Sweater Workshop progress--Day 2

China checks out my sweater.

Even though there are no "Knitting Police," there are definitely Knitting Inspectors and Fabric Testers. The Inspectors have been monitoring the progress of the Mr. Greenjeans sweater projects.

Here is my progress for the second day (days are not necessarily consecutive). I have about two more 6-row repeats before I get to the dividing row (where the sleeve stitches are put onto waste yarn). I need one more episode of Harry's Law to get to that point.

Lois is using the color #40805 Lichen (Fibra Natura Sensational) for her sweater. This is a gorgeous color! She has already gotten to the dividing row.

Lois is using Fibra Natura Sensational in color Lichen.

Lois' Knitting Inspector has approved her work.

Sweater Workshop progress--Day 1

After a full session of number crunching—horizontal and vertical measurements of the Mr. Greenjeans sweater pattern—my Sweater Workshop students were chomping at the Cast On edge to get started on the real thing. The next session is in two weeks so I thought I'd keep a visual diary on my sweater's progress. Here is the first day's progress.

Mr. Greenjeans Sweater; top-down construction with raglan shaping.

Day 1: Cast on. Begin the 6 row sequence (marked with split stitch markers). Yarn: Fibra Natura Sensational, color: Anemone.

One stitch double increase at raglan sleeve lines.

I've changed the pattern's raglan increase stitch [yo, k2, yo] to something less lacy. My double increase is  [k1, k1b, k1] all in the same seam stitch. I did a bit of adjusting on the placement of the increases as the pattern's double increase occurs across 4 sts while mine uses 1. 

Swatching for Sweater Workshop

Why do we make a gauge swatch when we knit? Well, in the words of knitwear designer, author, teacher and Trendsetter Yarns company owner, Barry Klein, "If you don't swatch, you get what you deserve if your garment doesn't fit."  'Nuff said?

Stockinette and cable pattern swatches for my First Sweater knitting workshop.

After taking body and Favorite Sweater measurements in our first class session, my First Sweater workshop students are busy knitting swatches this week in preparation for the long anticipated sweater cast-on. The pattern, Mr. Greenjeans by Amy Swenson, calls for two swatches—one in stockinette for the main portion of the sweater, and the other in a cable rib pattern that is used on the cuffs and lower bodice.

Workshop project: the Mr. Greenjeans raglan cardigan in Fibra Natura Sensational.

We're using Fibra Natura Sensational superwash yarn for the project. The colors they all chose are gorgeous. After a "Pattern vs. Me" assessment in our next session, we'll begin.

Knitting the Sky 2012

Take a walk with your dog(s) or just look out the window and capture the sky in your knitting. What a cool idea! I link-hopped and landed on Lea Redmond's Conceptional Knitting web site. She creates projects that, she says, embody activities that push you to be observant and contemplative and through them, create something not only functional but meaningful. So, for 2012, I am going to give her Sky Scarf a go.

Stash yarns for my 2012 Sky Scarf

The Project: First, collect yarns in the colors of the sky—light blue, bright blue, grays for the rainy and overcast days, white for clouds and snow, etc. Cast on. Go outside and look at the sky, and knit the color of the sky that day. Lea suggests knitting 2 rows (there and back) each day so you get back to where your working yarns are. By the end of the year [or season, or time whatever time period you choose] you will have created a scarf that reflects the changes in the sky.

I'm using project left-overs and yarns from my stash—mostly sock and lace weight. With 365 x 2 = 730 rows, it could get quite long with heavier yarn. The fiber content consists of superwash wool blends and some 100% alpaca.

Decide how wide you want your scarf / shawl /wrap and pick a nice stitch pattern (garter, seed stitch, a ribbing) that is reversible... or not. Here's my pattern: 

CO 49 on size 4 needles.

Row1 (RS): K3, ssk, yo, [marker] seed stitch across to last 5 sts [marker],
yo, k2tog, K3.

Row 2 (WS): K5, seed stitch to marker, K5

I'm using seed stitch over an odd number so I always start with a Knit stitch and I put a 3 stitch garter edge with an eyelet for the side borders.

What a simple, creative and meaningful project. You could adapt this to just about anything. You don't need a pattern as nature will direct your course. Give it a try!