Slouch? Check!
March 4, 2013 § 2 Comments
I am a sweater Knitter with a Capital “K.” I love sweaters. I love knitting them. And I wish—though only halfheartedly, I love my warm weather and often dream of living in La Jolla—that I lived in an where real wool, hand-knit sweaters are a necessity. There is a problem with sweaters though, and no, I am not referring to the dreaded “second-sleeve syndrome.” They take forever to knit.
We are getting ready to move in 2 weeks, and the movers will be here before we know it. While having a yarn crisis I went through my entire yarn stash and while this might seem scary it is only 5 large bins (24 x 16 x 8 inches) and even more shockingly, it hasn’t grown in over a year. I have been buying lots of yarn, and as it turns out, I have been making lots and lots of knitted things, too. My husband and mother were just telling me the other day that I am CRAZY to think that I haven’t really finished anything in months. I openly admit now that they are right, and going through my yarn stash helped me to realize that I have done a lot, otherwise I’d be in need of a lot more bins for this big move.
I think that part of the reason why I feel like I haven’t finished anything is for two reasons. 1. I am a process knitter and enjoy the knitting more than the finished object and 2. I never really get closure on completing the project, unless I am able to photograph and post about it. I love working on little write-ups about the patterns, and what I learned. So I am going to try to catch up with some of my FOs (Finished Objects).
Images of Knitscene cover and Project shot for the Check Slouch from Interweave Press. Click either image to follow through to their website, where you can buy this great issue of the magazine. So many fun projects!
In my world of sweaters, occasionally I just need to get something done, and accessories are an ideal way to do that. Last summer when Knitscene, part of Interweave Press, released their Accessories issue I immediately snatched up a copy and fell head-over-heels for the Check Souch by Triona Murphy. When I made my big Knitpicks order last fall I bought one skein of Hawk, Ivory and Whisker in Knitpicks Comfy Worsted. On a rainy day with baby sleeping I picked up my needles, didn’t do my gauge swatch, which is Extremely Rare—definitely capitalized—and started knit-knit-knitting away. I think that my 1×1 ribbing, especially in cotton, can look a little sloppy so I made my first modification there. From that point, I started in with the multi-colors and the plaid pattern. This was the first time that it was really, really evident to me that I was knitting each row twice to create the effect but it is brilliant. After a short bit I measured and had actually hit gauge almost perfectly; my piece would be a wee bit big. But it is a “slouch” hat, so that isn’t really a bad thing, right?
I finished this puppy in one day, and was very happy to have taken a break from sweater-ville. I really love when I have the opportunity to learn something new and this hat, with the plaid, gave me a great, short opportunity. I wore it for my tone-on-tone Fashion Friday a few weeks ago, and wear it all the time. It is just right in this yarn, and the pattern was really fun. I should surf back through the issue and see what else I can find for a quick breather from sweater-ville.
Materials: Knitpicks Comfy Worsted, 1 hank each of
- Hawk
- Ivory
- Whisker
Modifications:
- Only 1, I changed the ribbing to 1×1 twisted rib: *(K1tbl, p1); rep for * through end of rnd
I learned:
- The plaid st pattern, and really, really enjoyed it
- I think that my color choices and yarn choice were just perfect for this project.
I have that magazine sitting on the coffee table right now, with several items flagged. Your slouch turned out great.
I’m interested in making the Skull Coast cap (the top is so fascinating), the Irresponsible Tam (love the swirl on the top) and the Sideways Argyle Beret.
I feel about lace knitting like you feel about sweaters. I’m interested in the Zora Shawl and the Roam Cowl. So many patterns, so little time!
Keep up the good work! We’ll have to knit together after you are settled in from the move.
Maria
Yes, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to get together after the move! I think we should do our own little KAL with a project or two from the Accessories Issue. You picked out some good ones! I think that part of the problem is that they are all so seductively photographed, you just want to make everything.
One of the ones on my list would probably be the Equilibrium Cowl. I would like to see how they’ve done the color work to wind up the way it does (two sides with different patterns).