#13sweaters2013

[talviknits]

Spring has sprung but I still have some wintry knits to blog! Last one for 13 Sweaters in 2013.

With this sweater I wanted to play it safe timewise. Big yarn and big needles meant I could easily finish it by the end of the year. Initially, I had planned to pick up bright turquoise for the contrasting color but the LYS didn't have any. In fact, they didn't have two balls in stock of any of the colors I liked for contrast. On a whim, I chose two colors, one ball each, hoping they would go together nicely. And I think it works. :)

On Ravelry: Pistachio Ice Cream

Pattern: 131-17 White Chocolate from Garnstudio (on Ravelry)

Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Andes, MC: 481 m/526 yd of #0100 Off White, CC: 78 m/85 yd of #0519 Dark Grey and 79 m/86 yd of #7320 Pistachio

Needles: 8 mm for ribbing and plain stockinette, 9 mm for stranded stockinette

Mods: ribbing with main color only, added waist shaping, and short-row shaping to the neckline (details in my project notes)

[talviknits]

Right, back to last year’s knits again!

Last time I posted about 13 Sweaters in 2013, it was November and I was working on my NaKniSweMo cardigan. I did finish the knitting on time but sewed on buttons the first of December.

On Ravelry: Aleph (NaKniSweMo 2013)

Pattern: Aleph (on Ravelry) by Hannah Cuviello, Twist Collective Winter 2012

Yarn: 869 yd/794 m of Araucania Nature Wool Solids in #50 Eggplant

Needles: 4.5 and 5.0 mm

Mods: After finishing the short rows, the yoke barely covered my shoulders so I had to add eight extra rows. Worked neckband ribbing for 12 rows using 4.5 mm needles. 110 sts picked up for button bands, six two-stitch button holes.

There are a few mistakes in the pattern but no errata on the Twist Collective website. ddboots’ project notes on Ravelry were extremely helpful.

My mods for the yoke made the neckband quite tight but it is like that in the original photo as well. I can see why the cardigan is modeled as a v-neck in the pattern photos. If I could change something in the cardigan, I’d start the front neck sooner and add more short-row shaping to the back.

The pockets are constructed in a very clever way! They’re deep and comfortable, and the cable detail is beautiful.

Overall, not flawless but I like it a lot!

[talviknits]

Remember Ophicleide, the cardigan I started in March? Yeah, it's been a while.

This was the red-headed stepchild project that always got tossed aside when something new and shiny came along. Finally finished it this summer -- I recall working on the endless I-cord edging while watching The Ghost Writer on TV. Totally random.

On Ravelry: Ophicleide

Pattern: Ophicleide cardigan (free Ravelry DL) by Kamicha

Yarn: 820 yd/750 m of Viking of Norway Frøyagarn in #769 purple (main color), 157 yd/143 m of Novita Polku in #867 (gradient for yoke and edgings)

Needles: 4.0 mm

Mods: Started with the stitch count for the smallest size, added more pattern repeats in the yoke to get to the stitch count for the next size up. Added waist shaping, knitted body and sleeves until I ran out of yarn, finished with an I-cord edging all around.

Oh yeah, #6 for 13 Sweaters in 2013.

[talviknits]

Ginny's Cardigan is done! Love, love, LOVE it!

On Ravelry: Ordinary Wizarding Levels

Pattern: Ginny's Cardigan by Mari Chiba from Interweave's Unofficial Harry Potter Knits

Yarn: 937 m (1025 yd) of Garnstudio DROPS Karisma in #52 Dark Mustard

Needles: 3.5 mm for the ribbing, 4.0 mm otherwise

Mods: modified waist shaping and yoke to compensate for the tighter row gauge, added 2 cm to the length.

Number 9 for 13 Sweaters in 2013. Wait, what? What happened to six, seven, and eight? Stay tuned...

[talviknits]

A couple of years ago I won five skeins of Viking of Norway Frøyagarn. It wasn't quite enough yardage to knit a garment, yet I didn't want to make endless accessories with it either. I spent many hours on Ravelry doing the advanced search but nothing seemed appropriate. Ophicleide was a contender but I'm not a big fan of sleeveless nor A-lined cardigans.

Until I saw 2bev's three-color version. And realized I could extend the yardage with another yarn. Longer sleeves, huzzah! So, Ophicleide is on the needles, hopefully becoming #6 of 2013.

[talviknits]

May 1st marked the start of Mad May 2013, the Must Stash Podcast sweater KAL and The Knitgirllls sweater KAL. I couldn't resist the chance to triple-dip and cast on paulie that has been in the queue for so long. I don't usually go for the color choices in the pattern but a) grellow is awesome and b) these two colors of madelinetosh TML, Tern and Candlewick, were already in my stash. A match made in knitting heaven.

Another one for 13 sweaters in 2013.