A decision, finally (maybe)

Thank you to everyone for your kind words about my pink eyelet top, both here and on Ravelry.  A lot of you thought the finished top looked great, others supported my thoughts on frogging it and making something else.  After a couple of weeks of considering my options, I've (almost) decided to take it apart and make this beautful lace henley top from Knitty.  My plan is to change the neck to a crewneck and make the sleeves longer, maybe 3/4 length.

A couple of things have influenced my decision.  One, the eyelet top pattern called for way more yarn than I actually used, so I have 4 and half skeins of yarn left over. (I hate when a pattern calls for so much more yarn than you actually use - I mean, what's up with that?).  If I take apart the top and use the leftover yarn, I can knit up a full sweater with longer sleeves.

Two, the worsted weight yarn I used is very soft and comfortable, but still rather heavy for a sleeveless top.  It is unlikely that I could wear a heavy top in warmer weather, so a longer sleeved top for spring/fall might be a better use of this yarn.

from Banana Republic website

And three (most important), I've fallen in love with this sweater from Banana Republic.  I tried this sweater on in the store and loved it.  However, this pink color in person is more orangey (really, a bright coral color) and not great for my coloring.  Also the cotton of this sweater is a little scratchy on the skin.  If I change the Knitty lace henley to a crewneck and use my Knitpicks Comfy in that beautiful poesy color, I think I can create a very similar, if not more flattering, finished sweater.

So, that's the plan.  Maybe.  And unfortunately, my digital camera died just after I finished taking the photos of the eyelet top, so it might be a while until I can post any photos of this project.  If I decide to frog the eyelet top.  Which I think I will (probably) do.  Maybe.

Indecision and Disappointment (or Disappointment, then Indecision)

Sorry to be so long in posting, but I've been busy with my needles, knitting the Top-down Eyelet Top from Teva Durham's Loop-d-loop lace book. 

Although this might not be the most beautiful pattern in this book, it immediately caught my eye.  I love the simple pattern, and the easy and casual feel of the top in the photos in the book.  But my finished version of this top leaves me rather disappointed.  I love the neck and top part of the shirt, but from the armpits down, I think it's kind of a mess.  I have almost made up my mind to frog it and make something else instead.

For starters, I think there's a problem with the pattern as its been printed in the book.  The pattern says this top will fit up to a 40 inch bust, but as written, I found the shirt to be tight and uncomfortable even on my 34 inch chest.  And the eyelets in the picture in the book have this lovely rippling effect.  Alas, my finished top did not have the same open eyelets that should look as if they are dripping down the body.

I had made some modifications.  I chose to knit my top in Knitpick's Comfy, in a beautiful shade of rosy pink called Poesy.  Love it!  I wanted to make the top out of a yarn that would be good for warmer weather wear, and chose not to knit it in wool.  (This may have been part of my problem.)

After knitting down to the armpits and finding the top to be uncomfortably snug, I tore my knitting out and started again.  The top starts with the circular yoke, and I started the pattern after the first increase, making the top a bit bigger from the beginning.  To avoid have the neck opening be too large, I cast on with a #4 needle for a few rows, then switched to a #6 needle.  I knit with the #6 almost to the shoulders before switching to a #7 needle to complete the rest of the garment.

I think there's another problem with the pattern in knitting the yoke.  The pattern says to do 5 repeats for the smaller sizes and only 4 repeats for the larger sizes.  That doesn't make sense.  I did 5 repeats for mine.  Four repeats would not have been big enough or wide enough to reach my shoulders, which are somewhat narrow.

Once you bind off for the shoulders and cast on for the body, the pattern has you slipping and passing over stitches to maintain the same stitch count through the body.  This is where my top really became a mess.  To me, the passed-over stitches create this crab look, which I didn't notice in the photo in the book and that I really don't like.  I also think it makes the top look more bulky than I expected. 

I added a little shaping through the body and chose to add ribbing to the bottom edge.  The original top has a rolled edge on the bottom.  But in my experience, rolled edges always roll up to my belly button every time I sit down and I spend way too much time pulling down my shirt.  Ugh.  I didn't want my ribbing to be too distracting from the pattern of the top, so I chose a 4 knit, 2 purl rib.  I think it maintains the eyelet pattern of the top and yet still keeps the edge from rolling up.  It's one thing that seemed to work right.

Ultimately, my finished top doesn't really look like the one in the book, nor do I think it's very pretty.  Maybe if I hadn't increased the size, the shirt would have fit snugger and the eyelets would have opened more and created a ripple?  Maybe, but I think it would have been uncomfortably tight for me and I wouldn't have enjoyed wearing the shirt.  Or, maybe if I had used wool instead of cotton, the lace would have opened up more during the blocking process?  Who knows, but I think I will be frogging this top and making the Gemini top, which has a similar look and shape, from this month's Knitty instead. 

Stay tuned for more misadventures in knitting :)

On the Needles

I'm happy to report that I've done pretty well with my resolution to use up my stash yarn. 

My most recent stash project is another pair of my Stash-o-motastic Mitts.  Since my husband claimed the first pair I made, I knitted another pair for myself.  This time, I made a smaller pair by casting on only 32 stitches.  I also mixed up the color combination, as my stash of some of these yarns was running low.  I love how they came out.  But now all I can do is pack them away until next winter :(

Now that spring is upon us, it's time to start some warmer weather knitting.  I've already been a bit of a bad girl and bought some new yarn for my next project.  I'm starting a lace top from Teva Durham's Loop-d-Loop Lace book in a comfy cotton blend yarn.  I'm very excited about the style and the beautiful color I've chosen for this project.  Stay tuned for photos!!

What's on your needles?

On Success and Failure

My first update on my 2012 knitting New Year's resolution!  Overall, I give myself a grade of C :(

On the bright side, I have started using up some of my leftovers from other projects.  I made this great Spiral Twist hat using left over gray yarn from a scarf and odds and ends of Noro. 

My husband and I regularly take Sunday walks in a nearby park, and I made this hat with those walks in mind.  This hat is my first time doing stranded work - I'm happy with the color combination of gray with the striping Noro yarn.  I wish I had thought a little bit more about how the colors would line up on the hat.  I would have put the yellow and orange/coral color down by the base of the hat.  Still, it's a nice warm hat for the cold weather season :)

I might have been successful at starting my stashbusting, but I failed on limiting my yarn buying. 

It's only January 13th, and I've already bought new yarn:(  I can't even say it was an impulse purchase, because I drove directly to the store with the intent to buying new yarn.  But, in my defense, it was a great bargain.  I bought this pound bag of 100% cotton yarn (factory mill ends - whatever that is) that is a perfect match for some variagated bamboo that I have left over from another project.  This bag of yarn was $6.99 at AC Moore and I had a 50% off coupon!!  So, I bought a pound of yarn for $3.49!

I plan to use this cotton yarn and the variagated bamboo to make a chevron pullover similar to the one that is on the cover of Knitting Noro.  Although I have no idea how much yardage is in my one pound bag of cotton, I'm sure it will be enough to make a pullover. 

Okay, one more confession - I did buy some additional new yarn.  But I do have a project in mind for it and it was on sale :)

How are you doing with your New Year's resolutions?  What are your plans for new knitting projects?

Looking Back and Going Forward

Well, my New Year's post has been a bit delayed due to my post-holiday cold:(  But inspired by a number of fashion blogs, I thought I'd post my favorite projects/knitting patterns of 2011 and my plans/resolutions for 2012.

First, a look back at some of my favorite projects from 2011:

1.  Sleeveless Sweater with Circular Yoke

I love this sweater.  I've made two of them, one in 2010 and another in the spring of 2011.  Instead of the fairisle design in the pattern at the neck, I followed in others' footsteps and used Noro yarn to get these changing stripes at the neckline.  I wear both of these sweaters a lot and find this purple version works really well with my wardrobe (and I get a lot of compliments on it).  The short sleeves allow me to wear it for three seasons and a light merino yarn for the body makes it very comfortable.

2.  Fingerless Mitts

I've gone on about fingerless mitts before in this blog, but I have really used and enjoyed the pairs I've made.  I love the ease at which I can get things out of my purse, find my keys, etc while still wearing these mitts.  Before, I was always pulling off then putting back on my gloves.  Ugh.  Fingerless gloves have changed my life (well, not really - but I love them anyway).

The web is filled with great patterns for mitts using all types and weights of yarn.  These are my design.  I love how the color changes in the lace pattern and they are a great match for my winter coat.

3.  Drops Yoke Cardigan

I made this cardigan for my mother-in-law this year for Christmas.  It was my first time trying one of the free Drops patterns, and I love how it came out.  I love the cheerful cherry red color.  And I love the design of the yoke.  This pattern was pretty easy but seemed to take a long time to knit (not sure why).  I haven't seen my mother-in-law in it yet, but I hope she likes it.

Drops has a similar pattern with a different yoke that has been in my project queue for a while, but more about that further down.

Then, a few honorable mentions:

4.  Kashima Cardigan

I wear this sweater A LOT.  I love having a sweater that I can just throw on and go - and this has become that sweater.  I think the burgundy color makes it very versatile and this merino dk makes it warm enough to wear on a 50 degree day, but light enough to wear on hotter days too.

This sweater would have ranked higher on my list, but I don't think this waterfall style of sweater does my figure any favors.  The extra folds of fabric in the front seem to add bulk right where I don't need it :)  I made some modifications to the original paatern to make the front pieces shorter and not so long.  I think this helped and I love this sweater (though not this photo).

5.  Winter Leaves Lace Scarf

I just finished this scarf and it was just what I was looking for!  The pattern is pretty easy and I love the circular design of the lace.  I extended the lace pattern for longer than in the pattern for more of an all-over lace look.  I used a Debbie Stoller Stitch Nation yarn, so the project wasn't that expensive.  I wear this with a lot of my cardigans just to keep the chill off my neck.  Love it!!

And now, onward to 2012! 

I must admit, I don't have a large stash of yarn.  I try (and try) not to buy any yarn unless I have a specific project planned for it.  With that in mind, here are my resoluntions for 2012:

1.  Use up the yarn I have before buying any new yarn.  I have made two larger yarn purchases for particular projects that I have not started yet.  I will not buy any new yarn until I have completed these projects!!

2.  Love my less-favored yarn.  Although I do't usually buy yarn without a purpose, I have (I must admit) made some impluse purchases that I have either fell out of love with or just ignored.  I will find projects for this yarn, perhaps use it to make things for charitable drives.  In the past, I have donated some things to Comfort Scarves in Pittsburgh (and there are many other groups collecting knitted goods).  So I will work through my stash and make things for others in need :)

3.  Find a use for my little leftovers.  I assume everyone has that little half ball of yarn leftover from their projects.  I now have about a bin and a half of these "little balls".  I pledge to find smaller projects where I can use up these little balls.  I have an idea for a design that will use up a variety of yarns and colors and I'm excited to see my stash start to shrink!!

I can also use these leftovers for striped scarves, hats, and mitts for donatons to Comfort Scarves.

Other things:  These are not really resolutions, but in the spirit of new plans - in 2012, I would also like to try intarsia colorwork and learn how to crochet! 

Wish me luck!!  What are your favorite projects from 2011?  And what are your plans for 2012??

A Knit-tastic Christmas

I just have to share some photos and info about all of my exciting knit-related holiday gifts :)

First, the yarn:

I picked out these beauties from esty.com.  My husband bought me the red ball (on the right) from Glass Moon Designs and Woolpops.  Its a worsted weight merino that I can't wait to swatch so I can see what the color does.

My parents bought me the other skein from Lola Doodles.  Its dk weight and so soft.  Both are hand-painted.  I need to find just the right pattern to display the beautful colors in both these yarns :)

And then, the books:

 

My Mom picked up a copy of Katharina Buss's Big Book of Knitting at a library book sale.  Knowing my Mom, I bet she paid less than a buck for it :)  It seems to have a lot of basic information and illustrations, along with a good selection of stitch patterns.  I find these types of books are good to have on your shelf when you have questions or are looking for some ideas for a pattern.  Thanks, Mom!!

My brother-in-law gave me a copy of Teva Durham's Loop-d-Loop Lace book, which I've wanted since it came out.  (He's great about getting exactly what I want).  This book has absolutely gorgeous lace patterns in it.  I wish I could make each and every pattern in this book and wear them someplace wonderful, but I'm happy just flipping through the designs.  There is a simple funky eyelet tee that I think I will make soon.  I'm sure I would get a lot of wear out of this versatile top.  Thank you, Robert :)

And then my hubby gave me Knit Extraordinaire, a new book from Leisure Arts (its cheaper through Amazon, though).  I saw this book advertised in some knitting magazine a few months ago.  I don't think the patterns are on Ravelry, but I love the skirts in this book (Leisure Arts website has some photos posted of some of the patterns).   

Thanks to everyone for these great gifts!  I'm excited to dig in to some new projects!!  Hope this holiday season brought you exactly what you wanted too!!

A Recent Convert to Fingerless Gloves

I must admit, I never really understood the point of fingerless gloves.  I mean, the name says it all - finger-LESS gloves.  It doesn't make any sense.  Then I saw Gwyneth Paltrow on Who Do You Think You Are? and I kind of changed my mind.  She was wearing a pair during the show (and I've looked for a clip of this - the best I can do is here on HULU), and the gloves looked funky and cool on her.  Now granted, anything and everything would probably look cool on Gwyneth Paltrow, but I found myself really appreciating and wanting a pair of fingerless gloves.

So, I found this cool free pattern on Ravelry, Sweet Life, and I really liked the honeycomb pattern on them.  I had this Tahki Designer Homespun Tweed in my stash from my Mom.  The yarn is really rough and not very comfortable to use for anything that will touch soft skin.  But it has this wonderful varigation in color and texture that I thought would be great for these gloves. 

The pattern takes a little bit of figuring on your own, but I love how the gloves came out.  My hands seem to be able to handle the roughness of the fiber and I hope they might last longer for it.  The color is a soft neutral that will go with both my cool weather coats.  I'm happy :)

And I've started creating my own pattern for a pair of fingerless gloves (see, I'm completely converted).  I hope to have it posted in a few weeks!