purple panda sweater

In looking over the pictures I took of the sweaters, I realized that I don't have a lot of suitable pictures of the gray central park hoodie. So instead I guess I'll separate the sweater entries.

First up is what we are referring to as the purple panda sweater. In fact I should probably update the ravelry page to call it that. At any rate, I made this for my daughter who loves purple and pandas. The yarn is Brava worsted by knitpicks. I used size US 7 needles and basically created the pattern by using the top down raglan calculator. I added a hood using other patterns as guidelines for length and shape. Instead of ribbing, I used seed stitch for the edges, and used a buttonhole I found in The Knitters book of finishing techniques.

And we were very happy with the finished product:

Given that it was over 80 outside and 77 inside and she sat there wearing it until we said--really aren't you hot? I'd say she likes it. It wasn't even as big as I thought it would be.

And just in case you missed it we're calling it the panda sweater because two of the five buttons are pandas. Purchased 1/2 price at Joann's!

panda sweater progress

I've been working away on the panda sweater and have made quite good progress.



And most importantly--it fits her! I wish I'd had the camera out when I tried it on her (for length mostly, but I was glad it fit everywhere). I was kind of nervous given that I am working with a "homemade pattern." Which is funny because I often have better luck with the more organic patterns.

Since I took that picture, I've knit even more and finished both sleeves and am starting on the collar. I'm hoping to have it finished tonight, so I can start the "bee" sweater.

I realized, that I've never explained this sweater, although it feels like I have because of the "lost" post.
The pattern:
I had wanted to buy a pattern, but I couldn't find a top down raglan that was for kids. At the LYS, I talked to Martel who suggested that I could use the woolworks pattern. I don't know why I always think I'm going to mess up some math thing, I have a calculator and I know how to use it. But for some reason I do. But this time, I just took a deep breath and swatched. Now that I know that it fits, I'll feel more confident starting the next sweater--because it will be roughly the same size.

The Yarn:
I'm using knit picks swish worsted which is 100% superwash merino and it washes up soooo soft. (Size 7 needles if anyone cares) I underestimated how much black I'd need for this sweater--which turned out to be 3.5 skeins. So the other day, I bought some more, so I can do the bee sweater. I hated to spend the money for the shipping, but I have both girls pushing me along (knit faster mama!) and so waiting for any reason just wasn't going to work.

The Plan:
Finish the panda sweater tonight and start the bee sweater tomorrow and knit like crazy.

she who hesitates...

So I finally decided that I want to knit my dollar and a half cardigan in Coffee--the dark brown Cotlin from knitpicks. I dare you to follow that link... because if you do you'll see that it is not currently available until APRIL 24. If you want irony here, my husband decided that a great birthday present would be to get me that yarn, but since he's a smart cookie, he got me a gift certificate instead. So I have a gift certificate to cover the entirety of a $50 order, I have plans for a $50 order and perhaps by April the purple sock yarn that rounds it out will also be gone. Moral of this story--do not dither on colors, go with your first instinct and BUY it NOW. That is all.

This kind of throws me off in another way too. I had decided that the dollar and a half cardigan was going to be my next big project. Now it is on hold until MAY. And I need something else to knit. I have a gift card to the local yarn shop (do you see where this is going? my family know me, but they don't know yarn, so they gift card me!) and the pattern for the Central Park Hoodie. But I'm afraid if I start it now, it will get finished just in time for the temp to hit 80F. I also have been thinking about Hey Teach. I may take both patterns with me and head over and see what strikes my fancy.

In the meantime, I've started in on my cousin's quilt. I spent an hour Monday and about half an hour today cutting some of the strips. I found some additional scraps of fabric that fit with the blue/yellow theme and have had a blast using them up. I've got enough cut that I can start some of the sewing, and so that might be the next step. It should also give me an idea of what else I should be cutting.

I also finished some things. My birthday socks. Done using some sort of self-striping meilenweit--the ball band having been destroyed by some little girls in my house. I used my Sox Stix on them, and whooo, they were fun to work with. Although I did a swatch the other day with my knit picks harmony needles, and I think I like them better (and they are considerably cheaper too).


I also finished the sweater for the Panda. I'm glad these were quick knits--nothing like having a child ask you every single day--Is it done yet? Stillwater is COLD!

Plodding on

Sometimes, when it seems there is nothing new to report, it is hard to write an entry. I'm still working away on the two projects I have, feeling as if there is no end in sight.
First there is Mr Panda--Actually it will probably end up being a girl panda because all of the stuffed animals in our house are girls. The pattern is From Fiona McTague's Knitted toys. It was listed as skill level 3, which frightened me a bit, but now I think it is just because it has a bit of colorwork and has 11 pieces to sew together. The colorwork part went fine, I think I only have one hole to deal with (yay me). I have the front, back, both legs, both soles and one arm done.

I feel like I will never get all the pieces done. But even when I do, I need to get he pig all knitted before I can sew it together and stuff--because I can't present a finished panda without having a finished pig, jealousy you know.

In kind of a race, is my ice queen. I knew when I started it, that it would be too warm to wear it by the time I finished, and sure enough temps reached the high 70s last week. They've dipped into a more normal 50s, but I'm still not counting on actually wearing it until next fall. Now, I love how this is turning out, but...
I think working with the yarn is like working with lint
I think it is taking FORever
I wish it had more beads
I think I will never be done.
I'm scared of the parts coming up which I have never done.

It is pretty, but I have something like 20-30 more rows, then the bind off, which is a bind off I've never done before. Then I have to unravel the temporary cast on, get everything on the needles and bind off that side.
All that complaining aside--I think I want one in purple. Also raspberry and black.