Just in time!

Finished my Juliet this week. I love it! Like many others, I find the fit a bit big (I made an xs), but it will be a nice layering piece. I used Valley Yarns Berkeshire Bulky in plum and didn't made any modifications. The buttons are some from my mother's collection. Still knitting on the tree jacket. Congrats on all the beautiful projects this KAL, it's been a fun one.

Just in Time

I finished my Tree Jacket just in time. The only thing I have left to do is seam the arms up once it has been blocked. I really enjoyed knitting Juliet and Tree Jacket with everyone. I can't wait to see what we will be knitting next. For more pictures and details check out my blog.

Juliet done, but no Tree Jacket yet!

Juliet back
Originally uploaded by melanieforest3

Finished Juliet a few weeks ago. Had to block it first, which helped a lot, but took a while to dry. I went digging through my stash of buttons and found one that I liked. I think I like the look of the finished top but I'm not happy with the top I have on underneath; I didn't have time to change, I would have been late for work! I decided to make it longer, I'm not too crazy about the cropped look.

I'm not done with the Tree Jacket yet, I got stuck working on Christmas stuff and hats and other winter stuff. It's been -35C here with the windchill for the past week! I can't wait to finish it though, as I have a feeling that I will be needing it since they're saying it will be the coldest winter in years!

Juliet front

Juliet front
Originally uploaded by melanieforest3

I haven't figured out how to do all this picture stuff correctly, so I'll have t0 post twice.

A very sad Juliet

Well, I was going great guns on it and then after frogging the lace portion to many times to count, I have given up! Perhaps it's the double strand thing messing with me, I don't know ... I am going to try it again ... with different yarn though.

Tree Jacket not finished

I did not finish my Tree Jacket. You can see pictures of my progress
at http://mollymenmymini.blogspot.com/ I have enjoyed watching everyone knit and
seeing the different yarns used and the way each of you personalized your own. Thank
you for letting me participate, I have learned a great deal!

Tree Jacket done!

Through the forest darkly (oh lightley)
Originally uploaded by rchrispy

I love this little Beauty. I was so excited to get my Christmas sweater done and to have actually completed both sweaters this time round even with my busy schedule.

I hope everyone has a great holiday season and that we can pick some cool new patterns.

More details on my Blog.

A Tree Jacket!

Hey everyone, sorry for the bad in-the-mirror picture; I was waiting for my husband to help me with the pictures but I got impatient.



It's a bit bigger on me than I would have liked; being a bit on the short side I tend to wear things that are a little more fitted so that I don't feel overwhelmed. I probably could have gone down a size...and the sleeves are pretty big. I've never blocked alpaca yarn before and I didn't quite know what to expect. Nevertheless, this is easily the softest, cuddliest, most comfortable sweater I own. And super warm. I used KP Andean Silk in Hollyberry.

Thanks for the KAL! I am really looking forward to the next one!

Juliet Failure

So, I got to the lace portion and discovered that I was 6 stitches off. Grrr! I decided to set it aside because my frustration level was through the roof. I decided to start my Tree Jacket instead, and I'm enjoying it. I couldn't find my size 8 dpns, so I used 7s and did the collar looser than normal. It's actually a bit roomy, I think, but so far so good.

Tree Pullover

Woo! I finally finished the tree jacket and used up all the yarn I had up to the last yard or two. I love having no yarn left over from this project. I've been on a big stash reduction kick lately. Although I do have the minor yarn binge now and then when I can't say no to a new purchase. But about the sweater...

I chose to lengthen the body as mohair has a tendency to flyaway a bit since it's so light. I also put a small bit of the lace pattern at the sleeves with what yarn I had leftover. I'm rather pleased with how it turned out.

Where for art thou Romeo?

I finished Juliet a week ago and am really pleased with how it turned out. It's really warm and cozy.

I cast on for this sweater on Sunday, October 14, 2007, and finished it Saturday, November 17, 2007. It was knit using Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky on Knitpicks Options size 10 1/2 needles (32 inch cord.) Due to a number of the comments I read about this sweater, I knit a size small rather than the medium I usually knit in Zephyr Style patterns and am really pleased with the result. (Thanks everyone for the great advice!!!!!)

I don't think I will get to Tree Jacket this KAL as I have a number of other sweaters in my queue for which I have the yarn before I purchase the yarn for that sweater but I have greatly enjoyed participating in my first Sexy Knitters Club KAL! I'm looking forward to the next one!

You can find more info about this project on my blog.

Tree Jacket - almost finished

So this was my sweater on Wednesday, I tried to post but my computer is allergic to the internet. To show that miserable little electronic brain, we got a new computer on thanksgiving.
Now to the lack of electronic magic, I finished Saturday night. It is currently blocking and I will be having a FO post up really soon. I finished every last scrap off yarn that I bought. I don't think I have ever cut it this close.

I love the pattern and can't wait to wear this. It is my Christmas sweater.

Still growing...!

Just sharing and updated photo, some of the rest are posted on Ravelry!

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?