No bust darts here. Instead, I've added extra instructions for short rows to be worked at the bottom of the cardigan before the Border. I've decided that on a looser fitting garment it's easier to add a couple of inches at the bottom of the garment if the wearer has a larger bust and suffers from Front pull-up. The shorts rows are worked over the outside 3" on either side. The knitter will have to decide if it's necessary to work them for the recipient of the cardigan. Hopefully the recipient is knitting it which makes all the decisions easy.

One very dark and dreary day today but there it is, the A-Line cardigan with 3/4 length sleeves, drying on the spare bed. The patterns all ready to go. Now I just have to find someone to model it because what's a pattern without a cover photo.

-Deb

I was playing just a little bit with darts. Not the pointy ones but the knitterly ones.

They are very interesting and I'm not finished yet, not by a long shot. But as I'm working many questions come up. At what cup size does this problem occur? The problem being pull-up on the front of your knitted sweaters. Where should the short rows begin?  Should they begin at the underarm and slant down towards your bust? Should they begin below the largest part of the bust and slant down toward the waist (when you are finished they look like they slant up from below)? Can the knitter place them themselves? We all know that the bust is in a different place when you're 20 than when you're 50. That extra 30 years on the planet has an effect! And why are we trying to duplicate woven fabric at all? If the front of your sweater needs to be a little longer maybe short rows could be worked anywhere, like near the bottom edge (?), in order to extend the front for an inch or two.
-Deb

Today I'm doing another edit of the baby book but also beginning the next big project - V-neck pullovers.

This is my first one. It starts with the neckband with increases on the centre front to form the V. Then I worked short rows for a deep V.

The bottom of the V is even with the great Divide (where you place your sleeve stitches on spare yarn). This involves a 4 row repeat of the short rows and I definitely need a cue of some sort to tell me which right side row I'm on and what to do with it. The problem with 4 rows repeating is that the 2 right side rows do something different at the end and I can never remember by the time I get there which one I'm on. I can't be alone on this short term memory thing!


I've done it, as usual, with markers. It works for me so I'll write it out in the pattern.

I also realized it might be better to have an odd number of stitches on the front. The even numbers I used results in an SSK and K2tog next to each other at the bottom of the V.

I think it would work better to finish off the V-neck neatly with a centre post double decrease (slip 2 sts together knitwise, K1, pass both slipped stitch over). I have to try this but it just makes sense to close up the very bottom of the V neckband with a point of 1 stitch. With these changes in mind I'm trying to decide if I want to finish this sweater as is for myself or start it again. Decisions, decisions.
-Deb

Back from TNNA and after a couple days of rest and relaxation I'm ready to get going again. We came home with some goodies.
Briggs and Little have taken their Softspun one step further and hand painted it. It looks terrific. They were giving away 2oz. skeins, enough to tease the curious so of course we picked up a couple.

I picked up some wool from a small mill in Michigan, Stonehedge Fiber Mill, which was recommended to me. Shepherd's Wool is springy and the colours I chose are slightly heathered which I really like.

Over the weekend I was working on a top down using Hempwol from Hemp for Knitting . It's a lovely worsted weight, easy to knit and feels great. There's also a DK weight which I have yet to try but it's on my list.

I have to string a second circular needle through my knitting before I get a photo since I'm at the bottom of the yoke and it looks like a large blob. I will do that tomorrow since I'm interested in seeing how it looks too.

-Deb

Our Knitting Retreat in November

We're back! Deb and I arrived back around 3am yesterday (Deb crashed at my place for a couple of hours and Paul came and got her early on Tuesday, so Deb'll feel like she didn't get home until much later). We managed to beat our arrival time by an hour. We had flight delays on the way because of storms so we didn't get into Columbus until 2am. Happily the airport is very close to the hotel so we got to the hotel and promptly fell into bed. We had a great time at TNNA, which I'm sure Deb will blog about (and show you the yarn we bought/got), but we're very glad to be home. 

I wanted to mention our upcoming retreat we're planning for November this year. We're quite excited about it as it'll be our first and it's at the beautiful Fern Resort just outside Orillia. There is also a quilting getaway weekend there at the same time and we're trying to arrange a joint event with them (they're lovely people, also from Orillia).

Knitting Weekend – Nov 18^th to 20^th, 2011

Deb & Lyn Gemmell of Cabin Fever welcome you to a weekend of Top Down Knitting at Fern Resort.

Liberate yourself and come and learn the techniques of Top Down sweater knitting. No seams! No sewing! No finishing to do! 

When you knit from the top down lots of adjustments are possible for that special figure (and aren’t we all special?).  Knit a Top Down for yourself or for a new little person!

Deb & Lyn Gemmell have published nine knitting books and over 125 individual designs. They’ve been hailed as the “no-sew knitting sisters” throughout North America.

Workshops:

Workshop #1 with Deb Gemmell:  Top Down Sweater Blueprint:  Map out a raglan sweater just for you. Using the fundamental elements of Top Down Knitting, your measurements & the “fit” options for your figure, you will construct a sweater blueprint with all the information you need to begin knitting your own sweater.

Workshop #2 with Dana Gibbons:  First Time Top Down:  Knit a baby sized raglan cardigan from the neck band down to the bottom. No seams to sew! No finishing to do! Try some new increases and learn some extra tips & tricks.

Workshop #3 with Deb Gemmell:  Jazz up a Basic Pattern: Take one basic pattern, add a stitch pattern and see what you can create. Working with a baby sized, top down cardigan makes this quick and easy.

Friday

7:00 pm - Dinner

8:15 pm – Welcome & coffee/drinks

               – Marketplace open

Saturday

8:00 am – Breakfast

9:00 am to 4:00 pm – Workshop #1 OR Workshop #2 

12:00 pm – Lunch

4:00 pm – Marketplace open

6:30 pm – Dinner

8:00 pm – Evening social event & Marketplace

Sunday

8:00 am – Breakfast

9:00 am – Workshop #3:  

12:00 pm – Lunch & Farewell

1:00 – 3:00 pm – Marketplace open

We have a building all to ourselves and all rooms have a fridge and a fireplace; we also have a common room to gather for chat and knitting when we're not in class. Meals will be in the main building. 

Booking is directly through Fern Resort at 1 800 567-3376 but if you have any questions, please call or email me.

We look forward to seeing you there!
-Lyn

We're off to TNNA!

Deb and I are off to the TNNA show today with our new book: NEED A BABY CARDIGAN?

Super cute baby in a pretty cardigan! This new book is the third in the "Need A ... " series of books. The first two were Need A Hat? and Need A Sock? This series is a "multi-gauge" approach to each topic. So, for example, the new Need A Baby Cardigan? provides you with a range of cardigans (with colour, textures & lace) in 4 sizes (newborn to 18 months) in NINE (yes, 9!) gauges from sock yarn right up to chunky weight.
We'll be providing support and taking orders with Barb from Up North Fiber Arts Supply, our U.S. Distributor. Here's another shot of the cutie from the book:

-Lyn

Ta, da !

One Plus-size A-line cardigan, finished. Yay. It's soaking in the washing machine right now. I'm going to spin it out and block it as soon as I finish here. It has capped sleeves which I think I will extend to 3/4 length sleeves when I get back from TNNA. Then I need a good photo and the pattern will be finished too.

Now it's time to get ready: pack, buy some medical insurance, pick some samples to take, watch my A-line sweater dry (hopefully quickly), clean out my knitting bag this time so that I'm not caught at security with 18 circular needles in my bag which caused some suspicion to fall on my person. You know, the regular pre-trip scramble. I'm taking a deep breath, ready, set, go . . .
Deb

We're off to the TNNA (the national needlework assoc.) show in Columbus Ohio on Thursday. This is one of the samples. Ahem, OK, it's not done yet but I'm progressing.

I got a little further last night and am starting the bottom border. I think it's going to have to have capped sleeves for the show just to get it done. When I get back I'll put the 3/4 length sleeves on it because that's what I really want. The A-line shaping is starting to show in the bunching up of the stitches on my needle. Can't wait to see how it comes out but that will have to wait until I cast off now.
Deb
P.S. t/c I'm a continental knitter. I learned that way from a girlfriend who learned from her German neighbour. It's a great way to knit and you're right, it's quick.

My upsize sample is coming along. This is the second size for a finished 49" sweater.

I'm trying to get far enough along to try it on a couple of people so I can see how it looks. I'm also trying to get it done to get a photo. So today I am knitting, knitting, knitting and because of a quick trip to the library yesterday I have several audio books to choose from to keep me company. Yay. -Deb