Jazz Cardigan Part 2 - Adding Buttonholes

After several iterations playing with colors, I think I landed on what I want. I'm going with a two-tone effect using Handmaiden Silken in Ocean and Mahogony. For some reason, the other colors just were not working together even though the skeins looked great side-by-side. This also gave me the opportunity to realize that the "small" is actually quite big as written in the pattern. So, I calculated an x-small based on my measurements. This is my first time doing this so I hope it is right.

Instead of casting on 315, I tried casting on 225 with the idea that I will add decreases at the waist and increases at the chest (the pattern does not include this but I didn't want a boxy sweater). The 225 sts did not produce an even number of chevron patterns across so I undid it and CO 240 sts. This worked well and there are now 20 even chevron patterns - which is important because I want to hide my increases and decreases in the two middle chevrons. I'm going to decrease 2 sts at 3" and 5" for the waist. I will then increase 2 sts at 7" and 10".

BUTTON HOLES
The pattern also does not call for buttons but if you prefer buttons over the hidden snaps (I think they pull), then here is how to work the one-row horizontal buttonholes (Vogue Knitting pg. 204):

• Work 20 rows
• With RS facing K1, SKP
• Bring yarn front, sl st purlwise, bring yarn back, sl next st, pass first slipped stitch over it, slip another st purlwise, psso
• Slip last stitch on right needle to the left needle and turn work
• Use cable cast on WYIB and CO 3 sts, turn work
• Slip the first stitch WYIB from the left needle and pass the extra cast on stitch over it to close the buttonhole

*continue in pattern...

More to come...

Jazz Cardigan Part 1 - Sizing to Fit

OK, while I love the Koigu yarn for its brilliance in color and ultra soft feel, I am not a fan of the color choices in the book, "Knits from a Painter's Palette." I'm not trying to slight you if you love color, but you have to REALLY love color to wear half the stuff that's in the book.

But, I digress. This past summer I saw a rendition of the Jazz Cardigan at Churchmouse Yarn and Tea on Bainbridge Island. Wow, the knitter used Koigu in deep blues, chocolate, tan and sky. It was amazing. I searched and seasrched for these colors but could not find them in stores or on the web. I finally found something close in the Handmaiden Silken line (mahogony and stone) so off I go to knit the Jazz!

I've come across one confusing part of the pattern (at least for me). On the WS Zigzag Pattern, it asks that you "(k1, yo, k1) in next st." I hadn't seen this wording before on an increase but finally figured it out. The eyelet is produced by working the yo increase into the same stitch. So, k1 while keeping st on the left needle, yo onto your right needle and then k1 into the same stitch and slide the stitch over to the right needle. You now have 3 sts from your 1 st.

I have to say that the "Vogue Knitting: the Ultimate Knitting Book" is amazing and very helpful. On to knitting!

Rowan Earn Part 2

I don't think I would have started on this journey had I known what I was getting into. The sweater pattern is pretty straight forward but the size of the yarn and needles is the real challenge. It has taken me 4 months to complete the Earn (I almost quit several times) but I can say that I am very happy I stuck it through. It is rewarding to see the finished product (and to wear it too!). The Fly Designs Nymph (typically a sock yarn) worked amazingly well and drapes nicely. Filay Little at Little Knits helped me choose it. I did made a few minor changes to the pattern to fit my style.

The pattern doesn't do a very good job explaining the effect on the ribbing - it just refers you to the photo. The Field Guide to Knitting helped me here. I may be wrong, but I think it is called a smocking effect. I need to ask an experienced knitter. For the front smock, I used Handmaiden Silk yarn in a seascape blue and seafoam green. I threw in a Japanese yarn that I got at Tricoter that is a blend of the two colors with sparkle. Village Yarn & Tea helped me choose the Handmaiden to match. Then, I found some tan silk yarn in a bargain bin and it all worked out quite well together. But, I do have 2 other skeins that I bought thinking they would work great - nope. It's really trial and error. Take the time to sit in a yarn shop that will allow you to experiment and buy what works in the end. Tricoter is always good for this - they're supportive of the creative process. To start, I measured out at 2 CM for each smock stitch and then just went from there.

I didn't like the draw string concept in the pattern for the back of the sweater so I garter stitched a waist band and finished it with two buttons. I think this gives it a little more of a tailored look. I also went on a road trip to Shipwreck Beads with a friend who is a very gifted jewelry maker. I used some of the beads I purchased to create the flower (which is hiding an increase mistake that I made). Originally the flower had longer petals but I folded them down and sewed them in place - I think it's more interesting this way. I got the free flower pattern at http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/flower02k.htm. The buttons I found at Tricoter.

There are tons more pictures of this through the process and with details on Ravelry. Search Rowan Earn or my user name "latheena".