One Down, One More to Go

I wanted to document that on this day...I've completed Ophelia-Cactus. I just finished applying a single crochet stitch around the front edges and back neckline. I might have put in too many crochet stitches, but that's okay. I went back and pulled out the single crochet stitches and redid the front edges and back neckline. The edges look much better and not as wavy. I am finished. Done. I have a few threads that need to be weaved into the garment. Now, all I need to do is spend time with my Mediterranean version. I started the left front and I'm hoping I can finish this one by tomorrow. Okay...maybe Thursday. Lets be reasonable.

Right now, thoughts of CeCe, Vine Lace Vest, and Stardust are running through my head. I don't have plans on make duplicates of these. Yeah, you've heard that one before. I only need one version of each. If at all possible, I may start CeCe and Vine Lace and hope I can keep the two patterns straight.

I'm off to visit my LYS and catch their last sale day.

Happy Knitting!

Weekend Wrap Up & Blog Award

My Blog Award:
I was doing my normal blog reading this morning and stumbled upon Leeshie's post at The Knitty Gritty. I've been awarded the One Lovely Blog award. Leeshie...thank you for kind complements and for the award.



I would like to pass this award on to my fellow bloggers who provide me inspiration to knit and blog:

Ballatrina's Knitting - Trina is a knitting machine. I enjoy reading about her knitting projects. She is talented. She is an up and coming entrepreneur. She is a great knitting friend and cheerleader.

Amateur Craft Mom - Jasmine's Mom is another knitting machine. She has knitted & crocheted some beautiful garments. She does a great job with matching the yarn, color, and pattern to produce lovely garments.

Shoes & Sewing - Rachel is multi-talented. She is a fellow sewist as well as a knitter. Rachel...how is your sweater coming along? ;)


Weekend Wrap Up:
Yesterday, I was hoping to get in a few hours of knitting. It didn't quite work out that way. I went to visit DH at the garden center to pick up some cilantro and ended up staying for a Daylily lecture presented by our friend Mark. Mark and his father are well known daylily hybridizers. I happened to walk into the middle of the lecture to find out that they named a daylily after me. How cool is that?

While I was there, I ended up helping Jen (Mark's lovely wife & of course, better half) distribute handouts and then package bare root daylilies for distribution for the folks attending the lecture. I'm blessed that I got the chance to spend some time with them.

On the computing front: I headed over to the electronics store to test drive the latest 13.3" MacBook Pro. I'm totally impressed with this neat little package. While I was there, I was also able to help out some customers with questions on the Mac OS and MacBook hardware specs. More Mac converts. I'm still a geek at heart. :)

On the knitting front: I finished the right front section of Cactus (Ophelia). I'm now working on the back piece.

I did manage to capture the correct color of Cactus:

Cactus color

Ophelia and two fronts completed

On the Ravelry front: Ravelry has contacted me twice, wanting to use some of my yarn pictures for their site. I happily obliged.

A nice way to end a beautiful weekend. :)

A Fun-Filled Knitting Weekend & Beautiful Weather

Late yesterday, DH and I had a wonderful opportunity to sit on our porch and enjoy a warm, but breezy afternoon. He was enjoying a book he was reading and I had almost 2 hours of uninterrupted knitting into the early evening hour.

Ophelia has turned out to be a joy to knit. I have not had to do a major frog or insert a lifeline into the lace pattern. I've only had to tink a row or two, because I had forgotten to knit a row in pattern.

Here's what Cactus looks like in the round (not joined). I've placed the back and right front on waste yarn (stitch holders).

Left front section being knitted while back and right front are on stitch holders

Here's what the lace pattern looks like above the ribbing.

Close up of lace pattern

Here's what Cactus looks like as of this morning. While knitting and finishing the left front shoulder, I had to change the pattern instructions at the last minute because of the 6 stitch decreases I made throughout the bodice. It helps that I waited until the early morning hours when I'm awake to make these changes.

Left front completed and now working the right front piece

I hope to finish Cactus sometime tonight and then work on my Mediterranean version tomorrow. See, this is a fast knit. :)

Ribbing Until My Eyes are Crossed

I never though I would say this, but I'm tired of knitting the ribbed pattern on Ophelia. I know, it's because I'm knitting two versions. Knitting with the worsted weight yarn is not too bad. I can't imagine using a lighter weight yarn. I shouldn't complain since the rib pattern is K2,P2. It could have been worse with K1,P1. That part is done.

This is my first time, following a lace pattern with no chart. I'm just reading line by line (text) in the pattern instructions. There's a 12 row lace repeat pattern above the ribbing. So far, it's been an easy knit. I've put in stitch markers to mark the fronts, sides, and back. I used different color stitch markers to mark the sides and also the 3-repeat lace pattern in the back. The stitch markers have been a big help as I'm knitting, purling, and knitting the lace pattern in the RS and WS rows.

Ribbing completed on Mediterranean. Lace pattern started on Cactus

I'm getting ready to split the fronts from the back on Cactus. I can't wait to finish both of these as the temperature here is hot and humid. We haven't reached 90 degrees yet and I'm feeling hot & sticky already. So far, Ophelia appears to be a heavy garment as I'm using thick worsted weight yarns. I think it's a mental thing for me right now.

I did knit a quick swatch for CeCe to check the gauge. Looking forward to starting this new project.

Knitting Along and Other Things

I have put myself on a diet. That is a yarn diet. I have a lot of warm weather knitting projects in my "queue" (top 10) on Ravelry where I've matched the yarn in my stash with the pattern. When I started garment knitting back in February, I didn't have any nice quality cotton or cotton blend yarns. I've been working on building up a nice spring/summer yarn stash from clearance bins, sell outs, as well as my LYS. I've bought a few "bright" colors, but tried to stay with basic colors that work well with my skin tone.

I finally found the perfect yarn for CeCe. I will be doing a swatch soon to make sure my gauge will be correct. I found this yarn on sale for 20% off at one of my LYS. The color has been discontinued. I knew I had to jump at this opportunity. If you are on Ravelry, you can check my "queue" to see what I'll be using. I don't want to wind my yarn yet as I need to get further along on both Ophelias. Stay tuned.

My Cactus Ophelia is coming along nicely. I've finished the lace ribbing, the eyelet area, and the last of the basic ribbing. I'm getting ready to do the lace pattern for the fronts and back. After casting on so many stitches (146 of them), I wasn't sure if this project would keep my attention. So far, I really enjoy knitting in the round (no joining). I won't have to worry about any side seams. :)

Yesterday, I went with DH to visit a wholesale grower/nursery in Pennsylvania. DH drove and it was a 2-1/2 hour drive to get there. I tried to get some knitting done, but ended up knitting only a row. There was too much to see and take in along the way. I guess I'm not a car knitter.

Happy Knitting!

My Fascination for Knitting Lace Patterns in My Garments

I've been going through my patterns and noticed I have accumulated several lace pattern garments. It is the season to incorporate lace patterns into one's knitting projects. I didn't know the real reason, until I finished my lace cardigans and started to wear them. I've been wearing both versions of Hey Teach over the last several days. From hot & humid to breezy days. They were very comfortable to wear.

I love the open lace stitches as it allows air to circulate within the garment. That's important for me as I tend to get overheated when the air temperature goes up and humidity sets in. Using cotton or cotton-blended (natural) yarns also helps to keep me cool. I wore my Denim version (cotton/silk/rayon) on the hottest day and I still managed to keep my cool.

For me, the pattern has to have some functionality as well as style. As I head into the hottest months of July and August, I'll be knitting a lot of lace-type garments to keep me cool.

Happy Knitting!

Ophelia #2 in the Making

First off, I would like to answer a really important question from Trina who had asked..."what happened to CeCe?" Great question. CeCe is still on my radar. It's high on my "queue" on Ravelry (as well as Alpine). I spent a lot of time trying to get "zen"-like vibes from both CeCe pattern and yarns. Like becoming one with the pattern and yarn. Typically, a pattern will scream "hey, use this wonderful yarn" or the yarn will say "this pattern will work great with me". No vibes were received. I even did swatches...still nothing. I even had all my stitch markers lined up and ready to go. Nothing. I trust my instincts and so far my other FOs have had great results. I have to be patient with CeCe. One day soon, I'm sure a lightbulb will go off in my head and you'll see a huge post from me. :)

In the meantime, I have casted on another version of Ophelia. I was at my LYS trying to figure out which Dyed Cotton (Blue Sky Alpacas) yarn color would work. Funny, they had similar colors I had used for both versions of Hey Teach! I was gravitating towards those colors, when my instinct took over and I pulled out the Mediterranean blue color. Again, I was thinking of multiple seasons as well as dressy and casual wear. I think this color fits my requirements.

Lace pattern ribbing of Ophelia in Mediterranean blue


Let me say that this yarn is just gorgeous to knit with. It's sooo soft and maintains wonderful stitch definitions.

Close up pic and the real Mediterranean yarn color

I plan on knitting the Mediterranean version while at the LYS and the other version, Cactus, at home.

Ophelia in the Making

I casted on 146 stitches and will need to knit about 8 inches of this decorative lace ribbing pattern. It's slow going, but that's the type of project I need right now. A leisure knitting experience. I picked out this olive color as I don't have any earth-tone tops/cardis. I can see wearing this color for 3 out of 4 seasons. I'm knitting a medium when I typically wear a size small. The finished bust size for a small is 32 inches. Way too much negative ease for me even though I can wear this cardi open in the front. The medium finished bust is 36 inches. To me, that means the front edges will meet in the middle. I may end up narrowing (or decreasing) the front left and front right pieces along the armhole and neckline areas. That will be a last minute call I will make once I get to that point. :)

Decorative ribbing

Close up pic. Some lacework in between the ribbing

Looks like I will be knitting a 2nd version of this pattern in Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton and at the same time. There is a method to my madness. I haven't decided on the color yet.

Well, I'm off to go sit and knit on the porch and enjoy our breezy late afternoon weather.

More progress

What's Next on My Needles?

For the last two days, I've been trying to figure out what to knit next. I had a few patterns out on my sewing table. I've been playing around with swatches. Testing out different yarns and needle sizes. I guess I was hoping for something to scream "knit me next", but not a peep was heard. I took a look around Ravelry and found this Ophelia sleeveless cardi over at A Mingled Yarn's site. This looks like another interesting and challenging project for me to tackle.

So, I did a swatch and came up with the correct gauge for Ophelia on my first try. To get the 16sts=4ins swatch I ended up using #9 needles with this Lion Brand yarn. This Cactus colored yarn is actually prettier in person. It's a lovely olive green color. We'll see if I stay with this color after I CO and knit a few inches.

Checking my gauge for Ophelia using Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Cactus color

Based on my previous behavior, I may end up knitting two of these at the same time. ;)

Hey Teach! Lace Cardigans - Completed

The live model pics

My Story:
I fell in love with this pattern. The lace, the shaping, and the overall style. I knew this would be a challenging pattern for me. Nothing like bumping up my knitting skill level a notch and learning a new technique or two.

I did some research on Ravelry to see what yarns folks were using. I came across Svetlana's version in a Debbie Bliss Stella version in dark blue. She basically finished hers in 4 days! I knew my LYS carried this yarn (silk/cotton/rayon) and would be perfect for this project.

I casted on my Denim version (Debbie Bliss Stella) and knitted the back piece with some excitement, errors, frogging, and anticipation. I proceeded to knit the left front piece.

I went back to Ravelry to do further research to see how others knitted the lace pattern. I also took note of where they started and stopped their lace pattern.

I decided to start another version, but with an inexpensive yarn. I chose the Lion Brand Cotton Ease yarn for my test cardi called Azalea. Don't get me wrong, I love the Debbie Bliss yarn. In my head, it's an expensive yarn to be making mistakes with. I put my Denim aside to get my Azalea version caught up. I learned a lot with Azalea. The yarn was a bit easier to knit with as the Denim yarn split a bit. When I finished a section with Azalea, I would go back and finish the same section for Denim.

That's my story on how I ended up with two versions of the Hey Teach! cardigan and completed in less than 30 days.

Here's my review...Enjoy!

Name of Pattern:
Hey Teach!

This is a free pattern from Knitty.com. Yes, it's free. :)

Here's the link for Hey Teach!

Designed by:
Hélène Rush for Knitty.com

Pattern/Garment Description:
A "baby doll" fit lace cardigan. The sleeves and yoke/bodice are in a lace pattern. Below the bust ribbing is stockinette stitch pattern. Four 3/4 inch buttons finish the front.

Flattering for all shapes - it adds hips to the boyish figure and hides the hips of the pear-shaped.

Size(s):
XS(32.25), S(35.5), M(39), L(43), 1X(46.75), 2X(50.75), 3X(55)

Length: 19.5, 20, 20.5, 21, 21.5, 22, 22.5 inches.

I made a size Small, but lengthened the cardi to 21 inches (see changes below).

Yarns Used:
Here's the yarn information for both projects:

Debbie Bliss Stella (Silk, Rayon, & Cotton) in Denim (medium blue). I used less than 7 balls (~93 yards/ball) or about 650 yards for my version.

Note: the yarn tends to split slightly. Not as bad as some other yarns I have used. I just made sure I formed the stitches cleanly. A few times, I had to tink back a few stitches to catch a splitted stitch. Not a real issue. I love the yarn.

Lion Brand Cotton-Ease (Cotton & Acrylic) in Azalea. I used 3 skeins (207 yards/skein). This yarn was a joy to knit with. I can see why it's a favorite with other knitters.

Both yarns are considered to be worsted weight.

Notions Used:
Buttons: Three 19mm or 3/4" size for each cardi. Both buttons came from G-Street Fabrics. G-Street has the widest selection, especially for unusual colors and textures. I waited for their weekend sales to purchase them.

Gauge:
17 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in St st

My gauge was right on for both yarns.

Knitting Tools Used:
- 40" circular needles: #8 (addi turbo)
- 40" circular needles: #7 (addi turbo) - only used for the Azalea version: ribbing under the bodice
- Three (3) #8 DPNs (for 3-needle bind offs)
- Scrap yarn (stitch holders and lifeline) - used fine mercerized cotton crochet yarn
- Stitch markers
- Tape measure (used frequently!)
- Post-it note sheet
- Frog
- Tink

Techniques I used/Things I learned:
I used a lot of techniques while knitting this cardigan. Techniques that made knitting this project more pleasurable.

I printed this pattern/instructions in a larger font. While on the website/webpage, I press (command and the + key) at the same time to make the font larger (on my Mac). For Windows, press (control and the + key) to get the same results. To make the fonts smaller, press the (command and the - key) for the Mac and for Windows (control and the - key).

I then took the lace chart pattern page and enlarged it on my copy machine. No need to squint while reading the chart symbols/information.

Lifeline: used while knitting the lace pattern. Threaded the yarn through the current stitches while on the needles. Knitted 12 rows, checked the lace pattern, and moved the lifeline to current row.

The front left piece with a lifeline inserted prior to bind off at the side

Stitch markers: I used and placed stitch markers between the lace repeat pattern. This helped me stay on track with lace pattern, especially if I had to stop knitting (e.g. distractions) in the middle and pick up later.

@row 7, I had to move my stitch markers to the right one stitch to maintain the 12-stitch repeat pattern. This is where one pattern finishes and another starts.

Watched the lace pattern develop. Used previous rows to help knit problem areas after BOs and decreases around the armholes and necklines. This was mainly the areas that were outside the repeat pattern (chart).

Used wide post it note for it's straight edge as a reminder of which row I was on or knitted (chart). The removable post-it note is perfect for moving up and down the lace pattern chart. :)

I bound off the shoulders and finished knitting the rest of the cardigan. Then I decided not to seam the shoulders the regular way or mattress stitch. Instead, I used the Kirchner bind off or 3-needle bind off. Yes, I had to undo my original bind offs. It was well worth it. From now on, it's Kirchner bind offs for me. Simple to do and a nice finish in the shoulder seams.

Kirchner or 3-needle bind off

The shoulder seam

My first buttonholes! They came out beautifully, I might add. For the buttonholes, I used the Elizabeth Zimmerman method. From what I read, this produces firm buttonholes. Personally, I can't stand to see sagging/growing buttonholes in a knitted garment. I've seen a lot in RTW hand knitted garments and it just turns me off. My buttons were slightly smaller than 19mm or 3/4 inch. I knitted a 2-stitch buttonhole and found that to be the perfect size for my button.

I sewed the buttons onto the front left button band with a regular sewing needle and sewing thread.

Sewing the side seams. I did not block the pieces. The measurements from my garment pieces actually matched the pattern diagrams/line drawing measurements. I went ahead and sewed the seams. So how did I handle the curled pieces? Easy. Since I'm a sewist, I had my handy pattern weights available to keep the edges flat. Now, some knitters would probably wave their finger at me for using this method. Personally...it works for me. :)

My flat edges before sewing

My seam disappeared below the lace

Oh no! Where did my side seams go???

Changes I Made to the Pattern:
I decided not to shorten this cardigan and just knit the 20 inch length from the pattern and see what this version looks like.

Since I used a long tail cast on method, I ended up having 5 rows of ribbing at the bottom of the cardigan instead of 4 rows.

I added an additional repeat pattern row (6 rows) between the bodice ribbing and under the armhole. This was to ensure that the ribbing would actually fall below my full bust area and not somewhere along my bustline. This was a last minute change, which worked out well for me.

These changes added an additional inch to the overall length of the cardigan from 20 inches to 21 inches.

I knitted three buttonholes and placed them in the front bodice area above the ribbing instead of going all the way down to the bottom of the cardi. I tend to wear my cardigans open and seldom button below my bust line. No need to show off my non-existent waist line. lol!

What I Like About this Pattern:
I love the design and shape of this cardi. It's very feminine looking. Can be dressed up and dressed down. Personally, this was a very fast knitting project for me. It took me less than a month to knit two of these cardigans at the same time.

I love that this pattern uses worsted weight yarn that's readily available. I enjoyed seeing the different colors and different yarns used for this cardi on Ravelry.

It was a fun project to knit. It kept my attention, even when I was knitting two of these cardis at the same time.

What I Dislike About this Pattern:
Nothing to really dislike about this pattern. I did have a few "aha" moments while in the midst of knitting this project. A lot of what I learned on this version will definitely make my next version go faster.

My Pattern Rating (Beginner, Easy, Intermediate, Hard):
I rate this pattern as an Intermediate. There were a few challenging areas. I have to add, even though I've been knitting garments for a few months, I must have used every technique and experience from my previous projects.

Conclusion/Additional Comments:
There are currently over 1100 of this lace cardi projects on Ravelry including mine.

This has been the most the most rewarding knitting experience I've had so far. Sure, I had to frog 3 inches of the lace on the backside after finding extra YOs that didn't belong. That's where my lifeline yarn came to the rescue. I also had to tink a few rows because I got distracted or tried to rush my knitting.

The rewards out weighed my errors. I used beautiful yarn and beautiful colors for both versions. Knitting with different stitches broke up the monotony of this project. There's 4-5 rows of ribbing (depending on cast-on method), several inches stockinette stitches, 8 rows of ribbing and several inches of lace pattern. Enough combinations to keep the interest going.

I actually spent blocks of quality time on this project. Not once, did I attempt to start another project or go back to one of my WIPs. This cardi kept my attention. That's a sign of a great pattern. I gave this pattern 5 out of 5 stars on Ravelry.

The only difference I can see between the two versions I made, the Denim fits more like a baby doll. This yarn does not grow or stretch at all unlike the Azalea version. I believe having the silk/cotton/rayon mix helps keep the garment's shape intact.

Which one is my favorite? The Denim version, of course. ;)

This is definitely my TNT pattern. I plan on making one or two more. I am now looking for colors where I can wear this cardi through several seasons. Like Spring, Summer, and Fall. Future changes/versions might include knitting 3/4 sleeve lengths in lace and knitting the short sleeves in garter stitch. I would love to try and knit this in the round as one piece as others on Ravelry have done.

Comments for those who plan on tackling this lace cardi:
Need to take the time to watch the lace pattern as you knit. The lace pattern chart is extremely helpful, but you need to watch how the stitches form (YO, K2tog, Ssk, S2KP). This will help you when you knit the side areas after the decreases for the armholes, sleeves, and neckline.

The most challenging pieces for me was knitting the sleeves. I ended up frogging and tinking more on these pieces than the back piece.

When I approached a bind off area (e.g. shoulders and tops of sleeves), I ended up knitting the last row or two. Basically, stopping the lace pattern one or two rows before bind off. These areas tend to have more stress and a YO would stretch out.

Azalea

Denim

I hope this review will help you on your own version of the Hey Teach! cardigan. Give it a try! ;)

My Two Cardis are Done!

With lightning speed both cardigans are seamed and completed. I am taking a much needed break to rest my back. I thought I would do a quick post with a few pictures of Denim and Azalea.

Denim version completed

Whew! Azalea all done!


Two cardigans knitted in 29 days took its toll on me. For some reason, I'm mentally tired. Will I take a break? No way!

I'm looking forward to another knitting project. I did a test swatch/gauge for CeCe last night. Now, I need to do a test sample to see what the lace pattern will look like. Looks like another challenging project for me on the horizon. ;)

I'll be back to post my extensive pattern review.

Oh My Aching Back...the Joys of Knitting

The finishing bug has hit me big time. I'm so happy. Today is finishing and sleeve seaming day.

I got up early this morning (like 5am) to start working on my Denim cardigan. I picked up and knitted the front bands. I knitted three 2-stitch buttonholes in the bodice area and sewed the buttons on.

I'm seaming the last sleeve on my Azalea cardigan. Once done, I plan on doing the same with the Denim cardigan. I hope to finish the side seams tonight and that depends on how much daylight I still have in my sewing room. Sewing the seams is not that bad. I'm glad I had some practice on previous knitted garments. I have the perfect place to put my garment pieces together...my cutting table cart. It's the right height for me, so that I'm not leaning over constantly. I've got one side extended so I can lay all the pieces flat and seam away. My back is starting to ache a bit from standing for so long.

Oh, I've renamed my cardigans based on the yarn color they were knitted in. Sorry for the confusion, but it does make sense. Really, it does. :) The plus side of working on two cardigans at the same time, I was able to practice on the Azalea version and then perfect the techniques for the Denim version. We'll see at the end, if this holds true.

I'm also finishing my review on both of these. It will be a long one. I hope to have it posted by the end of this week. You can't wait? I can't wait. By then, I know I'll be wearing one of them to church.

The Lion Brand version - Azalea


I know it's been awhile since I've posted the blue version. I wanted to show you that I really have been working on it.

The Debbie Bliss version - Denim

Happy Knitting!

Storage - How Do I Store All Those Printed Patterns & Knitting Information?

(Updated with pictures)

I thought I would take time out today to do a post on storing knit patterns. Just like most of you, I have accumulated a lot of free patterns as well as purchased patterns off the Internet. I've printed those that captured my attention right away and those that I would like to knit in another few months when the season changes.

Where do I store all my patterns and knitting information?

I have 3 binders on knitting. My first binder or Project binder, holds the patterns that I've queued to be done within the current season or something I will definitely knit and have the yarn for it. This Project binder is my to do list. My second binder or my Catalog binder, holds patterns of all projects that I've collected. Every now and then, you will find me moving patterns between these two binders. Sometimes, I'll start a project and then decide I'm not thrilled about. That pattern gets moved from my Project binder into my Catalog binder.

My three knitting binders. The hot pink binder contains my queued projects or "to do" list


New patterns that I print off, automatically go into my Catalog. I can see my Catalog binder branching out into Catalog-1 and Catalog-2 binders real soon. ;)

My Catalog binder filled with knitting patterns

This type of pattern organization has helped me stay somewhat focused. I only go into my Catalog when I need to look for something new to knit or I have a specific garment in mind.

My third binder or Resource binder holds hard copies of how to articles, general knitting information, sizes and measuring, yarn standards, knitting techniques, blocking, and any other knitting related information that I've collected.


My Resource binder with knitting information and how-tos


How do I protect my individual printed patterns?

To store my printed patterns, I use clear sheet protectors. Sometimes I will print off a color picture of the knitted project and the rest will be in black & white print. Where possible, I always use two-sided printing. I can usually place 5 sheets of printed paper into one sheet protector.


My patterns in sheet protectors


When I get ready to work on a project, I just pull the sheet protected pattern out of my binder and stick it in my knitting tote bag along with my yarn and notions.

I enjoy using the sheet protectors as I can jot down knitting notes on a post-it note sheet and stick to the pattern. My pattern is always protected.

I'd be interested to hear how others store their patterns and volumes of knitting information. Inquiring minds would love to know. :)

Whew!

I've been at a lost the last day or so. I have finished knitting the two lace cardigans pieces. Four sleeves in two days. I felt like a knitting machine. Now that the pieces are done, I got a little bored. Maybe I'm going through what feels like the tail end of a sugar high.

After I get my breathing back to normal, I'll start the seaming and finish the edges (neckline and front).

I couldn't resist these yarns at my LYS. One touch and I was hooked on the Blue Sky Alpacas - Alpaca & Silk.

Blue Sky Alpacas - Alpaca & Silk in Sapphire

Blue Sky Alpacas - Alpaca & Silk in Amethyst

I'm thinking of knitting lace scarves with these yarns for my next project.

So much for working on my WIPs. Kind of hard to knit with thick yarns and wool when the temperature has been above 80 degrees.

I also have my eye on two other cardigans, CeCe and Sitcom Chic/Eyelet Cardi. Both from Chic Knits. I really like Bonne Marie's style and designs.

More Progress on Hey Teach

I'm on a knitting roll and hope to get all the pieces of Hey Teach done this week. That's all the pieces for two Hey Teach cardigans.

This may be the last post on this project until I get all the knitting completed. So far, here are the four main pieces pinned and attached to SusieQ.







It's actually exciting to see it all pinned together. I'm pretty confident about the fit. I'm glad I lengthened the lace bodice area under the armholes. You can see a slightly fitted look with the ribbing under the bodice. That's a result of going down a needle size for the ribbing.

I will have to go back to the back piece of my Debbie Bliss Stella (blue) version and add two to four more rows at the shoulder area. I noticed my armholes are a bit smaller than my raspberry version. Not a problem for me to undo my bind offs (BO) and add a few rows.

I have casted on (CO) the sleeves for both versions. Now, back to my knitting....

Weekend Knitting

I finally caught up my raspberry version of the cardi with my blue version. Are you confused? I'm knitting two versions of the Hey Teach! lace cardigan. One in raspberry and the other in blue. Two different yarns. I started to knit the blue one on May 20th and the raspberry one on May 28th. I've completed about 75% of the garment (both of them). I just need to finish the front right pieces...about 5 inches of knitting. I hope to finish them this evening, so I can start knitting the sleeves tomorrow. A nice project to start first thing in the early morning hours.

The pieces of my 2nd Hey Teach! cardi enjoying the outdoors

I've been spending some time outside, sitting and knitting and listening to the birds. What a way to enjoy a hobby. :)

Knitting Magazine Reviews

My Knitting Experience/Overview:

I wanted to point out that I don't have any knitting magazine subscriptions at the moment. Yet. I'm still in research mode to find the knitting mags that catch my attention and interests consistently. Kind of like consistently drooling over the monthly BWOF in the sewing world. There are a lot of knitting magazines available from the US as well as from Europe. My local Barnes and Noble carries A LOT of them. I am thankful for that as I get to purchase single issues and read to my heart's content. Also makes great late night reading. :)

I am still a newbie to knitting. I only have a year's experience of perfecting the knit and purl stitches and getting my gauge spot on. I have only 4 months of garment knitting experience. I can be a loose knitter, but definitely not a tight knitter. If you are a tight knitter and happen to be hanging around me, you'd better chill and start breathing in and breathing out. Knitting relaxes me.

I've knitted a long sleeve tunic sweater, a vest, several shrugs, scarves and wristlets. I have knitted from the bottom up and from the top down.

I'm still in the collecting phase. Aren't we all? I collect yarns, knitting notions, and magazines. I like having my own tools. I've stopped purchasing books since I was laid off from my full-time job earlier this year. That's what the library is for. So, instead of purchasing expensive books, I purchase fabulous yarns instead.


So, why would I purchase a magazine?

Most of the knitting mags from the US cost about $6.99 an issue. If I see at a minimum of two patterns that I really, really like (you know, the get happy moment), I will more than likely purchase the mag. Based on my calculations, that comes out to $3.50/pattern (or less if I find more patterns I like) which is roughly equal to a pattern I might find at my LYS. The added bonus would be interesting articles about knitting techniques, new yarns, how-tos, new knitting gadgets, and ideas for future projects.

Yes, buying selective single issues is expensive. Having a one- or two-year subscription to a so-so knitting magazine is just as expensive.


What About Mistakes/Errors in the Magazine Patterns?

Patterns are not perfect. I can say that for both sewing and knitting. So far in my limited knitting experience, I have not encountered any errors in the simple patterns I've used in the magazines. On the other hand, several experienced knitters have uncovered errors in other patterns as well as the original pattern designers themselves. So, where would I go to get the errata(s) information?

If there is pattern I am interested in knitting, there are basically two sites that I will visit before I start gathering my yarns and notions for a project. I will go to the magazine's website to see if there are any errata(s) or mistakes for that particular pattern. I will also visit Ravelry and see who has made the same project and if there are any issues with the pattern.

I do the same if I purchase a pattern from a yarn manufacturer or from an independent designer. I go back to the resource (e.g. mag, yarn mfg, designer) and then to Ravelry.


My favorite knitting magazines:

So, here I go with my personal view of recent magazines (Spring and/or Summer) that I have perused. I've included the name of the magazine, the issue(s) I have in my hands and comments about each issue. All of the magazines includes ads from various yarn manufacturers and website you can visit. Some mags have book and yarn reviews.

Vogue Knitting ($6.99)
Spring/Summer 2009

Vogue is classic. I love their classic lines and styles both in the sewing and knitting world. They push the limit on garment styles, what a garment should look like and how it should wear. It's all about textures and colors. You won't find anything dowdy here. This mag has caught my attention. This would be on my radar for a subscription.

Vogue includes the pattern-experience ratings or skill levels (e.g. easy, intermediate, advanced) for each of their patterns.

Vogue does not include a "how-to" knit section nor does it include an abbreviations and symbols page (e.g. summary page). Having said that, each pattern instruction is thoroughly explained. No need for to flip back and forth to figure out notations and abbreviations. Not a bad idea.

Note: As I have talked to many knitters, most are in agreement that the latest issue with the Botanica Medallion Cardigan on the cover is one of the best issues. There are a lot of eye-catching patterns that want to make you start knitting right away.

Verena (Burda) ($6.99)
Spring 2009

Classy and unique styles. That's what comes to my mind as I flip through this magazine. Like Vogue, you will not find a boring pattern. In the Spring 2009 issue, I saw a lot of lace, cables, eyelets, fitted and flowing garments.

Verena includes abbreviations and symbols for the techniques used in the patterns. I could not find a "how-to" page. There are no skill level ratings for each pattern. This magazine assumes a certain level of knitting experience, like Intermediate.

I kind of like this format. If you see a pattern that catches your attention, chances are you going to have a real good knitting experience, learn something new, and finish your project. No need to get caught up with what experience/skill level you are at. Just knit it! :)


Interweave Knits ($6.99)
Spring 2008
Spring 2009
Summer 2009

This magazine is filled with helpful knitting information, reviews, top 10 picks for the season, articles and patterns. Some of their patterns can be elegant or casual with simple lines.

Typically, there are 20 patterns included in each issue. Patterns appear to be well written. You will typically see front and back pictures for most projects. There are no skill levels provided for each pattern. Interesting, the pattern instructions start in the middle of the magazine instead of way in the back like most mags. Each pattern instruction is presented with a color side bar picture of the garment/project along with the referenced page number where a larger picture of the modeled garment can be found. You can also find finished size, yarn, needles, and gauge information in the color bar as well. There are many color ads from yarn manufacturers and vendors scattered in between the pages of instructions. I like this format as it breaks the monotony of reading through so many pattern instructions/charts and having my eyes glaze over.

Interweave Knits also includes a glossary page that includes abbreviations and definitions, knitting gauge, reading charts, different cast on methods, increases, decreases, etc. There is a Sources for Suppliers page that list the yarn manufacturers and website information. Also on the same page is the actual size yarns that are used in each of the issues and references to project page number(s).

I agree with Trina, that the articles and tips provided in this magazine are very helpful. If I had to take a magazine with me to read, it would be Interweave Knits.


Knit Simple ($6.99)
Holiday 2008
Spring/Summer 2009

I actually enjoy flipping through this magazine. Most of their garments have simple lines and simple styles. I love the accessories they've included.

Knit Simple includes a section called Knit How. It includes knitting and crochet abbreviations, skill levels, gauge, glossary of terms, knitting needles and crochet hooks size conversions, FAQs, and yarn resources. Also, there's the Basics of Knitting that shows the knitting techniques, what the basic stitches are, how to bind off, and the standard yarn weight system (yarn categories, gauges, and associated needle sizes).

If you are starting to knit, this would be a great magazine to get.

Creative Knitting ($5.99)
May 2009

This mag is filled with patterns. Simple styles and clean lines for garments and accessories. Their pattern instructions appear to be clear and well organized. Some of their charts and line drawings are pretty large and readable.

Creative Knitting includes a Knit Techniques section that includes new or added techniques used in that particular issue. There's also a Knitting Class section for review basic knitting techniques (cast ons, increases, decreases, etc). Included are standard abbreviations, skill levels, and standard yarn weight system (yarn categories, gauge, needle sizes). There's also a section that shows you how to read the pattern instructions, measuring, gauges, working from charts, and a glossary.

I love this magazine for its format, readability, how-tos, etc. If you are starting to knit, this would be another great magazine to get.


Other magazines I have not reviewed:

Knit 'n Style ($6.99) - collection of knitting patterns for all age groups. Includes garments and accessories. They include front and back pictures of the garments.

Knitter's ($5.95)
Summer 2008


Knitting (UK) ($11.25)
April 2009

Simply Knitting (UK) ($10.50)
January 2009

Knit Scene ($7.99)




Keep visiting this post as I will be continuously updating information on the mags I haven't commented on.

Feel free to provide your own comments on any of the magazines I've posted here. I'm sure it will help others are in the collecting phase.

Looking Good

I have made a lot of progress on my Azalea Hey Teach. I ended up frogging twice, back to two different lifelines I had in place. The operator errors were caused by missed YOs which translates to missing stitches. That's what happens when I get distracted. At least, I haven't missed any rows. :) I have another inch of lace pattern to knit then I can place the back neckline on some waste yarn and continue knitting towards the shoulders.

It's coming along perfectly

I keep my lace chart nearby. I have become comfortable with the pattern that I just glance at it.

My strained finger has recovered. Amazing what a break from knitting can do. I spent a few hours sewing instead.

I also purchased CeCe at Chic Knits' site. Leeshie from The Knitty Gritty left a comment about my previous post being a sign from above...matching her newly purchased Rowan Calmer yarn with CeCe. Leeshie...I'm glad I could help you out. I enjoy being an enabler. :)