Not-So-Shrunken Cardigan
Wendy Bernard
Alpaca with a Twist- Baby Twist (8.75 oz / 549 yards)
Dark brown, Color #0294
Size 34

Posts:
February 8, 2006
March 1, 2006
March 5, 2006

As you can see, I added about 7 inches on length on the body- to make it a full size cardigan. I increased gradually after the waistline, adding probably 12 stitches overall. The sleeves are cropped and end about halfway between my wrists and elbow.

I also changed the edging- doing a seed stitch border instead of a rolling one on the collar, sleeves and bottom edge. I like it much better, especially because I am on a seed stitch binge at the moment. And really, does anyone want a rolling edge on the bottom of a cardigan? I do not want anything rolling in that area.

I ended up not crocheting the ruffles and instead picked up stitches, doubled the number in the next row and knit for a couple rows. I could not understand the crochet directions in Wendy’s pattern but that is probably because I don’t speak crochet. I am really happy that I did the ruffles though- it gives the cardigan an extra bit of quirkiness that I think it needed. It looked a bit too conservative for me without the ruffle.

This alpaca is gorgeous - it drapes beautifully and feels so wonderful to knit with and to wear. I ended up knitting it on size 5 needles to get gauge for the body and size 2 for the borders. (one size smaller than the pattern for each) I used mostly all of the two skeins that I bought at Rhinebeck- with only a palm-size ball left over.

It is really a warm sweater that is not too bulky and I have worn it almost every day since I finished it. Very exciting to have a sweater that I enjoy wearing as much as I enjoyed knitting it.

Flower Basket Shawl (Wedding Shawl)
Evelyn A. Clark (Interweave Knits Fall 2004)
Knit One Crochet Too- Richesse et Soie in “Snow” 65% cashmere/ 35% silk (discontinued?!)

Posts:
March 17, 2005
and again March 17, 2005
March 28, 2005
May 19, 2005

I love this shawl so much. It is a great little pattern and even though it was too hot for me to wear it on my wedding day (except for posing with it in the air conditioning- above), I am glad that I knit it . If I hadn’t made it, I would have been freezing and wishing that I had something… because that is how those things work.

I did make it significantly longer than the pattern and I would recommend buying extra yarn so that you can do the same. It seemed really small when the pattern told you to stop, but that is pre- blocking of course.

This is a great lace intro project because it is not too fine a gauge and the pattern is wonderful once you get the hang of it.

Cherry Blossom Shawl
Kristin Spurkland (Interweave Knits, Spring 2002)
Knit One, Crochet Two: Douceur et Soie in Color #8644 (Soft Sky Blue)

Posts:
May 29, 2004
June 5, 2004
March 7, 2005

This was my first lace project and I almost killed myself when I was first starting it. Never say I don’t like a challenge. It is a gorgeous project and my only gripe with it is that it is circular so you cannot see the beautiful lace when it is folded in half. The pattern may show up better if you knit it in a deeper color- mine is a pale blue.

One other thing to keep in mind with this shawl is that the blocking is a pain in the butt. I still am not satisfied with my blocking job. It looks like a big jellyfish when you are finished knitting it and, like most lace projects, needs to be blocked within an inch of its life.

I would recommend blocking it from the outside in, measuring out the circumference first. I ended up stretching the center too much and the diameter could not expand enough.

Grace Cabled Cardigan
Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora Collection
Karabella Aurora 8, Color #22 (heather gray)

Posts:
October 12, 2004
October 13, 2004
November 18, 2004
December 1, 2004
January 12, 2005
January 26, 2005
February 24, 2005
February 26, 2005

I love this cardigan… it also began my love affair with Karabella Aurora 8. Yummy cushy sweater! The only things I would change on this is to maybe make it with a slightly tighter gauge- it is a bit floppy- and make the upper arms way smaller. They are very wide at the top- no need to increase as much.

Martini Poncho
Rowan Cotton Braid Collection
Cotton Braid in Color #359, Klimt

Posts:
May 16, 2004
May 24, 2004
May 30, 2004
August 30, 2004

I loved this poncho when I first made it but I have only worn it twice. I think I will recycle the yarn from it one of these days. The flower pattern that goes with the poncho is cool though. I used it a few times to make some flower pins.