Interweave Knits Winter 08

Is anyone else really disappointed with the latest Interweave Knits Winter 08 preview? Actually, come to think of it , I've been rather disappointed at the last two issues (i think?) and haven't bought one since Spring's beautiful issue.

There are only two things I like in this issue , one of which I would actually knit and the other is a "maybe".

Manchester Jacket (a maybe):

Elaine's Blouse: (a yes, but i will wait till it is available on Knitting Daily's Store I think)

And does anyone else think that this is practically a ripoff of the Phildar Leaf Sweater??

Rant over ;) I'm starting back on site again, but with a shorter 9 days on, 5 days off roster. I've ordered my yarn requirements for my next 4 projects but am still waiting for them to arrive. *patience*

FO: Phildar Sweater #1 : Ms 2 Week Leafy

Wow, I just realized that this has to be about the quickest knit that I've ever made (not including mini projects)! Ms 2 Week Leafy Sweater (aka Phildar Sweater #1) is now complete. And now for some FO details, accompanied with the same old photo poses as per usual (I swear I did try and take photos of myself out in the garden but the sun shone too brightly and the leaf detail became lost).
Details
Pattern: Sweater #1, from Phildar Tendances 460, Hiver 06/07. I knit this in French size 34/36 (the smallest).Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Aran in Seamist. At first I wasn't so sure about my colour choice, but with a bit of encouragement from the lovely Andrea, I persisted with it and am actually quite pleased with how it ended up turning out.

Needles: I did the ribbing on US 5 / 3.75mm needles and the rest of the knit on US 7/4.5mm needles. I did most of it on circulars, but did the sleeves on flats.

Comments and Modifications: Lots! I had seen a few on ravelry and while they were nice, I was concerned about 1. the length 2. the neckline and 3. the tendency for reverse stockinette to show up "lines" of uneven tensioning. To address this, I did the following:

1. The length - I knit 5cm of ribbing instead of the 1.5cm that was required in the pattern. I probably should've done just a fraction more as I like my sweaters a bit longer, but as is, it is currently sitting on my hips.

I also changed shortened the sleeve length just a tad. I started shaping at 25cm, rather than 28cm as called for in the pattern. Also, in regards to the armcyth issue, it blocked out fine in the end :)

2. The neckline - Most of the other necklines I saw were very wide and somewhat floppy, as if there was too many stitches picked up around the neckline. I didn't want an incredibly large scoop neck, so I altered my neckline. Instead of the decreases called for, I cast off 10 stitches in centre of neckline, then on neckline edge, cast off 3 sts once, 2 sts four times, and 1st four times.

I also wanted a small dip in my back neckline edge, rather than the completely flat one in the pattern, so I altered my neckline by casting off 12 st at centre, then from each edge of back neckline, I cast off a further 8 sts once and then 6 sts once.

3. Lines of uneven tension - Simple solution! Knit in round instead of flat!

The only other thing I want to comment on is having to seam reverse stockinette and setting the sleeves in on this. It was a pain to say the least. I usually don't mind seaming, but having to seam it on reverse stockinette made it really tough for me as it kept going wonky and uneven. Even now I'm not entirely happy with the set in sleeves, but I'll leave it and see if it continues to bother me or not and if it does, then I'll revist.

Verdict? Overall, an easy knit with a fairly easy chart to follow.

Almost there..

This morning in a rush of productivity, I finished up Leafy, and put her in the wash and she is now outside getting some lovely sunshine as she waits to dry off after her little swim..



I did try Leafy on before she went for her swim, and I'm a little worried. My arms are by no means big, but I found the armcyth a little tight. Not so much that my arm would turn blue, but enough for me to wonder about the effect Leafy may have on my future health. Hopefully after the swim and with a bit of final blocking, she'll fit nicely.


On other news, I've finally cast on for Lisette, whom I shall now dub the Choc-Nut Cardigan (because the yarn looks just like dark chocolate with almonds), and it's been some slow going. It's not the most exciting pattern, and it's on fingering weight again. Apologies for the most shocking photo here - the lighting was just not right today.




So, in need for some more instant gratification, I'm looking for a new pattern to start.


Up on offer ladies (and gentlemen if there are any reading!), we have got the Vogue Ribbed Mini Dress, the incredibly stunning Ruffle Jacket just completed by Treschicveronique, the ubiquitous Drops Jacket, Debbie Bliss' Juliet Cardigan or her Catriona vest/top... What shall it be ? I'm leaning towards the mini dress or the ruffle jacket.. but I'm still unsure and don't really want to have too many projects at once (i'm a faithful semi monogamist!).


Okies, off to lunch. Hope you all have a fab day!

Learning to be better

I'm mainly a self taught knitter, having learnt from various books, the internet and making it up as I go along. Somewhere along that line, I decided it was more intuitive to use my left hand (being a right hander) to hold my yarn while my right hand worked the needle, and so became an accidental continental knitter.

But I was looking at my ribbing the other day. It's not entirely bad, but it could definitely be improved:

It's a bit strange though because my stockinette looks pretty decent (or so I think hehe), but my ribbing is just a bit fugly :S. So i've decided to teach myself how to do combined knitting. So far, the results haven't been pretty ...

As with all knitting techniques however, practice makes perfect so i'll just practice a lil bit more and see if I like it.

On other news, Leaf Sweater is almost done. I have finished the knitting part, and need to pick up the neckline but I did a big boo boo. I seamed on my sleeves stockinette side out rather than reverse stockinette out. Silly billy. A bit of unpicking and it should be okay.

By the way, the ball was awesome and only in a town like Kalgoorlie would I have ever imagined a room full of boys taking off their pants (apparently it's a tradition there, when a certain song comes on). My bf has the photos so I'll wait patiently for him to get them over to me.

Girl on a mission!

I'm on a mission tomorrow (well, technically today as it's almost 1am here - this day light saving business is playing with my body clock. I can't adjust!!) to do the following things:

• Purchase a ball dress that doesn't require alteration and fits perfectly - I'm going to my SO's ball on Friday and need a dress by tomorrow. My sister looks at me insanely when I say that, because I have about four ball gowns in my wardrobe but of course, I don't want to wear them again. So.. I'm thinking I might wear my pretty silk Alannah Hill dress, but I need to then buy a slip to go with.


• Finish Leaf Sweater - Two sleeves (well, technically, 1.98), and finishing left to do. Here's where we're up to (There are lots of mods on this one):
  
• 


• Finish assignment on Health Promotion. When I was an undergrad, I dropped Health Science to take up a Psychology degree. Now i'm doing a postgrad, the health sciences have come back to haunt me.


• Play in a netball semi-final and win! We're playing against the incredibly violent team, who also happens to be the same team / match where I severely injured my ankle awhile back. It's still sore, and I'm still having trouble wearing my pretty stilletos, but it's for the love of the game!


• Pack for trip to Kalgoorlie. - Leaving Thursday bright and early at 7am.

All that in 12 hours. Possible? I hope so .. ! Wish me luck ;)

WIPs and Swatches

My sister is one of my favourite people in the world. She's so selfless, considerate and extremely zany and strange. Last night we decided to have a sisterly sleepout where we watced terrible horror flicks and slept in sleeping bags in the lounge room with every bit of knowingness that we'd regret it the next morning. Sure enough, we both woke up grumpy at about 8am with aches in our backs and shoulders and then promptly went to sleep on more comfortable means.

Unfortunately, I am still not feeling the best and have even come down with a cold, so with that note, i'll just post a few piccies and leave you to it :)

Progress on the Phildar Leaf Sweater. Wearing white pjs make me look like an escapee from a mental asylum, but heck, i'm not feeling well so it'll do :D What's even more interesting is that I'm still on my first ball of yarn, and i'm already up to the "bust" area!!

Swatching for Stella Smith's Bianca Cardigan, from Rowan 38 using my frogged yarn from the RYC Classic Summer Julia sweater:

I started a swatch for Lisette, from Rowan 36 using Rowanspun 4 ply in Sludge. The swatch is making me want to eat dark chocolate with nutty bits in it. Mmm. Luckily I still have some choccies leftover from my Secret Pal package so i think i'll munch on those for comfort food.

Have a great end of weekend :) And for any perthians who haven't yet done so, don't forget to turn your clocks forward. This daylight saving business is making my crook body feel even stranger ;)

Time for a sweater

Looking back at my knits, I seem to have cornered myself into one category - cardigans, or some variation of it. There was Cherry, Patti, Rambling Rose, the Capecho (Hybernating) , the embroidered cardi (frogged), and even the Phildar Swing Jacket was somewhat cardigan-ish in design and makeup.

It's time for a change!! .. of course, it'll only be a small change. I'm still not convinced with knitted skirts, knitted pants (eww), and accessories are more filler projects than anything. So , it's time for pullovers. I started knitting the Phildar Leaf Sweater, which I had attempted previously but frogged after feeling as if I was knitting a sweater inside out. But, this time round, I think i've overcome the fear of reverse stockinette and made a bit more progress:

The leaf pattern is coming up nicely and well-defined. I've also started this in the round because I wanted to avoid those "lines" you get when you have uneven tension. The only downside to this is that every row is a purl row, which can cause strain on fingers and is rather slow going, but i'm hoping the finished object will make up for it... and so far, there haven't been any dreaded lines showing up.

On another note, I got two little cards from my Secret Pal over the last two days. One - a Halloween card, and the other a postcard for Philly. We don't really celebrate Halloween here in Australia, so it's great to be in on the fun for once! Thanks Secret Pal!