I have finally done it! I decided on a sweater knitting pattern & bought the skeins of yarn need. I think I have been wanting to do this for at least a year.
I'm making "The Swindle" from Pretty in Punk. My goal is to actually follow the pattern for once! I tend to have pattern A.D.D and try to change it & tweek it. So, I decided for the first attempt I would even keep to the same color scheme which was not too hard to wrap my head around seeing as I LOVE green.
I was unable to get a mohair blend of yard here on the island so I did substitute Merino wool by Malabrigo, which is divinely soft! A BIG thanks to my gals at Island Wools here in Friday Harbor who helped me through the selection process. Yarn shops make me feel like a kid in a candy store all hopped up on sugar, so focusing on why I came in can be difficult.
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| Delicious skeins of merino wool in Lettuce & Black. |
The pattern called for 3 skeins of each color but I did not even touch the 3rd skeins. In fact I still have a good amount of the 2nd skeins left. Which would make me think I made a baby sweater, but alas it did fit. Hmmm?!
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| Here we go! Working my stockinette. |
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| First front/back piece finished. |
I was lovin' how the kettle dyed lettuce was a bit variegated in the color!
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Front & back are connected now at shoulders and waiting for sleeves to be finished
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For the most part there were no new techniques for me in this pattern so as long as I paid attention it went smoothly. But there were many times of not being focused and I had to undo rows due to not increasing or decreasing properly. Ha.
There was one new exciting moment though... My very first 3 needle bind-off! wow was it awesome! If you have never tried one, you must. The feeling of accomplishment was intense.
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| Time to block this mother out... |
I blocked the pieces once done at the recommendation of a fellow knitter. The pattern did not mention it. I have never blocked before. But so glad I did it made the edges less rolly and easier to stitch together.
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| All stitched up & begging for felted star elbow patches |
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| I think it adds a whole lot a star power... hee! |
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| Not only does it fit... but I think it kinda rocks. |
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| I added a tiny star on the front too. Couldn't leave all the fun in the back... |
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| First sweater complete! |
I had put a deadline on myself for finishing this project. It needed to be finished by Aug 14th to enter into the San Juan County Fair. I made it by the lack of sleep skin o' my teeth! I will let you know if I win a ribbon!
