A sweater just for me.

In the past, I've had some projects not turn out the way I have envisioned simply because I haven't had the background knowledge or the guts needed to modify the pattern.

Part of this problem stems from a reluctance to put a large amount of time into swatching and actually calculating my gauge (both in stitches and rows).

Obviously this method of knitting has served me fairly well, as I have successfully finished more projects than failed.  However, I think that we all reach a point in our art where we aren't satisfied with our present skill level and want to learn even more.

I decided that the best way of reaching the next level would be to knit a simple sweater using my specific measurements, and basically doing everything technical that I shied away from in the past.

This is the start of a seamless, bottom-up sweater with colorwork details (please note that the second photo is a better image of the colors).

The green yarn is a personal, long-time favorite, Berroco Ultra Alpaca, so this sweater will be soft, warm, and long wearing.

I've learned so much about the process of knitwear construction and so far it appears to be going well!

Colorwork Sweater

After a couple of weeks of hard work and a couple of months spent simply glaring at it and wondering why I wouldn't just finish itself, the colorwork sweater is complete!

Now I can finally cross off another one of my Fiber Goals for 2012:

Complete a colorwork sweater

Needless to say, I'm very excited to announce this development and honestly, I can hardly believe that I have finally finished this project considering how long it took to complete.

There are some things on it that are a little bit wonky (part of the collar just didn't work out great), but overall, I love it and cannot wait until it is not 90 degrees outside every day to wear it.  I'm thinking that it will make a great sweater to cuddle into during classes and especially exams because it is super warm.

The pattern was Velvet Morning from Knitty, bis winter 2011.  As I have written in past posts, this pattern was not very well written and I had some huge problems with it.  There were some techniques that I think could have been used to make this a more finished project, as well as more fun to knit.  For example, using steeking to allow for knitting in the round rather than flat.  At the time I didn't feel comfortable enough to modify something as huge as the body of the sweater (although some people have); however, I did knit the sleeves in the round and was so glad that I did. 

The yarn was Cascade 220 Superwash, the only Cascade yarn that in my experience is worth buying.  The dark blue was the Blue Velvet colorway (856) and the other colors started out white, but were hand dyed by me using Jacquard Acid Dyes.  This project definitely gained a whole other dimension when I decided to dye yarn specifically for it and it is something that I would really love to do again someday.

Finishing this project has been a huge challenge for me, but now that I have finally finished it, I can say that it did pay off.  Now I need to start working full steam on two test knits and the three remaining sweaters.  But now, with this momentum, I really feel that I can finish them all.

Successes and failures

I don't really like to share what's going on in my life in very much detail, you guys don't want to hear about all that boring stuff, but I have to share that on Friday I was offered a position at my first choice graduate school program!  I've been ecstatic because this means that I will not only have the opportunity to be in the perfect program but that I will also be moving to North Carolina, my favorite state! 

In knitting-related news, I've hit a huge block with my colorwork sweater.  After spending several hours yesterday attempting to seam the stupid thing, I have been unable to seam it in any way that does not make it look like crap.  The pieces just don't want to fit together correctly!

I have always avoided traditionally constructed garments requiring seaming, simply because I have always felt as though there are better, more efficient methods.  So, granted I started this project knowing full well that I would be required to seam.

I was lucky to stumble upon a couple of videos from Berroco on the subject which really helped: 

Video on seaming shoulders:

Video on seaming set-in sleeve:

Through attaching the sleeve, ripping back, and then repeating several times, I have gotten quite good at making an attractive looking seam!  Sadly, I still cannot seem to make the sweater look attractive no matter how hard I try.

After closely following Evelyn's cardigan adventures, I have decided to take a leaf out of her book and calmly let the sweater hibernate for a little while until I feel better equipped to deal with it.  

Besides I have plenty of time to finish it to meet my Fiber Goals for 2012.

Sweater addition!

I'm free and willing to admit it.  I'm addicted to knitting sweaters, they are just so much fun to construct and then you have a new, substantial article of clothing when you are finished.

I was hoping to have the colorwork sweater finished in time for today, but with midterm exams and other crazy life events, that just didn't happen.  I should be able to finish it up over the weekend considering I only have to finish knitting a few more inches of the border, and then seam and block it!

I don't think that I have ever been this excited about a sweater before!

On the topic of sweaters, my mother received her sweater a few days ago and sent me a picture of her wearing it:

Doesn't she look warm and happy?  I'm just relieved that it fits and that she likes it.

Happy friday everyone, I hope you have a great weekend!

Colorwork Sweater Update

I meant to post this update yesterday as a part of WIP Wednesday, but that just didn't happen.  Don't you just hate how sometimes life is not very understanding about your crafting ambitions?

I've been working half-heartedly on my colorwork sweater lately:

The colorwork pattern is beautiful, the sweater itself is very attractive, the problem is the pattern has some weird little aspects that really bother me.  It's almost as though the pattern is written for a beginner, but the construction is not suited for a beginner (I'm not sure if that made any sense at all).  The pattern author and I obviously disagree on more than one topic...

I've mentioned once before that I am annoyed that the pattern for the garment is to be worked flat, rather than in the round (even the sleeves! Why?!).  In retrospect, I really should have just taken the plunge and knitted it in the round with a steek.

Also, the pattern is very nice and all, but the chart was not adapted for use with all of the available sizes.  This just came across as sloppy to me, but I was able to work around it.

All and all, this pattern has been an adventure and I'm sure that more surprises lie in wait.  But I'm sure that it will come out looking very nice in the end.  However, I think it was wise to offer this as a free pattern.  As Evelyn wisely said, we must finish our wintery knits.  Finish them we will!

Also, I apologize for the crappy, low-light photo, it looks like this outside:

Eek, Steeking!

I recently went to the local library and inevitably found myself looking at knitting books, something I don't really do often.  I don't own a whole lot of knitting books because they are either full of horribly tacky patterns or are "Knitting for Beginners" kinds of resources.  However, our little rural Kansas library did have Color by Kristen by Kristen Nicholas, which I immediately checked out.

After flipping through this book, I was so inspired by her fair isle designs that I almost overcame my ongoing fear of all things colorwork.  The author isn't the best at tutorials, but she has such a fantastic color aesthetic that I really identify with.  She also has some really attractive patterns and gives loads of suggestions for making your own designs, which to me makes this book well worth buying.

She is also a huge advocate for knitting all colorwork in the round and frequently uses steeks, a technique I was not very familiar with.  I quickly decided to knit up a swatch (which she is also fond of) using one of her designs with the intention of steeking.

Because I didn't have a sewing machine handy, I actually somehow remembered how to crochet long enough to secure the steek by single crocheting the edges.  This is actually the first time I have ever used crochet for something useful (hooray!):

Here I am cutting my fancy steek. I was terrified at this point, I swear:

Here is the finished swatch where you can see the pretty pattern (please excuse the colors, they were the only acrylic options I had):

The steek looks great and seems to be holding very well.  This certainly has made me more confident in my colorwork ability and should make it easier for me to meet my Fiber Goal for 2012 of Complete a Colorwork Sweater.  Also, for one of my most recent projects I have been thinking about putting in a zipper, which basically requires a steek.

Learning new techniques can be challenging, but it can really pay off!  Have you learned any new techniques recently?

Fair Isle Hat - Perfect Success

I've been a little slow with the crafting lately, actually my entire life has been on hold for the last week and a half due to a truly nasty cold.  It's funny how you can have so much free time while you are sick, but you oftentimes cannot do anything beyond what is absolutely necessary.

However, I somehow managed to finish this fabulous Fair Isle hat!

Now, this is an accomplishment for me, because this is the first colorwork project I have attempted since the great "colorwork baby sweater of doom" debacle (we don't speak of it).  This project started because I suddenly had this strong urge to knit something with Berroco Ultra Alpaca after reading a post by one of my favorite fellow bloggers, Evelyn over at Project: Stash.  She has been working on the most beautiful cardigan in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light.  

I happened to have some Berroco Ultra Alpaca (the worsted version) left over from another colorwork project and wanted to use some of it up.  I almost instantly decided on the pattern Opus Spicatum because it seemed doable and looks really adorable.  I half expected for this project to go horribly wrong as well, but behold my success!

It also knit up very quickly and was surprisingly satisfying to work on.  I can certainly see why people get hooked on these kinds of projects.  After the success of this one, I hope to have more patience and courage to try another in the future.