Hopeful Sweater

Today I joined the shoulders for Hopeful, the sweater I have been knitting. This is exciting because that means I only have to do the sleeves (though I was going to do long sleeves because I think short-sleeved sweaters are kind of silly) and the neckline (though I was going to have to wing it because I'm not feeling the little tie-thingy.)

I even tore out the first attempt at shoulder seams, which included ripping out and redoing the cast-of using a three-needle bind off because the first seems were so bad. (the 3-needle BO looked nice, if I do say so myself).

But.

Then I held up the sweater. Now, I was knitting the largest size, because the largest size is pretty small. And I did a gauge swatch (okay, I measured a hat I had used the same brand of yarn and needles for, but STILL!!) and when it was all squished on the circular needle, I really couldn't get an idea of the actual circumference.

This sweater is big. I mean, really big. What should be a cute, sung, fitted little sweater is far too big around. And too short. Basically, I look like I'm wearing a very loose-fitting box with a very deep v-neck.

And it's all my fault, as when I remeasured the gauge, it was 4.5 stitches per inch instead of 5/in. Don't know how I lost .5 stitches, and it sounds like such a tee-tiny difference - just half a stitch! But over 40 inches, .5 stitches becomes 5 inches of extra sweater. (side note - whoda thought pre-algebra really would be useful?)

So as I see it, there are 3 options:
1) Rip the whole thing out
2) Keep going, hope blocking is magical, and be happy that I have a nice, loose-fitting v-neck sweater
3) Throw what I have finished in the corner and pout.

Right now, I'm leaning towards a combo of 2 & 3.

Endpaper Mitts

Endpaper Mitts
Pattern: Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang
Yarn: N.Y. Knitting Yarn Co. Dream (75% superwash wool, 25% kid mohair)
Needles: US#1 (ribbing) and US#1.5 (I knit loosely)

rational: when it first started to get cold here, the heat wasn't on in the school. I was at my computer and thought, "gee, i wish I could wear gloves and still type/write on the board."



I don't have a printer at home, nor do I have graph paper, so I used the gradebook part of my teacher planner to draw out and track progress through chart A.

Because I am using two colors, I'm knitting one yarn continental, one English. This is when knowing both comes in handy!



At the end of the first repeat of chart A. Last night, I finished the second repeat, but the picture was super blurry.

Finished Objects

the earflap hat
Pattern: cobbled from random internet surfing and my "standard" hat formula.
Yarn: Maurice by Puppy Yarns
Neeldes: US #7 addi turbos




Knit with wool purchased in Tokyo. and also a picture of my new glasses. They are dark, dark green.

Made this up on the fly - ear flaps - co 4, increase every row until 17 stitches, couple rows st.st., cast on between the flaps, knit. Decreases based on Elizabeth Zimmerman's formula - multiple of 7, k2tog before marker, knit around until you want to end it, then dec. every round. The tassels are just braids. I thought they were cute. I also just noticed that I forgot to clip the extra from one of the ends I wove in. Oops.

Also, not a fan of how the brim rolls. probably should have done something to prevent that. Again, ooops. but it is warm and i like it.


Cable Hat

Pattern: Shedir (kntty.com)
Yarn: blue/gray fine (105m/40g) (see notes below)
Needles: Needles, US #1 bamboo (Crystal Palace)



The yarn was my first Korean yarn store purchase. It is hard to tell the yarn company, but it seems to be either "Silber Wool," "Soft Wool," or since it has a trademark image that matches something else I've bought, N.Y. Knitting Yarn Co. It is a super-wash merino, and while splity as splity can be, it IS very soft.

It was hard to get a decent picture of this - not sure why. Anyway, pictures of the body of the hat were blurry AND highlighted the flaws, so i didn't upload them.

The pattern is from the knitty breast cancer PDF, and is the most complicated cable pattern I've knit. I learned to cable without a cable needle, read a chart where the markers move, and patience. After reading recommendations, I did 3 of the 5 repeats of the main cable chart, but probably should have done 4. It is plenty big enough around, but I'd be happier if it was a TINY bit deeper. I also realized about 3/4 of the way through the project that I mis-crossed the main cable (due to not cabling without a cable needle correctly) but at that point, I just wanted to be DONE.

Red Silk Wrap:


Pattern: Clapotis (knitty)
Yarn: Red silk purchased in Tokyo (I can't even come close to reading the label.)
Needles: US#6 bamboo circs (maybe Clover? not sure)

I wanted something that would show off the yarn, and be something that I didn't have to pay too much attention to, but wasn't endless miles of St.st, either. Knit on the bias, rectangle, can be either wrap or scarf.