2014 - The Year of Knitting for Me - Wrap Up

It is December, and I'm wrapping up my "Year of Knitting for Me". I haven't quite finished my final sweater (Bloomsbury), so I'll have to post completion pictures of it in a future post. It is slow going, with lace weight yarn and US2 needles, but it is turning out beautifully.

I have devoted the year to learning how to knit perfect fitting sweaters, just for me. It has nearly been a complete success, with only 1 sweater that doesn't fit perfectly. I have used a Custom Fit pattern, and thank you Amy Herzog, for producing the perfect software for generating a custom fit pattern everytime.  You can find all of the particulars about these sweaters on my Ravelty Projects Page.  My Ravelry name is "lutley".

So . . . here they are:

 

#1 -- A 3/4 sleeve, open front cardigan, with lacework from "Peabody, by Leila Raabe.  This was my first "Custom Fit" sweater, and I love it and wear it all of the time. 

 

#2 -- Afterlight, by Amy Herzog.  This one was knit of my favorite yarn this year, Lorna's Laces - Soulmate.  I did have to alternate skeins to prevent the colors from pooling, and that was a bit of a pain, but I am very happy with finished look.  Expecially since I cut off the bottom ribbing, and added a few inches to the length.  This was a learning experience too, and one that was well worth the effort.

 

#3 -- "Little Wave" by Gudrun Johnston.  I selected a "close fit" for my Custom Fit pattern on this sweater, which was a big mistake.  The buttons gap on me, and the yarn is a bit itchy, so I don't like to wear it.  I think I'll gift it to my daughter, but only if she promises to take extra care with it.  I loved the pattern, and all of the special techniques I had never knit before, like the saddle shoulders, and the i-chord bind-off on the pockets.  The pattern was beautifully written and it was fun to knit. 

 

#4 -- "Surface" by Norah Gaughan.  It was so fun to knit the "blister" pattern on this sweater.  I love the fit, but I wish I had chosen a finer gauge yarn for this one, and perhaps a darker color.  Oh well . . . knit & learn.  I'll just have to knit this one again some time.



#5 -- "The Laura Leaves Tank" by Lori Utley.  I had knit this many times before, as it is my own design, but I had never knit it for me.  I incorporated Custom Fit shaping this time, for the perfect fit.  I blocked it out a little longer, after these pictures were taken, and I like it much better now.

#6 -- "Lady Kina", by Muriela.  I veered a little off track on this one.  It was our Fall KAL for my Knit Night Group.  When I knit the sample (the blue one) I misread the sizing on the pattern, and made too small a size.  So I knit another sample (the orange one), which was a perfect fit.  I know . . . that is not me wearing these samples, but at least I perfected my technique for the sample I actually knit for me (the brown one).  I was an expert with the pattern by this point, and was able to incorporate a lacy leaf pattern.  I love this sweater, and I wear it all of the time.  If I had stayed on-track, these would have counted as sweaters #6, #7 & #8, but technically, they weren't all for me, so I'm not counting them that way.

#7 -- "Leaving" by Anne Hanson.  This one is my favorite!  The pattern was beautifully written, and the yarn (Lisa Souza Baby Alpaca Silk) was so nice to knit with and is so comfortable to wear.  This was the sweater where I felt I reached perfection.  I hope all the sweaters in my future will make me as happy as this one does.

#8 -- "Bloomsbury" by Sventlana Volkova.  I am knitting this one at a much smaller gauge than the pattern calls for, and I am trying to incorporate Cutom Fit shaping into a top-down, raglan sleeve design.  Custom Fit patterns are alway written for bottom-up sweaters, with set-in sleeves, and sideseams.  I hope it all works out, as I had to do all of my own calculations for changing the gauge and incorporating the raglan sleeves.  It has been taking some time, as I have been working on it since the week before Halloween.  It is slow going, but the yarn is producing such a soft fabric.  I hope to have it finished before the end of 2014.

 

  

These were my distractions this year.  Two Summer sweaters, that weren't completed before the season changed to Fall and I moved on to a Fall Festival Sweater KAL.  Some fun little give-aways for my Knit Night Group, and a sample "Poor Baby Sweater", by Lori Utley,  which I knit for a Knit Night KAL, and later gave-away to a reader of this Blog.

It has been a great year of knitting, although there were a few moments when others asked me to knit for them, and I had to say "NO".  I have learned a great deal in knitting from other's patterns.  I thinks this experience will help me immensely in my future of knitwear designing and pattern writing.  I hope to finish up those Summer Sweaters, when the warm weather arrives again. 

I'll be starting out 2015, knitting frantically for the twins, my daughter is expecting in April/May, and perhaps a few little sweaters for their older sisters, pictured here.  A boy and a girl, which will allow for doubles of everything, in feminine and masculine colors.  It is amazing how I track time in my life, to what I am knitting.  I hope your life is floating along and that your knitting is moving along as smoothly as mine.  Merry Christmas and a Happy Knitting New Year!



. . . in-between the Holidays

Thanksgiving was a fun, relaxing time with family. The food was great, the whether was great, and time spent with family is always great! We traveled to Idaho Falls to celebrate, our daughter made everything especially great. Now it is time to move on to Christmas. That crazy/busy time of year, when you fear you might lose your mind.

 

 

Our Tree and outside lights are all up, and we are ready to start singing Carols and baking cookies.  The shopping is nearly finished and it's time to bring out the wrapping paper for a few marathon sessions of taping and ribboning. 

 

 Here I am, wearing my "Leaving" cardigan.  This is, by far, the best sweater I have ever knit for myself.  I'm tempted to wear it twice a week.  I wasn't really sure that using a Custom Fit pattern would make such a difference, but definitely has.  I love, love, love this sweater!

My "Bloomsbury" is coming along.  It seems to be taking forever and this picture is terrible.  The color is off, and the lacework just looks like knots, but I think it will all turn into a beautiful sweater in the end.  Knit of lace weight yarn on US2 needles, it is a very fine gauge.  It is so soft and dreamy, and I hope to be wearing it for Christmas.  I'll just keep plugging away. 

I'm not knitting any Christmas gifts this year . . . it is so liberating.  I seem to be turning into a knitting Scrouge.  I've come to learn that only knitters can appreciate a hand-knit gift.  Everyone I talk too doesn't believe that yarn for a basic sweater can cost between $100 and 200 . . . and then there are the hours and hours of knitting and measuring and fitting and ripping.  It is a knitter's lesson, when they pull one of their handknit gifts out of their daughter's dryer.  Call it selfish, but after a year of knitting only for me, I'm starting to really like the concept. 

 

Marlene and Joan have finished their "Lady Kina" sweaters.  Marlene looks just darling in her's and I'm sure she is wearing it often, just like I do. 

Joan gifted her sweater to my daughter (her grand-daughter), who is expecting twins.  It looks so cute with that little baby bump peaking out.  I'm sure it will continue to work great as that bump turns into a full-scale mound. 

Kathy is making great progress on her "Lady Kina" and will be wearing it soon.

And Jennifer is knitting socks, both for her and her expected little daughter.

Tonight our "Knit Night" group will be meeting at a local restaurant for dinner and our annual Christmas gathering.  Like always, it should be loads of fun and laughter.  I hope the season is bringing all of you great happiness.  Happy Knitting!