Friday, May 01, 2009

the new two

When I showed you the plethora of cardigans earlier in the week, I also mentioned that I had cast on for two more. Meet the two more: First up, the Tailored Scallops cardi from the Lace Style Book form Interweave. This is the cover sweater, and is basically a longish feather and fan cardigan. I'm using some variegated Knit Picks Bulky in the Robins Nest colourway. (I have a huge thing for brown and blue together). I also have a love-hate relationship with variegated yarns. Love the colours, love them in the skeins, love them in socks - but never quite sure they work in anything else. So the jury's (i.e. me), is still out on this. I think it may work with a brown turtleneck and jeans, but we'll see... it's a fun knit, and great for TV watching.

Secondly, I finally decided what to do with this wool that LuckyCanuck gave me a while ago. At first it was going to be a shawl, but it's a DK weight, and I like my shawls a little lighter. So that didn't work. Now, it's becoming a basic top down cardigan - no pattern, I'm just sort of winging it. I cast on enough stitches based on gauge to fit around the neckline, and am increasing on every other row until I can separate for the sleeves. I'm also dealing with my hatred of seed stitch by doing the entire yoke in seed stitch. I may hate knitting it, but I love the way it looks, and I think a seed stitch yoke, front band and hem will st of the stockinette body nicely. I think this will be a cropped-ish style, depending on the amount of yarn. It should look smashing (as Lucky says) with some grey flannel pants and a pale grey shirt. I'm also dealing with the sparkle aspect of it. Not being much of a sparkle type girl, I wasn't sure about this, but truthfully, I think it's subdued enough that I can get away with it. If not, it either becomes an evening sweater (because everyone know a suburban mom of an athletic kid has so many evening galas to attend...) or a great gift for someone at Christmas...
And the difference between an DK weight knit on 4mm needles and a chunky on 6.5mm needles. I've spent about 4 times as much time on the silver one, yet I'll have the brown and blue one done first by a large margin.

Yesterday, Brenda asked about the patterns I use for summer skirts. Mostly I draft my own, which is way easier than it sounds, since I use a fabulous book that was recommended to me. Sew What! Skirts by Francesca Denhartog and Carol Ann Camp. Custom fit, and as easy as a regular pattern. I've also had good luck with a couple of Simplicity patterns 4221 and 4138 (I'm pretty sure 4138 is discontinued).

4 comments:

Needles said...

I'm a big fan of the whole 'Style' series, and keep debating should I or shouldn't I with Lace Style. Its one of those books, I'd probably use, but...

The yarn seems to be working pretty good, but I agree, sometimes you have to see the whole thing before you can be sure.

I've some Socks that Rock yarn like that. I don't want it to be socks, but...

Carol said...

brown and blue is also one of my favorit combos. Throw in a little acid green and I'm in heaven

Philosophical Karen said...

I like brown and blue, too. I am very impressed with your new projects. (However, I suppose I should warn you that I am easily impressed.)

;-)

Saren Johnson said...

Feather and Fan is turning up everywhere I look this month. I like how the blues is intertwined with the browns. It's like looking up into the sky through the trees.