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!")
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!
I'm still debating whether or not to call it something like "Princess Tee" or "Kahlan."
I've already used up 2 1/2 skeins. Yeah. I'm definately going to have to buy more. I would loooove to knit another one with a few simple modifications, and another type of yarn. I love the elasticity of this yarn, but something really soft like alpaca would be really nice too.
What do you think? I'm going to do 2 more ribbings before I go knitting solid again. I'm also debating about what I should do about the bottom. Of course, the most natural thing to do is a few ribbings.... but I think I would be dissatisfied with the results, since of my wide hip frame. I also thought about ribbing all the way down, but I thought that might accent the stomach area. I'm still planning on adding beading and such to the material (yeah, after-the-fact-- but I don't have access to a craft store at the moment, and thought of it too late).
I have the neatest idea for a matching skirt for the raglan tee! It will look amazing together (I hope).
Also........ I just discovered the awesomeness of my non-univeristy public library on campus!! They have everything! Their knitting selection is huge! Here's some patterns that I liked when I went through Twinkles' Big City Knits & the 2005 Vogue Knitting magazine:
Have you ever just wanted to make a quick and inexpensive
raglan tee that is fluffy-soft without breaking the bank? Well say
"bonjour!" and dig those needles and Caron Simply Soft yarns out from
your stash and you'll be finished before you can mutter, "Je l'adore!"
SIZES: Small, Medium and Large Raglan Measurements:
Small= approx. 32.5mm wide 59mm long
Medium=39mm wide 59mm long
Large= approx. 45.5mm wide 59mm long
**NOTE for size upgrades: 12sts adds 2.5''
Materials: Yarn:
-1 skein
"Caron Simply Soft" in pale mint
- 1.5-2 skeins
of "Caron Simply Soft" in grey Needles:
-One 24''
circular needles, Size US8
-Two
32'' circular needles: Size US9--one is
extra for trying on the work-in-progress
-A set of 4 dpn's: Size US8 -Optional: also size 7 US dpns *I
recommend you investing in Knitpick's Options Needle Set, so that you can also
use the wires as stitch holders. If you have this already, you can use the 24''
as stitch holders.
Gauge: "Ribbing:" on size 8US: 7
sts=1'' (vertically)
"Stockinette:" on size 9US: 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch
Abbreviations:
Kf&b= Knit into the front and back of that
stitch. (This is done on the stitches before and after a place marker.) DPN's=double
pointed needles K=
knit P=purl
St(s)=
stitch(es) RD(S)=round(s)
PM=place
marker M=marker MC=grey
CC=pale
green K2tog= knit 2 sts together SSK=slide,
slide and knit those together. M1=make 1 stitch (an increase)
Are you a newbie to top-down raglans?? This is a great first-time
sweater project! It's just a sweater that is worked top-down in Stockinette Stitch on circular needles, which allows for a lot of
modifications for size or adding intarsia, cabling or whatever you'd like if you
feel up to the challenge one day! The best news? It's seamless!!
About
the pattern: I first created this pattern in 2007 as a Craftster
challenge to create something under $10. I created something around $5. Because of the boat-neck and
striping, this top-down raglan reminded me of Paris. After the contest, I decided to share it for free in hopes that beginning knitters wouldn't be scared away from knitting a sweater. Since then, I have added notes
for side-shaping, although it was not in the original design and updated the pattern to be even more user-friendly.
It's
almost hard to believe, but as of December 2013, almost 1,800 "$5 in
Paris" projects have been casted-on and/or completed since it's conception.
And that's only counting Ravelry members. Now it's being featured on
several free knitting sites, as well as Craftster and Ravelry.
Likewise,
the Craftster.org thread for the KAL "the Beginner Top-Down Ralgan" ("$5 in Paris")
has been viewed almost 165,000 times, leaving it on the first page in
the knit-along community on Craftster since 2007.
Well, my entry for the knitting challenge is complete. I present, "Under $5!" This summery sweater was supposed to have other cool options, like buttons and straps to life up the sleeves and bottom ribbing a bit with sewed on snaps, but I decided against it, so that I can wear it off the shoulders as well. I'll save those for a summery sweater that doesn't have ribbing on the bottom. Then it could be more "convertable."
It looks better on a person. I'll try it on tomorrow and take some more pics for you all.
*I will write up the pattern once the challenge is over this month. You gotta wait patiently for a week and a half. I will also add a few more free patterns, since I'm bummed that no one wants to participate in the "free patterns for charity knits" organization. So, i'm just gonna post the patterns on my blog, and hope that you still knit for charity, nonetheless. :) Oh, don't go looking for the link to the charity knits.... it's ... gone, now that i'm posting my patterns.
Here are some progress pics. I didn't really take much this time. Amazing, huh? Me not taking so many progress pics. Somethings definately wrong with that concept! ; )
And this brown number is the new fake-a-gamo, which will have awesome fake leather (textured vinal) on the top. The fake leather will also be used for handles. Don't forget the silky liner!!
I am so proud of this raglan! It was my first one, and turned out! I hope my mom loves it! One thing I wish I did was knit it with Simply Soft, if I was to still keep it cheap. I'm not loving the scratchy neck, but the sweater is beautiful!
I'm already in the process of making another raglan. This time it is for me, and it will be way cooler, even if it doesn't have cables! I'm knitting it for this month's knitting challenge: knitting in the cheap, or a.k.a "scrooged." I don't want to spoil to fun, so you all have to wait until it's done!
Here she be! Just a little update before I hit the hay.
***********Oh, I worked on a better Lana Lang sweater pattern, and now it is easier than before! It is now in the updated info/pic portion of the "Free Pattern for Charity Knit" post.
So, ok... my mom's birthday is March 10th. I have a long way till the due date. However, I'm pleased with my speedy progress. I guess watching several Smallville episodes really helps the time fly. As a dummy, I later realize that i've used this pattern before... in my designer bag. Ha ha. I felt so stupid. I was going to use a cooler one, with cabled hearts and twists inbetween, but i've never done cabeling backwards. I didn't know for sure if the twists worked out right if I worked from the last row all the way to the first row. However, someone told me that it would. Unfortunately, I already started this pattern.
I know i'll end up wanting this sweater for my own (it's evil of me thinking that she might shrink it by accidnent and give it back for me). I'm exited, though, to hear of her reaction, when she gets a package in the mail, and opens it up to find a sweater! I just got into sweaters the last 2 months. This one is my third. I hope she loves it enough to wear it around once and a while. I swear, she never wears her alpaca socks or mittens. Nor her scarf ("it's too fuzzy,... it gets in my mouth"). I might confiscate it if she never ever wears it!
What do you think? Does the design look ok like that in the middle? Maybe it will look even better when I keep increasing.
I was thinking about doing longer sleeves, like to the elbows, but i'm not sure anymore. I have this really cool turleneck that has a little sleeves with a small puff... and they look awesome. My mom might like the longer sleeves though... grrr.
