Yarn Along: Avert Your Eyes Edition

Joining Ginny for Yarn Along today.

My big plan for today was the Knit for Victory sweater reveal.  Well, best laid plans and all that....

Remember this?

Nearly finished, just one sleeve to go.  I finished the sleeve, and then decided I still didn't like the "right" side (pictured above) and wanted the "wrong" side out.  So I switched it.  But then...

Those of you who know me on Facebook, saw this:

Then I decided I hated the v-neck, so I ripped it out and added a triangle of purled knitting, and a line of crochet to finish the edge.  It was okay, but not fabulous.  

Just...no.

So I ripped out the neckline again and tried a shawl collar, but the instructions were frustratingly vague, and I gave up and went back to the v-neck but made the ribbing wider than my original neckline, and cast it off much more loosely so it would go over my head a bit more comfortably.  

But no one saw this:

The finished sweater--the second v-neck came out well, but there were other problems lurking.

And then, there was this (any sensitive knitters in the room might want to avert their eyes):

Yes, folks, I frogged it.  The whole.thing.  Before you start clawing my eyes out for such a travesty, lemme 'splain.  The sweater didn't fit.  It was too big in the bust, too wide through the shoulders, and the ribbing on the bottom was not wide enough for my liking.  I felt like a linebacker in it.  The construction on the sleeves didn't look right at the top, and there were problems with the neckline (that I mostly fixed after three tries, but still).  Several people encouraged me to sell it, but I still would have had a red sweater gap in my wardrobe.  

I learned a lot about ease and stitch sizes during this project, as well as what I do and don't like in sweater styling, and I want to have another go.  When I started taking it apart, I honestly thought I would just redo the sleeve construction and see if I liked it better, but I had woven in my ends too well and things started flying apart when I located loose ends to unsew.  I figured it was better to go with my instincts and frog it, and start anew with a better pattern.  

This is the pattern I'm planning to use next--it has a better shape, the ribbing at the bottom is a lot longer, and I think will be more flattering, and the top has less ease (plus bust darts, which always help with fit), and the sleeves are raglan, so I don't have to worry as much about accommodating my narrow shoulders. The stockinette stitch, while plain, will knit quickly and have far less ease than my fancy ribbed pattern, so that will also help.  

Live and learn, I suppose!  As it was only my fourth adult sweater (and the first two were not at all fussy in construction or fit), I think I'm going to give myself a pass.

In the meantime, I've cast on a commissioned sweater!  Someone in my reenacting group loved the original vintage cardigan that I sold there, and asked me to make her one too.  I had overbought the colorway for the first cardigan, and easily have enough for a second, so a win for destashing yarn!!

Her measurements are closer to the pattern's measurements, so I'm paying close attention to gauge and fit this time around.  I'm actually not using the same pattern exactly, but am using Ann Budd's sweater book with the basic lines of the Vintage Cardigan to make this one.  I don't want to do a lot of math with the gauge as this yarn is heavier than called for, and Ann's book takes all the guesswork (and poor math skills on my part) out of the equation as long as you get a proper gauge swatch to start with.  So far so good.

As for reading, not much right now.  I'm trying to finish season 2 of Game of Thrones before the Fast, and by the time I get myself into bed, the best I can do is Tilly Bagshawe's Fame on my kindle.  I'll set both aside for Lent and read something more edifying like Everyday Saints.

Yarn Along: Knit for Victory Sweater Progress, Thoughts on late 19-teens clothing, and Carry On, Warrior

Time for a knitting update!  I didn't quite make the deadline for Knit for Victory last week (drat!), but I have made tremendous progress on the sweater!  I've got one more sleeve to knit and then the final construction, but lookie:



I did the collar last night--I picked up stitches around the neck edge on a straight needle, quickly realized I couldn't knit it on the straight, so put it on circular size nines and off I went.  I sewed the edges down at the front.  The color in the top photo is a little truer to the actual color.

Fit is decent and I can get it over my ginormous head!  Yeah for that!  I wanted the V to be pretty high and I brought the shoulders in slightly as I was knitting to account for my narrow shoulders.  I'll have to do a finished outfit post when I complete the other side.

 

I finished Downton Abbey season four last week while I was knitting like a fiend, (no spoilers, promise!), and am seriously having Downton Abbey fashion envy.  I ordered this book:

 

as I own the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s versions and have been having a visual feast since it arrived.  I realized that I really love the 1919-1922 fashions, before the flapper look really took over.  (Not to mention that dropped waists look really, really bad on me)

 Yes, this.  I basically want Edith's wardrobe (but not her troubles, ha!)  I noticed that Wearing History is coming out with a Great War suit and I think I might have to get that later this spring!!  I found some 1920s inspired pieces on ThredUp yesterday, so watch this space for a DA-inspired outfit!  I'm working out what to do with my hair.

The truth is that I've hit that point in my nursing that I'm thoroughly sick of everything in my closet.  I'm ready to tuck things in, or not be unbuttoning or unsnapping something all the livelong day, tired of surplice necklines and having my weight fluctuate three pounds every day.  I'm craving comfort in my wardrobe, especially with all this nasty weather we're having.  I've not done a proper wet set in over a week, and I'm just so tired.  Ponchik is getting up every 90 minutes on the average, and no one is sleeping during the day, so I just feel run ragged.  All my clothing is just a little bit off still--either a little too big (and looks sloppy) or a little snug or just not nursing friendly.  While I love the fitted silhouette of the 1940s, I want some looseness to my clothing, and the immediate post-Great War era seems to be just the thing right now.  

I also bought Glennon Melton's book Carry On, Warrior last week and have been devouring it as well. I'm highlighting passages constantly!  I read Momastery only occasionally, and this book seems to be a best-of from the blog.  

Go see Ginny for more wonderful creations!

~phfr~ Snow Days

Linking up with Like Mother, Like Daughter for pictures of everyday contentment.

~pretty~

We got 13 1/2" of snow on Tuesday afternoon starting around 9 a.m. and stopping around midnight.  Which means it was snowing about an inch an hour at some points.  

Made for a nail-biter of a day in terms of commutes, school pick up and travel, but it was pretty!

The Husband argued another case before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, and my dad traveled down to see it, so they were both on Amtrak when the worst of the snow hit.  They were delayed in southern Delaware, but made it back only 30 minutes late, but then waited more than an hour for a cab!  At least everyone was safe and home by 6:00 p.m., however.

~happy~ 

I love winter, I love cold, I love snow.  I find shoveling somewhat cathartic.  We have several elderly neighbors on our side of the street, so I shoveled their sidewalks as well, since I was having a good time and the boys were occupied with 1970s-era Sesame Street (thank you Amazon Instant Watch!)

 

I am also happy to be making real progress on my Knit for Victory sweater!  I've shaped the arm holes and just started shaping the V-neck on the front.  I've been vacillating between a crew and v-neck since I started and I decided a v-neck looks better on me.

~funny~ 

We live in The City That Does Not Plow, which is super annoying during snow falls like this one, but one bonus is being able to sled down the Art Museum steps!  Who needs hills when you can make like Rocky on a sled? (Note: I did not take this photo; it was circulating on Facebook yesterday)

~real~

Unfortunately, this is the sad state of my entry way at the moment--salt crusted on the floor, a damp towel to catch the worst of the tracked in snow and wet, drippy boot trays, a floor broom.  

Yarn Along: Vintage Cardigan Finished!! and Knit for Victory Progress

Joining Yarn Along this week!  

I'm pleased to announce that the vintage cardigan is finished!  It isn't perfect, and it came out bigger than expected, but the construction went well, and I learned some things along the way, so not a waste of time.  I'm giving it to one of my fellow Paper Dolls for a big WW2 reenactment at the end of January.

I used some vintage style buttons from Stampin' Up! for the sweater.  Another Paper Doll contacted me to commission another sweater just like this one, so I'll be knitting this again in the spring in a smaller size. I'll have to reswatch to get gauge for the smaller size, but I don't think that will be a problem. Luckily, I have another pound of the same yarn (I overbought when I bought the yarn), so yay for stash busting!

Also, progress on the Knit For Victory Pullover!  I finished the back this afternoon and will cast on the front  in a little while.  The sizing is coming out just right, I think.  I'm keeping my tension pretty loose on this one (plus the stitch pattern lends itself to stretchiness).  I think I might even finish it in time for the knit-along!

I have one bootie done for the Christmas booties for Ponchik (both pilot caps are complete).  I'm still working my way through Game of Thrones (the book), and went back to try the tv series again while I'm knitting.  Having read a ways into the first book, I find the tv series more compelling  this time(I was bored stiff the first time, and couldn't follow at all what was going on).  I think I might stick with it for a bit and see.  Mostly I'm knitting too much to read a lot (since I tend to fall into bed totally brain dead at night right now)

7QT: 2014 Knitting and Sewing Bucket List

All the kids are home from school this week and most of next, and I'm sort of drowning over here, so in an effort to keep my brain from melting, I've been scrolling etsy and ebay and going through my saved inspiration photos, thinking about what I'd like to sew or knit next year.  So today's takes are going to be my  "make do" bucket list for next year.  

--1--

40s utility trousers.  I already have the Simplicity 3688 pattern, and I think it will adapt well to utility styling.  I have some navy blue drill that I bought in the fall that ended up being unsuitable for the project I had in mind when I bought it, so I think it will work nicely for some utility-type pants.

--2--

This outfit from Solanah of Vixen Vintage:

I love everything about this outfit.  I think I can adapt it from the Collette Violet blouse, and the swing skirt that comes with Simplicity 3688.  I just need to find some decent worsted wool to make it from.  (Although, I do have some medium weight grayish plaid that has a nice drape that might work well).  Now, to find the boots....

--3--

The 3 Hour Sweater

I bought some lovely peacock blue yarn during a recent Joann yarn sale, and I think it will be just the thing for this pullover.

--4--

The Sherwood cowl (with stitch variation).  I have this lovely purple-y tweed yarn that was gifted to me a long time ago.  I have a vintage hood made from it, and would like a cowl to match, and I love Rochelle's version with the button closure.  I'd like to experiment with some kind of pattern on the cowl, however, since it is a small piece and not so much of a commitment.

--5--

A navy blue v-neck cardigan and a oatmeal-colored v-neck cardigan.  I bought the yarn in the aforementioned sale in November, but I've got too many projects on the needles to start something new just now.  I'm still working out what stitch pattern to use on each of them, since I use Ann Budd's sweater guide to make my sweaters, and I have to customize the details myself.

--6--

Finish my UFOs (UnFinished Objects)!  I have my Knit for Victory Sweater on the needles, and am shaping the arm holes currently.

The vintage cardigan is coming along nicely.  I got over my boredom with it, and just decided to git 'er done.  I cast on the second sleeve yesterday and have gotten the ribbing and increases finished, and now just need to add the length and top shaping.

 I may end up giving it away, as I'm not certain the color is going to work for me, but the sweater process and construction were well worth the price of admission.  (I've made baby and adult sweaters before, but it has been a few years, and I've picked up a few tips and tricks since then and it was the first time to "fiddle" with the pattern while I was knitting it)

 I have one more baby bootie to knit before Christmas on the 7th, and the matching pilot caps for the girls are finished.  I bought them matching dresses on sale at Old Navy, and I think it will be so cute!

--7--

Finally, I want to make a dress from this fabric:

I'm thinking I'll do it as part of the Sew for Victory sew-a-long in the spring.  I'm leaning toward using Collete's Crepe pattern (with the sweetheart neckline), but might end up doing the New England 40s dress instead as I think I might then have enough to get a blouse out of it as well (The Crepe uses an eye-watering 7 yards of fabric--I'm still trying to work out how given the lines of the dress).  They both have nursing options (I would wear the Crepe backward while nursing, and flip it forward when I'm finished and the button flap on the New England dress would work, I think, especially if I made it with snaps), so that isn't a consideration.  Loads of time to think on it.  I'm thinking yellow buttons if I go for the New England version!

But since a lot of my evenings are spent like this ^, I don't know how much knitting I'll get done!  I don't sew well in the evening because I'm tired and make mistakes, so that should be fine, but I like to knit in the evenings as I don't have little people grabbing my needles and trying to pull apart everything I've done.  I'm also trying to remind myself that it doesn't all have to be finished at once, and if I don't get through my whole list this year, it is okay.  Plenty of time, and all that.  I'm also a little reluctant to sew much else for myself right now, as my shape is changing as my body gets back to sortof normal after babette.  

That's all for me.  Go see the other Quick Takers!