Raglan from the top down is done!

OK so I didn't finish it in in March and I didn't finish it in a month either. But I did finish it! I started this sweater for the March Sweater Madness - knit a sweater in a month challenge. I came close! I cast on March 16 and finished it up April 19th. (Thank you Ravelry - I never would have remembered the exact dates - what did we do without you!)

So - here is my "almost knit in a month" sweater!

I'm calling it my Lucky sweater!



Stats:
Pattern: Raglan from the top down by Stephanie Japel a.k.a. Lucky!
Yarn: My handspun for the yoke and Elann Peruvian Highland Wool for the body in Peridot
Needles: Size US9 (I knit tight!)
Mods: I did my raglan increases with Yarn overs for some decorative details and added handspun trim on the cuffs and bottom of the sweater. I also did a turned hem on the bottom and cuffs.

Here is the handspun I used - I had about 100 yards of this awesome merino tencel from Cyberfiber:



It knit up like a dream and was just enough for the yoke...




with a bit left over for the cuffs and bottom hem...






It's also perfect for Project Spectrum!

WIP Wednesday

I'm not normally one who shares my WIPs regularly - but right now that's all I've got!! So here's a sneak peak at some of the things I'm working on...

Remember my night at Erin's studio? Well the kermit green yarn wasn't the only thing that got dyed. Erin dyed me some roving....

I spun it up and it's gorgeous!



I just love her merino-tencel. It's just so luscious! I'm calling this color "Lucky".

I couldn't resist starting a new sweater with it - so I immediately cast on for my "Lucky" top-down raglan!



I'm using Stephanie Japel's "Raglan from the top down" as my basis for the sweater, but I'm sure I've strayed from her basic raglan already. I decided to add yarn overs at the raglan shaping for a little extra interest.



I love the mindless nature of top-down raglans, because believe me, I've needed mindless this week!

I'm sure I'll grow bored with it eventually, but right now I can't get enough!

My other WIP at the moment is a test knit for Jolene. It's just a giant blob of lace-in-progress right now, but I know it will be amazing when it's done!



The yarn is from Yarn Pig - it's a merino tencel sock yarn called Sangria, - so for the moment this is my Sangria shawl!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Top down raglan in done!!

After a bath and rest, I am happy to say the never-ending top down raglan is finally done!



Stats:

Pattern: Unpattern top down raglan by Karen Alfke
Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool in color code 35
Needles: Knit Picks Interchangables in size US 7
Alterations: Added seed stitch edging


This post has been a year and a half in the works. I started this sweater at Stitches east in 2006 after taking the Unpattern: Top down raglan class from Karen Alfke. We knit teddy bear sweaters in class to learn the technique - which is basically a way to create the perfect sized raglan based on your yarn gauge and the size you want to end up with.



Immediately after I took this photo - I had an idea...



"Ah mom! Bailey is laughing at me! Take it off!"



heheh! Sorry - got side tracked....

Anyway - after knitting the teddy bear sweater - I ran down to the marketplace and bought enough yarn to knit a sweater for me! I was so excited! My first sweater! I cast on immediately and the sweater began...

... and continued, until I got about here:



...then I proceeded to get tired of knitting stockinette in the round! And into hibernation it went.

It sat untouched for over a year. After finished my CPH and Ariann, I wanted to start another new sweater - I was on a roll! But this sweater kept calling to me... "what about me?"it wanted to know. "Did you forget me?"

So - I did the right thing. I went back and finished my work.
And I'm very happy I did - because now I have the perfect sweater for relaxing on the couch, wearing over t-shirts and wearing when I just want to be comfy!

Here are some more details:











So Karen - if you ever find this post - I finally finished my sweater! Thanks for an awesome pattern!!

Sneak Preview!

She's blocking!!!

This sweater has been on the needles since Stitches East of 2006! I can't believe she's finally done!!

Here's a preview:



The colors are the most accurate in the first picture... it's midnight and it's dark - so give me a break!

Even if the next photos aren't 100% true to the actual color - they do capture the gorgeous tonal variations of this yarn. Araucania nature wool is just amazing!





More pictures coming soon - I just couldn't resist posting!

Remember this?

My long lost top-down raglan has made a reappearance!



I pulled it out of "timeout" last night and decided to work on it again. I had relegated this sweater to my UFO pile a while back because it became a total slogfest and I just couldn't take the miles of stockinette anymore, but last night - it seemed to have a new appeal.

I finished one Jaywalker and didn't feel like casting on for the second quite yet (I will though!! no SSS for me!) - so I picked up my raglan and started knitting away. I soon remembered why I fell in love with this yarn in the first place. The color is so rich and I love the subtle variagation of the Araucania nature Wool.





I don't know how long this love affair will last - but hopefully I'll be able to add a few more inches before I grow tired of the miles of plain knitting again. I think I can at least get to the point of separating for the sleeves soon.... I hope!!



I don't about where you live - but at my house - the garden is just bursting with color lately. My peonies are about to open, my irises are blooming and everything looks and smells amazing.

Here is my front yard and some details of the flowers that are open right now...



The inner beauty of an iris:


A Parrot tulip:


A bumblebee on my Salvia:


There are ants EVERYWHERE on my peonies - but this is normal!



Purple Iris with Rhododendrum:


My new Clematis will hopefully soon climb up my arbor: