WIP Wednesday: Beatnik Sweater (The De-Stresser)

It still feels a little like the twilight zone being home after a very, very stressful last few weeks of school. With finals done (and grades received!) I am so happy to have time to knit again, and to come home to this:

 

After being in the city most of the year I’m always so happy to be home. I took this picture on a short walk the other day and it was beautiful out.

I’ve been working on the Beatnik sweater since about March, but in the past week I’ve really had a chance to get a lot done.

This is the back. I’m considering modifying the sweater and making it a cardigan. I’m just worried that kind of goes against the intended style of the pattern.  At the same time, I know I’ll wear it more if it’s a cardigan. I’m going to do the sleeves before I work on the front so I’ll cross that bridge later.

The cabling is love/hate thing for me. It definitely keeps the sweater interesting and I love watching it grow, but it does get a little tedious to do for two feet. I’m excited to work on the sleeves next.

The color in the first photo is more accurate. I don’t know if you can tell in this picture, but in the cable on the middle panel my Vs sometimes get a bit stretched. It almost makes a hole in the fabric. I’m not sure if it’s because my tension isn’t even or if I’m fighting against the cable too hard when it’s on the cable needle. Does anyone else have this problem?

I’m using Ella Rae Amity which is 25% wool and 75% acrylic. I was looking for a relative cheap, washable yarn that was not 100% acrylic. I tried using this yarn on an earlier sweater (see this post) but didn’t like the look of the sweater, so I frogged it. This one is coming out much better. I’m excited to see the end result!

Two FOs: Knit Koala and the Secret Sweater

Things have been so so so crazy at school I feel I’ve barely been able to catch my breath. The good news is I’ve finally declared: History and Economics. I even got a coffee mug from the econ department.

As a result, I’m still playing a game of catch-up with posting about the knitting projects I have completed.

The first is a knit koala toy that I intend to send off when I get home from school with the hat I mentioned in the previous post. I think I may have read the pattern wrong because other people’s projects seem to have a, I guess, rounder body. He’s also a bit askew. But I still think it’s cute nonetheless.

Pattern: Koala Baby
Project Page

The second FO is, surprisingly, a sweater! After all my complaining I thought I would never actually complete one, but it happened. I think it definitely helps that I used a chunky yarn and made the project go a whole lot quicker. I was able to finish it right before I returned to school this winter.

Pattern: Buckland
Project Page

As you can probably tell by the picture it was super bright that day and I couldn’t stop squinting. The sweater is knit side to side and there were so many times when I felt like no way this is right…no way. The result was a super comfy, super cozy lounge sweater. I used Loops & Threads Charisma and though it does pill easily the price and softness – especially for an acrylic yarn – made it irresistible for a first sweater.

The two sides are seemed down the middle using a 3-needle bind off. This project taught me so many new things and finally gave me the confidence to try a new sweater. I am currently working on the Beatnik pattern from knitty. I’m a little worried for when I get to the seaming portion after my disastrous attempt at seeming the Basic Black sweater. Hopefully it turns out something like this:

We shall see….

WIP Wednesday: The Sweater Saga

Sorry for the long absence! School, as always, has been super, super busy. As I move forward with this blog I’m really going to have to put a more concerted effort into updating regularly.

Even despite my slow updates, I have kept knitting. I had this big idea earlier this Fall to design and knit my perfect sweater… I didn’t get very far. I had never knit a sweater at all – how was I supposed to design and fit my own?

So below is step 1 of ‘jenny knits herself a sweater finally.’ I chose the Sage pattern (Click Here!) as it’s knit in the round with raglan sleeves. I royally messed up the first sweater I tried to make by seaming terribly. This time I wanted to choose a pattern that has as little seeming as possible.

I’m not sure if I’m in love with the Morrish Lace pattern, but it’s coming along nicely. I haven’t hit any major snags (yet!).

As it is only my second attempt at a sweater, I didn’t want to buy a too expensive yarn for it. I’m using Ella Rae Amity worsted weight on sale at Webs. I also didn’t swatch (yikes!). I know its a heavier yarn than called for but I figured that this is really just an experiment anyway… right? UGh.

Well, we’ll see how this goes.

I want to knit….

There has only been one instance when I have attempted to knit a sweater. It is currently sitting unfinished in my knitting drawer at school because I can’t bring myself to finish the sleeves after I did such a crappy job seeming the shoulders.

Therefore, it makes no sense why I would suddenly be so obsessed with this pattern:

Don’t you see those cables? Absolutely beautiful. It also looks like a very fun knit with the twisting yarn and different stitches. My other sweater is based on the Basic Black pattern that I thought was basic enough for me to complete. Ugh… maybe someday.

Not to mention I’ve read a lot of project pages on it and the reviews are astounding. Maybe if I really put my mind to it I can do it. Except I feel with school I won’t have it done until it is way too warm to wear it.

Oh well, something to think about.

<3 Jenny