CPH PATTERN AVAILABILITY

************* THIS JUST IN *************
Lisa Shroyer, editor of Knitscene magazine, has compiled a book entitled The Best of Knitscene, featuring a "reworking of Heather Lodinsky's "Central Park Hoodie" [Yarn Market News, January 2012], available from Interweave Press. The links below take you to the pages for the paper version and the eBook version.

Paper [144 pp, paperback, $24.95]

eBook [144 pp, PDF, $19.95]

The book includes 20 of the most popular knitting patterns from the first five years of Knitscene magazine, including Connie Chang Chinchio's Geodesic Cardigan and Katie Himmelberg's Phiaro Scarf. The offerings vary widely from mitts, hats, socks and scarves to vests and sweaters, in addition to providing tips and designer profiles.

**************** UPDATE ****************
PATTERN AVAILABLE NOW!!! :-)
The pattern for the CPH is now available
for purchase from Knitting Daily as a downloadable PDF! The pattern includes expanded sizing for PLUS sizes—52", 56", and 60"!

The Knitting Daily Blog has featured the CPH in some posts:
The CPH--PLUS!
The CPH--Which Size to Knit?
The Finished Plus Size CPH
The CPH Plus Size Gallery

If you receive the Knitting Daily email, you already know that the CPH is the NUMBER ONE best-selling pattern in the KD Online Store!


Saturday, March 31, 2007

Cascade CPH

Finished!

Yarn & Needles: about 6 skeins of Cascade 220 Heathers, US 7 for ribbing & US 9 for body

Sizing info: I knit the size M (36" bust) and measure 35" around, thus, it gives me about an inch of ease all around. I have seen some discussion that this sweater runs small, and I would say that this sweater fits comfortably but slimly. I especially like how this sweater fits in the shoulder and arm, because as a petite girl, it is important for garments to fit properly in the shoulder. If you are looking for something jacket-like, or have broad shoulders, size up.

Pattern Mods: I did my fancy ribbing so that it looks neat and even. No drunken ribbing here. I also did a three-needle bind off for the shoulders after using short rows to shape the shoulders. This was a revelation to me, with the tidiest shoulder seams I have ever done.

More pics and ramblings at the blog.

Progress-- Yipee!!!

As promised, here is the progress on my CPH. It is made using Cascade 220.
Knitting, frogging, and knitting again after I read the pattern, and finally get the decreases down. Here is the left and right front pieces of my hoodie. I am about halfway through the armhole openings. Next is the neck, and then off to the sleeves. I can see a dim light barely shining at the end of the tunnel.

Here is the back (unblocked).


To all of the lovely people in the knitalong who helped me by answering questions, I am very grateful. Thanks so much. Now, happy knitting!!!


Thursday, March 29, 2007

Sleeve Increase Question

I am just about to start on my sleeves, and I have a question about the pattern. I want to make sure I fully understand this, before I make a mistake and have to frog for the gazillionth time when I am doing shaping.

The pattern says to do the ribbing, then work 1 RS row, then another row on the WS. Okay, I have that part down. Then it says to work in the pattern and increase 1 stitch each end of needle every 8th row 9 times.

So, this means that I increase the first and last stitch of each 8th row on the WS??? Meaning I must do purl increases? (All of my even-numbered rows are on the purl side, and it has been working for me thus far)

Has anyone else done it this way? I really think it will be easier to do a knit in the front and back on the RS. Am I just not reading the pattern right, or is my train of thought messed up again?

Any info on what type of increase used would be very helpful. M1 or K1F&B.....that is if the increase is worked on the knit side.

Please help once again!!! Thanks, and I promise to have some progress pictures soon.

Flipped Cables

This is my first knitalong, and I have enjoyed so much reading everyone's helpful posts and seeing such inspiring successes.

Here's my version so far. I'm using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, which I have an ample supply of due to another sweater coming out way too big. I'd considered gifting the too-big sweater, but the yarn was pretty pricey for me, so I decided to frog and knit up something I'd love. I have been nervous about going the opposite direction with CPH--too small--especially after reading some posts, but I am going to just keep plugging along and see what happens. . . .

You'll notice the cables go the wrong way. I realized I was reading the chart left to right instead of right to left about halfway up the back, and after slapping myself in the forehead, I realized it looked fine, so I just went with it. I will make the sleeves match.

I decided to try short rows for the shoulders, inspired by a post here. I think I did them right. I am curious as to how the cable will work out when I join the front and back at the shoulder. Anybody have any trouble, advice?

On the Needles

Thank you guys for your help and suggestions...I've finally cast-on the back panel for the size 44 in hoodie. I brought my swatch, pattern and calculator to the SnB last night and thanks to Knitterary for giving me a good push. I was a bit intimidated by the whole “New Project” and wanting and needing it to turn out JUST RIGHT. Looking at the patterns final measurements helped in my decision to go up in size and here is a photo of the cast on ribbing for the back panel. Oh Joy.



I can tell already this will be a fast knit and the yarn is very pleasant to work with. The yarn is Berroco and I can't wait to see how well the cables pop!

Take care, until next time, Knit-On
Kris

Progress Report

Here's the back of my CPH and the start of the two fronts--only about 4 more rows of ribbing and it will be time to start the cables. Yarn is Colorado Yarns' Durango, from Webs, a major score (closeout, less than $3/ball) and very nice to work with. Just enough tweedy bits (floor sweepings??) to keep it interesting, and as you see the cables pop. The color is darker and richer than it looks in this picture, closer to the shadowy part.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Frogging and sleeve enlargement

I forgot to turn one of the cables last night. I noticed it after finishing the cable turning row. The forgotten cable was at the beginning of the back. Without giving it enough thought I decided to knit on and turn the cable on the next wrong side row. I did that and knit two more rows. Meanwhile I began to question my logic and an inspection of the errant cable convinced me to frog back and do it right.

Noone would have noticed but me, but the cable was always going to annoy me, so I did the right thing.

I am contemplating various methods of enlarging the sleeves but haven't decided on one yet. I need to read the Knitty.com articles on sleeves in depth. But right now I think if I bind off two extra stitches for the arm holes and add two extra stitches to the sleeves themselves the shoulders will be a bit narrower (ok since my shoulders are narrow) and the sleeves will be 1/2 inch larger in diameter.

Does it seem like this would work?
Sorry duplicate post
Starting Central Park Hoodie

Am wondering if anyone has knit the CPH in the round and, if so, how many stitches should a person cast on for the size 40? Thanks!

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Armhole shaping - Please help

I am working both left and right sides at the same time, and I am usually a person who follows patterns very well. Having said that, I must be humble, and as a question to all of my fellow CPH knitters out there. Here is the problem

I am working on the 36" pattern, so I have 40 stitches casted on for each front piece. When I get to the armhole shaping I do the following:
Bind off 4 stitches (leaving 36 stitches).
Work the next row.
Bind off 2 stitches (leaving 34 stitches).
Work the next row.
K2 SSK for left front/and K2tog , K2 for right side (leaving 33 stitches)
Work 1 WS row

Now, the pattern says "Rep last 2 rows 1 more time (31 sts remain)"

So, if I do the whole K2 ssK for the left and k2tog k2 for the right, wouldn't I be left with 32 stitches, after I work the WS row?

What am I doing wrong???? I really wanted to finish the fronts tonight, but this is holding up progress. Has anyone else had this problem?

Back complete

I have completed the back. Now working on left front, and have completed up to the armhole bindoff. I am using Fingerlakes 'Soft Wool" in the color Bluebell. My gauge is working out on #8 needles.

Monday, March 26, 2007

CPH debut in Central Park!

Here's my finished CPH in central park (strawberry fields)



I got to wear it to the yarn harlot's book signing! it was warm and comfy and perfect for the weather that day.

Specs:
Yarn: peace fleece worsted in sea moss (6 skeins)
Needles: 6 and 8s accordingly
mods: i grafted the top of the hood, and picked up all the stitches for the ribbing at one time. i also did short row shaping and three needle bind off at the shoulders.

my sleeves were a bit tight, as seems to be the trend, but overall i'm satisfied with the outcome. more pics on my blog :)

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Count Me In!

Good Day All!

Thanks for inviting me on board the CPH KAL. I look forward to sharing my journey with you and hopefully learn a lot from you all who have been there before.

I’ve swatched using Berroco Ultra Alpaca in hunter green.



I’ve gotten gauge by going up in needle size, but row gauge is still off. I'm thinking that I'll have to pay attention to the length during the project. Definitely knitting certain pieces together to keep them as symmetrical as possible. My only major decision at this point is to figure out which size to knit. I’m a perfect 40 inch bust and the pattern has a 40 in pattern, but does this mean that it will be fit and form fitting? Should I go up to the next size...which is 44 inches. I knit loose as it is, and from what I’ve read the pattern is on the smaller size. I wonder if this “smaller” talk has anything to do with peoples tension or actual gauge and pattern. I don’t want a form fitting hoodie, yet I also don’t want swim in the garment either. Oy...the torment.

Any advice you Hoodie experts can pass on would be much appreciated.
Knit-On
Kris

My Blog

Making progress:

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Slowy but surely

It's been slow going for me, but that's because I've been obsessed with moebius bowls for the past week! Those are mostly done now, so focus is back on the CPH. I'm about 7" up the back.


 

I'm mucking with sizes so this is laid out on the back of a (humongous) 
sweater that I wear a lot. I think it will fit though. I sized it up to 52" since I'm afraid the 48" size would be too small as so many people have said it runs small. I want it to fit but not make me self-conscious! I'm also using size 8 Addis even though I got gauge with size 7 bamboos... the bamboo was driving me nuts with this yarn! (Skye Tweed) I'll probably block the back when done just to make sure before plunging forward.

I also did the ribbing as suggested by the Crossroad Knits folks, and have ended up using combination knitting for the whole thing! I love how you can tell at a glance or feel which stitch to do. I used to do combination a long time ago so it's nice to go back. The ribbing does look nice and crisp! So, thanks for the tip!

Carrie

Friday, March 23, 2007

Buttonhole question

I finished the first button band and I'm rarin' to get started on the other one ... but I don't have my buttons yet. Should I wait? Or is the buttonhole size specified in the pattern (BO2/CO2) pretty standard (or flexible?) I'm sure I should wait and get the buttons, I'm just on a roll!

Did most people do their buttonholes the way the pattern said?

Thanks!

Hilary

Knitting larger sleeves

Moirae posted on 1/23/07 that she had knit deeper arm holes so she could make the bigger sleeves. I've read that the arms knit from the original pattern are snug. Is there a supplement to the pattern for larger arms? If not how do you calculate for larger diameter arms?

Meanwhile I'm plugging along with my Beaverslide Fisherman Tweed. I'm past the second cable turn on the front-back-front. I had some trouble getting started, making stupid mistakes, knitting while exhausted from shoveling 5 inches of sleet from the driveway. I'm not sure I'm loving this yarn for this project. I will suspend judgement till I'm done, though.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

On to the Hood!


I've just finished blocking out all the body pieces and will sew the shoulder seams and get the hood going tonight. I'm knitting mine in the Tahki Donegal Tweed and was concerned that the yarn might be scratchy. That was until I gave the pieces a bath in Eucalan yesterday and they've come out of their blocking as soft as butter.


The yarn also opens up a bit when it blocks, so keep that in mind--at least mine did. I can't wait to finish this sweater. BTW, isn't crazy how two different cameras pick up and record the color? The top pic is probably closest to the real color.

Hi - I'm New!


New Member here, and so glad to have found this KAL.

I just finished the back of my CPH and hope to start the sleeves tonight, which I'll do two-at-a-time. No use visiting Sleeve Island twice if I don't have to!!
I'm using Cascade 220, in Lapis, and LOVE it, however, so does my daughter and she's already threatening to steal it when it's done!

I'm considering putting in a zipper instead of the button band. Has anyone else done this? I'd love any tips you might have.

Loving my hoodie already!

I am about 7 inches into my hoodie. I am enjoying the Malabrigo and I can see it will work up very quickly. After swatching and measuring I wound up ribbing on an 8 and moving onto 10s making the third size. (I measured 37" around and added 4-5 inches for ease) I can also see that it will pill with wear but I love the softness-I am willing to shave it when needed. So far all I want to knit is this sweater and have my other many w.i.ps on hold!




Off and Running



I cast on my CPH and am about 8" into it. I'm using Black Water Abbey in Pink Heathers that I just purchased last month at Stitches West specifically for this gorgeous sweater. After seeing the beginning of Madge's CPH back in person and reading the posts about sizing, I went with the 40" size. My ribbing still seems too tight to block to the desired width, but I'm keeping the faith. Happy knitting!
Mary

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Two-color CPH?

Hello! I've just joined the KAL here, and am looking very forward to getting started on my CPH. Normally, I'm a dive-right-in kinda gal, but what I have planned for this sweater requires a little forethought, and some advice.

I'm planning on knitting this with yarn I bought in a little gift/tourist shop in Ireland. It was only labeled as "250 g", and I bought three hanks; however, two of them are the same color, while the third is a complimentary color. After doing some measuring and weighing, I've determined that each hank is approximately 470 yards (there is a possibility that it's more, but I wanted to be conservative).

To use this yarn for this project, I would like to knit some or all of the cables in the complimentary color, so here's my current dilemma: how do I figure out how much yardage the cables use up? I don't want to do too many of the cables and not have enough of the CC, but I also don't want to do too few and end up running out of my main color before the cardigan is finished.

Does anyone have any advice concerning these calculations? I'm rarin' to go on this sweater, but I want to minimize frogging.

One additional question (or more like a poll): when knitting with really wooly wool, what type of needles do you all use (bamboo, metal, plastic, etc.)?

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

sizing question

hey all,

i finally figured out how to join this blog. now i don't have to pester jeanne with questions. sorry jeanne.

i have a question for you all. i'm about to get started on my sweater and i've seen a lot of conversation and debate about the sizing of the cph. everyone says it runs small and to go up a size. i basically wear a medium size and would probably initally go for the 36 in size even though my actual bust size is a bit bigger. so i'm wondering, is going up to the 40 in size enough? or should i try for the 44? i want to reduce frogging time as much as possible.

thanks in advance for the advice. i look forward to working this up.

On the needles, but.........

I figured out my gauge and size and I now have a question. Have some of you knit the entire back and two front panels together? This sounds appealing. Any advice? I have 3" of back rib done but I would frog it if the three pieces knit together works well.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Just started


Hi,

I just started my CPH on Saturday. I'm using Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Heather Sapphire. This is my first attempt at knitting a sweater, so wish me luck! (I've just started shaping the armholes - I'm a little further along than the picture).


Oh, for all of you with a Flickr account, you are welcome to join my CPH group there!
Regards,
Lizzie in Los Altos, CA


Question

I began the CPH in November, before I really knew how to read a chart.
So, I read the chart backwards and my center cables twist the opposite way than they should. I just recently cast on the sleeves and I have done one cable twist-- like the wrong cables on the back.
So my question is: Should I make the sleeve cables the correct way or to match the back of my sweater?

Thanks guys!
Allie

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Almost there!

The body:
The sleeves:
The knitter:

Has anyone else found that it's difficult to pick up the required number of stitches for the button band evenly without them being too crowded? I'd be interested to hear how others did this.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Hood Kitchener Question

Hi,

I can't remember whose post it was, but I thought someone said they had added an extra row because they were kitchenering the hood ... is there a reason to do this? I feel like once you lost a stitch for a seam, you'd be in the same place binding off and seaming as kitchenering. But maybe I'm not figuring it right.

Right now I am thinking of leaving the hood stitches live on a holder, doing the button band in two pieces as called for in the pattern, then kitchenering the hood except for a short seam at the top of the button band. Please let me know if you think that isn't a good idea!

I'm just finishing the second sleeve and ready to move on to the button band (progress picture here) ... I'm excited!

Hilary

Waiting and Swatching

Hi! I am so excited to tart my CPH! I have been flirting with so many different yarns for this project and have actually added to my stash by coming close to a decision but not comitting. No problem- I have other plans for them :).

I have settled on Malabrigo Worsted in Lettuce. I love this yarn! It is softer than those commonly used for the CPH but it shows cables beautifully and is so yummy to wear.

I will start to swatch on an 8 while I await the pattern in the mail......I cant wait but it will give me some time to move along on some other UFOs.

I look forward to visiting the KAL and watching everyones progress.



Here is my beautiful Malabrigo.

Hayley
Hi. Thanks for letting me join this KAL. This is my first blog post, so please feel free to tell me when I make mistakes, or break any rules of netiquette.

I finished swatching for CPH yesterday. I'm using Beaverslide Fisherman Tweed in color Sweetgrass.

I've knit the swatch on US #8 and am getting pretty close to the recommended gauge.



Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket



The yarn is much greener than in the image, but the texture and tweedieness is pretty accurate. It is a rustic yarn, very soft and has an almost felted look/feel to it.



I am planning on knitting the 2 front pieces and the back together as one piece. I also want to try short row shaping on the shoulders. I like the idea of continuing the cable up the hood as one recent picture here showed.

I'd like to kitchener the hood like Cara did on hers.



I was wondering if there is a reason the pattern has the button band knit in two pieces. Couldn't it be knit up one side, across the hood and down the other side as one piece?



Have you noticed I'm trying to avoid seaming?

Freda

Friday, March 16, 2007

Checking in

After a little absence from knitting on my CPH, I picked it back up this week (while another project blocks) and dug in to finish the sleeves.



Knitting both of them at once seems to take forever, but I know I will be thrilled to have them both done at once. Also, since most everyone has said they tend to run long, I am knitting them in the smallest length because I'm not a huge fan a really long sleeves. Then it is on to the hood. I was so glad to see the post by Liz T. about the cable going up the hood. Inspired and so lovely. I plan on doing the same.

Question for those of you who have finished: Block before you do the hood?

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Cabled hood

Hi all - I've loved looking at all the finished and in-progress CPHs! I wanted to share a photo of my finished hoodie. I did continue the cable up the back of the hood and just started the decreases a little early to make it end symmetrically. I used a weird shade of Tahki Donegal Tweed.


Tuesday, March 13, 2007

The Japanese Short Row Shoulder


Anyone else do this? I just finished the Right Front and gave it a shot. I think it might work out so that I can do the 3 needle bind off. This is my first adult garment and I am a bit nervous about the finish work and want to do a nice job.

Hope to finish this knit before it's too warm to wear it. Oops--too late. It was in the 80's this weekend!!

Finished;)


Ella Rae Classic
Under 7 skeins
Knit for 40" size
US 5 for ribbing and US 6 for body
(knit picks options)
After 2 days of button shopping---- here it is;)
(a button's a button until you knit a sweater- is all I'm sayin...)
Fits great. (a bit big)
Will make it again.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Just getting started

I have had the Central Park Hoodie on the brain since I first saw it. Soon after, I narrowed my yarn choice to Araucania Nature Wool Chunky. I just couldn't bring myself to click the 'order' button to buy the yarn. Then Stitches West came along and Webs had a booth there. Next thing you know, i'm in line with a bag of yarn. Hooray! The hoodie is finally started. I am just over one ball in and I am lovin' it!


Click to embiggen

The yarn really isn't that chunky, and it is color number 129 in case you are interested. You can follow more of my hoodie progress on my blog.

Finished Hoodie

It's another finished Central Park! Hooray.

(Actually it's been finished for about two weeks, but my husband was unavailable for a photo shoot until this weekend.)

I used Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran in color 141, "Blossom," 85% merino, 10% silk, 5% cashmere. The yarn was admittedly a little pricey, but it was a birthday gift from my mother - and if you can finagle it as a gift, or find a good deal on eBay, or you just want to go ahead and splurge, then I HIGHLY recommend this yarn. Especially after you put a half cup of vinegar in the water when you block.


I love it so much. It was a quick and pretty easy knit, and the finished product is very stylish and versatile. I just wish it wasn't so darn warm so darn early in the year here in North Florida!

(More on this sweater - including more pictures - on my blog, http://yarnchronicles.blogspot.com.)

Sunday, March 11, 2007

I'm Back and improved!

The last time I was here I had posted about the problems I was haveing with my hoodie and not having enough yarn to knit it. The sales rep for that sold Tahki yarn to my local yarn store even searched high and low for more of my colorway but no luck. So I finally decided that I would use that yarn for a short sleeve sweater in the future and buy totally new yarn to knit the CPH. I decided to use the same type of yarn (Tahki New Tweed) The color is gorgeous brown with pink, cream, maroon, black flecks in it. So here is the start of a swatch I did today because of course I forgot what size needle I was using (I have since started the sweater):


I am so excited to get back to knitting this sweater. Yay me!!!

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Finished CPH



I love this sweater, and I’ve been wearing it non-stop since I finished it on Tuesday. It was a very easy and quick knit, and I’m happy with the end result. I agree with other bloggers who have said this would be a great first sweater. Or a great sweater that you’ll actually wear.

Here are some details:
Pattern: Central Park Hoodie from Fall 2006 Knit Scene
Yarn: Tahki Donegal Tweed in wine, green and red (color 874)
Gauge: 17 st over 4 inches Needles: 8s and 6s. My new Knit Picks Options needle set came in handy for the buttonhole band.
Knit Flix (or movies watched during the making of this sweater): 49 Up, Ali Zaura: Prince of the Streets, Eron: the Smartest Guys in the Room; Flags of Our Fathers; The Devil and Daniel Johnston; Water and Quinceanera (my fav and, yes, I watch too much TV)


Photos courtesy of my kids who really just wanted to get to school!



From Mo at Crossroad Knits

Hoodie---- is it me- or is the HOOD endless???



Had to rip back my fronts. Grrrrrr. I just could NOT get them to line up. (I knit them individually) so- I ripped them back - till they were even - and before the shaping--- then put them both on my circs and finished them together.
Highly recommend knitting fronts and sleeves 2 at a time. Harder to keep track the pattern- but it sure makes for easier matching of measurements.

I seamed my shoulders and picked up my stitches for the hood. The hood seems endless. Is it just me? I have a feeling the ribbing yet to come will be even more so! However- at least it's good tv/movie knitting!


central park hoodie 002

I am here- case you'd like to have a visit;)




Diving right in

Well, I did some swatching:



The swatch on the left is Classic Elite Skye Tweed (which I chose having never felt it before in my life off yarn.com for cheap) and the right is Rowan Summer Tweed. I was really worried about how scratchy the Skye Tweed turned out to be, so I picked up some Summer Tweed on a whim at my LYS the other day. I am really just learning about different yarns and their characteristics, so I was astonished to see how differently they knitted up. I think I truly know the meaning of "stitch definition" now! I think the Summer Tweed is beautiful in stockinette, but my CPH definitely deserves the Skye Tweed :)

I wore the wool swatch on my arm for a little while and it felt pretty soft without bothering me much, so since I have a boatload of it, I'm going for it! I have thought about swatching some more since this little experiment went so well, but... I can't wait :) More info and pics at my blog, of course!

Carrie Y.

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Howdy

Hello CPHers -

Great to be joining you here! This hoodie pattern has been on my to-do list since it came out last fall, and I finally cast on for it last weekend. I'm using Black Water Abbey Two-Ply Worsted in Pippin and US 7 Addi 24" circs.

I'm enjoying this knit - you can read more about it on my blog - even though I'm having twinges of doubt about how small it's knitting up. (I've followed what a lot of you recommended, and am knitting a larger size, but even so I already know I'll be blocking the heck out of it to make it fit.) I'm trying not to fret too much, though, as I'm 9" up the back and have to keep knitting!

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

First post;)


Hi all... I'm a newbie;)
These cables are addictive! I have my back and left front done--- giving the rt front a seceond try. Had to rip back- strted my shaping about one cable cross too late- "assymetrical front" doesn't seem to be part of the description;)
Stats:
Ella Rae Classic Worsted in color way #46 (pretty true to the pic)
US #5's for ribbing
US # 7's for body of knitting (Knit Picks Options)
Yarn is nice for cabling. And, my swatch softened up, somewhat. It's and not the softest. ( it is affordable) Will probably make this again- in something softer;) I'll be casting on both sleeves at once to avaoid the matching issues I'm having for the fronts. You live you learn, I guess!
ps--- yes- that is a wrapper from a spiderman toaster strudel... My 5 yr old was having breakfast while I was trying to take a pic in the sunshine;) Hmmmm toaster strudel for breakfast... a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do- so she can knit!
You can find me at "Extreme Adventures In Knitting and Motherhood"

Seeking Yarn!

Hello all!

After a tumultuous couple of weeks I decided I deserved something really nice, and it was time to make a cozy, comfy, lovely sweater just for me. The Central Park Hoodie fits the bill perfectly! I've only made one sweater before and it was hugely disastrous (literally.. HUGE). So I'm a little wary but still very excited. I've made a few baby sweaters so feel a bit more primed this time.

Unfortunately the yarn I ordered is just too scratchy (Skye Tweed). I'm one of those "allergic to wool" people, but really, I am, skin test and everything! I grew up being told I could never wear wool, so I'm slowly being brave, thinking outside the box, and learning what does work and what doesn't. I want this sweater to be ultimately wearable throughout the year, and I really love wearing sweaters over tank tops and t-shirts so it needs to be not-scratchy wool. I can only wear those over turtlenecks usually :) Mohair makes my nose go nuts and alpaca feels soft at first but slowly builds up an itchy fire that is none too pleasant!

So.. any yarn suggestions out there? I am going to the LYS this weekend to pick up some single skeins to swatch because I do want the cables to pop, and there are some nice wool blends out there now, aren't there? Wool Bam Boo sounds nice but dunno if that would gauge correctly. I need to make this baby slightly bigger than the directions call for so a larger gauge wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to making this beauty and will hopefully post some swatch pictures next week!

Carrie Y.

Sunday, March 4, 2007

Finished!

Hi Everyone,

I am happy to report that I finished my Central Park Hoodie! I finished up last Sunday – much of Saturday was devoted to seaming, and on Sunday I found and sewed on my buttons.


I’m a fairly new knitter and and while a lot of this was easy, some of it was really new to me. This was my first KAL and the amount of help and support I got along the way was great so thank you all so much!

Yarn: 8 skeins of Tahki Donegal Tweed in Deep Purple/845 bought from The Village Sheep. I used a full 7 skeins of yarn and probably 20 yards of the next skein (each skein approx 183 yds).

Started: January 25, 2007
Finished: February 24, 2007


Sizing: For those of you just getting started and are figuring out the sizing, before I started I kept seeing a lot of people saying this was running on the small size. I am 5’6 and if I were knitting a t-shirt I would knit a 34, so I assumed that the 36 would be too snug. Therefore I went for the 40. This is definitely not too snug on me – I wish it were a little smaller/more fitted but I still think the 36 would have been too small.
Modifications: I knit the ribbing on the body a little over 4 ½ vs the 4 inches called for in the pattern, so that it would be a bit longer. I also only did 4”ribbing for the sleeve cuffs vs 5” called for in the pattern. I kept seeing pictures with very long sleeves and many times people were rolling them up bc they were too long. I think my sleeves are the perfect length and maybe could be about ½ inch shorter.

Slightly more info can be found on my blog.

Looking forward to seeing everyone elses CPHs!

CPH Started

I have been lurking on this site awhile longing to knit a Central Park Hoodie. I didn't jump in because I've been trying to participate in the Knit From Your Stash 2007 Challenge. Unfortunately, all your pictures been the Sirens Lure to me. I'm smitten! I picked up the Knitscene yesterday at my LYS and when I spotted this beautiful red Tahki Donegal Tweed I could no longer resist!

I finished the back ribbing this morning on Britanny 4.0mm needles. Isn't this a lovely color?


I'm feeling slightly guilty. I only made it three months without purchasing yarn. Why did you guys tempt me?

Newbie

I have just joined the CPH knit along. What a great project. I have been lurking for a few weeks, and found the magazine at my LYS, and already had yarn in my stash.
I am using Fingerlakes Woolen Mill "Soft Wool" in Bluebell color. I am right on gauge with #8 bamboos. I have completed the back ribbing and done 1-1/2 repeats so far.
I have read a couple of posts about sizing being on the small side. But my gauge is correct, and the numbers are working out so far.

I don't have a blog, but hopefully can post a picture when I am further along.
Happy Knitting!

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Introduction

Ann, Liz and Mo at Crossroad Knits are all making the CPH together during these final few weeks of winter, and share our progress with each other every Friday. We were really inspired by the hoodies we've seen here, and love seeing all the different ones people are creating.

This week, Liz talked about some combined knitting tricks to make your ribbing on the bottom of CPH look neat and sag-less. Mo is just about finished with her sleeves and finally just discovered the joy of liberal use of stitch markers.

We're looking forward to participating and seeing everyone's progress.

Friday, March 2, 2007

Bad news - My CPH on hiatus!

Bad news y’all. My Central Park Hoodie is sitting in the corner on time out. There are a number of issues, the 1st being:

- that I think I need to to frog it and knit is a size larger. I heard that it tends to run small. I want it to fit. So it has to be frogged.

- and then,Yarn issues. I thought I had the yarn issue all solved but no.

I went to pick up my order today from Knit away during my lunch break, but the yarn was the wrong color. The wrong color, can you believe that. Apparently Tahki discontinued the yarn I am using and have a new line with the same name. The only difference is they took the cotton out of the tweed yarn and have a new label, and stupid idiots that they are, when they named the new colors they used the same numbers they used with the old line but different colors. How stupid is that! On top of that the yarn store owner called up the customer service of Tahki yarns to see what could be done to fix this problem for me. I guess she had problems with them in the past and knew how they were gonna act because she put them on speaker phone so I could hear how the conversation went and y’all they were so rude, it was not right. Apparently there have been a lot of complaints about Tahki yarns and their customer service. I even spoke to the sale rep for Knit a way and she was saying the same thing. So the sales rep is gonna try to track down some of the old yarn or find a match with the new yarn. It is either that or buy more yarn in a new color to knit the Central Park Hoodie.

I am leaning towards just buying more yarn in a new color. I don't know we will see.

So I say all that to say my CP Hoodie is on hiatus and I am going to knit something else. Boo hoo!

I’m off to knit...

Tawana

Hello from New Member and Question About Circular needles

Hello group!

I am looking forward to knitting this sweater with all of you! I love this pattern and can't wait to get started! I think I'm going to use the Tahki Donegal Tweed in the color 815, which is a Navy Blue with light blue tweeded in. I have one skein of that on hand, and plan to swatch it and make sure I like the color before I purchase the yarn for the sweater.

One question, since so many of you are well into your sweater knitting: has anyone used circular needles to knit the whole body at once? If so, how has that been working for you? I REALLY hate sewing seams, so I'm considering knitting the body in one piece.

Thanks for all your beautiful pictures, and I'm looking forward to sharing everyone's progress.

Cheers,

Sierra in Colorado