Some kind of collar treatment? Check.

Blocked and totally done in every way? Check!

Pattern: Pure and Simple’s Shaped Neck-Down Cardi, pattern 241.
Yarn: Berroco’s Ultra Alpaca, color rust, just over 6 hanks?
Time: About three weeks from start to finish
Modifications/Thoughts: Plenty, this time. Aren’t top-down patterns written to be modified? The first modification I made was to lengthen the distance from the top until the closure. As written, the pattern had it falling well above the bust, and frankly my bust doesn’t need to look further from my collarbones than it already is. So, in my version, the clasp is at the fullest part of the bustline.

I also eliminated the ties called for in the pattern, opting to use a clasp instead.

Let’s see… I widened the sleeves a bit since my arms are large, and doubled the waist shaping since my waist is proportionally small. (I did this by adding two darts on the back of the sweater, about 1/4 of the way in from the sides.) The sweater has a decent amount of ease, but the added shaping definitely keeps it from making me look like a sack of potatoes. (This is important for me, since I really really dislike how much nursing has increased my bust size and I’m pretty sensitive about it.)

I’m really just thrilled with the way it turned out. I would probably knit the 40″ size and increase the bust with short rows rather than knitting the 44″ size, if I were to do this again–the front of the piece isn’t really shaped at all:

That’s a minor nit, though, on what is truly a fantastic sweater. The yarn is soft and warm, the sweater supremely comfortable, and the fit is better than any other sweater I own. And the color! Many, many thanks to Ellen at Purl Diva for helping me choose it. This is destined for frequent and regular wear.

Finally, as always, more information and pictures in the FO gallery.

As you can imagine, I’m pretty bored with the stockinette at this point. I think I’m going to do the Dale of Norway Ladybug sweater and hat next–something tiny and complicated. And socks, of course. Check out my holiday score on that front:

I love them all and can’t wait to knit with them. The brown one on the left is called “Hot Chocolate”. Very fitting!

In other news, I’ve been watching Knitty Gritty on tivo this last month or so–DiY and HG networks both run it. I guess I’m late to the game on this show, but I’m surprising myself by enjoying it immensely. Of course, there are a decent number of episodes that just make me run screaming (here, have a NEON PONCHO KNIT ON US17S! or a KNITTED BIKINI in FUNKY COLORS!). But there seem to be just as many episodes that either produce something I like or introduce me to a new technique, or both. A three-needle bindoff, which I’ve never done, was shown in one episode; I’ve now seen knitting with beads, modular knitting, and drop-spindle spinning. None of these things were daunting to me; I just hadn’t gotten around to thinking about them. But now I know exactly which ones excite me, and which don’t.

Do you watch? What episodes are your favorites–the ones along the lines of “You Knit *What*?!”, new techniques, barely knitting-related…?

It’s both neat and gratifying to be able to try the sweater on me and the mannequin. I’ve been modifying the pattern in response to how it fits, and I’m winding up with a very flattering, nicely shaped sweater. Go, me!

It still needs sleeves, obviously, and a little bit of a collar treatment, and ye gods how it needs to be blocked. I’m hoping the blocking will take care of the frilliness and pouf I’m seeing on the seed stitch border:

The quest for true color isn’t going so well with these photos, by the way–it’s more of a rusty maroon than bright orange-red. The pattern is a little sloppy in places, but I haven’t found any errors yet, and once again I’m enjoying the Ultra Alpaca. It’s smooth, soft, and has a nice drape. I should be wearing this sweater some time next week!

And of course, I’m already thinking of the next project, because anticipation is one of my favorite parts of knitting. I counted my sock yarn stash the other day, and came up with

(deep breath)

22 pairs’ worth

(deep breath)

of really nice sock yarn. I guess the first step is admitting one has a problem? So… yeah. A pair of socks is definitely next up, dunno if I should make them fancy patterned and plain yarn or vice versa. And I have 5 gift sweaters, adult and baby, that I’m really excited about.

I’m still thinking about that birthday silk hubby got for me last summer, and the Seraphim it’s destined for. I don’t want to knit that up yet, though. I want to make the anticipation last, because it looks like the shawl is going to be a pretty fast knit.

Choices, choices!

I’m very, very close to dividing for the armholes and adding the bust short rows on the Shaped V-neck Cardigan. I really want the dressform around for thorough inspection when I add them, so I had to distract myself!

Hubby asked for an indoor cap to wear on his bald head a couple of weeks ago. I think this one is going to live in the sidebar for a whole day before it’s finished. :) That, uh, moodily-lit photo was taken early last night and I’m already on the decreases. The yarn is very soft and fine, and I think it will work well for him.

I also accompanied a friend to a truly fabulous yarn shop. She was going to get supplies for a class at Stitches West, I was going for moral support. Then I saw that they were one of the few lucky yarn shops to carry Blue Moon products. I say that, and not simply “Socks that Rock”, because it turns out Blue Moon does other stuff!

Peacock-blue almost-solid silk thread laceweight.

Sign.

Me.

Up.

And generous yardage, too! Plenty for a stunning masterpiece. This will have to marinate awhile, so that I can find just the right pattern. (Suggestions welcome.)

Lastly, I got to see Bea in action over the holiday break. Here, have some cute baby pictures!

Seeing one’s hand-knits being loved is one of the greatest things ever.

Jacob was a willing model, of course.

The real problem, though, was the yarn. Caveat: This is just my opinion! I know there are lots of folks out there in blog-land who love this yarn. If you’re unsure but would like to try some, let me know because I have 67g that I would be happy to send someone.

I had two problems with it. First, the 25% polyamide gave the yarn an unpleasant plasticy feel to my fingers. Keep in mind, reading this, that I am one spoiled kitten in terms of sock yarn. I’ve only ever used Lorna’s Laces, Schaefer Anne, Bearfoot, and Socks that Rock. The bigger problem, though, was that it started looking fuzzy/rough and pilling just from my knitting it. It’s hard to capture a picture of this, but here’s a try:

If the feel doesn’t bother you, I’d recommend it for a scarf, or maybe gauntlets, but if the yarn is visibly wearing without ever being *worn*, I would think twice before using it for socks. Maybe I just got a defective ball?

*****

Whatever the reason, though, 2007 is not the year of knitting with yarn I hate. So, out of the sidebar the socks go, and on to something new!

(Suggestions for what to do with a single sock are welcome.)

That’s the start to the Shaped V-Neck Cardigan, done top-down, by Knitting Pure and Simple. I’m knitting it in Berroco Ultra Alpaca, color “Rust”. It’s a joy to be working with this yarn again.

I really like the way the sweater looks in the picture, but I worry after seeing some others among the blogs. So I’m thinking of adding some pretty aggressive waist-shaping, and maybe some short-rows on the bust. I think this project may finally be the one that sets me over the edge on a dress form! Figuring out where to add it all without one is a little daunting. (To be honest, it feels a little daunting no matter what. I’ve never modified a pattern before in such a big way. But fear seems like a silly reason to put up with an ill-fitting sweater! So we shall see.) Does anyone have any recommendations or anti-recommendations on adjustable dress forms?