This took a little less time than I thought considering I had to make a LOT of alterations to the original pattern.  The shape I wanted was different from the pattern, as well as my gauge.  I also turned it into a pullover rather than a cardigan.   I al so added stripes and shaped the hodd a little different.  I have enough yarn to make a pocket on the front, but I haven’t decided if that is what I will do or not yet.  I want to wear it a time or two and go from there.

I knit this shell for my mom, sorry only a pic of the yarn used.  It was a quick project, but the shaping was really a pain and took forever because it is to be worn under a jacket and not just by itself.  I have the pattern unedited if you want it, but it hasn’t been posted yet.  I made the pattern in the round, so besides weaving in ends and the three needle bind off at the shoulders, there is no seeming.

I knit this from one ball of the Pound Of Love in white with 1 ball each of brown and blue Paton’s Astra.  This is a very easy vest to knit.  I tweaked a normal vest pattern for a man so that I could knit it in the round and have no seeming.  It also did not have the argyle, so I added it.  He has worn this for Christmas, and I look forward to seeing him wear it more.

Vest

This is the first sweater I have completed that I am using a pattern for.  It is from drops.  I am, however, changing the front to be a pullover with a partially open collar instead of a button up cardigan.  So far I have the front and a partial arm done.  I am using Lion Brand Cotton Ease and a size 9 needle.  With the yarn and gauge that I am getting I had to do 2 sizes up from normal to get what I normall would.  There is a LOT of shaping with this pattern, and you really have to pay attention because it is all in centimeters, as well as the fact that I added color changes.  I also plan to add a pocket on the front using the same shaping as the arm holes (2/3 the size as the front of the sweater).  Check back for updates.

Drops Sweater In Progress

Mar 9, 2009

I am working on the last sleeve and then I am almost ready to seem.  I have made quite a few adjustments to the pattern.  Below is what I have written down.

Drops Pattern: Cardigan in Vivaldi with Hood

Knit size XL and I am a 36in chest.  It fits just right in the chest area.

Yarn I used: Lion Brand Cotton Ease (bought 4 pink, 4 blue, 2 green

Size 9 needles and I am 1 st per inch off (making the garment smaller) on the gauge which makes it fit perfectly on the top.  I am going to be adding gussets on the bottom of the sides to help with shaping and fitting there.

Color Changes: Bottom band 12 rows pink - pattern 4 blue rows, 2 green, 4 blue, 6 pink - repeat

I carried the colors, but I am going to try and use the green to do my seeming.

Front:  This is knit the same as the back till you get to the arm shaping.  Do the arm shaping same as for the back till you get to where you knit even and there are no more decreases.  At this point you will be splitting the stitches.  Find the middle stitch and count three stitches on either side of it (this will be for the “v” neck part continuing onto the hood)  Put the stitches on the left on a seperate stitch holder and work with the stitches on the right.

Front Shaping:  After you have split your stitches up accordingly and put the ones you are not working with on waste yarn follow the rest of the instructions.  K 22 rows changing colors where you normally would, then start your decreases.  Decrease one stitch on inner edge (center of chest) every 4 rows till you have 18 sts left.  Repeat for other side of the V shaping.

Neck before edging is added

Here is the pattern for the gussets:  these are to be placed at the bottom edge on each side.  I knit these in all pink and I plan on putting some blue laces across them, but want to see what they look like sewn in first.

cast on 17 sts

Knit to 8.5 in from start

Bind off 1 st on each side every 4 rows till 5 sts remain.

End on a decrease row (gusset should be 80 rows tall or 10 in)

Insert in the side of the sweater.

Finally! I got this pic posted of the second knit project that I did. I never did get around to using the pattern that I bought. I liked this cable pattern better. It ended up being a bit big, so next time I might take out a cable repeat on each side or something, and also not start the arm holes till later so they are not so big, but it is perfect for wearing something bulky underneath which I have done. It also keeps me super warm which I guess is it’s purpose. I designed this sweater around one that I saw in a mall. They had it for sale and I thought that $89 was a little stiff and that i may be able to knit it. Well needless to say, I ended up spending about that in yarn and supplies using Plymouth Encore worsted weight. But this was my inspiration to start knitting in the first place. I did write down the pattern, but I am not about to type it all up! Sorry