knitting school dropout

thanks for all the sweet birthday wishes!
after waiting 2 long days for it to dry, my finished puff-sleeved cardigan is ready!

details:

pattern: puff-sleeved feminine cardigan from stefanie japel's fitted knits

yarn: cascade 220 heathers, uh, in pink? just over 3 hanks

needles:inox circulars, us6

buttons: vintage, from my stash(i knew all that hoarding would pay off someday)

mods: i made the 34 inch size, but did fewer raglan increases for a tighter fit. i cast on an extra 7 stitches at each side after the collar and knit the button bands as i went, inserting a buttonhole ever 15 rows. i changed the peplum to just make it plain, and separated it into 4 sections increasing on each side of the 4 markers on 4 right side rows, so it would still flare out a bit. i also lengthened the body, trying it on as i went to get it just as long as i wanted. whew! sounds like a lot of changes, but really not.

thoughts: top down! top down! rah! rah! rah! obviously i cannot resist the lure of a top down sweater. i love running to the mirror and trying it on as i go! i hate seaming! this pattern is super cute, kind of a cross between a little jacket and cardigan. nice.

Posted by melissa at 07:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (36)

i can barely believe it, but today is my 32nd birthday. pass the wrinkle cream!

today i'm digging my super-cool new bag from brooklyn industries, that i was gifted by the girlfriend this morning. this thing is huge!

it's already loaded up with my nearly completed sweater, my current read, a sketchbook and the contents of my old tote. the thing is still pretty empty.

speaking of the sweater, i ripped out the bottom and restarted the peplum to make it a little longer and simpler. i haven't worked on it, except for a few rows yesterday, so i'm not quite done yet. i've commited myself to not starting anything else until i do finish, so i swear, there will be an FO soon.

i'm lucky enough to work for a company that considers your birthday a paid holiday, so i'm off to enjoy a day off. it's going to be in the 50's today. sweet!

Posted by melissa at 07:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

just a few more rows...

then i can sew these on:

the buttons are vintage, and i was lucky enough to find 17 of them in my stash. usually i can't even find 4 of the same.

i'm hoping to finish up tonight or tomorrow. the weather is crap, which is a good enough reason to stay in, knit, and listen to the kings of convenience and this american life on my ipod . i've already shoveled once and am about to head out again.

at least i'm making use of all my knitted accessories.

Posted by melissa at 06:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

first off, let me say thank you for all the sweet comments on my shawl. i've been meaning to respond to them but i just haven't had much time. my apartment is in the midst of an extreme makeover, and by extreme i mean i'm just painting for hours a day, whilst standing on an unstable chair with wheels, losing my balance every few minutes. i've finally called it quits for the day, but i still have to sweep up those bits of spackle, wipe up all those paint drips and find another place for all the wall art which is now strewn over every available surface. i love a freshly painted apartment, but i always forget how much work it actually is.

all that painting has kept me from my most recent project. i'm making the puff-sleeved cardigan from stefanie japel's new book, fitted knits. i'm using cascade 220 in a heathered pink. i think it's going to be cute. the only change i'm making is that i'm knitting the button bands as i go, instead of picking up the stitches later. this is only because my button bands never come out right, then i give up, and never finish my sweaters. i'm trying not to repeat history here.

ok. here's the beginning of my sweater. i've gotta get back to my mess.

Posted by melissa at 05:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)