Shedir

I ordered some lovely designer yarns with the intention of trying them out on some beanies. The first one I decided to make was Shedir, in Rowan Calmer Drift. This was a pretty fun knit, the cables were interesting, but I quickly got the hang of those, and aside from a drama on the 53rd row, where I had to rip it back twice, it progressed very quickly. I finished it last night and I am very pleased with how it turned out.

man jumper

I have never knitted a jumper for a man before. The first thing I noticed is that it's really hard to find a decent jumper pattern that doesn't look gay or metro, or like something my dad would wear (found plenty that my dad would wear, may knit one later). To find something that a younger man would wear though was a challenge. I came up with something suitably cool though, and picked a colour that looked manly enough. No pinks and so on here, it's a manly gray.


The second thing I noticed was that the thing is absolutely huge. I have gone from knitting things for me (XS) and rina (6) to something that covers me like a blanket while I knit it. It's a fairly quick knit though and I am up to the armhole shaping on the back. I've decided I really do prefer knitting seamless in the round. Sewing pieces together isn't that bad really, but the sense of progress and seeing how it's shaping isn't the same.

black broken rib jumper

I see so many patterns for 'sweaters' which is kinda annoying, cause here in australia we call them jumpers. So that is what I am calling mine. I just joined the back and front of my broken rib jumper, and it's looking nice all sleeveless as it is. I will probably do the neckline next and then think about the sleeves. As usual I have a dozen other projects half begun, or thought of, and having reached such a milestone with my jumper, I may lay it aside after that for while until motivation catches me again.


It's the first day of Spring tomorrow and I am really more interested in doing some summer knits.

beanie

yesterday I knitted up a beanie for rina in a lovely pink cotton yarn. I am very much into non-wool yarns at the moment. I have been knitting a summer dress in a bamboo yarn that is just so silky and soft. I intend to make a sarong out of it later.

sleeves are growing

I have begun the right sleeve on my Sahara. I have only ever knitted jumpers in pieces before, so I'd make the sleeve and then attach it to the rest of the jumper at the end. This one however is kinda just growing out the side of it and it's very different. The pattern is for 16" sleeves, but I think I will have to have longer sleeves, cause my arms aren't that short.

I swatched up the red wool I have, and it seems like it will work well for my red vest. It's a very very bright red, I will have to post pictures once I cast on.

i made stuff

I completed my first jumper ever! It is the misshapen jumper I knitted for my daughter. It's slightly too big for her, but works out nicely as an oversized baggy jumper and really is quite comfy.

I have also finished the diamond rib neckline on my Sahara. I tried it on after it was off the needles and it fits beautifully. I was worried because I knitted the small which is patterned for a 29" waist and a 33" bust, whereas my bust is more like 38", but the finished product moulds nicely and doesn't look stretched at all. Just got the sleeves to go on that.

still knitting..

Over the weekend I hemmed my Sahara and it's looking quite nice. I had one ball of wool from the wrong dye lot, and it was noticably darker than the rest (only once I'd started knitting into it of course), but it has worked out wonderfully for the diamond ribbed hems and I am really happy with how it's looking. I was considering a contrasting colour, but it seemed to clashing and this has worked out well.

I have just about finished the neckline. Only 5 rows to go and then I can bind it off and try it on, see how well it fits. I have seen some of the others being completed and they are looking really good, so I can't wait to finish mine.

My mum gave me a huge stash of wool, which includes some very nice white mohair which I think I might knit into a lacy shawl. And some bright red wool which would be nice as a vest or cabled shell or something.