Green Gable anyone?

[kristinw]

I cast on Green Gable (http://www.zephyrstyle.com/catalog/item.cfm/2367447/2628822) tonight and wondered if anyone wants to join me! I'm using Craft, which is from the Vickie Howell collection (http://www.soysilk.com/craft.html). It is 65% organic cotton and 35% milk fiber. It has such a nice feel and drape to it. If you look at the link, you can see the color I am using - it is Todd #767. I love that it is top down, in the round.

Anyone?

[Virtuella]

I want to join you!

[VickyS456]

I think I'm in too! I have noting OTN! and I've been eyeballing this one. I need to peek through my stash and see what yarn I have :) I just bought the pattern.

I've never joined a KAL before!

[Angelia]

Oooh, I just started Green Gable last night! I'm using some hand-dyed merino. I've gotten past the yarn-overs and am about halfway to removing the sleeve stitches and knitting the body. It's a really quick knit!

[RuthK]

This is next on my list, but I just cast on a different tank a few days ago. I'll be reading your experiences eagerly, though!

[ElenTikvah]

I've been looking for a summer top to try, and I really like this one. Only concern is that I haven't knitted a garment before...do you think this one will be too complicated. Also, concerned that I need an xxL size, which isn't available... *sighs*

If anyone has any advice, I'd be glad to hear it.

~Tik

[itsjustmeghan]

hahaha. glad i looked, because i was about to start a KAL for this one! i cast on tonight with KP ShineSport in River and got about 5 rounds done. can i tell you how much i DON'T like knitting into the backward loop cast on stitches?! :wall: i had SUCH a hard time getting past the first row!!!
so i'm hoping it'll be smoother sailing now that i've gotten past that part! i've been drooling on this pattern for a while. :inlove: i hope it turns out nice! i've had issues with getting sweaters to fit lately...so i'm hoping this one will will be an easier one to figure that out with....

[kristinw]

Yay! I'm so glad there are some others making this!!! :cheering::cheering: I was away at a meeting last night and only got a couple rows in. It definitely was interesting doing that first row after the cast on.

Meghan - I am worried about the fit too, but I think it helps that it is top down so we can try it on as we go. My measurement is 35" and I am making the small.

Tik - I think this is a pretty easy garment to make. The k1f&b might be a little tricky at first, but Amy's video is great.

Hope to see pictures soon from everyone. I'll try and take one too!

[itsjustmeghan]

i sure hope it fits! i measure 38" so i went with the medium. i think the last pattern i made i went with the large....and i didn't try on anything until it was too late (well, too late for lazy people like me who didn't want to tear it out!)
i hope it knits up fast! i'm hoping to make a Glee and a rusted root too!

[kristinw]

I hear you. I even swatched this time! :shock: I was so proud of myself for doing so. I got gauge the first time so I'm really hoping it will work out.

My next sweater is going to be the Eyelet Cardigan (http://www.kpixie.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4017). I actually bought that kit in that color. I like Rusted Root a lot too. I'll have to go check out Glee!

[Angelia]

Elen, though it will require buying a book, I strongly suggest you get Stephanie Japel's Fitted Knits. She explains exactly how to adapt patterns to fit YOU based on your measurements (I mean it's not like all women with 36" busts are shaped the same). The book also has some beautiful sweater patterns, and all are knit with raglan sleeves, just like GG.

Ooh, I love the eyelet cardigan! I saw that when I bought the GG pattern but had to resist...

I didn't use the backwards loop cast-on; I used long-tail. I couldn't get backwards loop to work. I hope using the long-tail doesn't affect the fit :help:

I think I've knit the lacy portion incorrectly or something; it's all wonky and looks nothing like the sweater on the pattern pic. Anyone else having that problem?

[kristinw]

I know a lot of people said that the lace was a bit wonky until it was blocked. You are much further along then me but I'll try and take a picture tomorrow morning.

[itsjustmeghan]

okay, the eyelet sweater is now on my list too! we'll just move over and start a new knit along when we finish our gables! hahaha

as for the backwards look cast on? i almost did exactly what you did, angelia, and tore it off for a long-tail cast on! i don't think it'll effect it. i think they did it for the look along the edge. i've also heard of a lot of people who had issues with the lace rolling, so blocking is the key!

i'm going to get that fitted knits book. i keep seeing cute sweaters made out of there! and i read through my "knitting without tears" book again hoping it would help with getting sweaters to fit, but i'm still just as clueless!

i'm off to amazon! :happydance:

[ElenTikvah]

Thanks so much, Angelia! I will look around and see if I can find a copy to peruse (as I usually don't buy books sight unseen).

[Angelia]

Thanks so much, Angelia! I will look around and see if I can find a copy to peruse (as I usually don't buy books sight unseen).

You're welcome! Maybe Amazon has a "look inside this book" feature for it--definitely worth looking into. I think I've worked out the math for a larger size of GG. I'll quadruple check it and PM you with what I *think* the numbers should be.

I figured out what the problem was with the lace: the knitter. :roll: I did [k2tog,yo] only; I didn't alternate it with [yo,k2tog]. So, right now, what was the top of the sweater is a big ol' heap of yarn barf.

I think this next go round, I'm going to do a provisional cast-on and then do the crochet bind-off for the edge to acheive the same look as the backwards loop, but without all the hassle.

[kristinw]

oh that stinks Angelia! :pout: Did you rip it out??

My picture isn't the greatest because it is hard when it is still so small. But it does move along pretty quickly. And this yarn is really great. I got it half off, otherwise I would have never bought it because it is expensive for not much yardage.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1011/551895789_8b6e01b6d7.jpg

[Angelia]

Oooh, preeeety!! :inlove:

I did notice the price of the yarn, which is why I'm not using it. Plus I don't really like knitting with cotton, even if it does contain a bit of wool for stretch.

And yep, I frogged mine. No biggie, though--at least this time it will look right! :teehee:

[kristinw]

Yeah, I'm not usually a big fan of cotton either. It has milk fiber in it (weird, huh?) and it makes it so soft. Very un-cotton like.

[kristinw]

I found this about milk fiber:


Today’s Milk fiber is environmentally friendly, superior in strength and has far better qualities than man-made fibers. Some of the advantages of milk fiber :


Milk fiber adopts continues graft copolymerization techniques. The producing process has no effect on environment and formaldehyde in the products is zero. So milk fiber can be considered as ‘green product’.
Milk fiber is a new synthetic fiber, which adopts milk protein as main material and high-technical process. Milk fiber has the advantages natural fiber combined with synthetic fiber. Milk fiber PH is 6.8 which is the same to human skin. Milk fiber contains seventeen amino-acids and natural anti-bacterial rate is above eighty percent. So milk fiber has sanitarian function.
Dyeing stuff for milk fiber is reactive, acid or cationic dyes. Milk fiber is made from milk casein, instead of fresh milk.


And this (http://www.swicofil.com/products/212milk_fiber_casein.html) is really interesting too. Who knew??

[kristinw]

Okay, how did my reply end up before yours??? creepy!

[Angelia]

I'm very intrigued by the milk fiber...what IS that exactly? :thinking:

[itsjustmeghan]

any tricks for reminding yourself if you are on the YO, K2 tog or the K2tog, YO row?
i keep trying to look at the lace to see if i can tell what it is, and i'm totally guessing....maybe i should put 2 markers at the beginning of the row or something when i know the next set of lace will be the K2tog, YO row? i'm just guessing here...
i need to move over to a bigger cable soon. i think i'm down on 16's because that was the easiest to use for that horrible caston! hahahaha

[Angelia]

That cast on is horrible! Even on a 16 my stitches get so stretched out that I can barely knit them!

As for keeping up with the rows, you can try counting the stockinette on the sleeves to see where you are, use tick marks on a sheet of paper (or the pattern itself), or slip a split ring marker into the first stitch every time you start Part A Row 1. I'll probably do the latter on my next attempt.

[kristinw]

I'm actually marking on paper - A1 A2, B1 B2 - each time I finish a row. That is the only way I can remember.

I started on 24" because that is the smallest that came with my options. It was very tough in the beginning. After almost every stitch I had to shift the stitches so I could do the next one. Now that I've done so many increases, it is fine.

I'm still baffled by my posting AFTER Angelia about the milk fiber and it showed up before. :scratchinghead:

I wanna see pictures of everyones!!!!

[Angelia]

When Sheldon switched the forum over to the new server, there was some strange twilight zone :zombie: thing going on with the timestamps, and posts were appearing in strange orders all over the boards. I think the bug is fixed now. If not, more :zombie:

That milk fiber info is fascinating!! You know that I'm going to have to buy some now, right? :shifty:

My progress isn't really grown up enough to photograph...right now it's just a few rows of rolled up knitting on a circ :teehee:

[itsjustmeghan]

i'm hoping to get some more done on this one today. i think i'll probably do the count and write method. just helps when i set it down and pick it up. i don't get much knitting done during the week more then a couple rows at a time, so hopefully :pray: i'll get some time to just blast through the increase section this weekend so i can get the stockinette done this week.

anybody doing any mods to theirs? i'm making mine longer if i have enough yarn. i just don't think the ever make sweater patterns (or tshirts you buy at the store) long enough. i like to make sure the transition from waist to bulgy hip fat to hip is covered instead of highlighted! hahahahaahhaha:roflhard:

[kristinw]

There is still a bunch of Craft (the milk fiber stuff) on sale at 50% off! The sale is at Full Thread Ahead. (http://www.fullthreadahead.com/shopping/sale/index.php?pg=2&) I didn't even realize it was still on sale. Hmm, now that I know I like it maybe I should buy more.

[kristinw]

Oh and I have a feeling I will definitely make mine longer. Everything is always way too short for my had a baby a year ago belly. :teehee:

[ElenTikvah]

Ok, I've been looking around for a yarn...and so far, I'm really liking this one (http://www.elann.com/productdisp.asp?NAME=Katia+Jet&Season=&Company=&Cat=&ProductType=5&OrderBy=&Count=8) at Elann.com. I know that since this is a different size skein than the pattern uses, I'll need to adjust for that...but since I'll probably be modifying the pattern some (XXL...thanks Angelia!) I think that I'll just add an extra skein or two.

Any thoughts? ... sorry for all the questions ...

~Tik

PS. Yes, I know the yarn gauge is slightly off, but I'll adjust for that with my needles.

[itsjustmeghan]

i hear you on that baby belly! owen is 15 months, but i'm still clinging to this extra blub!

[suzeeq]

Heh. I still have one and the last baby was 25 years ago!

sue

[kristinw]

I think that yarn would work just fine. You probably will just have to go with a smaller needle. The yarn I used is 22 st/4 in and I just went up a needle size and got gauge. The yarn the pattern calls for uses about 1100 yards for the XL, which would be 12 balls of that yarn. I'm not sure what king of yardage you are looking at for the XXL.

[kristinw]

:teehee::teehee: I swear it will never be the same! The clothes I wore at the same weigth pre-pg, don't fit in the belly area now. It's getting better but I think I am forever changed! All for good reason though!!

[itsjustmeghan]

i know exactly what you're talking about! weight wise, i'm actually 10 lbs less then when i got preggers. pre-baby, that meant i was down 2 sizes...now? i'm still wearing the same size i did pre-preggers! i guess these bones don't want to move back to where they were...as for the belly? uhhh...there isn't a belly bone, is there?!:lol:

[VickyS456]

This is such a quick knit! I cast on yesterday and by this afternoon I was up to the waist (no longer decreasing). Lots of fun! I'm using Royal Bamboo and it's looking fabulous :)

[itsjustmeghan]

i'm jealous...no time to knit so far this weekend...when the tot was naping.......so was i! :teehee:

[itsjustmeghan]

okay....0 knitting done this weekend. so i'm going to knit a ton today!

[Angelia]

I'm almost finished with the decreases! :blooby: I'm off to knit and read--I just might be able to finish tonight :happydance:

[itsjustmeghan]

:pout: jealous......

[kristinw]

I'm jealous too! I'm about 1/2 way done part C right now. I am really loving everything about it. I really hope in the end that it is actually wearable.

[kristinw]

Any suggestions for starting a new ball of yarn? Should I just start knitting with it? I do the felted join with wool but obviously I can't do that with cotton.

[Eloewien]

GRRR.... must go find wallet... must order pattern and start tonight!! Glad I have a short addi turbo in the right length from another project! Gonna use a worsted weight yarn, so I will need to make a swatch to check gauge... I was gonna do a top from drops, but I like this more!!

So... it's ordered... how long will it take for me to get the email?

[VickyS456]

now, ya'll know what happens when the internet goes down for the weekend and it's raining. I started GG on Saturday and finished it up last night! Pics to come tomorrow :) I just had to go out and buy a new skirt this morning to wear with it. I love it so much!

[kristinw]

Eloewien - did you get your pattern? I actually ordered the paper version.

Vicky - OMG, that is so great!!!! I can't wait to see it!

[Angelia]

I downloaded the pattern and printed it. Anyone know if there's a downloadable pattern for the cropped cardi we talked about a few pages back? I don't want to wait for it to arrive in the mail. :pout: Plus, at least with the versions I've found, the shipping cost is more than the pattern itself! :x

As for joining the new yarn, just add the new yarn and knit a few stitches with it and the old; it will save you some weaving-in time. I'd do it at the side so that it will be under your arm and the double-stranded stitches will show less. That's what I do when I can't use the felted join.

[Eloewien]

Looks like it took almost 3 1/2 hours to get the email- glad I didn't stay up and wait!! I'll be printing it off momentarily!

Not a big fan of backward loop cast on... any particular reason they use this cast on??

[itsjustmeghan]

Vicky! you finished? i can't wait to see pictures! i'm worried it'll be too hot here to wear it once i finish! :pout: i'll probably just take one for the team and wear it anyway! hahaha

i think they do the backward loop for hte look of it. it looks nice once you wrestle through the first few rows. i'm on the C section of repeats. i'm glad i don't have to think about the lace section anymore! hehehe

i'm off to look and see if i can find that pattern online angelia. any ideas on what yarn you're going to use?

[Angelia]

I think that cast-on is for the look of the stitches at the neck of the sweater. Kelly used long-tail on hers and it looks good. I did end up using backward loop, but I'm not sure I like it. I may end up embellishing the neckline a bit to cover the weirdness. Of course maybe it will look better on.

I've no idea what yarn I'll use for the cropped cardi, Meghan. Do you have any ideas? Ooh, now that I think about it, maybe Swish from KP? Machine washable!

[itsjustmeghan]

I've no idea what yarn I'll use for the cropped cardi, Meghan. Do you have any ideas? Ooh, now that I think about it, maybe Swish from KP? Machine washable!

ohhhh....now what color? i like the truffle...but firebrick is pretty too....i don't know what i'm going to do with myself! my yarn is taking over my house!
i'm off to post on the general forum how people organize their stash! :roflhard:

[kristinw]

Are you talking about the Eyelet Cardigan???

I wish I could just sit and knit all day. I did end up just knitting in the new yarn. I actually wasn't quite at the end of the ball I was using, but I came to a knot. I hate that so much!!!! I always feel like I am getting ripped off when there is a knot.

I didn't mind the cast on too much. Like I mentioned before, the first row after was a bit tricky but I think it looks good. Although it does roll a bit. Hopefully when it is done and washed/blocked it won't roll anymore.

[Eloewien]

I did a knitted cast on, my preferred, and it came out fine. I'm only on the 4th row because I keep getting distracted by other things!

[Angelia]

Yes, Kristin, I'm talking about the Eyelet Cardigan (I keep forgetting what it's called :oops:)

The long-tail cast on rolls, too (I used it the first time). I was tempted to try the knitted cast on; I've never used it before, though.

As for Swish, I like Sand Dune--it will go with everything regardless of season. I used Fired Brick for a sweater and the color is gorgeous! :drool:

For stash organizing, I use those Sterlite drawer thingies. I got mine at Target. (Well, actually, I'm acting as if all my stash fits in the drawer thingies...it doesn't. The rest is in bags :oops:)

[kristinw]

I just love that cardigan! I think I mentioned it but I did buy the kit from kpixie with the yarn. It is the Blue Sky cotton. I think the color is stone. Whatever it showed is the color I got. I am very eager to finish this so I can start that!!!!

[suzeeq]

The long-tail cast on rolls, too (I used it the first time). I was tempted to try the knitted cast on; I've never used it before, though.

One thing that helps keep it from rolling no matter which CO, is to do the 1st row in purl on the RS.

sue

[Angelia]

I just love that cardigan! I think I mentioned it but I did buy the kit from kpixie with the yarn. It is the Blue Sky cotton. I think the color is stone. Whatever it showed is the color I got. I am very eager to finish this so I can start that!!!!


:thinking: Maybe I should just get the kit...:drool:


Oh, and I've also fallen in love with this (http://www.knittingdaily.com/freepatterns/pullovers/Mermaid_Mesh_Tunic_Pattern93-1.html). Again in beige or taupe...*sigh*

[itsjustmeghan]

thanks for the tip suzeeq!
that sweater is really nice angelia!
i got a few more rows done at lunch...hoping i can watch some Lost episodes and work on it some more tonight...i want to get the sleeves on holders ASAP so my rounds won't take so long! :shock: