Revised "Dummy Clap Shawl" pattern & tutorial!

Good morning, everyone! Here is the first set of exciting news coming up...I have completely revised my second most popular free pattern, the "Dummy Clap Shawl" pattern AND video tutorial, and it still being offered for free by yours truly. Lucky ducks.

The 2015 Revised "Dummy Clap Shawl" Pattern

Download Pattern PDF

Happy Wednesday! Anna Maliszewski

FO: Mrs. Darcy Cardigan

 

And that's a wrap, fellas.

 Pattern: Mrs. Darcy Cardigan by Mary Weaver (revised edition)

Size: Medium (with modifications)

Yarn: 3.4 skeins of Patons Classic Worsted Weight Wool (approx. 750 yds)

Needles: Size US9 circulars and dpns

Started: December 1st, 2014

Completed: January 14th, 2015

Modifications: sleeve increases (8 extra sts per sleeve), extra rows on the hem and collar and ribbing area, an extra button hole, waist ribbing changed to standard 1x1.  

This is a very cute cardigan.  It has two main problems though: the fit is off, even with all of my sleeve modifications, and the whole armpit seaming is completely unnecessary if it were worked top-down instead. Why isn't this worked top-down? 

The main fit issue lies in the yoke. The sleeves, even with 8 extra sts that I added isn't enough fabric area to do increases around. This forces the increases to be placed incorrectly, pulled into my arm instead of lying nicely at the diagonal crease of the arm. The back of the cardigan fits great,  but the front won't stay put on my shoulder. I catch myself pulling on it to stay on. It's still a cute cardi though. 

I used the buttons from my birthday yarn shop trip.

This is a nice Valentine's Day coverup over a dress or tanktop.

I can see myself redesigning the cardigan to address the fitting issues.  I might also make it a smidgen less deep-V shaped as well, and add some more ribbong length in the waist area.  

I hope you like it. Have a great weekend. Take care, 

Anna

Blocking like a boss

Mrs. Darcy is fully completed, was washed in some eucalyptus and lavender scented wool wash and is currently blocking like a boss right now because I'm making sizing my biotch, and not the other way around. Right? Right? ;) This babe needed some serious blocking to fit and sit flatteringly. Sometimes you have to man (or woman)-handle these fussy things.

Maybe I was a little dramatic. It didn't need a lot of pin-blocking. Laying flat while damp on the floor after smoothing it down a bit did wonders all on its own. I did a few pins for width on the bottom of the sweater just to make sure it stayed put.

Want a spoiler? Ok, twist my arm...

WIP: Mrs. Darcy Cardigan

Happy New Year! I couldn't be happier to show you that I have made good progress on the Mrs. Darcy Cardigan since the last time we talked.

Pattern: Mrs. Darcy Cardigan by Mary Weaver

Needles: Size US9

Yarn: 4 skeins of Paton's Classic Worsted Weight Wool (840 yds)

Started: 12/1/14

I have completed 3/4 of the cardigan. 2.5 or so inches are needed before I begin the arm shaping and seamlessly attaching the sleeves to the body of the sweater. Seamless knits- who doesn't love that? I have one more skein left to this cardigan after this ball ends, so hopefully I won't get too nervous about running out.

I have made several modifications already, between making more increases for the sleeves, lengthening the garter hem, adding an extra button hole, changing and slightly lengthening the ribbing on the waist. It's possible that I might make another in the future, so I've been be really good about marking all of my changes on the pattern itself and later adding those notes to my Ravelry page.

How has your new year started? I am dreading the annual holiday cleanup and getting back into the swing of work again, although Mother Nature has finally decided that it should snow here and it's looking beautiful (albeit dangerous driving conditions) like a true Winter Wonderland in the Chicagoland area. After having snow for 3 solid months last year, I'm fine that it waited until after the holidays to snow. I'm sure a lot of travelers appreciated less hassle & stress.

I heard rumors that it would feel like -40 out this week! BRR! I was starting to get comfortable knitting for myself, but when the temperature dips like that, my instincts is to finally knit ski-masks for everyone!