I find it hard to believe how quickly the week has gone. How did it get to be the end of September? I haven't even had a chance to sit down and put together a list of my October goals, let alone write about all the things that I have completed (or not completed) in September!
So gorgeous, that I'm afraid to wear them!
Firstly and most importantly... LOOK at these beautiful socks, knit from Colinette Jitterbug by the wonderful Meg. Meg held a contest back in August for her blog birthday and I managed to win. Meg managed to get everything spot on:
the size - fits like a glove fits, only they're socks, but you get the picture.
the colour - i love blues (the socks are actually darker than the photographs and when I was in Wales earlier in the month, I sort of bought a skein in this shade too)
the varigation - i love the subtle variegatedness
the origin of the yarn - colinette ... yum
and the name of the pattern... some significance there too, but I'm not telling ;-)
So, I've got me a super gorgeous pair of socks now... they are so gorgeous that I am afraid to wear them.
The pattern is called Leyburn and it's designed by Pepperknit.
Eyelet Cardigan
After finishing my eyelet cardigan, I finally managed to get some photos. The pattern is from Blue Sky Alpaca and I have made quite a few changes to the original. It's a great little cardigan...stylish and easy to wear.
So, in summary, the changes that I've made:
1. Changed the ribbing from a 2x2 to a modified 2x2x2x1x2 so that the eyelet pattern transitions cleanly from the ribbing.
2. Changed the shoulder decreases on the front of the sweater so that they matched the back of the sweater (and I can do a 3 needle bind-off with the stitches matching)
3. Raised the front of the sweater an inch and a half, by working 6 more rows than directed by the pattern. I was concerned that the front would be too low and the darn sweater would keep dropping off my shoulders.
4. I added 1.5 inches to the body of the sweater. It's still cropped, just not so cropped. It sits just on the waistband of my jeans. Cropped is great with low slung trousers if you don't happen to have a gigantic roll of fat peeking out. Some things are best left covered.
5. To accommodate the additional length, I added an extra button.
6. I also centered the modified ribbing for the buttonbands and neck
7. I didn't do this, but I think that it would had been worthwhile to do the button and neckband on smaller needles with a few additional sts. The weight of the sweater often pulls this downwards anyway, so a tighter gauge would be better.
8. Sizing - this sweater works better with the bust measure = to your bust measurement or with a little bit of negative ease. Check the pattern sizing carefully before starting. The finished measurement of the medium is 38 inches. The large is 44 inches. That's a really big jump...and as it's a ribbed design, you will probably find yourself swimming in it...and that is not an attrractive look.
9. I didn't bother with cuffs for the sweater. Not a good idea unless you have thin arms... which sadly, I don't.
10. Finally, I used 8 balls of Rowan ASC, that's 90m x 8 = 720m. The pattern directs you to buy 5 hanks at 150 yards - 150 x 5 = 750yds * .9 = 675 m for both the medium and large size. I guarantee you that you will run out of yarn on the large size. The medium will be touch and go. I added 1.5 inches to the body and 6 rows to the front of the sweater, but didn't do the cuffs. I had about 5 m of the ASC left. If you make the 2nd/3rd/4th sizes, buy an extra skein.
11. Measuring ribbing is tricky. You need to measure with fabric blocked out to the finished measurement. If you don't do this, your garment will be too short.
I found an errata for this pattern, but nothing mentioned about the yarn quantities.
Here are a few "modelled" shorts. Please excuse that weird bulge in the first photo. I do have a roll of fat but not as pominent as that (esp. when I go to the trouble of standing up straight and sucking in my stomach). In the future, I will remember to smooth down the fabric prior to having the photo taken.
See, it really does fit and contrary to popular beliefs, I don't let every sweater that I start end up in the WIP bags!
The cardi looks so good on you! Love the Jitterbug socks. Have been dying to try this yarn & managed to buy some recently.
Posted by: Ann at October 5, 2007 09:46 AMThe cardigan is lovely and you look great in it! Congratulations!
(I covet those beautiful socks as well)
I'm so happy you like the socks! Of course you are a joy to knit for.
Your eyelet cardigan is just gorgeous. I can't wait to see what October brings us!
I think it looks fantastic!
Posted by: Siow Chin at October 2, 2007 02:23 AMThose socks are so beautiful & the color is great..I love your sweater it looks great on you
Posted by: Rae at October 2, 2007 12:54 AMLove the Eyelet cardi (and for myself, I hear ya on point no. 4 - think of the children!!!!)
And how strange you should buy a skein of sock yarn in that same shade!
What a perfect little cardi! I especially love the sleeves. I have long arms, and since most sweaters have too short sleeves for me anyway I end up pushing them up to the elbow. Love the three-quarter length, and it looks great on you!
Oh, and blue socks. You can never have too many blue socks.
Posted by: Rippedoffknitter at October 1, 2007 08:39 PMgreat cardi! it looks fab on you, polly!
you are a very lucky person to have meg make you such beautiful socks.
Posted by: kris at October 1, 2007 01:33 PMSmashing cardigan! It looks like the designer had you in mind when the wrote the pattern. And those socks...wow, Yes, I would be afraid to wear them too...for a little while. Such a pretty blue.
Excellent choice on the buttons, they really "make" the cardi, so to speak.
Posted by: Tracey at October 1, 2007 12:58 PMBeautiful job on the cardi. I particularly like the effort made to line up ribbing to pattern. Such a noticeable difference!
Posted by: Petunia at October 1, 2007 12:29 PMIt is really beautiful and suits you very well...
I can understand your feeling about the socks, they are very, very pretty!
Gorgeous Polly - it really suits you! Lovely socks as well.
Posted by: Mary at October 1, 2007 07:02 AMGreat socks, and wonderful job on the cardigan!
Posted by: Octopus Knits at October 1, 2007 02:33 AMYour cardigan looks fantastic on you, Polly, your modifications have made it pretty perfect.
And what fantastic socks, you are a lucky woman. They are very aptly named for you too.
Posted by: Louise at October 1, 2007 01:30 AMYou look fabulous, Polly! You did a great job and the buttons are perfect!
Posted by: Daisy at October 1, 2007 01:06 AMAll bulges seem to be in their proper places! A gorgeous sweater! The 3/4 sleeves are perfect for this sweater; I get so tired of seeing the aran weight sweaters with sleeves hiding the entire hand, even with cuffs rolled sometimes. You definitely have a designer's eye and touch for knit design!
So pretty and it looks great on you Polly!
Posted by: Debi at September 30, 2007 10:23 PMIt's very nice - I do think we should have a little kal! The photographer did very well!
Posted by: dawn at September 30, 2007 10:10 PMThe socks, and the Eyelet cardigan are fabulous! The cardigan does really look great on you. And those bulges, we all get them when we stand like you do on the picture. Don't worry, it really looks like a very wearable cardigan!
Posted by: Maud at September 30, 2007 06:16 PMThe cardigan turned out lovely! Appreciate all your thoughts on it....for example the thoughts on the button and neck bands...sounds like a good fix for some of my sweater problems, thank you. The Socks are yummy! What a wonderful prize! You will love working with the Jitterbug yarn..it is hands down my favorite sock yarn...addicted to it, I am!
It's gorgeous! Looks great on you. : )
Posted by: limedragon :-: Harriet at September 30, 2007 05:18 PMI thought those yardage estimates in the pattern were off, even though it was cropped. Thanks for the detailed mods, when I make it, I'll definitely be using these. I would make it to the length you made it, if not a wee bit longer. I have no desire to expose my rolls to the light of day either.
The eyelet cardigan looks really good on you. Good job!
Posted by: Wanda at September 30, 2007 05:14 PMThose socks are lovely. And I LOVE that cardi! You did a fantastic job with the modifications. I just love it. Really flattering, really classic. Love it!
Posted by: Annie at September 30, 2007 05:04 PMGorgeous! I think it's one of the prettiest eyelets that I've seen. It really suits you! Thanks for the notes on your alterations. That is always so helpful!
Posted by: Kelly at September 30, 2007 04:52 PMThat looks fab Polly - it really suits you and looks like a very wearable addition to your wardrobe. And I love the sock pattern too. Being the proud possessor of some rather lovely green Jitterbug (thank you so much !) I may just have found the right design :0)
Heather x
Posted by: Heather at September 30, 2007 04:42 PMThat is really beautiful. I think your mods were worth the trouble. And it flatters you!
Posted by: jessie at September 30, 2007 04:39 PMWow, it's so pretty! I love how it looks on you =)
Posted by: Rain at September 30, 2007 04:09 PMlovely cardigan! Looks beautiful on you.
Posted by: May at September 30, 2007 03:50 PMyou model it so lovely polly... but we need to see the frolicking :)
maybe when I am in London at the end of October...!!! :)
Posted by: stinkerbell at September 30, 2007 03:29 PMThat's such an adorable cardigan!
Posted by: yuvee at September 30, 2007 01:54 PMIt's really lovely! And the 'weird bulge' in the first modeled shot is clearly a garment issue, as it lies flat across your belly and left side! :)
Posted by: Anne at September 30, 2007 01:29 PM