Tag: sweater

Everyday Hoodie

4 Comments

Okay, I couldn’t wait any longer, it’s time to release the Everyday Hoodie. Although the Boot Cuffs were my first published pattern, I actually wrote this pattern first (it just took a LOT longer to get right). I’m not sure exactly when I started it, but it was sometime in late spring. Then I had to write it up from memory and reverse engineering since I wasn’t very good about keeping notes as I went. Then I had to do the grading (figuring out the pattern for multiple sizes), followed by knitting a second one in another size just to make sure it was okay. Then I had others test it, followed by having a technical editor go through it with a fine-tooth comb to be sure I didn’t make any errors. Since this was my first pattern, and not a simple one at that, the whole process took a lot longer than it should have. Hopefully future sweater patterns will go much more quickly since I have some experience now.

This pattern came from a desire for a simple, top-down hoodie with clean lines for easy toddler wear. In order to keep the fabric sleek, ribbing, garter and seed stitch have given way to hemmed edges. To keep the look of a basic hoodie this pattern features a zipper closure and front pockets. The optional ribbon draw-string is not particularly functional, it just gives the sweater a little extra personality. The fingering weight yarn makes it a nice, light, versatile sweater to throw on for extra warmth.

I’d like to give a big Thank You to: Jodi and Ian for letting their adorable baby pose for some pictures; Ryan Barr for the wonderful photography; Pat Bostwick (aka “Mom”) for brainstorming and testing; Eleanor Dixon for technical editing; and C for helping me every step of the way.

Feeling Renewed

1 Comment

I got a chance to get away on my own this weekend and it has left me feeling completely renewed. I had a little too much to drink for me to say I’m feeling “refreshed”, but having spent a full 24 hours away from the family has everyone appreciating each other a little bit more.

I was at a wedding in Emerald Lake, a spectacularly green lake nestled in the mountains of Yoho National Park, British Columbia. I had a lovely room with a balcony overlooking the lake, equipped with rustic chairs that were begging for someone to come and knit in them. So I obliged. I didn’t have a lot of time between the hot-tubbing and getting ready for the ceremony, but I did manage to get a few rows done on P’s fair isle jacket. I am finding that being on the designing side of knitting leads to a lot more time sitting in front of my computer doing math and writing and less time knitting, but it’s rewarding in it’s own way. I was happy to be able to get all the required math done in order to do some actual knitting while away.

I’m going to need another weekend like that again soon!

My Pretty Dahlia

4 Comments

When I first saw the pattern for Dahlia I knew I had to knit it. It’s such a beautiful design with a fun construction, not to mention very wearable. I found it while searching for something to knit for my sister. I knew from the beginning that it wasn’t necessarily her style, but I wanted to knit it so badly that I convinced her it was.  I picked up some Mission Falls 136 at Knitting Addiction while visiting the Outer Banks with my family (vacationing on the Outer Banks is one of the perks of having family living in NC). I cast on as soon as I got home. and did manage to get gauge, but wasn’t completely thrilled with how it was knitting up. I finished the lace panel and made it through the whole body before I realized I was going to run out of yarn… yarn that had been discontinued. In the end I ripped it out and knit Jen a Lady Kina instead, which is much more her style anyway.

Then, at The Loop‘s Boxing Day sale (can you tell I bought way too much yarn that day?) I picked up enough Pear Tree 4-Ply for 50% off to knit a Dahlia for myself. This yarn was absolutely perfect for it. I started the sweater anew and soon I was wearing my Dahlia everywhere. I wish that I had knit the front panels longer as I’d like to be able to overlap them and/or tuck one into the collar, but it’s still beautiful when worn with a shawl pin. I can see myself making another of these someday.