Half an Asym.

Just a little update. For whatever reason, the Rowan Cork is not going as far as I had hoped. Luckily, I have extra. Sizing still looks good, but I do wonder if the schematic for the sweater includes the button band? The band w/collar schematic is shown next to the sweater. Anyhow, when figuring sizing and checking gauge, I did not include the button band, so it may be slightly larger if I've guessed wrong. Also, on Right Front, I believe total number of stitches after Shaping Front Neck are off. For small, I came up with 86 stitches, not 90. Anyone else notice this?

Knitting Along At Last

I must be the latest starter on a Knitting Nature project. Since receiving the book, I've been madly trying to finish off Arisaig so I can start the Asymmetrical cardi.

Well at last here's the evidence that I am actually knitting along rather than just salivating at everyone else's finished projects...


I love how quickly this knits up compared to poor old Arisaig which was done on 3.0mm. What a killer.

I'm using the 12-ply wool in grey from Nundle Woollen Mills, which I visited with reluctant husband earlier this year. You can read about our adventures here and here.

The 50g balls are just AUD$4.50 each and I'm pretty sure they ship overseas. They have a fantastic range of colours.

Bubblelicious!

My Bubble is finally done! Whew!

I used 6 skeins of Malabrigo in Burgundy - love love love the softness of this yarn. It's a little snug around my hips, but what else is new. . . I found the great buttons at the Button Emporium in downtown Portland (OR). Amazing place!!!!

I'm having a contest to see who can guess what I did wrong all over the freaking sweater. (More pics - including a close-up on my blog.) I'll find some yummy yarn in the shop to give away - to get your name in the drawing just comment on my blog with your guess as to my little (BIG) whoopsie.

Overall a great project, though!

Ta-Daaaaaa!

It's been five years, but I am back, baby. Behold, my Sand Dollar Pullover!

I'd like to thank Norah Gaughan for her great pattern, Melanie Fallick for putting up with my questions, the creator and participants of this KAL for the sense of community, my husband for giving selflessly his hours of dog-walking, cooking and waiting for me to come to bed, Morehouse Merino for making yarn soft enough for me to wear next to my skin, knittinghelp.com for kitchener stitch and more, my dog for not eating my knitting when I go to work, Eucalan for a fantastic smelling woolwash... I know I'm forgetting someone... OK, they're playing the exit music... I love you all and thank you for your neverending support! This one's dedicated to Grandma!!!!

Sand Dollar Pullover

I have been thinking about making the Sand Dollar Pullover as my next knit but I cannot understand how the back looks. Do you attach the grafted fronts across the back, having a long back seam? Or do they just go over the shoulders, also having a seam? Can anyone who completed this sweater explain or even post a picture of their back?
Thanks so much for your help.

She's in Pieces Now

But with a little magic and a lot of mattress stitch, she may soon become a full-fledged Sand Dollar Pullover!!! (Cross your fingers for me, people.)

Asymmetrical Cardi

I've jumped on the bandwagon and am knitting the Asymmetrical Cardi, with Rowan Cork, using Knit Picks (pointy) needles which makes the cross stitches a breeze. I am totally loving this pattern, yarn and even yarn color (Sour Apple). I imagine wearing it to the NY Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck in 11 days. This is probably a fantasy, but it's a good one.



I also finished up a couple Sunflower tams quite a while ago. I made several modifications, including casting on fewer stitches (70?) and making the green hat deeper so it covers my ears. The purple is for my 8 y/o daughter. Yarn: Queensland Kathmandu Aran, which is incredibly soft and beautiful.

Finally, my poor Roundabout Leaf Tank sits in a bag, a WIP with only the shoulder straps to finish up. This may be gifted for the holidays, or will hang around until next Spring, I'm not sure yet.

Turbulence U-Neck

I have started the Turbulence U-neck pullover this week. This is my second project from the book. My first project was the Cabled Spiral Pullover.

I am making some minor changes. First, I'm knitting it in the round, I'll probably make it a bit longer than the pattern, and I'm adding a little bit of waist shaping.

The yarn is Duo Silk Merino, from Design Club dk, held double.

My Asymmetrical Cardigan....

...is not asymmetrical!

This is my second project from Knitting Nature. I used the idea and the pattern and made my own cardigan - I think it is better in my size.

Ich liebe diese Jacke! Sie ist so kuschelig warm und weich!!

Sand Dollar Pullover from New Member

Hey all!

I am moments away from finishing my Sand Dollar Pullover in Morehouse Merino. Hopefully all will turn out well. This is the first sweater I have knit in over 5 years!!!!

Lee-Fay, I have also seen Heidi's blog. It prompted me to write to the editor of Knitting Nature.

Here's what she had to say:

"I've looked at this pattern and this is what I've found. First of all, it says to CO 2 sts for ALL sizes of the upper front. You work shaping until you get to 28 (30, 32, 34) sts [end of first paragraph on p 44). Then on the next line, you K1, m1, work to end, and you should have 29 (31, 33, 35) sts. That's where the error is."

As for Row 13 in the chart, it SHOULD be there, though the instructions are a little off in the book. I received clarification, which I found ENORMOUSLY helpful. It may not make much sense now, but when you get to the chart, I promise it will:

"The chart is correct as is. The text next to the symbol for the center 3 sts
should read as follows:

K3tog, but do not drop sts from left-hand needle, insert right-hand needle
between first and second sts and knit first 2 sts again, slip all 3 sts from
left-hand needle together.

Note that you are not knitting the first 2 sts together again, but 1 at a
time. That way, you only decrease 2 sts on Row 13, so you end up with 5 sts,
ready to work Row 14."

Hope that was helpful. Peace out, knitters!

Will post pics of the sweater next week if all turns out well!

Asymmetrical Cardigan

I just started the asymmetrical cardigan from Knitting Nature. The pattern is based off of chair caning and forms hexagons or stars of David. I was immediately reminded of Picasso's Still Life with Chair-Caning (Paris, [May] 1912 Oil and oilcloth on canvas, with rope frame 10 5/8 x 13 3/4 in. (27 x 35 cm.) Daix 466. Musee Picasso, Paris). And more so the idea of making an illusion out of something real. In Picasso's painting, the chair caning looks like it is painted, but it is actually real contact paper made to look like real chair canning. The rope framing the piece is real rope. He has painted in a cubist style, again questioning the difference between reality and illusion. To top it all off, he uses the word "Jou" which is French for 'play'. Oh Pablo, you are quite the trickster...
here is the start of the left front of the cardigan...