Progressing . . .

I'm back on track with my Tree Jacket. I had taken a bit of a hiatus to prepare for Thanksgiving. I separated the sleevels last night. It turns out that I am making the XS. I had originially thought that I would do the small as that's the size I made Rusted Root and that fit perfectly. After reading all the comments about size, I thought I'd try it on before proceeding. It turns out that the XS fits. This yarn has a lot of stretch which allows me to make this sweater with negative ease. I'm using Tahki Savoy which is 52% silk, 48% merino. It is incredibly soft. I have also modified the lace a bit so that it hangs straight and doesn't twist. I'm thinking that I will knit the sleeves in the round using 12 inch circular needles. I will also pick up a few stitches--maybe 2 or 3 under the arm to close the little hole that is there. So far I'm very happy with this knit. This yarn is indiscribably delicious!

I like this pattern. It is mindless enough to knit while watching TV or at knitting group, yet the little lace pattern adds interest.

FO - Juliet

Here is my version of Juliet. I may have to rip this back again - and make the lace portion an x-small as it's a bit too big for the top portion. I do love the color and the pattern and since it's a quick knit, I'll see how it fits my Mother first and then mull it over. Here's my FO pic. More details on my blog.

Tree jacket completed

I've finished my tree jacket, however I'm not sure if there's time for me to start Juliet - I'll make it eventually.... recap on tree jacket - used Dale of Norway/Svale in a dark green and cream for contrast on neck, sleeves and waist
size 8 needles. I did add the lace to the sleeves instead of doing the garter stitch but everything else was per the pattern.

Juliet GRR

Well I was hoping to try to finish up Juliet before the end on the KAL, but after knitting 2 repeats of the lace I realized somehow I made a big mistake, the lace pattern was totally off! So last night I ripped it back to the garter stitch section and picked back up. That was as far as I got I was frustrated and irratated by it. I'm not sure what I did wrong, but I'm going to try again, but it may need a time out first!

Frustrated - Tree Jacket Sizing

I have to say, I'm very disappointed in this pattern. Especially since I paid for this one (a first). It requires a lot of math just to get it to fit in some way like it does on the model. A good pattern should only need a few mods for a custom fit. And why does everyone have trouble with "their size" being too big in Zephyr sizing? I feel like I'm writing my own pattern!

Anyway, like numerous others here and on Ravelry, I can't seem to get the right size. I have a 38" bust and 15" circumference arms. After reading all the problems people have had making sizes too big for them, I decided to make a small. I want it to be form fitting. The problem now is that, although I got gauge in St st, the garter section is huge already, and I have only done 16 increase rows! I need to increase a bit more for the arms, but I'm worried that if I do the remaining 8 increases (64 sts), it may become too big. This seems pretty ridiculous considering I'm normally a snug medium. I know others have had issues, but can someone with my chest size tell me which size they made, modifications, if any, and how their Tree Jacket turned out (tight, loose, perfect)? Help!

Top 20 Nominations for January 2008

Hello all you sexy knitters! Today is a special day because it's time for the top 20 nominations for the very first SKC KAL in 2008! Hooray!

The top 20 nominations are determined by your nominations and how much positive feedback each nomination post receives. Unfortunately, we can only accept 20 nominations at a time for voting purposes. We're very sorry if the pattern you nominated was not chosen this time. Please don't take this personally, and please, if you strongly believe in a certain pattern, definitely nominate it again next time!

Without further ado, the nominees are:

1. Matilda Jane from Ysolda


2. Snow White from Ysolda


3. Dahlia from Winter 2007 Knitty


4. Abotanicity from Winter 2007 Knitty


5. Tilted Duster from IK Fall 2007


6. Gathered Pullover from IK Winter 2007


7. Something Red from Wendy Bernard at Knit and Tonic


8. Flair from Wendy Bernard at Knit and Tonic


9. Bella Paquita from Marnie MacLean


10. Giselle from Marnie MacLean (available at StitchDiva)


11. Drops Jacket 103-1 from Drops Design


12. Drops Cardigan 88-4 from Drops Design


13. Deep V Argyle Vest from Eunny Jang


14. Drops Cable Bag 98-54 from Drops Design


15. Blanche by our very own SKC member Just Call Me Ruby


16. Chinese Lace Pullover


17. Daliet Blouse (and here)


18. Juno from Rowan #40 Booklet


19. Cable Collar Cardigan


20. Military Cardigan from Veronik Avery's book "Knitting Classic Styles"



So pick your favorite and be ready to vote when our poll is up, in the next couple of weeks! Happy Perusing!

two in progress

The yarn for both Juliet and Tree Jacket arrived on the same day - what are the odds? I thought I could decide which to make first, but I've cast on both! I had to take a short break to make a special birthday gift, but now it's back to these...

At my request my mom sent me some buttons from her collection so I've been trying to decide which will be for Juliet. I think these...

- opinions ladies?

Completed Juliet

Here is another completed Juliet. I really enjoyed this pattern. The top knit up very quickly and I will definitely knit at least two more during the spring/summer. I used Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Priarie Lupine. I knit the XS, knit garter stitch past the bust line and made the longer version. I am very happy with how it turned out. You can view more pics on my blog: Yarn It.

Juliet

Juliet is finished and here she is. I used Debbie Bliss Merino Chunky in a purpley-blue color which I love. I made size small, and because of the weight of the garment, it stretched out quite a bit. It's a bit too big but I'll still be able to wear it. Read more about it on my blog.

Mary

Dim Sum Knitting

Tree Jacket

Here's my completed Tree. It's my first KAL and only my second attempt at a sweater. Because of the ease of the pattern instructions, I was brave enough to attempt a couple modifications of my own. My only complaint would be that it's a little large under the arms. (I know size has been a common topic in this blog, but I still didn't believe that I should knit an XS for my 5'11" frame.) That being said, I love it and have worn it several times already.

Updates Updates Updates!

Hello Sexy Knitters! My my, what lovely Juliets and Tree Jackets I've seen! Beautiful work, all of you!

We will be wrapping up the current knit along at the end of this month (November) and will spend all of December taking nominations for the next knit along which will start in early January. This allows all of us to get our Christmas knitting done and get through the holidays without having to worry about another knit along to keep up with. Please do not begin posting nominations until December, as any nominations posted before December will not be considered in the final nomination selection.

For those of you who completed either a Juliet or a Tree Jacket, or both, please send me an email with either a pic of your completed project or a link to your blog post showing your completed project so that you can be entered into our knit along drawing. Be sure to put "Juliet/Tree Jacket KAL" into the subject line of your email so that you don't get lost in the shuffle of my email inbox. The drawing winner will be announced in December.

We are still unsure how many of you didn't receive copies of our first newsletter, so if you had signed up to receive our first newsletter before it was sent out (October 23rd), please leave us a comment here. If most of you didn't receive your newsletter, we will resend it out to all of you. And get ready for another issue, as Lisa's got some terrific info in store for all of you Sexy Knitters! If you haven't yet signed up for the newsletter, be sure to do so by clicking on the newsletter button on the right hand side of the site!

Thanks again to all of you who participated in the Juliet/Tree Jacket knit along. I can't wait to see all of our December nominations!

Tree Jacket Progress shot

Here is a picture of my tree jacket progress.... I've actually completed
this sweater, however I haven't had time to take a picture of it yet.

Juliet

Juliet is done ! It looks amazing, and it was such an easy pattern to follow ... and super quick to knit, too. The yarn is something I had on my stash since forever, so it was great I finally got to use it.
I knit the small size, but on 6mm needles and it came out perfect.

As Promised

So, I finally got a picture of the Tree actually on. I was acting a bit goofy and apparently decided my boobs needed a little enhancing. Silly, I know - they attract enough attention all on their own! But, here's a picture of the Tree "Jacket" after it was finished blocking. I have worn it twice, and really LOVE it! I'm so glad I knit this one!

And, last night I started Juliet. I am using Patons Shetland Chunky for a Christmas sweater for my son, and I persuaded myself to get some in Medium Blue for my Juliet since I like it so well. I was thinking of trying to redo the pattern for a worsted weight yarn (not so sure that my ample frame needs a thick, heavy yarn), but decided to try it in this, and if it doesn't feel right for me, I think my sister will love it. So, wish me luck. I'll post pictures as soon as I get to an interesting part!

:O)

Juliet

Well I had all intentions of starting right away on the tree jacket, of which I have the yarn for! but I told myself I had to finish my 2nd Wicked (also from the Zephyr gals) 1st. Well that was done and I was at Michael's the other day and well all their yarn was on sale, so I picked up some Patons Shetland chunky in Rich Teal ( I LOVE LOVE LOVE the color!) and started. I am almost to where you split off the sleeves. Picts soon! My question. I want to make this long sleeved. I am debating on trying to make the sleeves lacy, or should I do them in garter? Any thoughts/tips/hints?
Thanks!
Michelle

Hoping to get this baby off the needles this weekend.

Juliet is progressing nicely. I should only have one or two lace repeats to go to complete the cropped version. I'm hoping to finish it this weekend so that I can wear my fair Juliet over the Thanksgiving holiday and would like to get started on a new project that I can take to my parents' house to work on over the holiday. The Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky is knitting up very nicely. I was a bit scared when it arrived in the mail because it seemed really stiff and scratchy but, once it was wound and I started to knit with it, it has turned out to be extremely soft and great to work with. If anyone is considering using Berkshire Bulky for their Juliet, I would highly recommend it. My only caveat would be that I found a lot of joins/knots in it while I was winding it so be sure to order enough yarn to make up for what you may lose due to this problem.

Have a great weekend!

jsins

Juliet And I Are On a Time Out

I finished the lace portion on Juliet last night and took it off the needles to try it on before I finished up. It was too big. Not extremely big, but the arms were big and the back seemed really bulky and hung out quite far from my body. So.........I ripped it. Sniff sniff. It was hard to do, I really wanted to be done it and to move on to something else, not that I don't like knitting it, but I think I have a fairly short attention span and crave a new project. Anyways, I'm going to start again tonight during Grey's Anatomy on the XS and hopefully it'll work out. I'm considering decreasing the increases on the set up row for the lace. Maybe doing K1FBF instead of K1FBFB. If I do that 13 times (on the back section only), that will remove one section of the lace, and hopefully decrease the bulk in the back. Any thoughts? I don't want it to end up too small though. I am making the cropped version if that helps any fellow Juliet knitters out there. Partly to blame is probably my yarn choice - Patons Shetland Chunky...it is a bulky yarn, therefore a bulky cardi will be made!

Thanks!

Tree House Update - Expect the Unexpected

I should have remembered the cardinal rule especially with a newborn in the house again: "Expect the Unexpected"

I thought I was a multi-tasking genius until...

Baby with a full but gassy belly lying on my lap
+
1 dose of Ovol
+
knitting in progress
=
A projectile assault on my Tree Jacket
(and my shirt, the armchair, a nursing blanket and a cushion)

Fortunately, karma has been kind and I now see the ultimate reason behind the force that told me to knit in an easily washable cotton. And ultimately, this sweater was bound to be subjected to a spit-up attack sooner or later (I was just expecting it to be a complete sweater and off the knitting needles at the time).

A washcloth, some Woolite and fifteen minutes of gentle dabbing later...we're back in business and I have finally reached the end of the garter stitch torso. Now it's on to the body and it looks like I might even finish this project in time (shocking for me as the world's self-proclaimed slowest knitter - although several others also seem to claim the title). So far I am amazed at how well (and quickly) this pattern is coming together and I love the use of increases to magically form the cap of the sleeve. And of course the best thing about knitting in the round - there won't be any stitching required at the end (the stage of each project where I always seem to lose steam).

A tree that's growing, Fancy that!

Progress on Tree Jacket has been made! I was starting to think I wasn't going to make it past that garter stitch portion on the yoke (I get bored easily), but now it's finished and I'm on to the lace bodice! After separating the sleeves the first time, I discovered that the "small" size was way too big. I ripped out 8 rows and now am working the XS size. I would be confused (I am by no means an extra small), but I've read that Zephyr patterns tend to run on the large side sometimes. Whew. Here's a look at what I've got so far!

What the local trees are wearing

It's not my knitting. I saw these on the way to work last Friday morning.

Now those are some sexy trees huh? ;)