cosmicpluto knits!

A long unblogged FO

I knit this sweater ages ago (while it was still cold enough to wear it!) and just found the photos on my computer!

This was a simple sweater that I whipped up because I was in need of a black, everyday sort of cardigan. The yarn is one that I’d had in the stash for ages – Elsebeth Lavold Silky Cashmere, which I bought a whole whack of on sale. Here’s a post I wrote ages ago when I’d just started this project!

Anyway, I figured I might as well put up the photos even though it’s been months since I finished this. It’s a top down raglan with a v-neck, curved front hems and a garter rib edging all the way around. Simple, cozy, and entirely inappropriate for the 30C weather we’re having here today!

I’m fairly sure winter will come back around though. Right?

FO: Diva!

It’s been a long, long time coming, but I finally finished my Diva sweater a few months ago! Took me ages to get some decent photos…

Pattern: Diva by Hanne Falkenberg, in Dark Olive and Cyclamen – I think I bought the kit from CucumberpatchUK on ebay.
Needles: 3mm
Yarn: kit yarn; it was a pretty delicate two ply lightweight wool, slightly scratchy, something like Jamieson’s.

Thoughts:
This sweater took ages, but it was kind of nice to knit a sweater from someone else’s pattern for once. The shaping is unique and very interesting to knit! It took me ages to figure out what the heck was actually going on with some of the shaping. The collar was a LOT of knitting but it’s shaped with short rows in a really interesting way.

Cons: It’s a little big. I knit the smallest size, which was supposed to 37″ – it’s a pretty good jacket size, but a little looser than I usually like my sweaters.

The sleeves are WAY long, about 4″ too long, and the collar kind of hits at a funny place. It’s difficult to find a good place to pin it closed that isn’t directly on my boob (which I have much more of than the pattern model), but it doesn’t really work worn open. From a design standpoint, the armholes are a little weird fitting – they’re not quite set in and not quite raglan.

I shouldn’t have seamed with the main yarn – it’s just a little too delicate for the task. I found this hole in the sleeve seam after washing. I should really fix that up.

Overall? Fun to knit, interesting construction. It doesn’t fit perfectly but I’m still happy I made it.

snowy spring sunday

It’s not like it stuck around or anything, but yes, snow was seen falling from the sky today! Hopefully that’ll be the last of it for this winter, but we’ll see – there’s always a few surprises in spring weather.

The other day I was looking through one of my “assorted projects and yarns” bins and came across a long, long neglected sweater – I think I started this several years ago and for some reason, I just didn’t finish knitting it! It only had one sleeve left to go! Since it’s been so long, it’s almost like I got to knit a new sweater and finish it up in 2 days. The yarn is Handmaiden Casbah – it needs a good bath before its debut. Might be a good one to take with me to the UK too.

More brown – I started this shawl a few weeks ago, and although I don’t get to work on it much, I do think it’s fun! It’s a triangle, worked from the bottom up. So the cast on is very long (over 300 sts) but you start decreasing right away. I’m using Spud & Chloe Fine, and there will be more colours than just these two. I love this yarn, and especially in this stitch pattern it’s really springy and squishy!

I still have so much to do before my trip – thanks to everyone for their suggestions of things to do! There will be a couple of yarn store appearances along the way I think, and I’ll let you know more about those soon! I’m getting really excited. I have most of my packing list sorted, except for the hardest items -

What knitting do I bring?!

sweet bunting cardigan

Happy Friday!

SWEET BUNTING CARDIGAN

What could be sweeter than a baby cardigan with its own colourwork bunting?

Worked seamlessly from the bottom up with a stranded colourwork yoke and fun ties that extend into the bunting string. The yarn is a super soft cotton, wool, linen and soy blend that comes in great colours, and the flags are a perfect place to use up a little bit of variegated or handspun yarn. Simple seed stitch at the edges are a classic touch.

Shown in size 20.5” / 52cm. Thanks to Jeanie for being such a cute model, Keri for letting me steal her baby, and Jasmine for her beautiful house!
Technical Editing by Jaya Purswani. http://www.windchains.com

SIZES
Finished Chest: 19.5 (20.5, 21.5, 22.5, 23.5, 24.5)” / 50 (52, 55, 57, 60, 62)cm
Finished Length: 9.5 (10.25, 11, 11.75, 12.5, 13.25)” / 24 (26, 28, 30, 32, 34)cm
Approximate Age: 3-6 mo (6-9 mo, 9-12 mo, 12-18 mo, 2 yrs, 4 yrs)

YARN
Sport or light DK weight yarn.

Shown in The Fibre Company Savannah (50% wool, 20% cotton, 15% linen, 15% soy; 160 yds per 1.75 oz / 50g skein).
MC: Sycamore.
CC1: Huckleberry (discontinued) – 1 skein for all sizes.
CC2: Bluegrass – small amount for all sizes.
CC2 is optional – tie can be worked in CC1 if desired.

MC Yardage: 350 (400, 440, 490, 540, 600) yds
Small amounts of CC1 and CC2.

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
US 4 / 3.5mm circular needles, 24” / 61cm or longer
US 4 / 3.5mm double pointed needles or needles of choice for small circumferences in the round
stitch markers
smooth waste yarn
tapestry needle

GAUGE
24 sts and 28 sts = 4” / 10cm square in Stockinette Stitch

MORE INFO
5 page colour PDF pattern includes photos, chart and schematic.

SKILLS NEEDED
This pattern is suitable for an adventurous beginner. You will need to: cast on, knit, purl, increase and decrease, knit in the round, work short rows, follow a stranded colourwork chart knit flat.

HOW TO BUY
Available through Ravelry (no account needed), payment by Paypal (bank transfer or credit card). Please note that the price of this sweater pattern is in Canadian dollars – Paypal will automatically convert the amount for you if you use another currency.

$6.00 CAD

More adorable photos on my Flickr!

Savile Row Cardigan

My trip to NYC is imminent, but I wanted to get this pattern out to you all before I leave! This sweater pattern has been a long time coming – I knit, ripped, knit, ripped and knit to get it right for Rhinebeck last fall, and then just…didn’t work on it for months afterwards. Finally got my act together to shoot it with Jasmine when we met up to do the Map Collection, put together the (rather complex) pattern and here is the result!

SAVILE ROW CARDIGAN

A perfect blazer cardigan! Savile Row has curved hems and a shapely waist with a fun ribbon detail. Fastened pockets hold all those little things, and soft notched lapels are polished and classic. Knit seamlessly with set-in sleeves from the bottom up with I-Cord edges. Deep garter stitch cuffs on the sleeves are closed with lots of wee buttons.

Shown in size 37” / 94cm with 2” / 5cm of positive ease.
For the best fit, I suggest choosing a size which will give you 0-2” / 0-5cm of positive ease.

Technical Editing by Jaya Purswani.

SIZES
Finished Bust: 31 (33, 35, 37, 39, 41)(43, 45, 49, 53, 57)” / 79 (84, 89, 94, 99, 104)(109, 114, 125, 135, 145) cm

YARN
DK weight yarn. Shown in Madelinetosh Tosh DK (100% superwash merino; 225 yd/206m per 4oz / 113g skein) Colour: Composition Book Grey

Skeins: 6 (6, 6, 6, 7, 7)(7, 8, 8, 9, 9)
Yards: 1200 (1250, 1300, 1350, 1430, 1500)(1550, 1600, 1750, 1830, 1950)
Metres: 1097 (1143, 1189, 1234, 1308, 1372)(1417, 1463, 1600, 1673, 1783)

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
US 6 / 4mm 32” / 80cm or longer circular needles
US 6 / 4mm double pointed needles or needles of choice for small circumferences in the round
one larger needle for binding off loosely
stitch markers
waste yarn
buttons, lots of buttons
1.5” / 4cm wide satin ribbon

GAUGE
22 sts and 30 rows = 4″ / 10cm square in Stockinette Stitch, knit flat

MORE INFO
This is an 8-page PDF pattern only. Includes photos, schematic and abbreviations. This pattern features fill-in forms – fill in the numbers for your size!
This pattern is one file for all sizes 31″-57″.

SKILLS NEEDED
This pattern is suitable for an intermediate to experienced knitter. You will need to: cast on, knit, purl, increase and decrease, knit in the round, short rows, and work complex shaping.

HOW TO BUY
Available through Ravelry (no account needed), payment by Paypal (bank transfer or credit card). Please note that the price of this sweater pattern is in Canadian dollars – Paypal will automatically convert the amount for you if you use another currency.

$7.00 CAD

sweater frenzy

I know everyone in the wintery parts of the world are super sick of snow, and slush, and cold, but I’m not! (Okay, maybe the slush. That’s annoying.) As a wool-loving person, I just love the weather in which it’s actually useful and necessary. I love sweaters. I love coming into a warm house from the cold. And I love new sweaters.

Of course I make the wool work for me even in the summer (I get tons of wear out of my fingering weight Bellevue, for example), but I’m really hurrying to finish a few new ones before it gets too warm for the super cozy ones. This blue sweater is done now, and I’m hoping to even get the pattern out in the next couple weeks. It worked up really quickly in Malabrigo Rios, and I’m really happy with how the neck turned out. And it does have sleeves!

I’m still working on the black cashmere/silk sweater, and I’m hoping to have that done soon too – it’ll be a good jacket weight as well, once it gets a bit warmer. The tiny skeins aren’t going very far on the sweater border – I picked up all the way around the front edges of the cardigan, which means there’s LOTS of stitches, and one 25g skein only gets me 4 rounds!

My goal is to have the sweater done for the 24th…in time for a trip to New York City! I’ve only been there once before, and it was just a day trip (from elsewhere in the state) with my family, and it was a long time ago. This time I’m planning on staying over the weekend and cramming in as much sightseeing, photography, shopping and eating as I possibly can. So of course, I could use some recommendations! What do you love in NYC?