Campfire Cardi - Finished!

Once I finished the sleeves and blocked the cardigan I focused on finishing up the button bands.  As I mentioned in the last post I didn’t really get what the designer was doing for that part of the design, and the whole joining as you go and picking up the stitches to join as you go just seemed way too fiddly for me.  So I decided to use the same ribbing pattern on the button bands and neck edge.  I also wanted a nice turn on the corner for the transition from the button bands to the neck edge.  In the end I worked the button bands first.  Based on the gauge of the cabled rib I picked up 5 stitches for every 6 rows along the front edge, 108 stitches total.  To figure out the number of stitches to pick up I used the stitch gauge from the cable rib on the hem and used it with the row gauge from the front to determine the ratio.  After the pick up I worked a wrong side set up row to establish the pattern of k1, (k1, p2), end k2.  I worked 5 stitch button holes centered on a purl stitch on rows 9 (bind off) and 10 (cast on).  I matched the cable to the cable on each side, so the right hand button band has left twist, and the left hand button band has right twist.  I worked 19 rows of the cabled rib, binding off on row 20.

Once both button bands were finished I started working the neck edge.  I picked up 2 stitches for every 3 rows along the top of the button band (14 stitches), 9 stitches for every 10 rows along the neck edge (56 stitches), and one for one along the back neck (46 stitches).  To figure out the number of stitches to pick up along the neck edge I measured the length of the neck edge, and used the cable rib gauge to calculate the number of stitches I needed, then counted the number of rows and figured out the ratio.  I placed a marker in the center back and switched the cable orientation at the marker so that the cables matched the button band cables.  After the pickup I worked a wrong side set up row of p14, (k1, p2) to 1 stitch before the center back, k1, sm, k1, (p2, k1) to last 14 stitches, p14.  The stitch count gave me two purl stitches at the center back, one before the marker and one after the marker.  Across the top of the button bands I worked a stockinette triangle, decreasing on the right side rows as follows:  ssk, k to last 2 stitches of button band edge, k2tog, work cable pattern to the other button band, ssk, k to last 2 stitches of button band edge, k2tog.  I worked 15 rows for the neck edge and bound off on row 16.

I am very happy with how the cardigan turned out.  The fabric is great, my gauge was spot on and consistent for the whole project, and I love the contrast edging.  And better yet, I used stash yarn.

Pattern:  Sage Cardi by Zanete Knits

Yarn:  Dream in Color Smooshy

Needle:  US 3 (3.25 mm) for the body, US 4 (3.5 mm) for the sleeves

Campfire Cardi - Both Sleeves Done

When I began working the sleeves I started with a new skein, and divided it in half so I could just work the sleeve without having to worry about watching my yarn usage.  When I reached the end the half skein I switched to the leftover skein from the body.  Once I finished the sleeves I blocked the Cardi so that I could get a good gauge on the hem ribbing, as I was thinking of using it for the button bands.  I tried to understand what the designer called for in the pattern for the button band, and even watched her video but just didn’t want to go there.

After blocking the fabric does relax a little and has a lot more drape.  Some of that is probably just due to the fact that this is a superwash merino yarn.  I did measure things after blocking and it did not grow.  One thing that I realized when I was blocking it was the front would naturally be shorter than the back due to the cabling.  The pattern does not provide a gauge for the cabled section.

To block I just laid it out on my very first blocking board.  It folds in half for easy storage, and has handles.  I love it for garments.  I did pin the front edges to keep them from curling and to make it easier to pick up stitches for my button bands.

Pattern:  Sage Cardi by Zanete Knits

Yarn:  Dream in Color Smooshy

Needle:  US 3 (3.25 mm) for the body, US 4 (3.5 mm) for the sleeves

Campfire Cardi - One Sleeve Done

This sleeve took me a couple of starts to get it looking the way I wanted.  I did the pick up in the slipped stitches, one per stitch, which left me short on the number of stitches called for, so after the pick up I worked a round and did kfb increases to get to the correct stitch count.  Then I did the short row shaping called for in the pattern, working German short rows.  Once I got through all of that the rest of the sleeve was smooth sailing, just round after round.  I will note that the pattern calls for knitting 16 inches from the underarm, and states that should be about 136 rows.  The stated gauge of the pattern is 36 rows for 4 inches, which would mean that you should knit 144 rows, which is what I knit, and once again my gauge swatch did not lie, but obviously the designer’s did.  I did go up to a US 4 needle for the sleeves.  I started out on a US 3, but I do knit tighter on circular needles, especially on the smaller circular needles, so I had to go up a needle size to maintain my gauge.

Pattern:  Sage Cardi by Zanete Knits

Yarn:  Dream in Color Smooshy

Needle:  US 3 (3.25 mm) for the body, US 4 (3.5 mm) for the sleeves

 

Campfire Cardi - Body & Hem Done!

Once I remembered how to work the 1/1 cables without a cable needle (by rearranging the stitches between the two needles) this went reasonably fast.  There were a few mistakes that I had to tink back or fix when I fell asleep while knitting, but nothing major.  I have picked up the stitches around one of the armholes and my concerns about picking up with the slipped stitch edges was confirmed, so were I to knit this again I would not slip any edge stitches.

I’m liking the colors and the contrast hem.  I’m also very happy to be using up stash yarn.  My stash is ginormous and I really need to focus on knitting what I have, despite all the beautiful yarns out there.  These colors are from The Loopy Ewe, first incarnation (they sold their store and it continues, but is not quite the same), and were special Camp Loopy colorways.  They are doing Camp Loopy again this year but I am not going to participate.  The rules were just too much for me.  It is movie themed, and I love the Camp logo, so I thought I might at least get a t-shirt, but they changed the supplier and the shirts are 60/40 cotton/poly, instead of 100% cotton, and I just cannot wear polyester anymore - it makes my skin itch - that bummed me out as I wear my old Camp Loopy t-shirts all the time.  But not participating is okay, because it keeps me from buying more yarn this summer to work the camp projects, and saves me the stress of trying to come up with projects that fit their requirements.

Pattern:  Sage Cardi by Zanete Knits

Yarn:  Dream in Color Smooshy

Needle:  US 3 (3.25 mm)

Campfire Cardi - Body Done!

I’ve mostly been focusing on my Campfire Cardi and finally finished up the body and have transitioned to the hem.  When I started the second skein I did a yarn usage check - easier to do on the body as opposed to figuring out the stitch count for all that upper body shaping - and based on my yarn usage I confirmed that I would not have enough to work the hem and the cuffs with my main color.  I had figured that I wouldn’t, just based on the yarn requirements and the amount of yarn that I have in that color (only 3 skeins), so I had already planned on working a contrast hem and contrast cuffs.  The main color is Campfire Connections, which was a special Camp Loopy color from The Loopy Ewe back in 2015 (I think), so it is no longer available.  For the hem and the cuffs I picked another special Camp Loopy color  from 2017 - Walking the Gangplank.  The effect is dramatic, but I think it will be gorgeous when it is finished.

I did make one change to the pattern that impacted the hem and my set up row.  There is a 1/1 cable that is worked fives times on each front, separating the 12 stitch and 6 stitch cable patterns.   The pattern calls for a 1/1 left cross, and on the right front (the first front worked) I did the 1/1 left cross, but when I got to the left front I decided to reverse it to a 1/1 right cross so they would mirror each other.  The hem is worked in a 1/1 left cross, p1, pattern that continues the 1/1 left cross from the front panels.  Obviously that would not work for me on the left front, so half of my hem is worked in the 1/1 left cross and half my hem is worked in the 1/1 right cross, switching in the middle of the back.  The pattern calls for working increases on the set up row so that the existing 1/1 cables and purl columns will continue into the hem uninterrupted.  I did increases, but I did not follow the pattern instructions.

So, to work the set up row, first I found the midpoint of the back and placed a split marker, as this is where I need to flip the orientation of the 1/1 cables.  I did not work any increases in the beginning and ending stockinette stitch sections.  On the 12 stitch cables I worked the first two stitches in pattern (1/1 cable), did a m1p, worked in pattern across to the last two stitches, and did another m1p.  On the 6 stitch cables I worked 2 stitches in pattern, m1p, worked 2 stitches in pattern, m1p.  When I got to the center back I purled two stitches together - the one before the marker with the one after the marker, which made my stitch count work out.

And my swatch has not lied, not even a little bit.

Pattern:  Sage Cardi by Zanete Knits

Yarn:  Dream in Color Smooshy

Needle:  US 3 (3.25 mm0

Campfire Cardi - One Skein Done

The designer of this cardigan, Zanete of Zanetaknits, just published her 50th pattern and is holding a knit a long, where you can knit any of her designs.  This design, the Sage Cardi, was in my queue, so I decided to join and cast on.  The yarn is Dream in Color Smooshy, in Campfire Connections.  This was an exclusive colorway of The Loopy Ewe during their Camp Loopy and is from my stash.  I know that I will not have enough to complete the entire cardigan in this colorway, but I should be able to complete all but the cuffs, body ribbing, and maybe the collar/button band.  I do have some other colors in my stash of this yarn, so will do contrast cuffs and body ribbing, and then figure out how much I have left of each and decide which color to use for the collar/button band.

The knitting has been pretty easy.  The cabling is only on the fronts, so you get a nice stretch of plain knitting across the back.  It is knitted top down (obviously) and in one piece, starting with the upper back, and short rows are used to shape the shoulders.  Stitches are then picked up for the fronts and when you get the right length for the armhole you join the three pieces together.  I did not do the short row technique recommended in the pattern.  Instead I did German short rows, which I find easy and pretty much invisible.  The pattern does call for slipping the first stitch of each row, I’m not sure if I like that, given I will have to pick up stitches along those edges later, but at this point I’m committed.  The pattern also has you slip some of the wrong side stitches on the cables.  I’m not doing that, and I also flipped the orientation on the 1/1 cable on the left front so that they mirror each other.  The other two cables are symmetric.  I am also not doing the faux seam (purl stitch) under the arms.  So far my gauge swatch has not lied to me.

Pattern:  Sage Cardi by Zanetaknits

Yarn:  Dream in Color Smooshy in Campfire Connections

Needle:  US 3 (3.25 mm)

Tristan - Cast On

 

I finally cast on for the August Camp Loopy project this past week.  The theme this month is “Showstopper”.  I had a terrible time settling on a pattern.  I was going to make “Leaf Lettuce” by Ursa Major Knits, but changed my mind.  I spent several evenings perusing Ravelry without finding anything that really grabbed me, until I decided to look up the yarn I had bought - Rohrspatz & Wollmeise Pure (colorway Tristan) on Ravelry and look at the pattern ideas.  The pattern I ended up settling on is “Conic” by Cookie A.  I have several of her books and have been in several of her sock clubs, but she vanished from the knitting scene back in 2016 and I don’t think we’ve heard from her since.  The pattern is not without its errors, starting with the mismatch between US needle size and the metric equivalent - I went with the metric equivalent.  Then when I tried the first row of the cable pattern the chart was two stitches short.  I ended up charting the entire back with the decreases, the straight section and the increases (the pattern only had the decreases charted).  The chart is simple, so you could work it without everything, but why make yourself keep track of extra stuff?

When I restarted I cast on 68 stitches and purled one row.  The pattern had you cast on 58 stitches, and do a set up row where you increased to 68 stitches by working several purl-front-back-front stitches.  I didn’t much care for that, and figured picking up stitches for the ribbing at the end would be easier if I just cast on all of the stitches at the start.

Pattern:  Conic by Cookie A

Yarn:  Rohrspatz & Wollmeise Pure in Tristan

Needle:  US 2.5 (3 mm)

Cheri Chevron - Finished!

 

I actually finished up this shawl a week ago yesterday, on July 16.  This is my July Camp Loopy Project.  The requirement was stripes, and 600 yards.  I used 193 grams and 688 yards.  Blocking was relatively straight forward.

Pattern:  Cheri Chevron Shawl by Ambah O’Brien 

Yarn:  Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere 

Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Cheri Chevron - Half Way Point

 

I reached the half way point back on July 10.  I actually finished up the shawl last night.  From cast on to finished shawl in 14 days.  Amazing what monogamous knitting can accomplish.  I used a total of 194.4 grams.  I forgot to weight my skeins before I started knitting, so I had to weigh the shawl after I cast off to determine how much yarn I used and make sure that I had met the yardage requirements for the July Camp Loopy project.  I used 688 yards, so I easily made the requirement.

Pattern:  Cheri Chevron by Ambah O’Brien 

Yarn:  Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere 

Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Cheri Chevron - Cast On!

 

It is July, which means there is another Camp Loopy project to cast on.  The theme this month is stripes, so I’m knitting the Cheri Chevron Shawl by Ambah O’Brien.  I’ve actually made a fair bit of progress since this photo was taken.  The yarn is Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere - positively Dreamy to knit with - in Gold Experience and Summer Sunrise.

Pattern:  Cheri Chevron Shawl by Ambah O’Brien

Yarn:  Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere

Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Aqueous Shawl 2 - Finished!

 

I finished this up last week.  It knitted up very quickly, about 5 days.  It helped that I had an unexpected Federal Holiday last weekend.  I was able to check my corrections and annotate the pattern, as well as verify my charts and additional notes.  I just need to go back through everything one last time and then I can send it off to the designer.  One of the things that amazes me about this yarn is the way the colors glow when you get them in natural light.  When I knit this the first time my skeins were actually overweight, so I was able to complete the shawl, with the errors that caused an extra stitch, with just those two skeins.  When I started this one I realized that I might have issues with running out of yarn.  Fortunately I had a full skein and most of a second skein of the Drops of Jupiter.  I did consider getting a second skein of the Sarah’s Violet, but I had already gotten a second skein of the Tupelo Honey when I was concerned about running out of yarn on the first one, so I used that for the last garter rows and the bind off.

The yarn has a marvelous drape and is very soft.  I have not made many shawls out of heavier weight yarns, but I really like these.  It blocks up beautifully, and the size and shape are just perfect.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Aqueous Shawl 2 - Art Deco Leaf Section Done

 

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, there were a number of errors in this pattern, but I want to make sure that my corrections are actually correct, so I’m knitting a second one to verify that.  As I complete each section I make annotations in the PDF of the pattern on the errors that I’ve found and what the correction should be.  Once I’m done I’ll send it back to the designer.  I’m also going to send her a Word file with my charts for the Dainty Chevron sections and the Art Deco Leaf section, along with my stitch count tables.  I am creating stitch count tables for the entire shawl, by section, that has the number of stitches on each side of the marker as well as the total for each row.  I started on this one on Friday, and have already made a lot of progress, despite having to spend a lot of time on the first Dainty Chevron chart to make sure that I figured out the error that resulted in the extra stitch at the end of that section.  Charting it was the only way, as there is a pattern to the increases and spotting the anomaly in the increase pattern was the key.  This was complicated by another variation on one of the rows that is driven by the nature of the lace pattern itself.  When I charted it for knitting the first time I had compressed both sides of the chart, but there were a couple of rows on the left side that I couldn’t compress, which made matching things up tricker when compared with the compressed rows.  In the end I expanded the left side back out, which allowed me to spot what was going on.

The colors for this one are Sarah’s Violet and Drops of Jupiter.  The Drops of Jupiter is from last year’s Camp Loopy.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Aqueous Shawl - Finished!

I finished this up last weekend.  I used up all by 1.5 grams of the Nightrain, and all but 4.1 grams of the Tupelo Honey.  The colors really glow in the natural light.  Now I need to update the pattern and test it with my other two colors so I can send it back to the designer and hope that she accepts it in the spirit it is intended.  It is a fun pattern.

Blocking was pretty straight forward.  With slip stitch edges I sometimes worry about the edges being too tight, but this one blocked pretty easily and without distortion.  I pinned out the top edge first and then the left edge (the bound off edge) and then worked may way back to the starting point.  I did have to do some adjustments, but not too much.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

 

Aqueous Shawl - Broken Arrow Section 2 Done

 

So, now I have worked through Garter Section 4, Broken Arrow Section 2 and Garter Section 5.  Starting with Garter Section 4 the stitch count of the shawl remains essentially constant (134 stitches on right side rows, 135 stitches on wrong side rows), with increases only on the section before the marker.  I have Dainty Chevrons Section 2 and Garter Section 6 left.  I was getting very nervous about having enough yarn, so I weighed my skeins to get yarn usage data during Garter Section 5 and I should just barely make it.  Remember how I have an extra stitch?  And how that extra stitch was on the section after the marker?  Well, when I worked the first pattern row in Broken Arrow Section 2 it worked.  No extra stitch.  Although there was an error in the pattern at the end of the row - it stated “repeat to 3 sts left, sl2 wyib, k2”.  It should have been sl1 wyib, k2 if you only have 3 stitches left.  I was fully expecting to have 4 stitches based upon where my extra stitch was, and was surprised when I didn’t.  So then I worked the wrong side row and discovered that my extra stitch was now in the section before the marker.  I have no idea how that could have happened as I have been extremely careful in the garter sections on where the increases occur.  I’ll be sending all of my notes as well as my charts to the designer when I’m done, so she can update the pattern.  I have charted the Dainty Chevrons Section 2 - much easier than charting the first one now that I know that lace pattern - and it is all set up in knitCompanion.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle: US 7 (4.5 mm) 

Aqueous Shawl - Garter Section 3 and Art Deco Leaf Section Done

 

I have now reached the maximum stitch count to the left of the marker, from now on that side will be decreasing.  Once again I charted the pattern from the written instructions.  Once I understood how the pattern worked it was pretty straight forward knitting.  I did learn the hard way to check my right side row before I worked the wrong side row.  Fortunately I made the mistake early on and only had to frog back 8 rows or so.  Trying to drop back stitches and fix it without tinking did not work.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Aqueous Shawl - Broken Arrow Mosaic Section 1 Done

 

I have finished Garter Section 2, Broken Arrow Section 1, and part of Garter Section 3.  I figured out that my extra stitch was on the second part, after the marker, which made working the mosaic section easy, I just had to take the extra stitch into account at the end of the right side rows and the beginning of the wrong side rows.  I marked up the pattern as I worked it.  I also figured out that the extra stitch is probably a pattern error, not mine.  I have the correct stitch count at row 16, and rows 18 and 20 both have 2 increases, so that gives you 72 stitches, which is what I have.  I’m making notes of all the errors I find and will pass them on to the designer.  I think I am the first person to knit this, other than the designer, as there are only 2 projects on Ravelry, including mine.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Aqueous Shawl - Dainty Chevron Section 1 Done

And the first lace section is completed.  So much easier with a chart, but not without a little challenge.  I had a mistake right near the end when I finished it last night.  I spotted it when I took a picture this morning.

See how the pattern is not quite symmetric on the spine at the top?  This is why having charts and being able to read your knitting is so important.  First I checked the chart to make sure I hadn’t messed something up there.  Nope, it wasn’t the chart that was wrong.  The stitch patterns were symmetric all along the spine.  So then I looked at my knitting and compared it to the chart.  It was pretty easy to see where I had gone wrong.  A yarn over in the wrong spot.  I tinked back two rows, which also allowed me to fix a weird yarn over on one of my CDD-P on the last row, fixed the yarn over and reknit.  All better.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Crocus Vest - Finished!

 

I finished this up last weekend.  It made for some good knitting while watching play off games.  Now I need to get it boxed up and sent on its way to its new home.  I do hope it fits Carol.  I texted her for her “over arm measurement” and she asked if I was knitting her a straight jacket.  She got excited when I told her it was for a vest and when I sent her a picture of the yarn, her reaction was “yum”.  When I was working this I caked up all four of my skeins and ordered them from darkest to lightest.  I ended up using 379 grams of yarn, so I have 85 grams of my fourth skein that I can use for something for myself, which makes me happy as this is a lovely colorway.  I will hold onto that fourth skein until I know that it fits her, just in case I have to make adjustments.

Pattern:  Practically Vest by Kelly Herdrich

Yarn:  Dream in Color City

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)

Crocus Vest - Sleeves Done

 

I quickly made it to the point where you bind off the sleeve caps and cast on for the underarm.  This photo was taken right after casting on for the underarms.  I ended up having to rip back and redo this part because I had somehow captured one of my stitch markers and didn’t notice it until I had knit a couple of rows.  But it was an easy fix and I’m way past this point now.  In fact I’ve started the third skein.

Pattern:  Practically Vest by Kelly Herdrich

Yarn:  Dream in Color City

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)

Crocus Vest - Cast On

 

I can’t very well send something knitted to my sister Virginia without also sending something to her business partner (and our adopted sister) Carol, so I grabbed this yarn out of my stash and cast on a Practically Vest.  I’ve been wanting to make one for her for a while.  I love the colors of this yarn.  It is one of The Loopy Ewe exclusive Dream In Color colorways - Crocus Hocus Pocus.  I’m sorry that I don’t have more as it really is luscious.  I do have a skein of the colorway in the fingering weight, but I would love a vest of my own in this colorway.

This is also great mindless knitting for reading or watching TV and will knit up fast so I can get it on its way to its new home.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich

Yarn:  Dream in Color City

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)