FO: The Dockhouse Sweater

Guys, this raglan is one of my absolute favorite FO's ever. Period.

It is warm, squishy and has an appealing diamond texture in a captivating heathered green colorway. The V-shaped collar has faux buttonholes, and you can't go wrong with a long-sleeved raglan construction. Plus, let's talk about green clothing...you can sport it for so many occasions, espeically St. Patty's day, Halloween AND Christmas! 

(If I were Emeril Lagasse, I'd say "BAM!")

 

 

Materials & Notes

 Pattern: The Dockhouse Sweater, by Amy Herzog

This sweater pattern is in the style of a pattern 'recipe' in Amy Herog's "Ultimate Sweater Book," plus I switched the yarn weight, so I heavily modified this sweater to the point where I practically had to design it myself off of the pictures/idea of the design.

Needles

US 2 - 2.75 mm

US 3 - 3.25 mm

US 5 - 3.75 mm

 

Gauge

US 5: 23 stitches and 34 rows = 4'' in the Diamond texture

 

Yarn

Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light

9 skeins = 1296.0 yards (1185.1 meters), 450 grams

Colorway 4275 Pea Soup Mix, dye lot 701 

 

Notes:

Sport weight yarn, 216 sts

Total active days knitting it: 44
      Sleeves: 3-ish days each sleeve---plan on a week for a pair of sleeves
      Front or back sides, after armpit BO’s : 2-3 days each
      Bottom ribbing: 1-2 days
      Collar 1-2 days
      An average of 8-12 rds of 216 sts per day.

457g of yarn (1 lb 1oz) of yarn. 

MY DETAILED RECIPE NOTES

This was another project that I chipped away last August while at a family reunion near Galena, Il. Here's a little journey into my WIP stages:

 

That feeling, when you finally try it on and it fits perfectly!

 

I had to re-knit one of the sleeves due to an error on my part, so after I knit what was three sleeves, it was so satisfying throwing it in the wash.

Aw. The photo above was taken in what was my newly renovated bathroom at our last house, several months before moving. I miss those counters and mirrors...

 

As soon as it gets chilly this will be coming back on me!

FO: Quickie Ombre Hat

Good morning, readers.
This was one of those weekends where staying home and resting up was essential.

I started a hat KAL this March for the Quick Ombre Hat pattern as part of my Noro Knit Accessories Book 2 giveaway, and felt it was the perfect time to start that project. I ended up knitting all afternoon (and evening) on it and actually completed the hat in a day. Boy did that feel great!

 Pattern: Quickie Ombre Hat by Emily Dormier (free pattern)

Yarn: Paton's Classic Worsted Weight Wool in white and teal, about 1/3 of skein each 

(pattern calls for 100 yds each)

Needles: US 7 (16'' circular), US 8 (16'' circular) and size US 8 dpns

Started: 3/11/17    Completed: 3/11/17

Mods: see the end of this post

I knit this hat while catching up on some podcasts (and while discovering new ones). It was the perfect distraction from life.

I knit using the stranded method of holding the main color in my right hand (thrower's style), and holding the contrasting color in my left (continental style). When my hand cramped, I then separated the strands so that my contrasting color was always at my right, and I would switch off "throwing" the yarn, which is a little less efficient (but not too much slower since I don't don't really knit continental style anyways).

I'd say it was a success. The middle section was a little tighter than I'd like, but no harm to foul.

I did have a "whoopsie" moment with the color-work on the whiter half of the hat. Can you see it? I accidentally knit two blue stitches in a row, thus throwing off the pattern and lining up the blue stitches in the form of a column instead of staggered. Once I realized it, I cursed a bit, then moved on (having the "screw it" mentality). No one will notice.

I used my extra large Clover pom pom maker (which is always a treat). I wrapped 75 times per side, which made it full (but not overly dense). I think next time, I will go to 85 wraps.

This is a very easy and fun pattern, which I highly recommend to beginners and even well seasoned knitters. The pattern does run "small" on adults, so I casted on more stitches and lengthened it quite a bit. I also changed the ribbing pattern.

Here's my mods:
1.) CO 98sts using size US 7 circular needles (16'', or a long magic loop). Knit a 1x1 twisted rib for 2'' (*k1tbl,p1*). Change to size US 8 needles (16'' or a long magic loop needle).
2.) k2tog, k48, k2tog, knit to end. Knit the next rd straight.
3.) Work entire charted pattern as written.
4.) Knit 2 rds straight before decrease instructions. 
5.) Mod to the 1st decrease rd: *k5, k3tog, k5, k2tog* across the rd. Continue the pattern with NO more decrease mods. Use size US 8 DPNs when the stitches get too tight for 16'' needle.
6.) Make a multi-colored pom-pom.