Fiber Burn Chart

Now that the Big Lebowski sweater is done, I am ready to start knitting some new stuff. I really wanted to work on a sweater for myself (so far I've only knit myself a hat; one scarf in progress), but it seems that I will have to put that idea aside, at least for a few weeks.

I am currently working on a sweater for my dog. I thought that three weeks would be more than enough time, and it probably is, but I'm still unsure with what I am doing. Therefore, I knit as much as I can without advice from the designer, and then I have to wait until I can meet with her to double check that I'm interpreting the pattern correctly. So that project is going slowly, but surely. I'd love to make more dog sweaters and I'm sure the future ones will knit up much faster.

Instead of working on both of those, I will be knitting my grandfather a scarf and hat. He told my mom that he wanted them. Of course, he only told her 7 days before coming for Thanksgiving. Normally it takes me 2 weeks to knit a scarf alone. I will be having a knit-a-thon. I am going to make a seeded rib scarf. I think I like this pattern because it reminds me, loosely, of brioche, which I want to learn. It's also a very easy pattern. Thanks to craftsy.com, I can design my own hats, so I will be posting the scarf and hat pattern in a future post. Yes, they will be basic patterns, but I will do my best.

Happy knitting!

Well, the Big Lebowski sweater is finally finished. It was one of those projects that seemed to drag on forever, though it only took 3 and a half months to finish. The only reason I finished it so quickly was because it was for my dad's 65th birthday. It was also my first sweater project: yes, I have knitted boleros, but nothing of this size.

First, my self-critiques: The pattern used Fair Isle for the color charts, but WITHOUT stranding to avoid the opposite color poking through the purls. Well, I decided to strand to avoid pulling or puckering. I also chose to do that so when my dad put the sweater on, he wouldn't pull the strands on the wrong side. On the back side, I stranded every other stitch. However, when I got to the front pieces, I realized that not only would that take forever, but more stitches would poke through. I realized that I could do it every fifth stitch or so and no puckering would happen. I also would have altered the front sides to start the decrease for the shawl collar sooner. I have never altered a pattern before. I didn't really know how. Now I know that I would simply start the decreases a few rows sooner and make them a little deeper. The shawl collar was also a little tight, so I would have used one or two sizes larger to knit the collar and I would have cast off more loosely. Lastly, the sweater is a little larger, especially the length of the arms. Again, I would have altered the pattern to shorten the sleeves. Lastly, the sweater was a bit large, so I should have made one size smaller. On the bright side, he can layer and still have room to zip up the sweater.

Now it sounds like the sweater turned out terribly. It actually turned out very nicely. It looks like the Big Lebowski sweater. One thing I'm really proud of is the zipper. I was terrified of sewing it in because everyone says it's complicated. I found it a bit awkward, but my finishing book gave me many good tips.

Of course, I could not have finished this project without help from many people. First, to Andrea Rangel for creating the pattern. Kiwi Knitting Company also provided me with a knitting space, taught me Fair Isle, and helped me finish the sweater. zipperstop.com is a great website and they helped me order the perfect zipper with a ring pull, which is quite hard to find.

• wool
• Angora: hair from a rabbit
• Merino: soft wool from sheep
• Peruvian Highland: a stronger wool, but can be soft
• Alpaca: from the Alpaca, which is like a llama. Soft and silky texture.
• Mohair: from the Angora goat; soft and warm
• Cashmere: from goats; very soft, fine, and strong
• Cotton: plant fiber; soft, not very elastic, absorbent 
• Linen: light-weight fiber, soft, wrinkles in garments
• Bamboo
• Acrylic: light, soft, warm, similar to wool in feel
• Nylon: very elastic; usually used in a mix
• Silk: from silk worms; soft, not slippery, strong, can shrink

Well, I FINALLY finished the Big Lebowski Sweater. I had to order a zipper from New York because no places in Tucson carry the right length, color, and slider (the thing that you pull. I just added that to my vocabulary). So, this Monday, if not sooner, I will be sewing in the zipper and then it will be done. It's a good thing, too, because my dad's birthday is next week.

As a new project, I am now knitting my dog a sweater. That should be done within two weeks. To keep my fingers busy when I'm out and about, I'm also working on a 1x1 rib scarf, simply  because it goes well with the yarn.

After about a week of knitting, I am done with the first sleeve of the Big Lebowski Sweater. I was really nervous about it because I had to shape the sleeve throughout all color patterns. However, there were enough stitches for me to place stitch markers at the beginning and end of the fair isle pattern, so I could think about the color and the shaping at different times.

As I was finishing the shaping today, I nearly made a huge mistake. I bound off too many stitches with only 15 rows to go! So I undid two rows. I was really nervous about dropping stitches or twisting them, but I could untwist them afterwards. I was really afraid of taking out the needle and putting it back in, but it worked and went really well. I think that it went so well partly because the wool is so "sticky" and retains its shape well.

Today I also talked to a knitting teacher and she will help me to finish the sweater next Saturday. That's 6 days away to knit one more sleeve and do the two facings, not to mention weaving in the ends and buying a zipper. Lots to do, but I must admit that I'm excited to work on a new project. I think that's why many sweaters go unfinished: one gets bored. This project should have taken me 6 months, but I will finish it in 3.

Happy knitting!

I have been really stressed about finishing the Big Lebowski sweater lately, for about a week. I have been super nervous about doing increases and a color pattern at the same time, something I've never done. However, after crunching the numbers, it's much easier than I thought. I knit 7 stitches, place a marker, doing the color pattern, place another marker, and knit 7 more stitches. When I do the increases, I will do them in the main color since the pattern will be centered. Now that I've done the fair isle pattern 3 times, it should be much easier and faster. Now I can't wait to go home and knit. As stressed as I've been with this pattern, I have learned SO much from this and this break through makes me feel like I'm at the top of the world. It's a reminder for why I knit: it is overwhelmingly rewarding!

The light at the end of the tunnel just got a whole lot brighter!

HAPPY KNITTING!!!!

I'm in the home stretch, or so I thought. Two sleeves, piece of cake, right? Some increases and decreases, I already know the color pattern. Should be easy. Think again! I had to go to my knitting store to get help understanding the pattern. It looks like I increase every 4-6 rows until I start decreasing. That woud be fine if I didn't have fair isle patterns throughout. I got a headache--literally--just thinking about how to count those patterns and where to start it, etc. All I need is to mess up on the sleeves and have to start them over.

I also need to start thinking about finding a zipper and getting help to finish this project. I'm also stressed to finish this project. I'm terrified that color patterns won't match up or that my seaming is crooked. Then I have to install a zipper and pick up stitches to do the shawl collar. After three months of work, I think I might have a mini break down if it doesn't seam well.

This project has been rewarding and challenging. I go through ups and downs: I'm proud of all that I have learned and I love seeing a finished piece. On the other hand, when I start knitting a new difficult aspect, my stress level goes through the roof. My boyfriend has to remind me that I knit for enjoyment.

Regardless of my feelings, this project will be done by November 15, finishing and all. Let's start praying that it all works out.

Happy knitting!

I now have a knitting club at the school in which I teach. Although we have only met once, it has been very rewarding. One of my students came in already knowing how to crochet and has picked up knitting quickly. She is a very creative person and opened up a baseball and started to crochet with the fibers in it until she reached the hard core. While the fibers are a little sticky, I thought it was a very resourceful way to use materials for fiber crafts.

Happy knitting!

In order to get this sweater done by my dad's birthday, I knit all day yesterday. I did the complete fair isle part between Friday and yesterday, and I went ahead and finished the piece last night. I am feeling a lot of pressure to finish it, which isn't making the knitting too much fun. I started the project in August and I need it done by early November. For learning fair isle and finishing techniques, that's not much time. Now all I need to do is de-code the sleeve directions and I can begin that. Again, I'm hoping to do each sleeve in one week, even with the fair isle. I am planning to dedicate a day to seaming the sweater and putting in the zipper, which I need to start looking for.

To make my knitting stress level rise, I have also started a dog sweater for my new baby. While it is considerably smaller, I need to figure out how to continue to meet my Big Lebowski goals, while not falling behind in my dog sweater class. I know the Dude would tell me to relax, but I do have deadlines...and a full time job. Although I'm stressed, I know I'll be happy with the final project. I just have to focus on that.

Happy knitting!