stash, knit, repeat

Well, folks, time to ring in the new year. And what better way than with a new sweater?

Pattern: Arm Candy (rav link)

Yarn: Sundara Aran Silky Merino, color Wild Blueberries

Time Elapsed: A couple of weeks to knit

Notes: I knit the pattern as written (aside from lengthening the body for my super-long torso). But what a perfect place to share notes about the pattern with you! So here goes.

Arm Candy is a figure-conscious V neck with seed stitch and button trim details. The elbow-length sleeves, princess seam waist shaping, and deep V are flattering on a variety of body types. This pattern works well for the bustier among us, and it is a cinch to add more (or less) shaping. The pattern includes notes on fit and suggestions for how to alter for different body types.

I’ve written this up in 7 sizes, from 32″ to 50″ in the bust. I think it looks best with 0″ ease in the bust, and 1-2″ positive ease in the waist. I’d suggest altering the shaping to ensure this–perhaps by eliminating the waist shaping in the front, while leaving it in the back. This gives a nice curve behind without making the sweater too clingy in the front, which is one of the things I love most about shaping with princess seams.

It works dressed up for work or down for play and looks gorgeous in fancy, hand-painted yarns. I’ve knit it (and the uber-talented splityarn photographed it) in Sundara Aran Silky Merino, but your favorite aran or worsted weight yarn will look divine, too. (This is probably an appropriate place to say that all images in this post are copyright splityarn 2009, and for the love of pete please don’t take them without her express permission.)

This is the latest installment in my design quest to use up my stash while enhancing my work wardrobe. So far, I’m loving it. And I hope you do too!

What an intensely busy, mostly wonderful year. I know 2009 was rough for many, and we certainly had ups and downs Chez Stashknitrepeat, but overall it’s been a pretty amazing year. Most of all, I’m thankful that we’ve gone from here:

To here:

Without too much trouble, even. We’re very grateful to have such enjoyable children.

Knitting-wise, my mosaic looks a lot less impressive than my knitting year actually was.

Let’s go in order, shall we? First up, some socks for Jacob. Then, a a cowl for me. A sweater for Jacob, followed quickly by a sweater for Daniel. I test-knit some mittens, knit another sweater for Jacob… and then the secret knitting started, the designing bug bit, the secret knitting continued, and… well, there went the blog. I’ve been working steadily, and managed to finish a sweater for Beth and some socks for Danielle, and a sweater for me. Very recently I cast off on some socks I started in March.

I was able to share one piece of secret knitting, and will soon share another (that last photo in the mosaic). But let me tell you, my needles have been flying this year. There are three more entire sweaters that I’ve designed and knit this year, and another that’s designed and halfway knit. It’s nuts.

The design process is reminding me a little of the academic publishing cycle. You get a good idea, and it can anywhere from a few months to a year or two after the work is done for the work to actually see the light of day. It’s sometimes frustrating, but now that my “pipeline” of projects is full, I hope to see a more steady stream of content around these parts.

Speaking of which, I finished some socks.

Pattern: Cookie A’s Devon socks, from her book

Yarn: Sundara sock, Deadly Nightshade

Time Elapsed: Something like 9 months.

Notes/Modifications: None. These socks are perfect.

Happy new year! May 2010 shine brightly and happily on all of you and yours.