FO: Christmas Ginny Sweater for Mom

This is my final project I knitted for Christmas 2016. It's been knitted since Christmas, but I didn't have pictures to blog because I was still searching for buttons. Now that it's finished, I can share it here - the biggest project I've ever made for someone else :)

Back in March of last year, I was shopping in Michael's and discovered they had all of their Issac Mizrahi Issac's Colorways Merino Blend yarn on clearance. They were half price, plus I had a coupon for another 20% off my whole purchase, including clearance and sale. That was pretty epic, and it doesn't come around often, fyi. The yarn was being discontinued, and at just $3.13 per skein (!) I knew it would be a great yarn to stash for sweaters. Some colors were down to just a few balls, but they happened to have a lot of their red colorway (called Betty) left when I came around. I decided then and there to knit my mom a sweater for Christmas, as her favorite color is bright red. I love knitting sweaters, but being a Florida resident my sweaters don't see a ton of wear. I've never made sweaters for other people because I am worried they will not appreciate and take care of them like they need. Sweaters are a lot of work! But if there is one person in this world who love and appreciates anything I make them, it's my mom :) She does so much for me, and this was a way that I could show what she means to me in gift form, and in a way that would be nice item that I could still afford.

I'm sure this looks a little familiar to those who've read my blog this past year - I made myself the Ginny's Cardigan by Mari Chiba in The Unofficial Harry Potter Knits magazine this time last year. If I was going to all the effort of knitting this sweater for someone else, I wanted it to at least be something she wold love, so I told her about it when I bought the yarn. She loved the color, so I started showing her designs that I had in my stash that would work with the yarn. We went through quite a few that she thought were pretty, but in the end she said she really liked my Ginny Cardigan. So I made one for her :) The real design feature of this sweater is undoubtedly the owl lace pattern on the back. This is the first time I've ever made a sweater pattern twice, and the nicest part after knowing exactly how the sweater will fit is that I already knew the lace pattern. Woo hoo!

This sweater fits me ok, but my mom is taller and bustier than I am, so it doesn't fit me exactly on purpose. My mom wanted this to be a sweater she could throw on indoors when she gets chilly at work, etc, so we wanted a slightly relaxed fit. The arms are a bit long on me, but they fit her well.

The big hang up with calling this "finished" was the button situation. Ever since my local Hancock Fabrics closed, I've had to drive almost an hour to Joann's and hope they have enough of the right type of buttons for any given project. I don't frequently make the Joann's pilgrimage, so this sat. Earlier this year, a Hobby Lobby opened only 15 minutes away from me, so I tend to swing by there on the regular, lol. I pass by it all the time in my commute to my house, so it's no big deal to swing in and buy 1 thing at 40% off and then leave, lol. I brought the sweater soon after they opened and found the perfect buttons. They were shiny, 7/8", smooth, and the exact color red for this yarn. It was fate. Plus they were 50% off that day. I bought 4 buttons because that was all they had, then I had to wait for them to restock, then I proceeded to go in and buy just 1 card of 2 buttons to get them for 40% off each time, lol. I figured my mom had waited this long already for the sweater to have buttons, and she agreed that she would like them better if they were all super cheap, lol. She is my mom, after all :) So over the course of a few weeks I accumulated the 9 buttons I needed to finish.

Isn't that lace just the greatest? I love that this is such a simple design with a pop of something interesting on the back. Plus this color really makes it eye catching. I need a sweater in this color for myself, lol.

Realistically this is how the sweater will be worn, and happily it drapes nicely.I was a little worried the buttons would be too heavy and pull that side down, but it looks just fine.

And here's the happy recipient :) This picture was taken on Christmas without the buttons.

And the ever lovely back :) So cool, right? I really love this design.

So there's another sweater for the books :) And my first sweater for someone else. Love you, mom! No one deserves a month of my knitting time like you do, lol. I hope she loves it for a good long time and it keeps her warm when she is chilly.

and THAT'S my last Christmas project, lol.

FO: Ginny's Cardigan

This project ticked all sorts of good maker boxes. This yarn was the first "fancy yarn" purchase I ever made back in 2012 (by "fancy", I mean made of wool and not available at Joann's, ha ha). I bought this yarn from Craftsy on a big discount because the yarn had been discontinued. I loved this awesome kelly green color and it's subtle color changing. I had no idea what I wanted to make at the time, but I bought 6 skeins ... and they sat. I've toyed with several ideas for using the yarn over the years, but nothing ever stuck. One time I even had a major plan to make a different pattern and I would have needed 2 more skeins, so I went ahead and bought them on Ravelry from another knitter and they were even from the same dye lot. Last September, I finally put two and two together with a pattern I had always wanted to make and set to work. I had to put this down multiple times and for several months at a time since the knitting began so I could work on gifts and things, but I finally finished knitting in March of this year. Then I had the dilemma of buttons, and it sat for another month. This poor sweater just seemed to take forever, therefore I was really glad to have all the components and finish it up last week. So, what did I make? Take a look:

This is Ginny's Cardigan by Mari Chiba from Unofficial Harry Potter Knits that came out several years ago. I was immediately in love with this design and always planned on making it, thus when I finally realized this yarn was the right weight, I jumped right in. The sweater is knit from the bottom-up to the yoke, then the sleeves are knit bottom-up, then all is joined for the yoke and neck. I've never made a sweater before with this construction and it was definitely interesting. From the front, the sweater is really nothing to write home about. The original pattern calls for patch pockets, but once I made them it looked odd with the subtle stripes in the color not matching the body, so I left them off. So, why would I want to make such a seemingly boring sweater? Let me show you:

They're owls! In the lace! Aren't they awesome?! Without question the back is the main event with this pattern. I realize now that I should've been more careful with blocking the back since my owls get smaller at the yoke, but I'm certainly not going to do that any time soon. My hair covers that part anyway, ha ha. Really the construction is very simple once you get used to it. I did some math to combine the large and extra large - the nice thing is you really can do whatever you want to at the sides as long as you keep the lace pattern down the back. The hips are hips are extra large, then I decreased more frequently to get down to the stitch count for the size large at the waist and remained there for the top yoke. Now that it's all done, the yoke area is a smidge big, but it's not a big deal. I wanted this sweater to be bigger than my usual fitted styles anyway so that I could wear it over my clothes easily in the winter. I've noticed that I reach for this style of sweater much more than the cropped styles in cooler weather. The cropped ones are great for a specific outfit, but a simple long sweater like this is perfect to grab as you run out the door just in case you get cold.

Another part of this sweater that is equally amazing in my eyes is the ribbon that I lined the button bands with. Check this stuff out! I went to The Sewing Studio in Maitland a few weeks ago specifically to find buttons for this sweater, and as I was walking through their sale annex I saw this beautiful woven ribbon for half price. The ribbon was the exact width I needed and color matched exactly, which was no small feat considering the time I had picking buttons. I knew it was just meant to be. I always love these fancy ribbons when I see them but then have no idea what to do with them. I used to do the whole "ribbon on your jeans hem" thing back in the 90s, but I certainly would feel ridiculous doing that now, lol. So this is a perfect way to use a beautiful design that I wouldn't typically wear - I get to see it all the time, but others only see it if I want them to.

This was my first time using anything other than petersham ribbon for the button bands, and I had to take an extra precaution. The ribbon is pretty stable, but the back is covered in tiny little nylon-ish loose threads like on the back of a clothing tag or in stranded knitting. I wasn't worried about it on the sweater since it would be encased in the knitted fabric, but I was worried about the threads catching and pulling as I sewed buttonholes on my sewing machine. I had to pull out the tear away stabilizer used for embroidery and this worked like a charm!  I was able to get all the buttonholes lined up too so the ribbon is even pattern matched on each side :)

The buttons were a separate dilemma. I just couldn't decide which way to go: contrasting or matching. At first I wanted matching, but I did not anticipate how difficult it would be to find a button that matched this yarn. So I started entertaining the idea of contrasting but was never happy with those either. Happily I found these simple green buttons at The Sewing Studio that were close enough to look good (and happened to be vastly cheaper than the contrasting ones I was looking at) and I think the matching buttons helps the sweater stay dressier if I want it to while not stealing the show, so to speak.

This yarn deserves some chat as well. It's called Limerick by Wisdom Yarns in the green-blue colorway (which I just realized I never stated earlier, lol). When I bought it I was expecting a more tonal green color, so I was surprised when the blues started showing up in the knitting and that they were SO bluey. Also I had never worked with a yarn this rustic before. The only way I can describe it is that this using yarn is the only time I've ever felt like I was knitting with the hair of an animal. The yarn is loosely spun and very lofty, so it felt like using actual hairs held together. The yarn also had quite a big variation from thick to thin, occasionally getting so thin that I worried for its stability and had to cut that section off before continuing. I even had a few instances where just me keeping tension on the yarn broke it, so I would have to tink back and add the skein back in so I had enough to weave in that broken end. It was pretty temperamental, but I acclimated as I went on. I was expecting the color to be tonal, but I did not anticipate that it would make such defined stripes, nor that it would get so dark and so light. Since all the skeins were in the same dye lot, I just grabbed a new one each time without paying any extra attention, but when I was starting the second sleeve I noticed how much darker that first sleeve is than any of the other parts and I knew I had to go with the darkest remaining skein to make it match. The sleeves aren't an exact match, but they are darker than the body, plus I made sure to begin on that same super teal-y colored stripe at the wrist, so they look close enough to seem deliberate I think. As fate would have it, I ended up with almost all of those extra 2 skeins I bought left over since this sweater took 6.5 skeins. I actually really like this yarn now that I know how to work with it though, so I will be sure to use that yarn for a hat or something in the future.

So there you have it - a new sweater :) I'm so happy to have this completed and be able to wear it - just in time for it to be blazing hot, lol. I really love this though, so I will keep it handy on rainy days and whatnot in case the ac is cranked up too high at work. I love all the little touches and the owl lace on the back and I know this will be a well used piece in my wardrobe. Yay for subtle Harry Potter nerdiness!

Summary: 
Yarn: 6.5 skeins of Wisdom Yarns Limerick in the green/blue colorway (31808) - $29.25
Pattern: Ginny's Cardigan by Mari Chiba from The Unofficial Harry Potter Knits
Notions: fancy woven ribbon - $8.00, 9 buttons - $2.00
Time: On and off for 6 months
Total Cost: $ 39.25

WIP Wednesday: Start-itis Is Dangerous

It's been quite a while since I did a work in progress post, and given my recent spat of start-itis, I have quite a few things I'm working on but no finished products yet. Also, I seem to have completely lost my desire to sew lately. With my current situation, my sewing room became filled with random things and I just can't muster any motivation to work in that room right now. I even have a skirt that just needs buttons and buttonholes, lol. It'll happen soon. I'm not going to guilt myself about it. Bare with me on the photos - my good camera is not at my house right now, so I've had to make due with just my phone :) So, what have I been working on?

The big project I've really been trying to steam through is my Ginny Cardigan. I started this last September, but only managed to make the bottom ribbing before I set it aside to do the math on the body shaping. Then Christmas gifts happened, and this just sat in a bag. I really want to have it finished, so I've devoted most of my knitting time to this project. Sadly, knitting time has been scarce, but it's enough to see progress. I love the yarn I'm using (Wisdom Limerick) as it's so airy and soft and much lighter than it looks like it would be. I still don't enjoy bottom-up construction though. I keep looking at new designs to line up for when I get this finished, then I notice that they are bottom-up and I cringe and look some more, lol. I'm just so worried that it won't fit like I want it to, and there is no way to know until you've got it finished. I much prefer top-down. I'm sticking with it though, and I certainly won't let it keep me from designs I love if they are bottom-up. Maybe I'll get better at measuring after I make more this way.

My next most frequently worked on project is a pair of plain socks. I LOVE this yarn - it's from the first Arne & Carlos line (the Summer Night colorway) and it's a jacquard printed yarn so you just knit and it looks like you've done fancy colorwork. Isn't that great?! I love this color combo, and I knew I wanted to make a completely plain pair of socks to really show off the yarn. I searched all through my Ravelry library for a plain sock pattern that I already have, but never found one that quite met my preferred criteria. I ended up just using the pattern from my recently finished (but not blogged yet) Smocked Guernsey Socks. If you've seen those sock, this may seem strange since that sock has a fancy stitch pattern. Basically I just used the numbers off that pattern and instead of the smocking stitch, I just knitted. When I reached the point that I needed to start the heel, I decided to use an afterthought heel so I wouldn't break up the pattern in the yarn (it fell on one of my favorite color sections, of course). Once I finished the toe, I unpicked the scrap yarn and knitted the heel. At first, I just decreased the same as the pattern tells you for the toe and I thought it was good ... until I tried it on. The heel was way too short, so the sock slipped down off my heel within seconds of putting it on. I knew I needed to unpick the heel, but I just never felt like doing that so this project sat for several weeks. This past weekend I was finally in a fixing mood, so I re-knit the heel. This time I followed the decreases from the only other sock pattern I'd used - the Lace Knee Socks pattern from the Knit Sock Workshop class on Craftsy. This wasn't earth shattering, but it was just the info I needed since I knew that heel would fit. All you do is decrease, then knit a row, repeat until you have 12 stitches, then kitchener. Super easy! Now the finished sock fits great :) I was so inspired that I immediately cast on the second sock and spent my Sunday knitting time working on getting these done. These are my current "take along" project since they are easy to throw in my bag and go. I'm hoping to finish them soon.

Back at the end of January, I was really in the mood to have several projects to choose from. I blame suddenly having my sewing room in disarray. I really loved the Antarktis shawl by Janina Kallio, and I thought it would be a great pattern to show off a yarn I've been wanting to use. I cast on with Araucania Lonco yarn in this purple teal green variegated colorway. This was a sweet ebay score from last year and I've really wanted to work it up. I love the color combo. I'm hoping that since this is a cotton yarn that I will be able to wear it more than my other wool shawls. I actually did have much more of this knitted, but I decided I didn't like how loose the gauge was turning out so I pulled out the whole thing, lol. It's sat as this sad little triangle ever since. I think once I finish my Arne & Carlos socks this project will get more attention.

Another sad little project is my second pair of socks for Craftsy's Free Sock Knit Along Class. I really enjoyed the first pair of socks, so I quickly chose a yarn for the second pattern and cast on (the class is 3 months long and includes a new pattern each month). The yarn is a deep stash dive of Deborah Norville Serenity Sock in the most inappropriately named colorway ever, lol. I know it seems ridiculous, but I was so put off by the fact that this yarn is called "Aquamarine" that I just couldn't ever use it. Isn't that silly? That's what happens when you work in gemstones, I guess. For the record, aquamarines are light to medium blue - a color which is not present at all in this skein of yarn, lol. Anyway, the yarn is really soft and I think it will show off the Serpentine Sock detail. I've only made the toe so far, but I hope to buckle down (again) when I finish my Arne & Carlos socks. It was really fun talking with the other KAL participants with my first pair, so I definitely want to still be in that conversation.

In other news, I've been bit by the fancy baking bug lately. Making my Valentine macarons made me really in the mood for more fancy baking (and more macarons I can eat myself, lol). I made another batch of pistachio macarons last Thursday (with milk chocolate ganache this time) as well as these lovely lemon glazed madeleines. I'm telling you,this Craftsy class is dangerous, lol. I now completely want to make a lemon tart as well as zillions of different flavors of macarons. Wouldn't hazlenut ones be amazing? It helps that they are actually fun to make too when you know what you're doing so you take away that ever present element of "what if this fails miserably". Anyway, much fancy baking has taken place of late.

I also won a sweet prize from Stitch Diva Studios. Jennifer Hansen hosted some great giveaways on their Facebook page last week and I WON! I won this deliciously soft skein of Feza Harvest yarn in the Citrus colorway. It's 100% merino wool that is organically dyed. The yellow color is awesome. I can't wait to make something yummy with it :)

And finally, I only just discovered Neko Atsume and I am in love :) A game where you just look at cutesy kitties occasionally on your phone? I'll take it. Sometimes a cute kitty is all you need to brighten your day. I recommend you look in to this app if you haven't yet.

So that's what's going on in my crafting world :) There have been lots of audio books as well as lots of home improvements and cleaning and getting rid of junk. I'm glad to have my little creative outlets when those life necessities get a little overwhelming.

What are you making?

*Craftsy links are affiliate links, but all opinions are completely my own and I highly recommend them - plus the knitting class is completely free!

WIP Wednesday: New Sweaters - Yay!

In honor of finishing my Agatha Cardigan, I started two more, lol. The one that I've devoted the most attention to lately is my Penelope.

The knit along officially began on October 1st, and managed to finish the color work for the yoke pretty quickly. I just joined the pieces together for the body last night. I decided to use some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino in Coral from my stash for the yoke because I liked the color combo with my main yarn. The main yarn is Cascade 220 Superwash Paints in Sapphire Seas that I've had since 2013. It's high time this pretty yarn gets used!

The Cascade yarn is hand painted and has a lovely color variation of blues and a little bit of purple. You can see this better in this picture. I know it's an unconventional color combo, but I still like it :) Plus all of this yarn was from my stash! Yay for a huge stash when you don't have money to buy yarn, lol. I''m really excited to have this sweater for the winter.

Before the Penelope KAL started, I needed a new project so I went ahead and began another sweater, lol. I've always loved the Ginny Cardigan from Unofficial Harry Potter Knits and I kept coming back to that when I decided that I wanted a more outerwear type sweater this year. It worked out perfectly to make since I have this amazing yarn in my stash that worked perfectly for it - it's Limerick by Wisdom Yarns (now discontinued) and it's a DK weight 100% merino wool superwash yarn. The yarn is very hairy and varied in thickness compared to my usual standardized Cascade and cheapy acrylic yarns I tend to use. I was worried at first that it would look odd, but it's knitting up beautifully. I guess this is really my first "rustic" yarn. I love the color variation - it goes from kelly green to a more blue/teal color and back. Anyway, I just started the owls on the back before I set it aside for the Penelope, lol. I'm really excited about this sweater too though!

I also finally started sewing my Halloween costume this week. I think I cursed myself by thinking it would be a quick project. I got the  dress all put together only to discover that it's too tight when I tried it on. Ugh! I've let it out everywhere I can, but it's still too snug so I may add gussets to the side seams. I didn't want to think about it any more last night so it's just hanging out in the naughty corner for the moment.

I'm also pretty ridiculously excited about Sewing Indie Month and my submissions :) The voting is going on right now, so if you wouldn't mind voting for one of my projects over here. Sorry for all the vote begging. I'll lay off next week, lol.

That's it for me this week! Head over to Gracey's Goodies to see other fantastic works in progress :)