Monthly Archives for April 2009

FO: Garter Stitch Baby Cardi

I’m never sure if it’s appropriate to make something for a classmate who’s having a child. Yet I keep doing it. Something about the bond between people who are suffering through a class together makes it seem appropriate to congratulate them on the birth of a child. Right?

Appropriateness of the gift aside, this project drove me crazy. I’m working on two lace-centric projects alongside this one so the garter followed by stockinette drove me batty. Soooo boring. Thankfully, the cotton-silk blend Frog Tree yarn is a dream to work with and the result (which will eventually get buttons) is adorable. I’ll certainly make this pattern again though I’ll put more interesting projects aside while I’m working on it!

Garter Yoke Baby Cardi - Almost Done

Project Ratings
Yarn/Pattern Combination: 9
Execution: 9
Pattern – Overall: 10
- Instructions: 10
- Finishing: N/A
- Stitch pattern(s): N/A
- Interestingness: 4
- Desire to remake: 8

Details on Ravelry here.

FO: February Lady Sweater

Oh, the February Lady Sweater. Ever since I first saw the pattern last June, I wanted to make it. After a failed attempt using Comfort and lots of whining about how I wasn’t going to make one because every else had, I forgot my love for the pattern. Then I got the itch to make myself a sweater. I had about ten different yarn choices in this great blue color at Knit Happens and eventually chose Sublime’s Extra Fine Merino DK. In just over a month (including a week and a half when we were in Europe and the sweater was in VA), my sweater was complete.

So how was making my first sweater? Well, I loved knitting it. The garter was soothing, the lace just interesting enough to keep me going yet not too crazy to keep me from memorizing it.

There were a few issues:

  1. Forgot between buttonholes which method I used so buttonholes are different sizes and styles.
  2. Buttonholes aren’t evenly spaced. Not even close.
  3. Bound off bottom of sweater too tight.
  4. One sleeve (unblocked is about 1/2″ longer than the other).
  5. When trying to remove the 3rd button (where the space between them is most obvious), I accidentally cut the sweater itself instead of the yarn I used to sew on the button. I somehow manged to save it but it’s a mess.

All that being said, I love how it turned out. I only own one shirt appropriate for wearing under it but I love it. I think everyone should make themselves one.

Project Ratings
Yarn/Pattern Combination: 9
Execution: 7
Pattern – Overall: 10
- Instructions: 10
- Finishing: No real finishing
- Stitch pattern(s): 9
- Interestingness: 7
- Desire to remake: 10 (going to make Maegan one)

3/23 - Done
The Project Redux is over here.

FO : Darkside Cowl and Quilted Diamonds hat

As soon as I saw that Knit Happens was going to be getting the Yarn Love line, I knew I wanted to buy some. Yarn varieties named after Jane Austen Characters in beautiful colors and, hello, 250 yards per Worsted skein. Thing is, I’m cheap and only purchased a single skein of the Charlotte Bronte Worsted. Not nearly enough for a scarf, too much for a hat or a cowl. Decided to make two projects: a Darkside Cowl and a Quilted Diamonds Hat. Still wound up with 30 yards leftover. While I would usually put these in seprate posts, they get a single post because I haven’t exactly remembered to take photos of the hat yet. Oops.

Oh, and Yarn Love, it gets a 10/10.

Darkside Cowl (Ravelry project page here)

Darkside Cowl

Quick pattern to memorize and easy to “read.” Just a simple cowl in a great textured pattern that can be either manly or feminine depending on yarn choice and gauge. I will most certainly be making more, even if Leah thinks cowls are idiotic. (She’s not a knitter and therefore gets no vote on such things.) Keeping this for myself due to wearing it several times already – no one wants a pre-worn garment.

Project Ratings
Yarn/Pattern Combination: 9
Execution: 9
Pattern – Overall: 10
- Instructions: 10
- Finishing: N/A
- Stitch pattern(s): 9
- Interestingness: 7
- Desire to remake: 10

Quilted Diamonds Hat (Rav project page)

Found this pattern through a friend’s Ravelry projects list. The bottom part of the bag is really interesting, having you slip stitches with the yarn held in front which are later “pulled” up to form the diamonds. The top, eh, not my favorite to knit but it looks great finished. I’ve worn the hat several times already so, well, I kind of have to keep it for myself.

Project Ratings
Yarn/Pattern Combination: 7
Execution: 9
Pattern – Overall: 10
- Instructions: 10
- Finishing: N/A
- Stitch pattern(s): 9
- Interestingness: bottom pattern – 10, top pattern – 3
- Desire to remake: 7