Tuesday, August 18, 2009

And now back to knitting...Adult February Sweater

Up first is a project I started a few months ago, the Adult February Sweater.

This is NOT my sweater, it's Pamela's the pattern's designer.

This is the baby sweater I did a few months ago. Great pattern, really do want to make another!

I really did enjoy knitting the Baby version...ok, once I got it figured out!, and really wanted to give this adult pattern a try. This pattern is based on one from Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter Almanac, a popular book amongst knitters of all ages and skill levels. Elizabeth's original pattern is actually titled "Baby Sweater on Two Needles", since the entire sweater was designed to be knit on one pair of circular knitting needles. Now it's more commonly known in knitting circles as the "February Baby Sweater," because in the Elizabeth's book the pattern is written under the February Chapter that features a variety of knitted baby items.

Some very clever knitters figured out from Elizabeth's vague pattern (also known as pithy directions) how to actually knit the entire sweater without any seams. Which would, of course, now require two sets of circular needles because the sleeves are now knit in the round, with no side seams. Now if you are completely confused, don't worry so it seems are most knitters when it comes to this pattern. However, once you understand the pattern and the modifications you will be surprised how easy it really is to knit! Ravely has a forum that can give you plenty of help if you are willing to try it. I spent several hours reading and asking questions in order to get my first February Sweater finished!

Now another clever knitter modified the pattern for us ladies, also becoming a very popular pattern in the knitting community. Pamela Wynne of flintknits, describes the pattern as "a swingy lace cardigan, ...lovely based on Elizabeth Zimmerman's classic "Baby Sweater on Two Needles..." There are plenty of beautiful examples on Ravely.com to look at, showing a variety of yarn variations. The pattern has recently been modified and updated, and can be found at the above link or on the Raverly pattern database. One Ravely member posted she saw a mom and baby at the Stitches West Convention wearing match sweaters!

For this pattern I decided to use the Malabrigo Yarn I purchased back in February at Stitches West. If you haven't knit with this yarn, try at least one pattern with it. It's soft and smooth, and fairly easy to knit with. Because it is wool, it's not the best to knit with in the summer. It's definitely not wash and wear, or you will have a felted doll sweater if you aren't careful! Have no doubt that this sweater will keep me warm in the winter!

Beautiful Malabrigo Yarn in Marine Blue:


The beginning of my sweater...

As from the photo you can see I didn't get very far. I got stuck on the button holes and had to put it aside. Between the frustration of the button holes, and the heat, I decided to just wait.

I choose to use my knitpick's harmony option needles with this yarn, absolutely wonderful wooden needles to work with, as well as beautiful! Realizing I didn't have enough yarn to make the complete sweater I need to order two more skeins. I was able to find a company that had this particular color (Webs was out of stock), unfortunately the dye lots don't match, but I am not going to let that bother me. I will mix up the lots on the lace part so you won't notice the shade difference as much.

When I purchased the extra skeins I also bought these beautiful buttons to match. I opted to only do three buttons at the top and let the rest just hang open. At this point I think I am glad because the buttonholes are getting the best of me right now!

I have several other projects that I am working on, that I will post on later. A few of them are in my project que at Raverly, but I need to get photo and update the progress. I have a beautiful cape that I started, a blanket I need to get finished, and a baby sweater that just has few rows left to go!

Happy Knitting!

P.S. Decided to try out a more of a seasonal theme, celebrating the start of the new school year!

1 comment:

Katidids said...

Beautiful sweatters & I love the colors you've chosen. Mine...is still inthe "pile" It keeps growing I find more project than I have time to knit!