berroco | Love Is All You Knit

Dec 10 2014

Cabled Cardigan Progress

The last time I wrote about my Aidez Cardigan was when I was ripping out the back piece, after realizing that it was just coming out entirely too small. I am substituting yarns for a lighter weight yarn, and my teensy tiny swatch really wasn’t good enough for me to see how off my gauge really was. The pattern gauge was given in stockinette, while the majority of the back panel of the sweater is knitted in a cabled pattern, and we all know how differently cables behave than stockinette anyways. Honestly, I should have thought things through and swatched a little more carefully, but I was just anxious to get started. (Famous last words of a knitter, right?)

My back piece was coming out 14” wide, and for the pattern size small, it should have been 20” wide. I checked my gauge (now that I had a HUGE gauge swatch) and determined that if I followed the numbers for the pattern size XXL at the gauge I was getting, my back piece would come out 20” wide- exactly the size I needed it to be. I’ve since ripped, reknit and completed the back panel and when I measure it against a well-fitting shirt, it is pretty much dead on for the size I am aiming for.

Over the weekend, I cast on for the left front panel of the cardigan, which uses different cables than the back piece. I am again in love with the cables that are coming off my needles and I can’t stop putting my work down every few minutes to admire it. This has to be the best part about knitting a cabled cardigan in pieces—it never gets boring because as soon as you get used to a cable pattern it’s time to start on another piece!

Tagged aidez, berroco, cardigan, fringeandfriendsknitalong

Sep 29 2014

Aidez Check In

One of my favorite things about knitting cabled pieces is that you soon find a rhythm to the cable patterns. Now that I’ve gotten two and a half repeats into the trellis chart of my Aidez cardigan, part of the #fringeandfriendsknitalong, I can knit through most rows without checking the chart. (Though I make sure to double check each time I’m doing a cable cross just to make sure I’m doing the right one!) I modified the two rope cables that are alongside the center trellis pattern, as the pattern calls for double wrapping the purls on the row before you complete the cable cross so that the stitches are elongated. I felt like mine were coming out kind of sloppy and so I just switched to a simple 2/2 left/right cross which doesn’t change the look all that much.

I think as soon as I get tired of working these particular cables on the back piece, it will be time to start the fronts and sleeves, which are comprised of entirely new cable patterns. Score another one for Team Seam because if I was working this as one seamless piece, I would probably be getting tired of all of the cables about now and still have a LOT of sweater left to knit.

Tagged aidez, berroco, fringe association, fringeandfriendsknitalong, knitting, wool, yarn

Sep 22 2014

1 Comment

cables, cardigans, knitting, wool

Aidez Progress

It’s been just over a week since I started swatching my Aidez cardigan as part of the #fringeandfriendsknitalong, and I’ve worked my way through one repeat of the trellis pattern on the back piece; about 10”. I’m knitting for Team Seam and will be knitting the pattern as written; in pieces and seaming later. I always think that I prefer seamless sweaters because I dread seaming, but in all honesty this will be my first seamed sweater so it’s really too soon to tell. I decided to work this one with seams because I like the idea of seams helping a heavily cabled garment keep its structure, and I also didn’t feel like converting the pattern to seamless! I think that working smaller pieces will show progress more quickly and encourage me to keep on knitting. I’ve found myself putting my knitting down every few rows to admire the way a few cable crosses change the look of the whole piece. Did I mention I LOVE cabled knits?

Tagged aidez, berroco, cabled knits, fringe association, fringeandfriendsknitalong, knitting, yarn

May 19 2013

3 Comments

baby knits, Family, knitting, wool, Yarn

Baby’s Primary Blankie

My sister in law Heather is expecting, and I’ve been working behind the scenes on something for my new little nephew to snuggle in when he arrives:

A bright and warm blankie for someone who is sure to be a bright and warm little boy.

Tagged baby, baby blanket, baby blankie, berroco, blankie, knit, knitting, primary colors, wool, yarn

Apr 03 2013

New Pattern: Zip-n-Zag Bag

A perfect accessory for Spring, the Zip-N-Zag Bag is a zippery, zig-zaggy, tassely pouch perfect for stashing your makeup or a small knitting project on the go.

BUY IT NOW via instant Ravelry download or visit the RAVELRY PATTERN PAGE for additional details

MATERIALS

300 yards/275 meters of worsted weight yarn in two contrasting colors (150 yards/137 meters of each color)

• Sample shown in Berroco Vintage Worsted (50% acrylic, 40% wool, 10% Nylon, 217 yards/198 meters/100g) in #5145-Cast Iron (Color A) and #5102-Butter Cream (Color B)

Needle A: Size US 8/5.0 mm 16”/40 cm circular needle (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Needle B: Size US 5/3.75 mm 16”/40 cm circular needle (or 3 sizes smaller than above)

Tapestry needle for weaving ends

Stitch Marker

9”/23 cm plastic zipper

Fabric for lining, cut to 9.5”/24.5 cm wide x 12.5”/32 cm long

Sturdy thread for sewing zipper and lining

Sewing needle

Pins

GAUGE

22 stitches and 25 rounds = 4”/10 cm in stranded colorwork pattern, worked in the round on larger needles

FINISHED SIZE

Approximately 9.25”/23.5 cm wide and 6.25”/16 cm tall

TECHNIQUES USED

Provisional cast on, knitting stranded color work in the round, basic bind off, three needle bind off (instructions included), sewing in a zipper, sewing in a fabric lining, making a tassel

Tagged berroco, design, knit, knitting, tassel, yarn, zig zag, zippered pouch

Jan 14 2013

1 Comment

Antics, baby knits, cardigans, Hats, knitting, Yarn

Baby Knits

A little over a year ago on the eve of 2012, Joey and I were sitting around a fire with some of our closest friends and discussing the dawning of a new year. One by one we went around the circle, each of us sharing in turn some of our most closely held ambitions. One of my goals was to design and publish a knitting pattern (which I did here and here). One of Joey’s goals was to build and open a recording studio (which he did here). When it came to our friend Israel’s turn, he looked at his wife Laura and shared that they really wanted to become parents in the coming year. I’m excited to share that he and Laura will be welcoming little Miss Willow Blanche towards the end of February!

Of course I had to pour my love and excitement for them into a couple of snuggly knits for this little one and now that they have been gifted I can share them with you.

The cardigan is the Baby Sophisticate pattern which is a really quick and adorable knit. The hat is the Super Soft Super Simple Baby Hat by the Purl Bee and I am in love with the silly pom pom on top. I used Berroco Vintage chunky yarn for both.