Well, Howdy. And Thanks for all the wonderful comments on my Hoodie. I do love it so. I’ve been basking in the finished-ness of it for the last little while now, and finally decided it’s time to start a grand something new.

I love the shape of the Aprés Hoodie so much, that I’m cobbling together a button up cardi pattern with the same kind of hour glass shaping, and set in sleeves, but no lace, and a very woolly yarn. I’m using Knitpicks Telemark for this one, a yarn I’ve been curious about since knitting Jared’s Red Light Special. I knew I wanted a nice charcoal gray for this one, I think I caught it from Ashley’s recent parade of gray sweaters.
So I ordered up some color cards, and a skein to swatch with. I really do like this, though I checked it out on Ravelry, and some did feel it was a bit rough, and yes, but that’s what a good woolly wool feels like to me. I like it, and it does soften a bit after washing.

I do have a bit of a gripe though- just one about misinformation. The recommended needle size is a US3 or 4, and I first swatched on a US3, the fabric was ridiculously tight, and it really kind of hurt to knit. Then I tried US4, and it was better, and it turned out to be what I’m knitting this sweater on, but that got me curious, because this is supposed to be a sport weight yarn. So I got out my trusty Wraps per inch (WPI) tool, a must have item for all serious fiber folk, and came out with a light DK reading for this yarn. That really does make a big difference, because a fabric made from this yarn on US5 or 6’s would be heavenly. Though for the sturdy hard wearing winter sweater I had in mind, I really like the US 4’s. To each her own I guess.

The first thing I calculated and knit were the sleeves, because jebus I hate knitting sleeves last, they always seem to take longer that way. I didn’t think I was ever going to get through the ASH sleeves, and I knit them after the body. So I wasn’t going to make that mistake again. Now I’m happily knitting the body, knitting it flat, but all in one piece. Almost mindless, except for when I have to do some shaping calculations, but loving it all the same. About 6 more inches on the body and I’ll divide for the upper fronts.
I don’t have the same frantic want to have it done, like I did with the hoodie, so it’s really just kind of nice easy knitting. Hopefully it’ll be a great sweater!

* PS, I updated the shop today, there is a ton of Vesper Striping Sock Yarn. Next week, there will be more Wee kits, and finally, some more Vesper Variegated!

Filed by Julia at 4:58 pm under General
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What we have here folks, is an absolute winner of a sweater. All around. From the very second I saw this in the Interweave Summer 2008 preview, I knew it had to be mine. If memory serves, the day I bought the mag I took it home and swatched immediately. I had a few skeins in my stash, and just had to by a few more to knit it, so it was almost kind of a stash buster to boot.

Since this sweater is knit on such wee needles, I knew I had to knit on it, and nothing else until it was done. As much as I loved knitting it, I was afraid if I put in done for even a minute in favor of another knit, it might be awhile before I got back to it. So it took about a month from start to finish.

Some Specs:

Pattern: Aprés Surf Hoodie, from Interweave Knits Summer 2008, by Connie Chang Chinchio. I knit the 35.5 sizing. This pattern in great, very clear, and the lace is easy, even for a beginning lace knitter. The lace is “stacked” meaning that every repeat of the lace pattern falls exactly above the previous repeat. It is also what I like to call an “even” lace pattern, meaning that for every decrease there is an increase, and visa versa, so your stitch count is always the same!

Needles: US 3 for the body and sleeves, US 2 for the hood and i-cord cast offs at the sleeves and body hem, US 6 for i-cord cast off on hood. These are the recommended needles sizes, all but the US 6 for the hood i-cord cast off, that was a judgment call by me.

Yarn:7 skeins, Rowan Cashcotton 4ply, in color 910, Chartreuse. This is the yarn used in the pattern, and it is lovely! Although, before I did decide to use it, I checked out Ravelry for options, where there are some being knit in very nice alternative yarns.

Mods: A few, but nothing extremely pattern altering. The biggest change was to knit it in the round, instead of flat knitting.
I’ve had lots of inquires as to how I did it, and well, it’s incredibly easy, nothing to it. All you half to do, basically, is add the front number of stitches together with the back, and cast that on. Then work the back and front in pattern, it’s also helpful to put markers where your side seams would be. Knit all the way up to the armholes, then you’ll have to divide and work the top halves separately from there. (Unless you’re ballsy and want to steek, but that’s for another time.)
The only exception with this sweater, is the deep v of the neck, so you’ll half to start knitting flat a little earlier than the armholes.
You’ll notice that the V of my sweater is not that deep. That would be because someone didn’t read through her pattern all the way, and did not, in fact, see that the V split came before the armhole cast offs, until after the back was completely knit. At that point I was not going back, and it doesn’t make a difference to me either way, if it had bothered me even a tiny, tiny bit, I would have ripped that sucker out and reknit. You know I would have too.

I also knit the sleeves in the round. Easy seaming! The only other thing I did slightly differently, was to us a US 6 to work the i-cord cast off around the hood. There is NO give with this bind off, and I didn’t want it to pull in too much, so I tried out different needle sizes until I found the one I liked. Also, the i-cord cast off directions say to knit 2 together every 5 stitches, which I did do for the sleeves, but for the body hem, I decreased 2 together every 10th stitch, so that it wouldn’t pull in so tight, and it works, and I doesn’t roll up even a bit.

Oh, and to set in the sleeves, I used a crochet hook to work a chain stitch to seam the sleeves to the body. I feel this works great, is nice and sturdy, and if you muck it up and have to rip it out, (like you have to a lot of the time if you’re new to set in sleeves) it zips right off, instead of a mattress or backstitch, which would have to be picked out. This does create a slightly bulkier seam, and if you are working with a dk weight yarn or up, I would suggest seaming with a much lighter, even fingering/sock weight to reduce bulk.
This is my secret weapon for setting in sleeves, they practically ease themselves in!

Final verdict on this is I lurve it, and kind of half wish it was cold enough to wear it frequently (But I can wait for the cold! Really!). My particularly fav thing is the waist shaping, as you can see I have the curves for it, and it just really is the icing on the cake for a sweater I knit for myself. I also love the fabric the cashcotton creates, so very soft, and light too.

Filed by Julia at 7:12 pm under Knitting, FO!, Aprés Surf Hoodie
33 Comments

Thought I was going to show up with a Aprés Hoodie FO post didn’t ya? Nope, it’s been too hot for modeled shots around here. Today it cooled off immensely, and I’m going to try to get some nice photos tomorrow. To say that I love it would be a great understatement. I adore this knit. It fits to perfection, the fabric is to die for, the lace couldn’t be more lovely. It is a great knit, a great pattern, and a great yarn, and I highly recommend it. Don’t let the small guage get you, it isn’t as bad as you think.

Instead, look what I’ve been spinning!! More of my Hand Dyed Superwash Merino. This is “Zombie Flesh” it’s two of four oz of fiber. The other half is pre-drafted and waiting. Just need to find the time. I’ve spun it for socks, and I have to say, I’m loving the color, and am excited to see how it knits. Handspun Handknit socks, my fav!

Sock Clubbers, I’m putting June’s shipment in the mail tomorrow, so you should be drooling over it by weeks end. I can’t wait to send these out, I love the colorway very much! I may even have had to dye some for myself!

I updated my Shop a day earlier than usual, and will next week too, I’m gearing up to go out of town for a few days, and want to make sure everything gets shipped as promptly as possible. There as lots of Wee Kits, and a good amount of my Signature Vesper Striping to be had. Enjoy!

Filed by Julia at 7:25 pm under Spinning, Aprés Surf Hoodie
8 Comments

Let it Begin.

Filed by Julia at 6:23 pm under General, Seaming, Aprés Surf Hoodie
3 Comments

* I am most of one sleeve away from being done with the Aprés Hoodie Knitting. After I get todays shop update underway I am going to take the afternoon and knitknitknit. Finishing shouldn’t take too long, no seams! Hurray! Just the sleeve caps to set in. I am a sleeve cap champ.

*Yesterday’s regularly scheduled shop update will be today. Thursday. (it is thursday, right? okay, good.) Say, around, 3-3:30 um, more like 4-5, I toldja I was behind! or so. Okay!! We’re updated!! I got behind earlier this week, and well, you know.

*When I finish this hoodie, I am going to spin. Yes I am. The only thing I’ve spun in months was one skein of sock yarn. I’m going to finish the second skein, and then bite into this beauty from Crown Mountain Farms~

Superwash Merino Roving, in “San Francisco”

* I saw it here, over on Flickr, and I loved it. I could have dyed it myself, but I like getting packages in the mail. Also, 8oz is A LOT of roving to spin! I think this has yoke of a sweater potential. So maybe it will be dk weight instead of my fav “Fingersport” weight.

*I made this for dinner one night last week. *Love* Srsly, you should make it too.

*Speaking of things the make you go nom nom nom, Did you see Carole’s chocolate pie? I need to make that too.

*Now I’m hungry. I should probably wrap this up and go back to work too….

Filed by Julia at 2:37 pm under General, Get Your Yarn!!, Aprés Surf Hoodie
4 Comments

Oh yes! I’ve decided to give this sock club thing a try! I’m sure it will all go swimmingly, but I might need a serious recoup after August!

Click here for details, and to join!!

This is a three moth club, for this June, July and August 2008, there will be special color skeins, and a few extra goodies, I’m sure!
Spots are extremely limited, and are based on the volume I feel I can handle without stress and tears. If all goes well, I will open up more spots for the fall club.

Filed by Julia at 12:36 pm under Get Your Yarn!!, Vesper Sock Yarn Club
13 Comments

Phew. I’ve knit a few sweaters with hoods now, and yet somehow I’m always surprised when knitting the hood takes forever. My love of hooded sweaters seems to make me forget that a hood is roughly the equivalent of knitting another back to a sweater, at least from the hem to the armholes.
I cast of the hood on Wednesday, and in trying the sweater on, thought it was too long, so I undid the 3 needle bind off, ripped out all the short rows, and an inch or so of knitting, and then reknit the short rows, and bound off. Again.

I’m now almost through the hood trim, and hopefully I’ll have a sleeve cast on before I go knitting tonight. *Cross my fingers!*

I’ve been a Knitter with a capitol K too long to let myself get away with knitting something not quite right, something that will constantly nag me about the FO. It’s been an uphill battle, admitting that one! So worth it though.

* In shop news, I updated stock on Wednesday, and on Sunday, I’ll have a special shop announcement! Something I’ve been thinking about for a long time, and finally decided to jump on the bandwagon, and give it a go. Stay tuned.

Filed by Julia at 9:32 am under Knitting, Aprés Surf Hoodie
7 Comments

That didn’t take long at all! Actually, as far as ripping goes, that was a very, very, easy one. I ripped on Thursday morning, and as of Thursday night, I was almost done with the back, and yesterday, I seamed the shoulders, and started the hood, which is now half done. This is a good color representation too, this color is a very limey green.
I love this knit! I’m hoping to be done in the next two weeks, if not sooner, I want to wear this thing!

Filed by Julia at 6:17 pm under Knitting, Aprés Surf Hoodie
8 Comments

Well, damn. Damn damn damn. Do you see it? I missed a row in the lace pattern. I know it’s not glaringly obvious, but it’s driving me nuts.

Sadly, it is below where I divided for front and back, and ten rows down from there. Gah. I was knitting away last night, and about the time I was feeling too sleepy to knit without screwing up, I laid out my work, and petted and admired it, and there it was. It bothered me until I went to bed, and bothered me when I got up, so there was only one thing to do. Now I’m almost back on track, and still loving knitting it.

Filed by Julia at 9:39 pm under Knitting, Aprés Surf Hoodie
5 Comments

I don’t know when I caught project monogamy, but for months now, when I get into a project, I knit on it until it’s done. I kind of like it, but at some point in the knitting, my brain starts swimming with what’s next. Fortunately for this hoodie, I’ve finished the body to the armholes, and have just divided to start working on the top half of the back.
I knit until just shorter than the pattern length of 15.5 inches. I know this mostly cotton yarn will drape a bit, and grow in length, so I stopped at about 14.5 -15 inches. If it is to short I can always knit from the bottom down, thanks to the provisional cast on.

This Friday will mark 3 weeks on this sweater, I guess even fast knitters are little match for US3 needles and 26 St/Inch!!

PS- I updated the shop today, lots of Wee Kits, Vesper Stripe Sock Yarn, and a new crop of Superwash Merino Roving!

Filed by Julia at 6:51 pm under Knitting, Get Your Yarn!!, Aprés Surf Hoodie
4 Comments