FO: Bloomsbury Sweater

 Hey ho! My Bloomsbury Sweater is finished!

I started this pattern back in September of 2019, took it with me to England the next month (with the hopes of knitting it in Bloomsbury) and have been working on and off for another year! 

The V-shaped neckline with the lace sleeves is so flattering. I would totally create another pattern that has a similar look. 

The beginning of the lace yoke section was quite tricky to get going with the increases due to how the designer wrote up the instructions with the lace charts. I ended up creating a chart photo in my Ravelry notes to keep track of everything. 

I tried out Caron's Pantone Bamboo yarn in the color "Indigo" when they first released it. I have have mixed feelings because although it is soft, it splits and I am sure it will pill quite a bit. 

This project took me about 4.5 skeins of yarn for a size large in US 6 needles.

I can't resist a heathered yarn though.

I used a tubular cast-on method for the neckline, and the sleeves and hem were cast off using "Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Cast Off" method. It doesn't look as clean, but I was driven to knit a garment that stretches!

The first set of sleeves took me the longest. For some reason it took AGES! The second sleeve really only took less than a week, so I don't know what my deal was. I was dealing more with chronic neck and shoulder pain this past year that has stopped me from knitting more than 20 minutes at a time, so that was probably it.

 

I'm convinced that every time you take a picture of this shade of blue, it will never come out the same.

I was so excited when I tried it on for the first time and it fit perfectly. 

This is literally fresh off the needles, so I haven't even blocked it out yet. I expect the sleeves and sweater length to grow a bit. 

It's quite snowy! Stay safe!

FO: the Weekender Sweater

Long time no see, dear readers!

A year ago I started the process of updating you on my knitting adventures, and then I seemed to have fallen off the internet. It's been so long that Blogger looks different, and I had trouble logging in! In fact, I don't even live in that house anymore, nor use that phone! Ha.

I feel it's better to be late than not here at all, so let's take a look at the Weekender sweater that I finished in March 2019.

Since I didn't bother to make a WIP post, here's a quick tour of the process:

I used a tubular cast-on/off, because it's stretchy and clean looking. I highly recommend doing this for any neckline and hem to give it a professional finish.

 I used PurlBee’s Cast-on method and used this Tubular Cast-Off.

Project Notes

The Weekender, by Andrea Mowry 

 

Needles:

US 7 - 4.5 mm & US 8 - 5.0 mm

Yarn:

Yarn Bee Chloe  4.3 skeins = 1161.0 yards (1061.6 meters), 430 grams

Gauge:

20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches  in US 8

Notes:
I casted on for a size L instead of a M since I used US 6 needles and thinner yarn
CO 117sts with US 6. 1x2 rib for 2.5.'' Switch to US 8 needles for the body.
Days 1-2: tubular cast-on and completed bottom hem ribbing.
Days 3-13: body of sweater to 16.5’’.
Days 14-16: divided and knit the front bust section for 5.5’’, plus 1 row. Inserted a lifeline.
Day 17: worked W&T section and ribbing (US 6) for the front.
Days 18-19: worked on the back bust section for 5.5’’, plus 1 row.
Day 20: worked W&T section, and ribbing (US 6) for the front.
Day 21: finished ribbing, 3-needle BO, started sleeve #1
>>>Sleeve note: knit for 5.5’’ straight before starting the decreases. You will only get 9 total decreases. Knit 7 rows straight between decreases. After 9th decrease, the sleeve is 14.75’’ long.
Days 22-23: worked on sleeve #1
Day 24: worked sleeve 2’s ribbing and started sleeve #2.
Days 25-26: worked on sleeve #2.
Day 27: finished sleeve #2

I would definitely make this again, but in another type of yarn, such as something similar to Cascade 220.

FO: Tweedy Flax Sweater

Dear Reader,

I know what you are thinking: another Flax sweater? Really? Do you knit anything else?

I mean, I don't blame you for thinking that. I'M thinking that too.

The fact is, I've knit 4 versions of the Flax sweater, 2 in fingering weight, and two in worsted/aran.

This, however, is the first time I've altered it more than striping Christmas colors.

You're curious now. Ok, Here's the list:

1. Sam's first Flax Light

2. Flax Light in the Pumpkin Spice colorway

3. Sam's Christmas Flax

4. This one on this page. You've arrived. (Ravelry project page.)

Pattern: Flax Sweater from TincanKnits

Needles: US 6 and US 8

Yarn: de-stashing 6 skeins of Caron Simply Soft Tweeds (from 2003! I was in college.)

Size: M

Started: February 2018    Completed: January 23, 2019

Modifications: see notes below

Clearly, I made a few modifications. If you are familiar with the Flax sweaters, you know that it's just a top-down raglan with a nice garter stitch panel along the sleeves and 1.5'' of 1x1 ribbing on all edges.

My modifications notes for the size M:

1.) Slit hem ribbing: on the round before the ribbing, add 8 sts evenly to the front of the sweater and 16 sts to the back of the sweater, and then put the back sts on a separate circular needle and work the front for at least 3'', BO, and work at least 4.5'' of ribbing for the back. Next time, I would add another inch or two of stockinette and then work 4.5'' for the front ribbing hem and 6-7'' for the back ribbing hem. 

2.) Sleeves: knit sleeve 15'.5'' total before doing a 4'' (1x1) ribbing. 

3.) Button Panel: pick up 34 sts along the diagonal increase armline on the yoke (I choose the right side), starting from under the ribbing on the yoke to the underarm. Knit in garter stitch for 1.3''. BO loosely. Sew ends to sweater. Attach 3 buttons. 

This sweater has been a few places: family trips, piano lessons, car rides, couches, and more.

 

I think it looks rather dashing.

Ok...stay warm, folks! It's in the negatives here in the northern suburb of Chicago and won't get any better this coming week. I had to buy my Civic a new car battery on Monday. How fun! Cosy sweater wearing it is this week! 

What's on the needles?  Noro "Hermione's Everyday Socks"

Future knitting plans: The Weekender, from Andrea Mowry

Upcoming FO post: French Press Slippers! Stay tuned.

FO: Sam's Christmas Flax Sweater

This is a little, erm, after the fact.

Sam's Christmas Flax sweater was completed two weeks before Christmas Eve, but between the hustle and bustle of the time of year, plus the fact that these photos were stored on the internal memory of my camera (and for some reason the camera didn't want to appear on my computer while plugged in)...I am finally showing these now!

Pattern: Flax by Tincanknits

Yarn: I Love This Yarn! (aran weight) in "Aubergine" and "Marled Forest"

Needles: US 6 and US 8

Started: October 1st, 2018      Completed: December 12, 2018

(Above ^^) This is always my favorite point of the sweater. Rounds are short, and you can see the thing swiftly take shape.

The area about two or so inches down from the point where you separate for the sleeves is another favorite (less stitches! Things are really coming together now!) of mine.  

This project was brought everywhere--boys' piano lessons, while in the car before helping at a school Halloween party, watching a show, etc. 

Unfortunately, I did not get to Jake's maroon (MC) and heathered blueish black (CC) version. I will save that for next fall, I guess. Jake didn't seem to mind, since Sam was the one who requested this sweater in the first place. (Oh, and it had to be "non-scratchy yarn" too.) I told the boys that they could share this version until they each had their own.

I made it large enough to fit next year too. The sleeves are long, the sweater is long enough, but I hope that the body circumference is large enough for his growing body! But hey, it stretches, it will be good!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season! Happy New Year!

KUAS Podcasts: Episode 11- For the Love of Fall

Episode 11- For the Love of Fall 
Copyright 2017 by Anna Maliszewski
Please Like/Share/Subscribe! 

SHOW NOTES:  
FO’s:
"Roundabout Shawlette" #3 by KUAS Designs (pattern on Ravelry)
US 6 - 4.0 mm
Knit Picks Hawthorne Sport Multi "Arbor Lodge"

"Sabi Hat" by OlgaJazzy
1 skein Zealana Performa Rimu DK yarn
US 5 needles only, no switch-over to 6 Worked 3 pattern repeats, plus 3 more rds before decreasing

"English Oak Leaves" by NaturalSuburbia.com
US 5 needles
KnitPick’s wool, TreeFrog sport and WoolEase

"Veined Leaves" by Cyntergomes.livejournal.com

"Sven Scandinavian" by Carol A. Anderson
Mods: Needles US 3 and yarn weight Paton’s Classic Merino Wool, Willow Rustic for yellow & baby alpaca and Lopi yarn for beard, Regia yarn “Summer Nights” for the Hat

WIPS: 
"Strange Brew" by Tin Can Knits
US 3 and US 6 needles
Berroco Vintage DK , 4 skeins white and 2 skeins red

Wish Knits list:
"Holly Jolly Steps" by Drops Designs

"Wolfpup" by Tiny Owl Knits

Aquisitions:
Fiddlehead Yarn Store (Kenosha, WI): Berroco Vinatage DK - 6 skeins
Heart Stitch Markers
No-Rinse Wool wash with jasmine
Encore Yarn- Red and white yarn for mittens/slippers

Announcements: 2 new Book give-aways in next podcast
Dyeing self-striping Xmas colorway by KUAS Yarns

MISC: "Nature's Shield" (similar to Thieves Oil)in diffuser

FO: Flax Light Sweater

It's been a while since I've posted here.

Too long.

I've been posting so heavily on Instagram and Facebook that I have forgotten to post here!

That's going to change. I have a few FO's to share, as well as three--yes, three new designs that will be published VERY soon!

First, I will start off with one of my first FOs, The Flax Light Sweater.

Pattern: TinCanKnit's Flax Light Sweater

Yarn: Knitting Notions Classic Merino Sportweight yarn; 4 skeins in Pumpkin Spice

Needles: size US 3 and 6

Started: September 1st, 2016    Completed September 19th, 2017

But first, let's start back at the beginning (a year ago!) so you can see it develop:

I used a tubular cast on method in hopes that the neckline would be stretchy and professional looking.
Yeah, not so stretchy on my end. Something to work on...

I've been bringing this bad boy everywhere.

On walks to the garden/forest preserves,

camping,

knitting at the pool,

and of course, lots of home knitting sessions while watching Netflix.

I love it.
I finished right before my Boston trip, and wore it on a chilly misty day in New England!

This is not my most flattering of FO pictures, but this was after walking all day long in the rain, cold, while being utterly exhausted. We are right in front of the Revere statue in the North End.

I get so many compliments on this sweater already. It's such a wonderful pattern, and looks amazing in this colorway. LOVE.

FO: Flax Light #1 (4-6 yr old size)

The first of my Flax Light Sweaters for my 6 year old twins is done! This project took longer than I anticipated (especially with me also working ony my adult "Flax Light" sweater) Here's the first post about this sweater.

Pattern: Flax Light Sweater by Tincanknits

Size: 4-6 year old

Yarn: 4 skeins of Paton's Kroy Sock Yarn in the colorway "flax"

Needles: US 2 and US 5 circular needles (magic loop method)

Started:  August 19th 2016           Completed: December 30th 2016

Modifications: .5 inches longer on the arms. 

I haven't posted much about this project on this blog, so let me share some of the sweater's journey:

It was knit mostly during late summer and fall. I thought maybe I could finish it before Halloween. Whoops.

Acutally, most of it WAS finished by Halloween (you can see that it was still warm out), but I also wanted to have my pumpkin spice colored adult flax done in time for Halloween too. When that deadline passed, then it was for "Thanksgiving." That has passed too. EEK!

The sleeves only needed about 4 more inches to be completed! So, after working on my annual "Year in Review Post" around Christmastime, I realized how I have left a project that was nearly completed alone in a bin to languish. I was determined to complete it in time for the New Year...so I knit the rest of the sleeves around Christmastime. 

I decided to work the sleeve's two-at-a-time, like my socks, so they are the same length for sure. I may have been enjoying a few treats while knitting. :)

I love watching FOs soak in the tub, and seeing the yarn bloom as the bubbles dissipate. It's the little things in life, right?

I blocked out the sweater to be just an inch larger in the body. I am so pleased with the results. The sweater is absolutely beautiful. The texture on just the sleeves is very smart---it's just the right amount of detail in the right places, and so simple. Not busy, like some sweaters. I can't wait for my own sweater to be done!

The colorway for this yarn was gorgeous too! Since the name of this pattern has "flax" in it, I happend to stumble upon that color at the store and couldn't resist! 

Here's Sam modeling the sweater for you. Unfortunately, they think it's too scratchy, and I'll have to put a colored shirt on underneath. They don't care for it much, really though. It's a tragedy. Their opinion: it's scratchy and a boring color. *sigh* Next time, I'm going to use acyrillic for them!