Sweater Holdup

How can such an easy, quick knit sweater take so long???

I can't tell you how many times I took bits apart and started over

I could still fix many things but I won't allow myself. The next one like this I'll do in my sleep!

This is the before picture. I removed the top and did it over from bottom to top. It had too many stitches at the sleeves. Using the yarn backwards made a neat design at the top. I will copy this sweater soon. I'll start at the bottom this time because I think decreasing stitches looks better than making them. Now I'm free to move onto other projects!

No Nonsense Sweater Making

I started off remaking the raglan sleeve sweater I did before. After ripping it out 3 times I gave up and started looking for another pattern. My goal, to knit in the round top to bottom. I found a great pattern for this. No, I'm not finished yet, the pattern is for short sleeves but I believe I'll do long. (I'll post when finished.)

I think having a counter helps with all sweater making. I used my 16", size 11 needles that I make hats with and having my clear ruler around is helpful. Of course I have completely modified the pattern which I won't go into since it's someone else's pattern. I am only using it for a gift. I will give you the creators website she makes wonderful patterns, some are free on Ravelry.

http://www.anadiomenadesigns.com/

Sweater to Pocketbook

OK here's what I'm gonna do, I have 16 numbered pictures below that if I blah, blahhed about each one of you would go to sleep. If you have a question about any of the pictures just leave a comment with that number included and I will answer it. Enjoy!

 1

 2

 3

4

 5

 6

 7

 8

 9

 10

 11

 12

 13

 14

 15

16

Finished Raglan Sleeve Sweater

The best part of this sweater was the yarn. It has a great sheen, striping and uneven weight. Perfect for the size 11 circular needles I used.

Of course  this was a craft store brand yarn that I found on clearance that I'd imagine they won't be making anymore, typical. You'll notice in the top picture the end of the sleeve rolls due to the jersey stitch used. In the bottom picture it doesn't. To make the sleeve lay flat I ran one row of single crochet over the finished edge. This was great because it doesn't look like I stuck crochet at the end, it just looks like a neat end row.

Now I'm gonna have a homemade muffin made with sweet potato puree and very little sugar. To read an interesting article about muffins and their place in society go to the Summer Tomato and get educated.

http://summertomato.com/is-healthy-dessert-even-possible/

Sweater's Done!

Last bit to sew up.

Final inspection.

Finished sweater.

Get Out The Book

What's the best way to sew a seam? Not sure, get out a book. It's good to have encyclopedia type reference around on lots of topics. This one is on needlework. I use the internet too, but what if the internet is down???

I was attempting to attach the arm to the body of the sweater. They suggested the ladder stitch, though they called it something else. Invisible!

A few more seams and some tidying up and I'll be finished. I'll show it to you when I'm done.

Coming Along

Well, I taught myself a new trick when I finished the collar and the sleeve worked out the first time! It looks like I may even finish the sweater today. That means I'll have to get back to work on the shirt. Sleeves, yikes!

Cool Commission

Please meet Mr. Bunny, he's my newest project. I don't have his physical presence but he's always on my desktop waiting for me. I have been commissioned to make Mr. Bunny a new set of clothes. His owner wanted a change, something elegant but comfortable. I'm thinking something like Liberachi meets Mr. Rodgers! I happen to love Mr. Rodgers by the way.

So, with his owners blessing, I went to the fabric store and rooted around. These are the things I came up with. Mr. Bunny will be needing a fancy pair of pants and bow tie, thus the brocade. He'll need a nice neutral collared shirt, the light gray cotton and blue buttons. And a comfy cardigan, Vanna's Denim Mist and Beatrix Potter buttons.

I got started on his pants because I felt that the brocade would be a challenge, it was! Oh, meet Mr. Dummy Bunny, he helps me out with fittings.

Here's where I am on the shirt. I'm a little concerned about the length of the arms. Oh, by the way it took me 2 tries at the pants and shirt, second times the charm!

Even the sweater I wound up needing to pull out today and start over. I'm pecking away and learning a lot. Remember, I give instructions for an simple bear sweater under my bear clothes category. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks Lorraine!

Pink Orange And Gray

I have about 9" of the front of Gil's sweater finished so far. I made mom do the ribbing on it and on the cuffs before she left. Her contribution, plus I hate ribbing. I started knitting a scarf with some "Amazing" yarn from Lions Brand. It's now in the stores, yipee! So I needed a crochet project to do in between so my wrists wouldn't hurt.

Here it is, right now it's about 58". I just made a chain the length I wanted. Now the going around part. I bought some matching eyelash fur to go around when I'm done.

Evening Labors

Mom, make me a sweater. Mom, why aren't you working on my sweater. Mom, is my sweater done yet?

Well, the back is done. Will he have it by December, maybe. Mom says it's huge and could fit her tubby husband. Gil will hopefully like the big coziness!!!

The two of them are driving me crazy with their extra ideas also. He now wants it lined with flannel. OMGoodness! They're discussing how it should be done. Why can't he just wear a flannel shirt under it???

Finished Sweater

Well Skittles had something she wanted to tell me first. She seriously wouldn't move until she told me.

I'm happy with this simple sweater. Next time I think I'll incorporate the button band into the front pieces so that I have 1 less step. I would just put the collar on last in that case.

Hopefully with these rules, demos and a few alterations you'll be able to make your bear a sweater.

Button Band

I'll tell you why I had a hard time with this, I never really knew the rules for picking up stitches along a side. Since this needed a certain number of stitches I needed to figure it out. One rule which you should know and what I've tried to indicate from the photo above is to pick up stitches from a row just like when we were sewing the sleeves on. The row above the ruler is the row we're going to pick up from.

The next rule I learned was that a row of stitches are shorter than their length. So when picking up from the side you need to skip some stitches so your band doesn't knit up longer than your piece. You can use different calculations for different pieces but I picked up 2 stitches and skipped 1. I make sure I always get the first and last stitch so I'm even at the ends.

We're starting on the left front piece. With the front facing me I've picked up the 19 stitches. This is the button hole side, we'll start hard. Remember my sweater is 4 1/2" long with the collar knitted on.

Left Button Band
Pick up 19 stitches(by method above)
Row 1 (WS): P1, K1 to the end

Row 2 (RS): K1, P1, yo, P2 tog, K1, P1 3 times, yo P2 tog, K1, P1 2 times, P2 tog, K1

This is the button hole pattern and I've demonstrated the yarn over P2 together in the next 3 pictures.

Yarn over making sure yarn is in the front because the next stitch is a purl.

Purl the next 2 stitches together.

1 yo, 1 purl and the next stitch is a knit.

This is what it will look like.

Row 3 (WS): P1, K1 to the end

The yellow pins are where the button holes are.

Row 4 (RS): BO in pattern

Not too bad!

Right Button Band
RS facing pick up 19 stitches(by method above)
Row 1 (WS): P1, K1 to the end
Row 2 (RS): K1, P1 to the end
Row 3 (WS): P1, K1 to the end
Row 4 (RS): BO in pattern

All your loose yarn needs to be secured and woven in the back of your work. Sew on 3 buttons! I'll post mine tomorrow.