Belfast Hoodie - Revisited

Hi, Knitters,

Do you remember my recently finished Belfast Hoodie by Carrie Bostick Hoge for Quince & Co.? I knit this in Quince & Co. Lark in the Pomegranate colorway. I love everything about this cardigan, the hood, the trim, the fitted sleeves, the raglan/yoke combination, the pockets, the buttons, etc. You get the idea, it is wonderful. The only thing I didn't love on me is the length. The pattern is wonderful, the design is cozy and fun. Length is something that you can change and modify on any garment you are knitting. 

At first I thought the length was perfect but I had modified the pattern and put buttons and buttonholes all the way down the fronts. The pattern is intended to be a swingy, open A-line cardigan with three buttons at the top only. The way I wanted to wear it was all buttoned up. The loose A-line shape and my buttoned up fronts didn't mesh well. The cardigan was too loose at the bottom and there was simply way too much fabric to wear it buttoned up all the way. It didn't sit right. 

I stewed around in my thoughts on the extra-length and extra-width at the bottom for awhile. In the end I decided it was simply too long for me to wear comfortably (you can see the length in the photo above). The cardigan came all the way down to the top of my legs plus some. 

In the photo above you can see how long the cardigan is beneath the pockets. I basically wanted to remove everything below the pockets and add on a short ribbed edging. The cardigan is knit from the bottom up with the button bands picked up along the edges and added on after the body is complete. That presented an issue with pulling out the bottom and making it shorter. 

The photo above shows the cardigan after I picked up hundreds of stitches along the fronts and hood. I could not envision pulling out these stitches that circled both fronts and the hood. It was around 350 stitches plus more that I had picked up for the front bands. I had to think of another way to shorten my Belfast Hoodie.

I had plenty of leftover yarn, almost an entire skein, after knitting the cardigan, plus 2 extra skeins still in my stash. Yarn was not a worry.

I tried it on and decided that I needed to remove all of the fabric from about an inch under the pockets to the bottom edge of the cardi. 

The body of the cardigan would not be a problem to pull out. I carefully picked up the stitches all the way around the fronts and back and then I was planning on cutting it off to unravel up to my circular needle holding the stitches. You can see the circular needle, above, holding the stitches along the back.

Here's where it got trickier. I had a horizontally knit button and buttonhole bands. I decided to use a crochet steek across each of the front bands just below the picked up stitches. You can see that I picked up stitches on the front bands as well as the body of the cardigan.

You can see the crochet steek on both sides directly below the needles. 

I cut the steeked stitches on the front bands. It was really exciting because at this point I still didn't know if my plan would work. I knew I could most likely fix up most any situation but I didn't know how difficult it would be to get the cardigan looking good again.

When I saw that the steeks were going to hold the front band stitches adequately in place I began cutting and unraveling the bottom section of the cardigan.

I measured and I got rid of close to 6-inches of fabric! 

Here is the beautiful cardigan all set to finish up with the stitches neatly on the needles and with the nest of ripped out scraps sitting nearby.

I still have this stack of leftovers. I should try to save as much of the yarn as possible at some point. It felt so good to make this improvement. I knew in the end it would be worth the effort.

I added on the garter ridge to keep the theme of the sweater intact. I then knit maybe 6 rows of rib and bound off at a relaxed tension. I stitched the crochet steeks down to the inside of the cardigan.

I gave the new edging a good steam to set the stitches. You would never know the difference! It looks like a million bucks.

Here is the underside of the bottom edge and front bands. You can see the tacked down steeks.

I am so much happier with the length and the fit of my refreshed Belfast Hoodie.  

I have not taken it off since. The yarn and fabric and fit are simply perfect. It is much more flattering and wearable at this length for me. It feels like a new cardigan all over again!

Removing 5 or so inches at the bottom has made all the difference in the world. 

Remember that it's never really over with the knitting......

If you don't like a certain something about a garment you made, maybe you can change it to make your perfect cardigan or sweater come to life.

best, susie

The Drawer

Hi, Knitters,

In the past I have had people request to see my handknit sock drawer. I have never shared the inside of my dresser drawers before but the other day I was folding some freshly washed handknit socks to put back in my sock drawer and the sunlight was hitting just right and I stepped back and took a moment. I thought about how pretty all of the handknit socks look together and what kind of hours of knitting and pleasure went into creating the fine collection I have today. There is a lot of yarn and years of knitting and living combined in here. 

Now, not only is there one pull-out drawer but....

there is another....

.... and both drawers are deep and double-layered with more handknit socks hiding underneath.

To make things even better, the dresser belonged to my beautiful mother.

It's all a treasure to behold.

best, susie

A Day in a Knitterly Life

Hi, Knitters,

First of all, a gigantic thank you is due for the Ebb Cowl love, my latest design that was released for Quince & Company. The Ebb Cowl has snuck its way onto the Ravelry Hot Right Now Top 20 Patterns two separate times already, climbing as high as number 4 on the list. There are over 100 people joined in the Ebb Cowl Knitalong as of now and the pattern was just released on March 5th. You can join in at anytime and the knitalong is staying open until April 30th, which is when I will shortly thereafter be drawing for prizes for those who finish a cowl. You can enter more than once if you finish more than one Ebb Cowl.

Don't forget that if you finish ANY of the projects before April 30th, 2013 from the Quince & Co. Scarves, Etc. 2013 ebook you can post with a photo in the Scarves, Etc. 2013 Finished Project thread on my Ravelry group to be entered to win prizes. Click here to see all of the designs in the ebook. It's that easy.

Other projects I am going to knit from the Scarves, Etc. 2013 ebook are: Gill's Rock (I already received my yarn for this from Quince, Finch in Winesap! Plus, Gill's Rock is inspired from one of my favorite, and Paula's, Wisconsin spots, Door County. Remember this and this and this?), Mainline, and the Aurora Shawl for starters. I wish I could knit through the entire collection...... 

Okay, on to other knitterly happenings now. In the first photo you can see that I have finally finished the first bobbin of singles I am working on for a 3-ply sock yarn. That lovely pink bobbin is from Corriedale roving in the Sweetheart colorway from Dyeabolical. I am spinning another bobbin of the Sweetheart and then the third bobbin is a lovely natural white wool roving that I picked up at the Dane County Farmers Market last summer. I love it all so far but it is a slow moving project due to my other knitting obligations right now. I just sneak in a bit here and there. 

I don't have an enormous collection of stitch markers like some do. I do have enough to get by though. The other day I filled my pepper grinder in the kitchen with more peppercorn. The peppercorn came in this little bottle, which I thought was very cute. I washed it out so it no longer smelled of pepper, although I am a pepper addict so that's not the worst thing. I then filled the clean bottle with stitch markers. I think it is really cute for some reason and I love to reuse/repurpose containers.

Those sheep stitch markers were given to me by pattytrish (rav id) in a swap a short while back on the Itty-Bitty Knits group. Click here to find out more about the stitch markers.

I've made some handspun sock knitting progress. I have two different handspun socks on the needles right now. I enjoy the way the barber pole handspun yarn knits up looking heathered or tweed-like. It's wonderful. This was spun from Moonshine Fiber Co. roving.

The second handspun sock I am knitting is yarn I made from 8oz. of Dyeabolical roving. This sock yarn I am keeping on my Yarn Buddy from Sun Valley Fibers (a great local to me yarn and fiber farm). You plop the yarn cake on and pull from the outside of the yarn cake and the yarn smoothly spins right off and onto your needles, a great and pretty invention. I bought mine in person at an event last year but you can order one from the Sun Valley website. The craftsmanship is beautiful. The wood, there are different choices, is rich. I use the Yarn Buddy all of the time. The spin is smooth as silk. You know, this would make such a great gift for any knitter if you are ever trying to think of something unique.

This is how I keep my Yarn Buddy and latest sock set up right in my living room. It's like a piece of artwork. Then when I am sitting in the living room I pick it up and knit a few rounds.

I did some colorful wash the other day! This is the other artwork in the living room.

I hang my old and worn sewn by me knitting bag (it's still my favorite bag) on a chair in my living room. The felted flower makes me so happy. Heather gave it to me as a gift a few years back at TNNA.  I put it right on my bag and have never taken it off since. Thank you, Heather!  It's so well made. Heather recycles wool sweaters to create these gorgeous flower pins. I dream of having a bunch more of these felted flowers to put one on every bag I own. It's so happy. 

Click here for Heather's Felted Flower Shop on Etsy!

Inside my worn bag? Peachy's GAP-tastic Cowl in progress. I'm making her cowl in 3 skeins of Quince & Co.'s Puffin in the Twig colorway. Fast and fun are words to describe this cowl. I've gotten Miss Molly to make one and now my sister and her daughter are making GAP-tastics, too. It's a free pattern on Ravelry.

I'm working mainly on workshop/teaching preparation right now. There is so much work to get done for my upcoming classes and I am working right up to the last minute, as always. I hope to see some of you at the Madison Knitters Guild Knit-In on Saturday. My classes are full and then some! I'll report back on this event next week.

Well, that was a link-filled post for you. What are you all working on this week? I'd love to hear.

best, susie

p.s. I have three new hat patterns is coming out soon! Here's a quick look at one of the new hats! I still have some work to do on these patterns but they are coming.....

Ebb Cowl & Scarves, Etc. 2013 Now Available!

(photo from Quince & Co.)

Hi, Knitters,

I am thrilled to say that the Quince & Co. Scarves, Etc. 2013 ebook has just been released.  You can purchase the entire book of 17 patterns or you can purchase the patterns individually through Quince & Co.

Click here for the project page and/or to purchase the Ebb Cowl pattern on Ravelry!

Click here to see and/or purchase the downloadable pattern for Ebb from Quince & Co.

Click here to see the entire Scarves, Etc. 2013 ebook!

You can read more about my design here!

(photo from Quince & Co.)

I am hosting a knitalong for the Ebb Cowl that starts anytime from today, March 5th through April 30th. You can join in anytime, there is no cut-off date. Let me know if you are joining on the Ravelry thread for the knitalong. If you are not on Ravelry let me know and I will help you sign up. There will be prize drawings and general fun along the way.

Click here for the Ebb Knitalong!

I am also putting up a general Scarves, Etc. 2013 Knitalong finished project thread on my group board. This is for anyone who knits any design from Scarves, Etc. 2013! You have to post a finished picture of the project in this thread before April 30th, 2013. You will be eligible for prize drawings. 

If you knit the Ebb Cowl you can enter in the Ebb Knitalong AND the Scarves, Etc. Finished project threads, doubling your chances of winning.

Click here for the Scarves, Etc. 2013 Finished Project Thread! 

Paula of Knitting Pipeline is hosting a knitalong for Gill's Rock (click here!) and Diane of the Knitabulls podcast is hosting a knitalong (click here!) for Gill's Rock or Piper's Journey (Paula's design from last year's Scarves, Etc. ebook). 

I hope to see you on the Ebb Cowl Knitalong! We'll have a great time together and I will gather some fantastic prize drawings as well!

Now for some home photos.....

I originally made the Ebb Cowl in the Storm colorway of Quince & Co.'s Lark (which is a worsted weight yarn that is held doubled for the cowl). I made it in the medium size. There are 4 sizes available for the Ebb Cowl. Right after I made this cowl I saw that Quince had an open submission for the Scarves, Etc. collection so I threw the cowl into the hat.

Quince loved my design!

I quickly received more yarn to make another cowl in a dramatic teal colorway called Peacock. This yarn just glows with color. It is so deep and rich. I think it is my favorite new color. Quince does a spectacular job with color and quality amongst many other things.

Now I'll speed things up a bit!

Here is the unblocked Ebb cowl. 

A much larger photo of the unblocked Ebb Cowl. It squishes all together because it is mainly a rib stitch pattern.

I gave it a lukewarm bath along with some Soak Wash.

Next I vigorously stretched out the cowl on my blocking boards. You need to really give it a good stretch to get the full effect of the stitch pattern.

Drying.

Up close drying. It's so pretty.

Setting the drying scene for you......

Above is the blocked and dried Ebb Cowl in Storm. It is a beautiful medium gray. This color is so versatile.

The cowl is completely reversible. This is the reverse side which is really cool looking as well.

I just love the two cowls together. 

I can never get over how soft and squishy the Quince & Co. wool becomes after blocking. The bounce and spring and squoosh is unbelievable.

The medium size is just right to wear wrapped once or twice for a cozier fit.

Love it! This is the extra-large size wrapped twice around my neck.

This is the medium-size cowl wrapped around once.

I hope you enjoy the Ebb Cowl pattern from Quince & Co.!

I am really excited about this new design.

best, susie

The Yarn Fairy

Hi, Knitters,

There is something going on here in Madison and it involves yarn, dyeing and a friend of mine. Many people already know about it but you may not. I want to make sure everyone knows about the new line of Knitcircus Yarns. Above is one of the Knitcircus gradient worsted weight skeins. It's glorious and vibrant.

My friend in knitting, Jaala Spiro, began the Knitcircus magazine many years ago. The online magazine has gone through a few changes in recent years. It has morphed into a wonderful, informational weekly newsletter packed with tips, reviews, techniques and patterns. You can subscribe right here. I love getting this newsletter in my inbox.

Awhile back Jaala took a dyeing class from the fabulous Liz Avery (she taught me how to spin and is the best teacher around town!) at the Sow's Ear, our widely known and revered local yarn and coffee shop in Verona, Wisconsin. Right at that moment a lightbulb went on in Jaala's head. She found her new destiny in dyeing and creating beautiful yarns. Jaala's love for color and dyeing yarn is inspiring and genuine. I am so happy for her.

Last Friday, I invited Jaala over to my house for coffee, pastries and knitting. I had no idea she would arrive bearing gifts. She came with a big bag of unique and beautiful fiber for me (I'll share that later) and yarns from her new Etsy shop and Sparkle Yarn Club. It was like I was dreaming and a magical yarn and fiber fairy visited my home.

Click here for Jaala's Knitcircus Etsy Shop!

I can personally attest to the high quality of her dyeing skills, color knowledge and yarns. Everything is top-notch and so well done. She sincerely cares about her products and I can heartily recommend Knitcircus Yarn to everyone interested.

Jaala has variegated, mini-skeins, worsted, dk and fingering, gradients, sparkle yarn, sock yarn, sweater quantities and more! There is a wide range to choose from. It is hard to resist hitting that purchase button when you are visiting her shop. The thing I like most is that her engineer husband keeps helping her come up with new ways of working and dyeing in her home studio, which she calls the evil lair. Jaala is really funny and witty which makes her even more fun. She was telling me how she had figured out how to make gradual gradients where one color sprinkles into the next. I can't wait to try that one.

Right now there are still spots in her Gradient Yarn Club, which is open for sign ups through March 15th. Each shipment comes with gorgeous yarn and the perfect pattern by Jaala. Jaala is an excellent designer - she has been published in Knitty along with her many designs in Knitcircus, and her own Ravelry pattern shop, with her patterns often making the top Hot Right Now patterns on Ravelry. There is also some sort of extra present included in each club package as well. It is sweetly presented and such a treat to receive.

Click here to see all of Jaala's designs on her Ravelry Pattern Shop!

Here is the description for the Gradient Yarn Club on her Etsy Shop:

Six months, three packages of yarn, original patterns and treats! An exclusive selection of self-striping, hand-dyed gradient yarns and patterns specially created to bring out their best features, with additional info about gradient-dyed yarns and how to use them. Take part in KAL's just for clubbies in the Gradient Club Ravelry group. Treats include exclusive collaborations with other indy businesses. Patterns by designer Jaala Spiro, 2 fingering and one mystery weight yarn, all Merino and other luxury fibers and sourced in the USA. US and Canadian shipping is included. Runs April-August of 2013.

Click here to find out the details on the Knitcircus Gradient Yarn Club!

The colors Jaala selects are deep, interesting and rich and there is a wide range of color options from bright to subdued. The yarn above is 420 yards of 100% merino wool in the Sock du Soleil base. Isn't it beautiful? I am thinking shawl with this one.

The sparkle sock yarn above reminds me of a fresh spring breeze. The light blue is called, Robin's Egg and the darker shade is called, Cottage Shutters. It's so sweet and pretty. The smaller skein is for the  contrasting cuff, heel and toe of the Scilla Lace Socks which is part of the Sparkle Yarn Club.  

Above is one of the packages for the yarn club. You get a personal note, the sparkle yarn, a set of original tags to put on your handknit gifts (these are wonderfully done), a mini-skein, and the pattern for the Scilla Lace Socks. I am definitely making these socks with the yarn. The back of the sock along the cuff is a rib pattern so the lace doesn't go all the way around.

I love how this club gives you a pattern to use with the yarn. The patterns are all test knit and edited.

Jaala gave me one of her gradient yarns called Ruby Gradient, which goes along with the Miss Lindy pattern. I cast this on last Friday. It is a little lace beauty and I can't put it down. There is a large lace chart that shows the big picture and then it is broken down into five small lace charts for ease and clarity. By breaking the big chart into small bites of simple lace, the pattern becomes so quick, fun and easy. I love a project like this. 

(photo from Knitcircus)

Isn't Miss Lindy a beautiful shawl/scarf? It shows off the gradient yarn to perfection. I saw this project in person and really, the photograph is nice but the project in person is absolutely stunning.

You can purchase this pattern on Ravelry. Click right here to see more about Miss Lindy.

Also, Jaala does an entertaining, funny and informative podcast with the one and only Amy Detjen, another Madison knitting treasure and nationally known teacher, author and Craftsy instructor. The Knitcircus Podcast is one that I never miss. I am so happy when I see a new episode is up. The podcast is available on iTunes or you can find out more about it on the Knitcircus website.  Don't miss this podcast it is worth every minute spent listening.

I do have to say one more thing about Jaala Spiro. You would all just love to know her for so many reasons. She is kind-hearted and down-to-earth and fun to be around. In addition to these great qualities, she is an extraordinarily generous person and I don't mean about everyday kinds of things. I am astounded by the things she has humbly done in her life to help and enrich the lives of those around her. I am talking about big, major, life-changing generosity and sacrifices for her family and friends, the kind you rarely hear about. Her life-story is very touching. To me this only makes her many talents in the fiber industry all the more interesting.

I hope you'll take the time to check out and support this local to me talent.
best, susie