I have been "knitting on through all crises" as Elizabeth Zimmermann wrote, and I have been very prolific as far as hats go. There's just something about a hat, when the going gets tough, that soothes me. It is most likely the fact that there is only one, as opposed to a pair like socks or mittens, and also that gauge is not necessarily a big deal, since people and their heads come in a large variety of sizes. Here are the two I can find photos of:
Robin's Egg Blue Hat in Noro Kochoran. It's too big for me, but it was fun to knit, and the yarn is so soft and fuzzy, that I don't mind.
This is Frivol, in a stray ball of pink Cascade 220 that I had in the stash. This is a really fun, sideways pattern. With cables and bobbles and short-rows. I am sure I'll whip another one of these up sometime, it was so much fun. I also made a tam, and a great colorwork hat from Vogue Knitting, but the pictures are trapped in the broken camera...My most ambitious project, and the one that I am the most proud of:
You see that outdoorsy, woodsman in the photo up there? Well, that's my husband wearing his big, warm, wooly sweater that I knit for him. I am gloating with pride that I followed Elizabeth Zimmermann's directions for a Seamless Saddle Shoulder Sweater, and that I persevered through miles of stockinette in order to complete an XXL size sweater to keep my man warm on a hunting trip. I have wanted to knit him a sweater since I first met him, when I was 16. It's probably a good thing that I didn't knit then, but I'm guessing the "sweater curse" does not apply after 17 years of marriage.
The details:
Pattern: Seamless Saddle Shoulder/Brooks Sweater, from EZ's Opinionated Knitter/Knitting Workshop/Knitting Without Tears. (I referred to all of those books while knitting it, but you could knit it with just one of them, I'm sure.)
Yarn: 9.5 skeins of Bartlettyarns Sheepswool 3-ply (from Schoolhouse Press) in Dark Sheeps Grey, which is actually brown. This is thick, wooly, slightly oily yarn, that feels a little scratchy while knitting, but after I washed it, it feels much softer. It is seriously warm and sturdy, and I'm sure this sweater will last for years.
Needles: Size 10 US. A 40" and 24" circular, also from Schoolhouse Press. I got 3 1/2 stitches to the inch.
All I can say about this pattern, is just to TRUST Elizabeth and do what she says. It will look strange sometimes, and you will want to argue, but seriously, she was a knitting genius. I now understand a great deal about sweater construction, and am looking forward to making many more sweaters.
I hope someone still stops by my blog after all this time. If you're still here, Thanks for checking in. I'm looking forward to sharing this holiday season with you.
You see that outdoorsy, woodsman in the photo up there? Well, that's my husband wearing his big, warm, wooly sweater that I knit for him. I am gloating with pride that I followed Elizabeth Zimmermann's directions for a Seamless Saddle Shoulder Sweater, and that I persevered through miles of stockinette in order to complete an XXL size sweater to keep my man warm on a hunting trip. I have wanted to knit him a sweater since I first met him, when I was 16. It's probably a good thing that I didn't knit then, but I'm guessing the "sweater curse" does not apply after 17 years of marriage.
The details:
Pattern: Seamless Saddle Shoulder/Brooks Sweater, from EZ's Opinionated Knitter/Knitting Workshop/Knitting Without Tears. (I referred to all of those books while knitting it, but you could knit it with just one of them, I'm sure.)
Yarn: 9.5 skeins of Bartlettyarns Sheepswool 3-ply (from Schoolhouse Press) in Dark Sheeps Grey, which is actually brown. This is thick, wooly, slightly oily yarn, that feels a little scratchy while knitting, but after I washed it, it feels much softer. It is seriously warm and sturdy, and I'm sure this sweater will last for years.
Needles: Size 10 US. A 40" and 24" circular, also from Schoolhouse Press. I got 3 1/2 stitches to the inch.
All I can say about this pattern, is just to TRUST Elizabeth and do what she says. It will look strange sometimes, and you will want to argue, but seriously, she was a knitting genius. I now understand a great deal about sweater construction, and am looking forward to making many more sweaters.
I hope someone still stops by my blog after all this time. If you're still here, Thanks for checking in. I'm looking forward to sharing this holiday season with you.
1 comment:
I've been checking for months, sure that you're working on something, but I know you've been busy. Congrats on the great looking sweater...I've started thinking of a sweater for my man, but I've never even finished one for myself..I've had about three inches on the needles for probably 6 or so months now and it's not even in the queue of things to knit right now. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and have a wonderful Christmas!
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