nothing like a fantastic new sweater to break the blog silence… It’s been crazy busy here, but really when is it not? Kids are keeping me busy with all their sports, Girl Scouts has started up again and Corra is a Jr again, and Allysa is now a daisy. Anyway, this year I thought of knitting a sweater for Rhinebeck a little bit sooner than I did last year. I knew, absolutely new that I wanted to knit wisteria from the twist collective. The only problem is the smallest size is a 37, that’s 4″ to big for me! Thankfully its written for a worsted weight, so by knitting in a lighter gauge I’d get a smaller size. I really wanted to use Madelinetosh tosh worsted in logwood that I purchased from yarn4socks during an amazing sale, after I knit a few gauge swatches I had my mind made up. Some people say its a worsted, other say its a lighter worsted and I have to agree with them. On US 8’s it was WAY too loose. So lose you would be able to see through it, on 7’s it was still pretty loose. On Us 6’s it was perfect. So amazingly perfect. Wouldn’t you say?
I can’t express how happy I am with this sweater, so very, very happy.
I plan on wearing this baby to Rhinebeck this weekend. Tomorrow I finish packing up and Friday morning bright and early (ie 9am) the kids and I start off to my parents where we’ll stay for the weekend. I’m really looking forward to Rhinebeck this year. No so much for the stash adding, but for seeing all my knitting peeps. I’ll probably be wearing my pink vest over this, and if its raining I’ll be wearing my blue LLbean jacket over it, and my blue wellies (that Mike totally hates but he’s not going, and don’t get me started the shoes he was buying himself for the past 2 years).
There was a bit here that I wasn’t sure if I would be able to finish this in time, since I put this sweater down to finish up Daddy’s mittens in time for his birthday. I’m still in shock that I was able to finish one sleeve in a day. A day. And do laundry. And cook. And play with the kids. Yeah, I’m shocked. The other sleeve took 2 days. There was much more to do, and I actually had to get dressed and leave the house.
nakniswemodo #11 (I’m up to 12, but have only finished 11. I have lots of pictures to take)
Pattern- Wisteria by Kate Gilbert
Started September 18 2009
Completed October 13 2009
Yarn- Madelinetosh tosh worsted in logwood 4.5 hanks around 1,012 yards.
Needle- US 6 / 4.0 mm
raveled here.
note about the yarn- oh, love. It has such a nice hand, and knits up into a wonderful fabric. I was a little disappointed that there where bits where it wasn’t spun very well, and bits where it was slubby. But over all I will purchase this again. In fact I’m thinking about what colors I want next! I knit the yoke with one hank, then after the sleeves I started alternating every 3 rows with another ball until I got down to where you start the bottom cables. I didn’t do this on the sleeves.
mods- smallest size knit at a smaller gauge to make a smaller sweater. I thought all the increases where in with the cables, not all of them but most. If you are looking to make this pattern smaller you could also leave out the increases after the cables are done and before the sleeves are put on hold. One really important thing to remember when you knit a sweater at a tighter gauge is not only is your stitch gauge smaller but your row gauge too. Because my row gauge is 8 rows per inch and the pattern is 6 rows per inch I added 2 rows on each time the pattern said knit __ rows even. Also knit 7 extra rows before starting the cable on the bottom. If I didn’t the sweater would be 1” to short. Don’t think I’m all smarty pants, because I forgot this on my first sleeve and it was too short, I had to re-knit it to make it longer. Not a mod, but I color coded my cable charts to make them quicker to read. It’s easier for me to remember a color than a symbol. I find this makes reading more complex cable charts easier.
Its such a good feeling when a sweater comes out just as amazing as it does in my head. Such a good feeling.
PS. If you see me at Rhinebeck, please do say hi!
PPS I’m so excited for a day to shop for yarn with out kids, I’m already halfway packed.
PPPS I really hope it doesn’t rain. Gotta find that lil mini umbrella. Methinks its in the car…
That is beautiful. Congratulations, it is always nice when a sweater comes out like you want it to.
That is so sooooooo gorgeous!! I love the colour and it looks fab on you sweetie 😀
Going to Rhinebeck for the first time this year. Will look for a nice pink vest with a nice sweater attached to it. On the road now to drive there today. Maybe we will bump into each other.
It’s beautiful! I love the color and your plan for a smaller fit seems to worked out perfectly. I’ll be at Rhinebeck too – it’s my first time! Am excited to meet some of the internet “faces” I’ve been talking to the past few years… Will look for you! If it’s raining, I’ll be in a Red raincoat – if not, a brown tied wrap sweater or the white one I’m desperately trying to finish in the next 24 hrs…..
Another beautiful sweater! I really wish I could come to Rhinebeck but barring a miracle I don’t think I’ll be there. Have lots of fun!
A very beautiful sweater indeed. I feel like knitting one for myself right away.
Have a wonderful weekend.
That sweater is gorgeous! I love the color on you. Have fun at Rhinebeck!
wow, it is stunning and so are you! Have a good time this weekend!
Beautiful sweater. Its fits you so nice.
It looks fabulous! A sleeve in ONE DAY? Whoo! Enjoy Rhinebeck!
Beautiful!
It looks fabulous and boy will you need it! We are on our way any second now. Hope to see you there.
Your sweater is beautiful and you look fabulous wearing it. I’m quite impressed. Have fun at Rhinebeck.
i love it! so pretty … and it fits perfectly 🙂
i had a crazy thought to knit a sweater for SAFF (coming up this weekend) … the crazy thought occurred a few days ago. it would be impossible, as i’m working 12hrs/day right now. BUT, i did start a sweater last weekend, and i’m loving it. i’m knitting “blooming cardigan” from IK. it was a cover sweater not too long ago, perhaps last season (it’s blue tweed). mine is natural cascade ecological wool.
okay. i’m babbling. i’m at work, and i can’t look at ravelry (it’s a blocked site) but i can look at blogs 🙂
i bet you had a blast as rhinebeck!
This is really very lovely. It looks so nice on you too! Wonderful job.