Yarn Gamble

I took a risk on this one and ordered some yarn based on a small picture and a written description. Due to different cameras and monitors I’ve had a few surprises after ordering things online. Well, this one’s a winner! For any of you looking for a color very similar to the one shown on the model in the magazine this looks pretty close to me (much more vibrant in person than the picture shows!). Now on to the swatching…

Pretty In Pink

I'm getting pretty close to done with my CPH, and I must say...


I love it I love it I love it! In fact, I want to marry it.

My husband is jealous.

setting in sleeves?

hey everyone.

i am almost done. i'm finishing up the hood and then i'll be off and running on the sleeves.

i'm panicking about the sleeves and would love some advice.

i keep seeing posts, here and elsewhere, about the nightmare of "setting" in the sleeve. i don't know what this means. i guess i thought i would just line up the edges and seam away. but clearly this probably isn't the case.

does anyone know of an online resource or guidance on how to see this done or how to do it? or please email me at katyaflutes at gmail dot com

btw- great posts today on finished CPH. clearly the long weekend was good to knitting!

here's my latest- all blocked and progress on the hood.

Whew!!
I finally finished my CPH!!
I learned many things...the biggest one being....pick a size and follow those directions! Don't try to change the size of anything while you knit!!
I really goofed on the sleeves and had to rip them out twice to fix, but I think I am pleased with how this turned out! All through the seaming I kept babbling to myself that I would NEVER knit another sweater again, but I find myself looking at sweater patterns already!
I didn't do any type of closure for my CPH, but I am thinking I might try to put a 'toggle' type button on, just to hold it closed.
Thanks for all your inspiration and good luck to everyone who are just beginning. I really enjoyed myself while I worked on this and I must say I am quite proud of myself for actually finishing this too!!

CPH is done

It went from this ...

to this ...


Central Park Hoodie
Pattern: Knitscene Fall 2006
Yarn: 5+ skeins Peace Fleece in Lena's Meadow for size 36
Needles: Addi Circulars in US #7 and 8
(01/06/07 - 02/18/07)
Modifications: I ended up picking up 158 stitches for the button band. Otherwise, I followed the pattern (See errata on web site). I decided on 5 buttons for the closure.

Hood lays down perfectly

Button detail
My daughter loves it and asked for one in Pink.

Thanks to all the contributors! I loved seeing all the lovely CPHs. It really helped me finish this project.

Short Row Shoulders (an update)

Hello fellow CPH knitters!
I wanted to give a quick update. I have finally finished the back and both sleeves of my hoodie. The back stayed neglected for quite some time because I was determined to try the short row shaping technique to leave live stitches at both shoulders so that I can do a 3 needle bind off for both shoulders. Some of you that completed your hoodies mentioned this, and I was intrigued! I am familiar with short row shaping for sock heels, but hadn't done this on a larger garment. The technique works great to avoid that "stair step" jagged look of binding off stitches at the ends of several rows (as suggested in the pattern).

For anyone that wants to try this, I suggest the following articles:
One from knitty
A great one from Nona Knits (she actually compares 3 different methods).
If neither of those works for you, Google "short row shoulders", and you'll find lots of help.

The basic idea, for those who haven't tried it, is that you have to wrap one stitch before you finish knitting or purling all the stitches on that row; this leaves a gap between stitches, which you will later go back to close up and make invisible. Easier if you try it...trust me :)

Here's a quick shot of the finished product, ready and waiting to be attached to the front pieces (which are now in progress).



Happy Knitting!

Back done--Through No Help from 24

I thought I would get the back done this weekend when two discs from Season 2 of "24" arrived on Friday from Netflix. But I kept getting so involved watching the show, I kept making mistakes. Knit 2 inches past the armhole decrease before I noticed. Rip! Then had a cable going the wrong direction. Just couldn't live with it, so once again, Rip! Then I realized I'd forgotten to cable entirely. Rip again. So last night, I called "Uncle." Put in a chick flick and got the back done. Here it is:



I already have the ribbing knit for the fronts, so I'll transfer them onto my 8s, and get going on those tonight. Hopefully Heroes won't be too stressful. :)

One Sleeve Done - and needing more advice

Hi All,

First, thanks to Shameka, Pam and Tiennie for great advice on sleeve length and blocking (and reminding me feverishly that blocking is like doing a swatch – skip the step and you’ll regret it).


So I finished one sleeve this weekend (!) and as I’m progressing, more questions are arising. Thanks in advance for putting up with my beginner-ness! I realize that I’m being very (probably too) prescriptive about this – I think I’m just too nervous to screw anything up.

I’m trying to figure out the order of blocking and finishing, both seaming and doing the hood.

After finishing sleeves, but before doing the hood, it says to sew shoulder seams. I guess at this point, before doing the hood, I should block the back, left and right fronts and sleeves? From there, I will seam the shoulders.

After that I will do the hood and then the front bands and hood edging. After doing this – should I isolate the front bands/hood and block those while trying to avoid getting rest of the sweater wet?

Finally – any tips on seaming? I have my Vogue knitting book ear marked to the 10 different ways to seam – just wanted to see if anyone had some advice on what the best way would be for this one.

From Joyce:

Our newest member emailed me with this question (below). I thought I'd post it here for the group to read as I am unsure of the answer:

I have started the project and already have a question. I am not sure what the pattern means by continueing the pattern while progressing with the cable patterns.

HELP!

I have looked through the blog and guess no one else had this problem understanding the pattern.

Thanks for any help.

Joyce

If anyone can help Joyce, please post it here. Welcome, Joyce!

—Jeanne

I'm off!

Hi everyone,

All your work has been very inspirational to me, enough that I'm finally biting the bullet and starting my very first sweater for ME. (Also my first cable project, yikes!) I cast on last night.

I'm using Cascade 220 in a heather color (I think it's called Silver Spruce Heather) that I first bought almost three years ago to make a sweater for my son; I think it's much better suited for this. I knit pretty tightly so I got gauge on 10s, but didn't like the fabric, so I decided to go down a needle size and up a sweater size. We'll see how that works!

I'm really excited about the knit-along (my first – thanks Jeanne for hosting us) and about benefitting from all your wisdom and experience. My goal is to finish before hoodies go out of style! Now if only I didn't have to wait for the kids to go to bed to knit ...

Happy to be part of this KAL

Hello,
Today has been an exciting day. After eyeing the CPH for some time and reading this blog getting inspiration I finally committed and decided to make this beautiful sweater. Since this is my first sweater I decided not to use the Tahki yarn but instead opted for the Classic Elite Skye Tweed which is on clearance at WEBS. While I love the bold colors many of you have chosen I ultimately decided a more neutral color was best for me.Sixteen balls of beautiful tweed in the Scottish Mist colorway arrived today. The name of this color also appealed to me. I've traveled to Scotland twice now and it is one of my favorite vacation destinations.
I've already swatched and am anxiously waiting for my washed swatch to dry so I can verify my gauge and start knitting. Hope I can finish this sweater before winter ends in cold snowy upstate New York.

Status and Questions for the Group

Hi Everyone!

I love seeing everyone's progress - it makes me more and more excited and anxious to finish and to wear my new CPH. Here's my progress thus far.

I am using Donnegal Tweed Homespun– the yarn called for in the pattern. The color is a deep purple - #845 - and I love it – it’s perfectly rich and bold.

I just finished up the front right side and I’m on to the sleeves. I have a couple of questions that hopefully you can give some advice on.

First is sleeve length. I keep reading that many people feel that the sleeves are a bit too long. Are a lot of you finding this issue? I’m wondering if I should do 4” on the cuff ribbing instead of 5”.

Second- this is my second sweater ever and my first was knitted in the round. When you seam together at the end, it’s best to block, right? (edit: i realized this wasn't clear - i meant is it better block it BEFORE seaming or after)

One last thing - as I started my right front piece, I noticed that the pattern was wrong - the correction is on the Knitscene website. Here it is: Under Right Front on ribbing: Row 2 (WS) * p2, k2; rep from * to end of row

I’m sure I’ll be back with more questions on the hood – the part that is really scary right now :)

Can't believe this is so easy!!!

This is my first sweater project, and my first Cable project as well. I can't believe that I am actually making a sweater, and not getting bored. This pattern is very easy to follow. I am using Cascade 220 yarn. I think that it is much softer than the Donegal Tweed, and more affordable as well. And I absoluely love this color. This is a picture of the back piece. So, now it is on to the armhole shaping. Will post more pics later.
I must apologize for waiting so long to post. I have been sidetracked, because I had to make 3 hats for relatives, and one for Charity after I started this one. New York is brutally cold right now, so I felt an obligation to get the hats done.... so now I can fully focus on the sweater in the weeks to come. Ahem, that means finally focus on ME!!!!!! We all have to find time to treat ourselves, even if we are kindhearted and do nice things for other people. It's sad that I knit so much and only have pictures. This sweater will be my "live" masterpiece. LOL!!

Greensleeves... Cast on

The ribbing on my sleeves is done! Now I just need to finish those, do some seaming, and knit a comfy hood!! So excited about this sweater. More details on my blog.

Milestone!

Hello, everyone,

I hope those of you in the wintry states are keeping warm. Those of you in the warmer areas, send us some sunshine and heat! :-)

We have reached a milestone. Congratulations to Jacqueline, who is our 50th member! I wasn't intending to give away prizes, but I'm so excited about this that I feel the need to do so. Email your address to me, Jacqueline, and I'll come up with a prize.

Spread the word about this KAL. Let's see if we can reach 100 members.

Knit on!
Jeanne

Finito!

Here it is:


If you would kindly disregard my horrible learning experience as to dye lot importance, I would appreciate it! I made this using Lion Brand Wool Ease worsted weight in Blue Mist on size 8 addi turbos. Started Jan 18 and Finished seaming Feb 4. It's really not as tight as it looks, because it's not mine!! This was made for a friend's teenage daughter who is several inches smaller than me in every direction! I enjoyed knitting this one much more than the one I still haven't finished (Rowan Yorkshire Aran Tweed) and don't suspect I'll be finishing the other anytime soon. I might make one in wool ease for myself, though!!

I've had lots of fun watching everyone's progress and all the different choices in yarns and colors!! Thanks so much for setting up the continuation of the original KAL!!

Stacee

The CPH, she is finished!

Finished on January 27th.

I only used 7 skeins of the Tahki tweed. I wrote previously about my gauge problem (a bit loose), but all in all, I'm pleased. I wanted it to be an outdoorsy kind of sweater, and it will be. I should have made a size smaller - I guess I made it for the size I was last year.

It was a great fast knit, and I'm definitely consider making another, more fitted version.

I have a picture of the back on my blog, if you'd care to look.

Question about steeks!?

Has anyone knit the CPH in the round, and then cut (GASP) steeks for the cardigan front & armholes?? I hate purling, really hate seaming, but love this sweater! Thanks! Jane

I have a question! The current Hoodie Im doing in Bendigo Aran and although I should have used 5mm(used 5.5mm) I like the soft effect.So excited at the ease of this pattern, I went online and bought some RowanspunAran in a lovely burgandy colour from the UK. When I recieved it,I was surprised to find it appears thinner than my first aran yarn although the tension is said to be what I need and its Coarse! I mean I couldn't wear the hood near my neck, its rough!.I recall that somewhere a knitter had a similiar thought until she washed it and then its softness came out! I have to make this decision to go ahead and use it or sell it on and replace with something else....Any thoughts,experiences?

Hood question

I'm about done with my hood and am trying to decide what to do with it... should I bind off as the pattern says or should I graft or 3-needle-bind-off the thing... So I'm wondering what others did. If you grafted it or used the 3-needle-bo, how did you do your ribbing? Would I be safe grafting the hood, then pick up all 300 sts around the entire front edge of the project in one fell swoop instead of two sections? For some reason I can't visualize what I should be ending up with or whether my plan will work right.

Thanks!

Stacee

Yarned and ready (oh, yeah- I said it)

The yarn for the CPH has finally arrived! This will be my very first sweater ever, so I figured what the hell and splurged on the recommended Tahki Donegal Tweed.

This yarn has caused me to truly realize the full extent of my knitting madness for two reasons:

1. Husband came home and caught me throwing the skeins into the air and letting them fall over me, a la Scrooge McDuck with his money

2. I took this picture out on the sidewalk next to a fairly busy street because it was the only place the sun was shining and everyone knows the only way to truly capture the beauty of the yarn is in true sunlight. It was 5 in the afternoon and I was wearing pajamas (after spending the day knitting). People were stopping their cars and staring at the ground, trying to figure out why this homeless woman was taking pictures of string.

Anyway, I've already learned so much from this KAL, so thanks for your posts! I can't wait to get started!

farrah