Finished Object: A Sweater

As I was finishing this sweater, my kiddo kept saying "I like your sweater Mom".  She was so happy when I gave it to her!  It's a little big on her, but this way it will last a while.  This sweater pattern lets you make it almost any size, you just have to do some math.  The pattern has you measure a sweater that fits and you fill out a chart that guides you through the math to get to how many stitches to cast on, how to place the center pattern, etc.

Braving Steeks

This sweater project is the first time I have done steeks.  Steeks are scary.  Who would want to cut their knitting!?  There are some lovely patterns that use steeks though, so I think they are worth it to overcome that fear.  Plus you can check that box on your knitting accomplishments list!

This sweater has steeks at the armholes and in the front for the neckline.  The most important thing is preparation.  After you have your pieces knit, block them.  You want the fibers to relax and stick to each other a little.

Use a contrasting color to out line the steek, pierce the stitches as you go (like a split stitch) to lock them in place.  The outline will not show, use any color you like.

Use a sewing maching to trace over your outlined steek.  The pattern didn't call for this so when I started picking up stitches for the sleeve, I had a few threads coming loose and immediately got out the sewing machine.  Go over your outline several times.  In this picture you can see the sewing stitches and that I've cut the neckline steek!

After that it's not that bad.  Pick up stitches for the arms, and you're on to the next step in the pattern.

 Here I've cut the arm hole steek, and am ready to pick up stitches.

Here the sweaters right arm is complete, on to the left.

I don't love steeks, but they aren't something to be dreaded either.  For writing a pattern I think I would make arm holes in the pattern, but steeks would not stop me from knitting a pattern I liked.

Large Gauge Cowl

My sister asked me to knit her a cowl/scarf.  You know people take your knitting skillz seriously when they ask you to make things they want to wear, you know, in public.  The cowl/scarf she had in mind was very large gauge, and long, long enough to be wrapped around three or four times.

We picked out yarn together and I was left to figure out how to make it.  The gauge is big, bigger than any of my needles.  My first thought was to use my biggest needles and an elongated stitch.  That would have worked, but I knew there was an easier way.  Her friend said she used her arms to make a similar scarf.  It sounded easy enough.  The tricky part is that you can't turn your "needle" when you get to the end of the row.  You have to knit backwards, mirroring what you normally do.  This scarf is 12 stitches wide and uses 2 skeins of Knit Picks Swish Bulky, with 2 strands held together.  To finish it off, I first tried a giant Kitchener stitch, which did not turn out that even, so I crocheted the ends together.  Before being looped, this scarf is about 8 feet long, but was a fun and very quick knit.