Fiberfiend is currently blogging on her attempt to knit an almost authentic Bohus sweater.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Can You Hear Me?

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Sometimes the easiest designs aren't. Easy, I mean; this little cardigan has a mind of its own. I tried to put a waist-cinching band of ribbing below the armhole shaping (which would have been less waist-cinching and more umpire/baby doll shaping, but you know what I mean) but it was just, I don't know, wrong. I knit the ribbing with the same needle size as the body and it looked large and sloppy. I frogged, and tried again with a size smaller needle. Still looked out of place. So I went back to the stockinette and everyone was happy.

Sometimes you just have to listen to the design. I'm waiting for the sleeves to tell me what they want to look like.

P.S. Those dangly things in front are stitch holders. The front has a U shaped neckline, and they're holding the stitches that form the base of the U. Just thought you'd like to know.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

progress



Please note: photo updated after computer meltdown.

I've been working on a number of projects lately; I'm trying to finish a queen sized quilt, working on the design for my family's Christmas sweater for next year, the latest clue for the Vernal Equinox shawl, and this Cathedral cardigan. The bottom half of the newest design is done. You are looking at just over 12 inches of soft cashmere lace. The lower half has been divided at the armholes for two fronts and a back. The top half will be all stockinette, with an intricate button band. The set in sleeves will echo the lace pattern of the bottom and will be either elbow or 3/4 length. I'm only sorry that the photo doesn't show the true color of the yarn; it's much more a grass green, very saturated, not the pale sage-y color above. Stay tuned!
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Monday, February 16, 2009

Cathedral cardigan




I've started the cashmere Cathedral Cardigan with a lace edge reminiscent of a pattern I saw on a pillow cover. It reminds me of the leaded glass windows in an old cathedral. The lace is about 9" long and will be the lower edge of a bottom up cropped cardigan. I'm thinking I'll add an intricate button band from one of Nicky Epstein's books, and leave the body in plain stockinette for contrast. Elbow length or maybe 3/4 sleeves. Hmmmm...........

Another View





Do we all hate the way we look in photos? Wanted to post a full view of the Brenda Cardigan on a live model. See, even my "medium" is almost a large..........

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Thursday, February 12, 2009

The Muse




As I look at options for the lace cashmere sweater I hope to design, I came across this pillow pattern and fell in love. The dark blue center panel should be perfect for the bottom edge of the new design. The green laceweight yarn is the cashmere, double stranded, that I have begun swatching. Stay tuned.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Next Project

I have been thinking of knitting a lacy cardigan from the 3000 yards of laceweight cashmere I have been keeping for "something special." The cashmere came from Colourmart and is a lovely spring grass green. I came across this pattern and while it is the type of sweater I have in my mind's eye, it's not exactly right. I'm thinking of something a little less open and a little more classic; more baroque lace at the bottom, probably less openwork around the middle. So I'm going to use this pattern as inspiration and begin the design process again. Let the swatching begin.

Monday, February 2, 2009

So What's Next?



Since this blog was started to document the design of The Brenda Cardigan, and since the cardigan is complete, the question is what to do next. So while I decide what project will next fill these pages, here is the hat to match the sweater. Cast on 97 stitches with the same size needle used for the cardigan if you want a loose cap, one size smaller if you want a snugger cap, and join for knitting in the round. Remember that every other round is knit plain. Knit 16 rounds in pattern (two complete repeats). Knit another 16 rounds on a needle one size smaller. Switch to one size smaller needle again, and knit through round 4 of pattern. Begin decreasing by continuing in pattern but eliminating yarn overs. Keep purl stitches between sections and knit last few rows with two decreases in center of each section every other round. When 13 stitches are left, k2tog around. K2tog around again - 4 stitches left. Cut yarn, draw tail through stitches and fasten off.