About this Blog
“Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.” - Jane Austen (Emma)
Since I retired from teaching in 2009 I have become quite a homebody. Mrs. Elton's quote from Emma perfectly describes my life.
This blog is to share my wonderfully comfortable retired life, specifically focused on the hobbies I have developed over the years - sewing, quilting, knitting, researching family history. I have found a lot of great ideas for projects from other people's blogs and I wanted to give back and share my creations with others.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
2013 - The Year of Knitting Dangerously.
Sweaters, Sweaters, Everywhere.
In December 2012, while I was heavily into knitting, I purchased Literary Knits by Nikol Lohr. They had a great sweater pattern called the “Scout Cardigan” inspired by Scout Finch from the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. I fell in love with this pattern, and I thought the sweater would make a great Christmas gift for my three great-nieces who at the time were 8 and 9 years old. So, in January 2013 I embarked on my year of knitting sweaters.
I worked on those three sweaters from January through March and was quite pleased with the results. In July, I went back and made one more.
For all the sweaters I used Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash. I needed 3-4 skeins for the sweater and 1 skein for the ribbing and motif. You can find more details at my Ravelry project page.
After I had finished, however, I began to wonder what could I make for the rest of the great-nieces and nephews that would be comparable. So, I decided to make everyone a sweater. That would require me to make ELEVEN sweaters over the course of the year. I decided I was up to the task!
LET THE KNITTING BEGIN!!!!
My next two were variations on the “Scout Cardigan”. These were both for toddler-aged boys. I used the same pattern, but instead of the mockingbird motif, I substituted a robot for one and a Dalek from Doctor Who for the other. Since these were both smaller in size I only used 2 skeins for the body and 1 for the ribbing and motif of Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash. Links to the robot cardigan here and Dalek cardigan here.
SIX DOWN - FIVE TO GO!!!!
The next sweaters were for boys, ages 7, 14 and 15. I knew I had to find a different pattern - the “Scout Cardigan” just wouldn’t do. Happily, Literary Knits had the perfect pattern for boys - the “Oskar Pullover” inspired by Oskar Mazerath from The Tin Drum. During March through May I worked on two sweaters.
Both of these I had to make as adult-sized sweaters. To adjust the size I used Top Down Raglan Sweater Generator by Knitting Fool. I used 4-6 skeins for the main sweater and 1 skein for the pattern of Berroco Vintage.
ONLY THREE TO GO - BUT I NEEDED A BREAK! AFTER ALL, IT WAS SUMMER!
After summer was over, I went back to work on the sweaters. I used the “Oskar Pullover” pattern to make the last sweater for the 7-year old, but this time I just made it all one color and left out the design. Again I used Berroco Vintage - 4 skeins.
The last two sweaters were for my husband’s 7-year old granddaughters. For these two, I used the “Heartgyle Pullover” by Mari Chiba. I found the pattern in the Interweave Knits, Holiday Gifts 2003 magazine. I decided not to add the hearts and just made the sweaters all one color. I added bright-colored buttons at the top. Again I used Berroco Vintage yarn - 3 skeins for each.
HALLOWEEN - ALL ELEVEN DONE!!
Let’s just say, I’ve not knitted a sweater since!
Sweaters, Sweaters, Everywhere.
I worked on those three sweaters from January through March and was quite pleased with the results. In July, I went back and made one more.
For all the sweaters I used Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash. I needed 3-4 skeins for the sweater and 1 skein for the ribbing and motif. You can find more details at my Ravelry project page.
After I had finished, however, I began to wonder what could I make for the rest of the great-nieces and nephews that would be comparable. So, I decided to make everyone a sweater. That would require me to make ELEVEN sweaters over the course of the year. I decided I was up to the task!
LET THE KNITTING BEGIN!!!!
My next two were variations on the “Scout Cardigan”. These were both for toddler-aged boys. I used the same pattern, but instead of the mockingbird motif, I substituted a robot for one and a Dalek from Doctor Who for the other. Since these were both smaller in size I only used 2 skeins for the body and 1 for the ribbing and motif of Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash. Links to the robot cardigan here and Dalek cardigan here.
SIX DOWN - FIVE TO GO!!!!
The next sweaters were for boys, ages 7, 14 and 15. I knew I had to find a different pattern - the “Scout Cardigan” just wouldn’t do. Happily, Literary Knits had the perfect pattern for boys - the “Oskar Pullover” inspired by Oskar Mazerath from The Tin Drum. During March through May I worked on two sweaters.
Both of these I had to make as adult-sized sweaters. To adjust the size I used Top Down Raglan Sweater Generator by Knitting Fool. I used 4-6 skeins for the main sweater and 1 skein for the pattern of Berroco Vintage.
ONLY THREE TO GO - BUT I NEEDED A BREAK! AFTER ALL, IT WAS SUMMER!
After summer was over, I went back to work on the sweaters. I used the “Oskar Pullover” pattern to make the last sweater for the 7-year old, but this time I just made it all one color and left out the design. Again I used Berroco Vintage - 4 skeins.
The last two sweaters were for my husband’s 7-year old granddaughters. For these two, I used the “Heartgyle Pullover” by Mari Chiba. I found the pattern in the Interweave Knits, Holiday Gifts 2003 magazine. I decided not to add the hearts and just made the sweaters all one color. I added bright-colored buttons at the top. Again I used Berroco Vintage yarn - 3 skeins for each.
HALLOWEEN - ALL ELEVEN DONE!!
Let’s just say, I’ve not knitted a sweater since!
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