Chicago bound!

Shortly after deciding to rip out my sweater failure (see previous post) I found myself on a train to Chicago. I had been called last minute by Vidal Sassoon to model for them at ABS and since I was just across the lake from Chi-town I decided to do it!

Generally as a model at one of these events one has a TON of time to spend just sitting around waiting. Some choose to read or socialize but I saw it as a perfect time to work on my new sweater design! I also decided to make a little something for my friends who let me borrow their couch for 5 days :)

Similar the the last sweater attempt I wanted something simple and loose fitting, comfy and warm with sleeves and torso that were long enough to fit me perfectly. I also decided to include a simple cable detail which begins at the top of the raglan sleeve and is worked all of the way from the neckline to the cuff.

I thought it interesting how many conversations happened simply because I was knitting in public. People who would otherwise not say anything to you stop and ask what you're making or end up telling you all about their grandmother who knit them something once upon a time. Many expressed a desire to learn someday. I have to admit I enjoyed the attention and was only too happy to teach another model to knit one morning after she came up to me and said sheepishly " I saw you knitting and so I went and bought these (knitting needles and yarn)last night. Will you teach me?"

After a bit of deliberation about what make for the girls I decided a French press cozy would be the perfect thank you present! I am not a huge fan of tea cozies, they just aren't that practical in my opinion but a french press cozy is useful for keeping the extra coffee in the press warm as you drink the first cup. I found a simple pattern for one called the Lazy Weekend French Press Cozy. It knit up rather quickly and turned out super cute! I kinda want to go buy a French press just so I can make the same cozy for myself. The picture isn't fantastic but you can get the idea of what it looked like, it is made in lime green.

Now as for that sweater... I was super determined to finish in time to wear it on the last day of the show but I hadn't finished the second sleeve. It crossed my mind the just wear it with one sleeve...the people at Sassoon are eccentric enough to think it cool. Alas, I decided to just be patient and wait one more day until I could finish it. And here it is! I have decided to call the pattern "Emmalena".

I had originally planned to add a detail along the neckline but I actually really like it as is. Perhaps eventually I will add a finished edge there. If you are interested I will have the pattern available on ravelry.com within the next week. Happy weekend everyone!

Sweater death inspires new designs!

After last week's post I was super pumped up to start creating a new handmade wardrobe so I found a pattern and cast on for a new sweater. It is a long sleeved, loose fitting, Henley style sweater made from Fisherman's wool to be extra warm! The lanolin in the wool works as insulation and keeps the garment warm even in cold, damp conditions.

Not too far into the pattern I noticed some annoying mistakes the writer had made near the shaping for the sleeve and spot for the buttons. Not to be a jerk but it was seriously the most asinine way to put things together (grr). I trudged through and finished the front and back pieces. As I was blocking them I noticed that the space left for the button placket was way of center! Noooo! Instead of ripping out the whole thing and remaking it in the center I decided to sew it up and put a faux button placket where the real one should've been. Boom bam! Problem solved! Well so I thought...

I continued on and created the first sleeve and blocked it into shape. Part of the way through making the second sleeve I got impatient and decided to work on the seams for a while. I sewed the shoulder and side seams (during this process I discovered a deep love for seaming and finish work). I worked on the sleeve some more and a few inches later set it aside to sew in the first sleeve. This is when I realized that the sleeve and the hole that it was supposed to fit in didn't happen to be the same size. FAIL!!! After much lamenting on my part I decided that one annoying pattern mistake would be forgivable but adding one or two more makes for an ill fitting, awkward looking garment. I decided to pull it all out and make something new.

And then I spent the rest of the evening sulking.

I woke up the next morning determined. I would find a new pattern, a better one! I looked in all the usual places and found nothing appealing so I decided to design my own! A few calculations later and with renewed vigor I cast on for a completely new something...hopefully It'll be up next week!