 Two years has passed since I started this cardigan. It has been the most painful project I have ever undertaken. It lay in some area of my house until I decided I really wanted to wear it this spring. Early on, I knew that the pattern was not going to work out. It had me wringing my hands and cursing the designer, whose creations I happen to love. I was not happy with the way the lace pattern looked as I increased for the sleeves. I felt that it compromised the integrity of the sleeve seams, given the fact that I was using a cotton yarn which is rather heavy and splits like mad. I thought it would over stretch the seams to have the lace right at the edges. After many starts and stops, I decided to incorporate the increases into the lace after I had enough stitches for one full repeat. There.
But that was nothing. Midstream, I decided to change the size from a large to a medium. I fearlessly forged ahead, not giving a whit about how I was going to change things when it came time to seam. And then it was time to seam. I had extra fabric at the sides. There was no way I was going to rip back for the fortieth time. Wait! I know! In a flash of brilliance, I decided to add a couple of lines of stitching with a sewing machine, cut into the lace, and then seam it together. I grappled with the prospect of that task for two years. Finally, I became brave. Shade your eyes and read no further if you are faint of heart.
I placed a line of slip stitch crochet near the place I wanted to cut off. I pinned it with tissue paper, and reinforced the area with three lines of machine stitching. Then I slept on it, waited a few days, had a drink, and used my Razor Fiskars to cut right into the lace. It was either that, or be faced with the reality that I would never wear this cardigan.
Done. Suddenly, I had energy. I didn't even care that there were a million minute pieces of yarn scattered all over the house, or that I would have to pick out the tissue paper from the seams with tweezers for months afterward. The seams didn't look that bad. It looks like ready to wear. And I am ready to wear it!
Pattern: Victoria by Mags Kandis from Mission Falls Quinte Scrapbook
Yarn: Gedifra Korfu (50% cotton, 50% microfiber), color 88, peach
Amount Used: 1057 yards / 970 meters / 21-1/4 ounces / 606 grams
Needles: Addi Turbo size 6 and 7, and KnitPicks Options size 6 and 7
 Pattern: Matrix by Kerry Palm, knitty.com
Yarn: Lamb's Pride Worsted, turquoise, and Cascade 220, red
Needles: Size 6 US
Amount Used: Not a lot! Lots left over
I LOVE these mittens! They actually fit me well, and they were loads of fun to knit. I changed the cuff and also the thumb, making it shorter. Otherwise, I thought it was a well written, straightforward pattern.
I
used yarn from my stash. Next time, I won’t use Lamb's Pride - although I love
it, it’s just too fuzzy with the Cascade 220. Finally, a pair of
mittens, not felted, which actually FIT me. Almost all mitten patterns
are too large for me. If you have not done fair isle in the past, I
would suggest another pattern. This pattern has fair isle and mitten
shaping with the thumb gusset, so it might be too much for a beginner. However, the thumb
gusset and shaping are very slick with this pattern. Right and left
mittens have their own place in society, and show it with Matrix. Well
done pattern!
Pattern: Top Down Raglan Cardigan # 53, by Gail Tanquary for Ann Norling
Yarn: Classic Worsted Tapestry by Universal Yarn (80% acrylic / 20% wool), Color 7002, Rose Garden, and Encore Worsted by Plymouth (75% acrylic / 25% wool) color 0180 Mauve
Amount Used: Tapestry - 303 yards / 5.4 ounces / 154 grams / 331 meters
Needles: KnitPicks Options sizes 7 and 8, 47-inch circular 
What is not to love about this pattern? So many options, in sizes
and gauge, make it the best top down pattern I have ever come across. Add
to it the character from the Tapestry, and I would say it is a winner!
This is for the little girl, a preemie, of a friend of mine, who will
be 3 months old this month. She can wear it this fall.
I took a vote with the gals in my knitting group about what kind of
topper I should have for the hat: A nice big puffball pompom, or these
little squiggly worms. It was unanimous. The worms won!
.
Pattern: Babies and Bears Cardigan for Adults by Carol Anderson and Kristi Williams Yarn: Mountain Goat by Mountain Colors, 55% mohair/45% wool, Mountain Twilight Silky Wool by Elsebeth Lavold for trim Amount Used: 1122 yds / 1223 meters / 488 grams / 17-1/8 ozs Needles: KnitPicks Options US size 5 (3.75 mm), size 6 (4.0 mm), size 7 (4.5 mm) Modifications: I made the size large, but my gauge was smaller than recommended; it turned out fitting nicely, just as I had hoped. I also made the sleeves shorter than the pattern suggested. There was no great pooling of colors with this yarn, and what little pooling did occur, occurred bilaterally. 
My biggest disappointment is the way the Mountain Goat makes me itch. It felt really good in the store, even when I placed the skein against my neck. However, I planned on wearing this cardigan with a tank top or sleeveless turtleneck underneath, but even my arms itch while wearing this. To get any use out of it, I will have to wear long sleeves, and I really don't do a lot of heavy layering, even in Michigan, unless I am shoveling snow. I like to be cool. Can you just see me lifting my shirt in a yarn store to test the yarn on my skin? I'm sure the shop owners would love that, especially after calling the cops. My next disappointment is the way the button band turned out. I just should have sewn it on after knitting it. I actually began to rip it out and redo it, but decided against it as I just wanted to be finished with it. The sweater is finished with a kitchener seam at the back center. I ripped that out once before I was happy with it. All in all, this is not my favorite sweater. Well, the kiddos are home again for the second time this week with a snow day. I simply cannot work with them in the house all day, which means I will have to work this weekend, probably at night, which means mom has something else about which to be cranky. Grrr!
 Pattern: Kid's Basic Top Down Raglan, # 53 - Ann Norling
Yarn: Ironstone Colorchanges # 345
Amount Used: 524 yds / 571 m / 9-1/4 oz. / 262 g
Needles: KnitPicks Options size 9 and size 10-1/2
Modifications: Nothing major
This yarn, comprised of 53% wool and 47% acrylic is fantastic! Ironstone Yarns is located in New Mexico, but the yarn is made in Italy, and it really shows, as the quality is top notch. Not only are the colors intense, but the yarn itself is probably the best wool/acrylic blend I have ever used. It's soft, and has a mohair feel to it, although there is no mohair in it. Colorchanges makes a very warm sweater, and it was a pleasure to knit with it. Good thing I have enough for a sweater for Tarzan, too, and some mittens for me!
<---Note that the snow is all gone!
Addendum: I originally purchased this yarn from my friend, Laura at Noisy Needles, but since she closed her shop, I have been unable to find it, until today. Colorchanges can now be purchased at Whitmore Lake Yarn Company. You can place a phone order, and they will send it to you.
 Here is my new favorite top, the Lotus Blossom Tank. The only part which resembles the Lotus Blossom Tank, is the upper portion, which is ingenious, in my opinion. I completely changed the bottom to suit my taste, making up my own lace pattern.
The Lotus Blossom lace seemed to make me concentrate too much; a lot of work for not a lot of oomph, so I played around a little bit and came up with my own lace. I had wanted to replace a top I already had, which had a similar bottom. That top was ready to wear, and done in a ridiculously tiny but beautiful machine gauge. I like this top even better. It is heavier, but I can live with that.
I also chose not to make the lace come up so far as in the original pattern. I find my version of the lower portion more suitable for most figures. I used a size 6 needle for a part of the lace bottom, but I may use a size 5 throughout next time.
The yarn is next-to-the-skin soft. Were it not for its inherent character, I may never have worked with it, given the cotton content, and my loathing of working with that fiber. This top fits like a dream. I couldn't be happier with it. Wasn't I smart to get enough yarn from Webs to make another top just like it?
Pattern: Lotus Blossom Tank by Sharon Shoji with modifications. From Interweave Knits Summer, 2006
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed, (40% silk, 30% cotton, 20% extra fine merino, 10% viscose) color 09
Amount Used: 660 yard (605 meters), 8.82 oz. (252 grams)
Needles: KnitPicks Options size 6 (4 mm) for part of the lace, and size 5 (3.75 mm) for the remainder
Modifications: I changed the Lotus Lace to my own version of lace for the bottom portion (see sidebar for details). I also chose to not make the lace come up so far onto the bodice. I used KnitPicks circulars 47-inch in size 5 for the edging of the armholes and neck, using the Magic Loop technique. Next time, I may crochet an edging instead of using a garter edging. I also used a crochet hook to pick up stitches.
Check out the sidebar under Finished Objects 2007 on the left for a link to instructions on my version of the pattern
 I finally completed Boy Wonder's Aran Pullover. I say "finally", because I purchased the yarn last year, but just now got around to making it. I have yarn much older in my stash, but growing boys present a special urgency. Of course, I didn't have enough yarn from my original purchase. What is the chance of finding yarn purchased on line with the same dye lot over one year later? Pretty darned good, it seems, as I found the very same yarn with the same dye lot at my LYS. This was probably a once in a lifetime event, so I took it as a sign that I better finish that sweater.
Pattern: Chelsea's Aran Pullover by Designs by Louise
Yarn: Plymouth Encore Chunky, color 194
Amount Used: 570 yards / 14 oz /393 grams
Needles: KnitPicks Options size 8 32-inch circular, and Addi Turbo size 8 16-inch circular
Modifications: Changed the center panel to a cable called Loose Five Rib Braid from Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns. I also went down a couple of needle sizes from the pattern suggestion, as I wasn't sure if I would have enough yarn. After I found the extra skein, I had plenty left over. Had I known I would have access to additional yarn, I would have used a size 10 needle from the beginning, instead of struggling with the size 8 as I did to obtain gauge. You see, I also had to find a new pattern since the original yarn purchase, so everything was way off.
Just a quick update on the Paton's Fresco top, post-steeking of the side seams. I didn't have the courage to take a pre-steeking photo, or even take measurements, as I thought, what the heck, if it doesn't turn out, the top will be trashed. It didn't matter to me, as I was fed up with it being too large.
The close up shows what is left of the shaping. I am not sure if you can see, but I also cut right through the crochet edging. (That underarm part doesn't go in like that when I wear it). I just snipped right through it! And yes, I did stitch before I cut!
Now that I am so scissor-happy, I think I will take in the side seams of another top, before I tackle the Victoria Cardigan. Family, beware!
 That mad woman would be me. A couple of years ago, I made a top out of Paton's Fresco, using a free Berroco pattern. This tape yarn had the most beautiful honeydew melon color, but the yarn itself is one of my least favorite of all time. It's 100% acrylic, it has no stretch whatsoever, and it twists and turns upon itself while knitting, as most tape yarns are want to do. I bought it based on my love of the color. What a twit!
The few times I wore the top, and the few times I washed it, I noticed that it stretched width-wise. Not by a little, either, but by at least 4-5 inches! Did I do a swatch first? Of course I did, for gauge only, but I didn't wash it. I thought washing would shrink the fabric, but it only made things worse. So, I threw the top somewhere, and decided that someday I would steek it.
Now, scissors don't scare me one little bit. I once took a pair of Ginghers to a black velvet 8-gored Anne Klein skirt which I swept the floor with each time I wore it. I fearlessly cut the top right off of that skirt, about six inches, made a pocket for wider elastic, and shortened the skirt to the correct length for little old me.
 I smiled as I cut through this top. It doesn't matter to me that my stitching wasn't perfect, and it doesn't matter to me that I lost the nice job of shaping that I did. The new seams aren't perfect, either, but they are wondrously less bulky.
I'm wearing the top now, and I love it! DH isn't around, so I can't get a pic of me, but it fits so much better. Nothing fancy, as it was a pretty plain pattern to begin with, but at least I will get my use out of it, and that is all I can ask for. I still won't use Paton's Fresco anymore, though.
Now, I have to brace myself for another steeking job. I have to remove one vertical lace panel from each side of my Victoria Cardigan. I'm not sure if I should have a glass of wine before, or after I tackle that job.
 I finished one sleeve of the Victoria Cardigan, and I'm working on the second. I'm doing the sleeves first, because they are such a pain! Increasing in the Vine Lace stitch has been no picnic, so I want to complete the worst part first, or else I may never finish this cardigan. There are no other increases in the lace in this cardigan. Although I love the designs of Mags Kandis of Mission Falls, her directions for this cardigan are murky, at best, and I'm doing much better by disregarding the pattern. Perhaps it's in how I interpret them. Regardless, I knit and reknit it numerous times, and finally decided to add a full Vine Lace repeat as opposed to half a vine, which looked silly. The vine wanders, or staggers, and I have to pay very close attention to where the yarn overs and k2tog's go. Despite the fact that I graphed it out for myself, I consider it more of a visual aid, so I am just eyeballing the lace as I go. It is a beautiful lace pattern, and if it weren't so lovely, I would have chucked this project across the floor long ago. Still, the repetition of knitting the lace is addictive and soothing.
Here is a comparison of two cotton / microfiber blended yarns. The coral one on the left is a yarn I just got through working with, Rowan's Calmer. Calmer's 75% cotton and 25% microfiber blend make it soft and yummy, but it's the cabled construction which makes it a dream to knit, as it is literally springy to handle.
On the right is Gedifra's Korfu, a 50/50 cotton microfiber blend, in a beautiful peach color, which I am using for the Victoria Cardigan. Korfu has little give, and acts much like a typical cotton, while the multi-plies cause my needle to jab through it from time to time. Both have excellent stitch definition. The Korfu has an elegant and very light sheen to it, and is heavier, but hopefully not as hot to wear. Calmer is puffier and lighter, which makes for an insulating garment.
I had peach colored Eddie Bauer cardigan years ago, one of my favorites, which I wore until it faded and shrank. The color of the Korfu is reminiscent of that cardigan, and I can't wait to finish it. I'll have to switch off on projects, though, to give my hands a rest. Do I hear that Market Squares Bag calling to me?
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Two years has passed since I started this cardigan. It has been the most painful project I have ever undertaken. It lay in some area of my house until I decided I really wanted to wear it this spring. Early on, I knew that the pattern was not going to work out. It had me wringing my hands and cursing the designer, whose creations I happen to love. I was not happy with the way the lace pattern looked as I increased for the sleeves. I felt that it compromised the integrity of the sleeve seams, given the fact that I was using a cotton yarn which is rather heavy and splits like mad. I thought it would over stretch the seams to have the lace right at the edges. After many starts and stops, I decided to incorporate the increases into the lace after I had enough stitches for one full repeat. There.
I placed a line of slip stitch crochet near the place I wanted to cut off. I pinned it with tissue paper, and reinforced the area with three lines of machine stitching. Then I slept on it, waited a few days, had a drink, and used my Razor Fiskars to cut right into the lace. It was either that, or be faced with the reality that I would never wear this cardigan. 
