all those stitches on waste yarn to try it on... So instead I hope to pick up a little length at the end.

I love the seed stitch detail on the hem, sleeves, and cowl as well.  I considered continuing the body and sleeves with the stockinette stitch, and may try that later on a different raglan.  Hopefully I'll have my Francis Revisited finished by the weekend!

I also have another sweater almost finished that I'm not convinced about.  I've been working on the Gathered Pullover from Interweave and I'm really not liking the holes created by working the center cable.  If you've knitted this and had a similar issue let me know if you have words of wisdom to correct it!  I'm almost finished with this one as well, but the cable has me stalling...

I hope the weather's nice where you are today!  It's cool and raining here, so I've made a pot of chicken noodle soup and a little hot chocolate.  Needless to say I am totally in the mood for some fall knitting.  So I'm going to get back to finishing my other sleeve... Happy Knitting!

First Sweater

Cobblestone by Jarod Flood
Knit using Cascade 220 Tweed, Olive colorway.
Knit with US size 6 circular needles.
Ravelers find it here!

Hey guys!  I've been pretty quite for the last few months.  Other things have been taking up a lot of time, but thankfully I've been able to keep knitting.  I started Cobblestone last, errr... October (that's so embarrassing to admit!), and finished both sleeves then.  In January I hurt my back and was on the sofa for a week (that's embarrassing too!), so thus began work on the body of the sweater.  I had hoped to have Cobblestone finished by the time we went skiing in March, but had a glaring mistake in the yoke that I tried to pretend wasn't glaring for, oh about 5 inches.  By the time I acknowledged the mistake I was in no mood to tink so I stuffed it in a bag and forgot about the whole thing until just a couple of weeks ago!

I started work on organizing and arranging my work/yarn room (been in the house a year, embarrassed yet again!) and found A's Cobblestone waiting patiently in the corner.  So I put in a DVD and spent the next day tinking back 5 inches.  Thankfully after that things went along smoothly, and a mere 2 days later I had a finished sweater, blocked and ready to wear!

This was an incredibly easy "first sweater" pattern.  I was surprised at how well everything turned out, with nothing being wonkey anywhere!  Maybe it's just me, but I've dreaded my first sweater for 2 years because of the possibility of something being wonkey! 

I knit the small version and after A tried it on, everything fit perfectly.  I extended the length of the arms slightly, but besides that had no modifications.  The Cascade Tweed (aka my favorite workhorse of a yarn) paired perfectly with the pattern and the stitch definition looks really good.  I look forward to knitting this pattern again, maybe in a charcoal or oatmeal tweed?

Hopefully I'll be able to get some photos of A modeling his sweater, rather than Lu and myself (like the striped pj's?).  He was terribly excited about my actually finishing this project, as he thought it would never be done!  But it's amazing how the process of organizing and reorganizing a room can give you just the lift needed to knock out some UFO's.  I hope everyone's doing well!  I'm looking forward to being back online and posting on more finished knits!  Happy Knitting!

 

Good Golly Miss Molly

Baby Sweater on Two Needles (aka February Baby Sweater) from Knitter's Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmermann.
Knitted using Malabrigo Merino Worsted, Molly Colorway.
Knitted on US 6 Crystal Palace Bamboo circs, 24 inch.
Ravelers see it here.

My mom called me last month and announced, "Tim is having a baby!  Make that sweater!!"  Now this is a big (huge/ginormous) exclamation for my mother, considering when she is visiting I get in trouble for always having needles out.  For some reason, non-knitters think that we knitters aren't paying attention if we are clicking away, which of course, is completely false!  It actually makes us better listeners, calmer therapists, and flat out better friends.  So I was so surprised when my mom specifically requested the Baby Sweater on Two Needles (aka February Baby  Sweater, aka FBS) by Elizabeth Zimmermann.  Does this mean I can now click away when Mom's in town?  I doubt it... but it is a baby step.

Actually when she asked for it, or demanded it, (tomato... tomahto) I was happy to oblige.  I've made this sweater once before and loved every minute of it.  Probably because it's worsted weight lace that whips up in about four days of knitting.  And anything that involves Malabrigo, well... 'nuff said. 

I tried something a bit differently on this one and chose to do a M1L increase instead of EZ's M1 choice of backward loop over the right needle.  I was hoping to avoid the small hole that this increase shows in the pattern.  I'm not so sure how it worked out as it created a small ridge on my increase rows, so I don't know that I would use it again.  I also decided to make it more of a swing coat, so I left out the decrease rows on the waist and spaced the button holes evenly in the yoke.  I loved how the buttons turned out so I know I'll be using those modifications again.

I've got several other projects going now as well, including two sleeves worth of Cobblestone for Andy, and our October Mitten of the Month.  So I'll be posting some progress shots later this week of these.  I followed Jared Flood's advice (i.e. epiphany) from his Spiral Yoke Pullover and knitted the sleeves first.  I think this is just brilliant as sleeves are usually the worst of mojo stealers.  It really is working and I'm actually enjoying finishing up the second sleeve!  (Give it a try!) 

But as for the FBS, there are already more in my future.  I've tried to cast on some alternatives, but I just end up frogging.  So as long as friends are having babies, I'll be winding Mal and knitting this sweater.  And goodness knows if it allows me to clickity-clack without getting the raised brow from Mom then I'll knit as many as neccessary! 

Aye Aye Cap'n!

Cap'n Crunch by Jennifer Adams
Knitted using 1 skein Manos del Uruguay, #40 Goldenrod.
Knitted on US Size 10 Brittany Birch straight needles.
Ravelers queue it up here.

Hey guys!  Long time no see!  I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post.  Ooi.  I guess things have been getting pretty busy around the Adams' house, including a move set for next weekend (insert Jennifer biting fingernails here).  But I've got to say I have been keeping up with all the great knitting going out there, and have really enjoyed some of the group discussions on Ravelry.  Alice introduced me to the group forums on Ravelry.  I've been blissfully unaware of so much of the "goings-on" in the knit-o-sphere, and now I'm trying to catch up on all I've missed.  I'm a member of a lot of groups on Ravelry but I guess I never paid much attention to the group discussions.  So, if we're in a group together and you notice me commenting a lot (!) just chalk it up to yours truly playing around with a new toy.  And goodness knows I have never been at a loss for words!

This month at our yarn shop we are celebrating Christmas in July, and we've got a lot coming up, including EZ classes and a mitten class featuring Fiddlehead.  And we also have quite a bit of Manos del Uruguay in stock as well.  I had originally planned to knit Shifting Sands using this colorway, Goldenrod, but the pattern just wasn't showing up as clearly as I had hoped.  So instead, I spent last Saturday knitting and frogging, frogging and knitting until I came up with something that could really show the texture of Manos. 

I began working with a simple basketweave pattern and discovered that it really worked best with the yarn held doubled.  Then I rummaged around in my grandmother's sewing box and found a couple of great green buttons to finish it off.  So from beginning to end this pidge took three hours (or three episodes of CSI).  Pretty good for last minute Christmas gifts! 

I also soaked this for a LONG time, okay... actually I forgot about it, so it softened up considerably.  I have also heard of soaking Manos in conditioner, and if you have tried this, let me know!  I'm interested in giving that ago, with proper instructions.  But overall, I think it turned out well.  I've been wearing it around all morning and it's not the least bit itchy. 

And then there was trying to come up with a name.  Andy came through and I asked him, "does this sort of look like barley to you?"  And he answered, "It looks like Cap'n Crunch.  I'm hungry."  So there you go.  Bon Appétit!

One is the Loneliest Number

Dashing by Cheryl Niamath, from Knitty Spring 2007.
Knitted in Cascade 220 Tweed, 7623.
Knitted on Crystal Palace Bamboo circs, US size 6.

Andy has been in Texas all week, and is due to arrive home this afternoon.  So it's been just me and the kiddos finishing up the last of the school year, parties, graduation, sun-burning track and field day...  you know, the typical weaving in of the end of the semester.  And I've actually gotten a bit of knitting accomplished, if you consider lone mittens and fingerless mitts as FO's.  I just started my Dashing Mitts yesterday afternoon and I gotta say, LOVE THEM!  I sort of felt like if I didn't cast on something tweedy soon I was going to go mad.  And I've got tons (tons I tell ya!) of yummy Cascade Tweed squirreled away for Andy Lee's Cobblestone, so what's one little skein?  Yummy is what it is!  I love this yarn!  I have never used it before and had some special ordered for the Cobblestone.  It is really a lovely yarn, and of course, it's Cascade, which means reasonably priced too.  This mitt took only around three hours from start to finish, and I'm really itching to get started on the second one.  I never thought I would be a fingerless mitt type o' gal, but it completely fits my personality!  I guess you never know until you try, right?



I'm knitting the smallest size of this pattern on US size 6 circulars in magic loop.  I have really small wrists and it's starting to loosen up on me as I wear it.  But if my wrists were larger, say a medium, I would definitely knit the larger size.  I'm considering steam blocking them slightly, but I really don't want to loose that great cabley texture, so the jury's still out on that one.  My plan is to finish it's mate up this afternoon and evening, and then chill out with my guy once he's had a moment to unwind.  (Yeah right!  Our kids will be all over him like white on rice.) And because of the name, Dashing, I have this mental picture of Colin Firth.  So you know what that means... yep, I'm gonna finish this knit while watching a little Pride & Prejudice.  To me, Colin remains perpetually Mr. Darcy, and 30 years old. 

And while I'm sharing partially FO's, I thought I'd show you just one more.  Only this one, I really wish I had knit myself, and really must get cracking on it's mate as well. 



This is one little lonely Monkey, as per Becca, my good friend and very patient knitting partner.  One night after we had finished teaching our knitting classes we all went to the Anchor for drinks.  And of course I opened my ginormous mouth and said, "I can totally finish a pair of socks if someone else knitted one for me!"  Hence was born the ADD Sock-Club, and as co-founding member I can truly say, it is living up to it's name!  Becca had finished my Monkey sock in two days... I have cast on once and frogged due to sizing issues.  It's still sitting in the bag to be finished.  Ooi.  Should I tell you that we are knitting Jaywalker for her and I am only about five inches into it?  Probably not... but I love the yarn she selected, and I've got to say for all my belly-aching about socks, it really is the most comfortable, albeit lonely, sock in my drawer!

You Are Now Free to Knit About the Cabin

February Baby Sweater from Knitter's Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmermann
knitted on US 6's using Malabrigo Merino Worsted, apple green
Ravelers see it here

Well, it's been a long week.  A good week, but a long one.  Andy and I are just getting home from a trip to San Diego, and with the sleet and snow we continue to have in Kansas, it was a nice respite.  Relaxing strolls along the beach, watching the seals, eating gelato, and of course, knitting.  Say what?  Rewind...

Knitting! Yep.  Vacation* just wouldn't be the same without some sticks and yarn!  And so I packed some from my stash to knit a small project on the plane, but of course, soon found that I  hated the yarn I took.  Therefore our first stop in San Diego (after some Thai for lunch) was at the LYS in La Jolla.  There I found a great selection of Malabrigo and subsequently went loco.  Andy still says I'm a cheap date though.  I continue to see this yarn popping up everywhere and I've been looking forward to getting my hands on some too.  It is yummy yarn.  Not sexy yarn.  But definitely yummy.  It's bouncy and light, and after knitting Elizabeth Zimmermann's February Baby Sweater I can honestly say it didn't splice once.  Not one time did I accidentally stick my needles through the yarn.  It held together so well!  And I really love this color, apple green.  It's very happy.  Perfect for a baby's sweater.

This was a great pattern as well.  It was easy to follow (did I just say that about "pithy directions?") and was easy to memorize.  After I got started, I was able to put the book away and just sit back and knit.  That's always nice.  And to finish it off, I used more of my grandmother's buttons.  From start to finish I put about three days good knitting into it.  That's it!

And now for some old news...

... yep.  I got one too!  I took pictures of my kit before we left but didn't have time to post about it.  But if you want to know pretty much my story, read Shannon's.  And I'm glad to see that Grace's came in, as Alice and I were both freaking out for a good hour that Thursday afternoon!  I can't wait to see what these girls do with their mit-kits.  Mine is the original colorway, which was dumb luck on my part.  But luck I'm thankful for none the less!  I just hope I'm not in over my head and make a total mess of these beautiful mittens!  Now, this yarn... this is some seriously sexy yarn!

*Okay, before some of you guys get mad at me for knitting while on vacation with my husband, he was actually at a conference for two of those days.  So that's when I did my knitting!  :-)

My Fair Baby

Fair Isle Border Cardigan by Erika Knight
Ravelers can see Fair Isle (and hold me accountable to finish it!) here

It is a well-known fact, fully accepted in our house, that if you ask my daughter if she is your baby you will hear one response and one response only:  "I am not a baby.  I am a big girl."  Period.  There is no need for further discussion, because she's said what she had to say.  I am not a baby.  And no matter how much it breaks this mama's heart to hear it, I know very well that Annabelle means business.   Not one time has that child cried when I've left her in a nursery or preschool.  Not a tear, not a whimper.  Nothing.... nadda.

So I guess that means that I'm going to have to start thinking about some big girl knits to go along with that big girl attitude she's been wielding for some time now.  And since my yarn has come in for Andy's Cobblestone, I decided that first, I would knit a test sweater.  Well, not so much a test sweater as a small  sweater. A if I screw this up thankfully there aren't 100,000 stockinette to tink sweater.  So I pulled from my small knitting library and found one of my favorite books, Simple Knits for Little Cherubs by Erika Knight.  There are so many adorable sweaters in this book, but I decided on the Fair Isle Border Cardigan, mainly because it combined several things I adore, fair isle colorwork, natural yarns, and vintage simplicity.   Just like in my home, I love to mix textures in my knitting.  And I absolutely love vintage anything!  So this seemed the appropriate choice for that big girl of mine.

I just started the sweater a couple days ago and I'm pleased with my progress thus far.  I'm using simple, widely accessible yarns for this project:  Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool (I absolutely love its natural feel and texture, having not been dyed and with the wool's natural lanolin), and Cascade 220 for all the colorwork.   I'm even being thrifty by using stash yarn for the colorwork!   I'm also making the sweater a bit large for Lulu, so hopefully she can get at least a couple years wear out of it. 

So if all goes well with Annabelle's cardigan I will be ready to begin Andy's sweater.  It's really a watershed moment for me.  Quite frankly I'm terrified of messing something up on that large a scale!  But for now, I'm going to take my time and enjoy knitting this little fair isle cardigan for my not-so-little-I'm-a-big-girl baby.  (I didn't say it!  And thankfully she can't read, yet!)