Knit the CPH with us!

A good start

2012-01-23T20:55:00.000-08:00

Here's my start of the back of the sweater. I'm using my new wooden KnitPicks Options Needles. The yarn is Elann Peruvian Highland Chunky.

2012-01-02T15:09:00.000-08:00

It's posted in the Pattern Availability section above, but in case you haven't visited the blog in awhile and still subscribe to posts in a reader, I'm posting this bit of information I found in the latest edition of Yarn Market News.

Interweave Press, publishers of Knitscene magazine (the original source for the Central Park Hoodie pattern), have compiled a collection of 20 of the best patterns from the last five years of Knitscene, and the CPH is featured. This is wonderful news for knitters who have found it a challenge to locate the pattern in past issues. I have not reviewed the book yet to see if the corrections posted here have been incorporated, but I'm excited that the CPH is finding new life!

This could mean a rejuvenation for the KAL! Are you with me?

FINALLY!

2011-11-29T20:53:00.000-08:00

I finally ordered the yarn to make this sweater! I've been in love with it since it first came out. I've been looking at all your beautiful finished sweaters. Nice Job!

I ordered Elann's Peruvian Highland Chunky. Can't wait for it to arrive!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-09T19:49:00.000-08:00

Hello, fellow knitters, this is your Admin here. Hard to believe it is 2011 already.

Despite relatively low activity on the CPH KAL blog, we're still alive and kicking and have recently added two new members. I'll let them make the introductions themselves if they wish.

I just wanted to pop in and say to all of you who are still following, Happy New Year, and drop by sometime. This sweater continues to be popular, and we're always accepting new members.

Have Ravelry Name?

2009-01-22T15:32:00.001-08:00

Hi, all!

If you have a Ravelry ID and would like to have it listed after your name in either of the KAL Members Lists, please send an email (JRBERRY63 at WOH dot RR dot COM) and tell me:

Who you are on the list
Your Ravelry ID

Thanks!
Jeanne (Admin)
aka KnittyBanter

My Hoodie

2008-11-20T19:03:00.001-08:00

I finished my Hoodie and im just loving it......

CPH FO happy dance!

2008-10-30T01:10:00.000-07:00

I finished my hoodie last night. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Especially given the egregious error I made a while back. My left armhole was 10 rows deeper than my right armhole, but I didn't discover that until after I had joined the shoulders and knit the entire hood. Yikes. I had to cut the knitting, rip down 10 rows, and graft it all back together. And it worked.

Here's the end product!

I started this on September 16, and finished on October 28. That's pretty quick for a sweater for me. I used Louet Riverstone Worsted, six skeins.

Mods: short row shoulders and three needle bindoff to join them, and I continued the cable up the hood. I also ran a line of slip stitch crochet along the back neck to keep the fabric from stretching out (hat tip to the Yarn Harlot for that one!).

More gory details on my blog: http://pdxknitterati.com/2008/10/29/central-park-hoodie/

I love this sweater!

It's Done!

2008-10-05T07:27:00.000-07:00

Finished last night -- and it's not even Christmas Eve yet -- WOW!

These are not the greatest pictures, but I don't have someone to model it for until Christmas Day!

I used 8+ 3 ounce skeins of Caron Simply Soft Tweed, put on buttons, and carried the cable all the way to the top of the hood

I'm considering knitting this one again for myself -- I love the look of it, and since I have 3+ skeins of the yarn left, I wouldn't have to buy much to make a second one -- we'll see

It's been a blast!

A Friend's CPH

2008-08-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hello, all!

Cristi, aka Turtlegirl76, is a member of the Ravelry version of the CPH KAL but not this version. She just finished an amazing CPH and has kindly given me permission to share it with you. So head on over to Cristi's blog and take a look at her FO. Can you believe she did it in SIXTEEN DAYS?

Kind of motivates one to knit, doesn't it? :-)

Hello fellow knitters!

2008-08-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hi! I'm brand new to the CPH knitalong, and I wanted to introduce myself and ask a few questions.

So, I've never knit a sweater before...or cables. I just bought a pair of circular knitting needles in a US size 6 and 29" in circumference, and a pair of US size 8 at 32," and also this gnarly looking U-shaped cable needle. The lady at my LYS was pretty pushy about how straight needles would not be as useful (and she only stocked ones that were 9" long), but I've never worked with circular needles before. Are these things acceptable for the pattern? I think I'm doing the 36" size since my bust is 34."

I'll be posting pictures once I get started. I was so enamored with the color from the pattern that I ordered 7 skeins of Tahki Donegal Tweed #803 online. :X I hope I'm not getting in over my head!

It's nice to be a part of this, and I hope I do alright. :) Viva la CPH!

Finished CPH #1, on to #2

2008-08-16T10:14:00.000-07:00

I think this sweater pattern is addictive. I finished #1 yesterday but already have the back done on #2 (I started on it while I was waiting for my 60" cable for my options needle to arrive so I could knit the button band in one piece.)

Here's #1 completed I used Plymouth Encore Worsted weight (75% acrylic and 25% wool), used size 6 and 8 needles and knit size 40. I made the sweater longer, increased every 6 rows on the sleeves to give more room, did a three needle bind off for the hood, shortened the sleeves, and knitted a 1" button band with i-cord bind off. I plan to put a separating zipper in once I find or order (from zipperstop.com) one to match.

And here's my start on #2, which is knitted in Cascade 220 super wash.

Finally Finished!

2008-08-11T12:09:00.000-07:00

After sitting in a WIP basket for 2 years, my CPH has finally jumped into my hands. I have finished it! If you want to see the other pics and specs, visit my blog.

Happy Knitting!

Progress Report

2008-07-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished the body of the sweater!

Here's a closer look at that cool cable up the back

I'm pretty sure I'm going to go ahead and take that cable up the hood too because I really like the way it looks

So now its on to the sleeves (I'm planning to knit them both at once so I don't have to worry about that whole "they don't match" issue)

How's every one else doing?

Zipper advice

2008-07-25T18:08:00.001-07:00

I'm just finishing sleeve #2 and am thinking forward to whether I want buttons or a zipper. I'm thinking that buttons may create "gaps" when I button it up. How have folks finished the front bands when they put in a zipper...are they kniting the same way they would for buttons without the button band? I saw some reference to I-cord bind off, was this after the button band had been knitted. After all this work, I want to be sure I finish it so it looks as well as possible.

Sleeve increases

2008-07-20T23:04:00.000-07:00

Oh dear, I think I increased on the sleeves incorrectly - every 6th row instead of every 8th for the first few. Well, anyway, I have finished the front pieces and back. I have used the Tahki Donegal Tweed in a teal with orange and other color fleks. Here they are ->

Revised plans

2008-07-07T21:57:00.000-07:00

I wrote recently about starting the CPH with Cascade Superwash for my daughter. Well, I've decided to knit one for myself first. I'm using Plymouth Encore because I found a beautiful green tweed at my local yarn store's 40% off sale. I'm on my second day of knitting and have two cable repeats done on the back. The photo I have here was from the first day of knitting. I'm excited to finally be started. I am knitting a size 40 and plan to make it one cable repeat longer than the original pattern.

Question about increases

2008-06-18T04:47:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! My sisters and I are currently having a CPH knitalong, and I'm working on the sleeves. This is only the second sweater I've attempted, and I'm kind of learning more about knitting as we go.

I did have a question, about the increase on sleeves. There seems to be about a kazillion ways to increase a stitch - and I wondered what everyone did for an increase, and what they found to work the best? So far, I've been doing a M1L (I saw the video on knittinghelp.com), and that seems to be working well.

I can't wait to finish this! I really love the pattern. It was overwhelming when we first printed it out, but once you get going it's really fun.

No Wool

2008-06-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

Hi,

I am looking to knit this in something that is not wool. Does anyone have any suggestions? I would also like this to be machine washable and dryable.

Thanks,

Carol

Hi, I'm new and just getting started

2008-06-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

I just got my yarn to start the CPH I am making for my daughter. After buying the yarn (Cascade 220 Superwash) I began reading more here and in the Flickr group posts and now I am concerned about my yarn selection. I am also struggling a bit with what size to knit. I get the sense from what I read that many people think the CPH as written knits up too short, that the arms are too narrow, and that you need to allow ease for the sweater (if you are a 37" size by measurement, you would make the 40" sweater). I'm sure I'll be looking to some of you for help as I get going. Here's a photo of my yarn. I love the color, but am worried if it is too thin for this project.

A brief introduction

2008-06-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

Good morning fellow CPH knitters!

I've just joined you, and the picture is the sweater -- ok, I can see the sweater there anyway.

Every year for the past 7 years I have knit my daughter a sweater for Christmas. (A tradition begun when she went to college in a cold climate)

Last year I knit her the Arwen Cardigan in response to her request for something suitable to wear to the office (HR department in a school district) but that had the style feel of a hooded sweatshirt. I did a few design changes to that sweater (added a band of cable around the bottom to make it longer, knit the fronts and back all of a piece and added a zipper).

This year's selection will be the CPH!!

I'm using Caron's Simply Soft Tweed (my daughter can not wear wool), and I'm knitting in black (under a VERY good light, I might add!)

The box arrived last Thursday, and right now I'm about half way into the ribbing around the bottom -- fronts and back being knit all in one.

I'm looking forward to sharing my work, and seeing what all of you are doing!

Finally it's finished

2008-06-08T11:58:00.001-07:00

I love this sweater and can't wait for Winter.

finally finished

2008-06-05T16:43:00.000-07:00

I was done knitting in January but procrastinated badly on the finishing. I keep saying I'll probably put in a zipper but who knows if I'll ever get around to it. I'm just glad I got the seaming and blocking done! Photo on my blog here. Older blog posts here and here.

2008-05-31T09:17:00.000-07:00

OK..... So I was Merrily Knitting Along on my CPH .. Back finished .. left Side Finished ??? and Started the Right Side Last night...
All the while I was doing the left side I kept noticing that the cables just were not right.. I checked and I was doing the correct Twist... ??
Then last night when I started the Right Side I saw that there were two purl stitches before and after the cables that I was not doing ??? Why I do not know BUT.... Of Course there are purl stitches.. Thats what makes the cables stand out.... Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
I am Glad that I finally saw the mistake because I am doing this the No Cable needle Way and I thought maybe thats why they looked different.. I love making the Cables without a third needle !!!

So Onward ( or should I say BACKWARD ) I go... I will "TINK" the left side and reknit it!!!!

A lost CPH....

2008-05-25T04:40:00.000-07:00

Hello there,
My name is Carmen and I owned an unfinished CPH:

I bought this Rowan Yorkshire Tweed two yrs ago and started the journey of the Central Park Hoodie following every website that spoke about, until I found you....

So here I am with pictures of my Hoodie:

As you can see it's almost finish. I just need help sewing it together and I want to add a zipper. I trying to find a video (I'm a visual person) that could help me add the zipper. Better yet I think I'm going to a yarn store and see if someone could help me. If you know of anyone or any website that could help I will appreciate the info. Since I'm determine to finish it this year....

I love all the pictures that I have been looking at,they give me hope that I 'll be able to finish mine and model it for you ....

A CPH for my dear daughter-in-law

2008-05-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

This CPH was for my dear daughter-in-law's birthday.

I used some cream colored wool that I purchased at my fiber guild's stash sale. With such a small investment I decided to be daring and knit the sweater in the round, with steeks for the front opening and armholes. I finished the front edges with applied I-cord and used a zipper for the closure. The sleeves were picked up around the armholes and knit down to the wrists. I used Barbara Walker's book "From the Top" for that process.

Isn't she lovely? My daughter-in-law in the sweater! She lives far away, so the whole thing was a gamble. This was the first time I'd really tried cables too. All in all, a satisfying project.

2008-05-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

Hi!

I am excited and proud to report successful and lovely completion of the Central Park Hoodie (with Viking Cable Substitution). Yea! I am thrilled with how it turned out!

Happy Knitting!
Lisa Kay

2008-05-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

Hi... I just wanted to introduce Myself.... I just joined your Blog and My name is Penny!!!
I started the CPH a while ago and its been sleeping on my needles for way too long...
I just recently woke it up so it can begin growing again...
It is actually a nicer sort of Heather Hunter Green.. Its a discontinued Woolease Color and its prettier that the photo... I will be making this for my 13 year old Grandaughter... Its so hard to find suitable patterns for the teens and I think she will love this sweater!!!
Its nice to be back in The Park!!!!

Finally started!

2008-05-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

I have finally started my CPH after skulking around the KAL forever. It's Cascade 220 Heathers #9406 celery. Had trouble hitting gauge, so ended up knitting on sz. 7 for the body and adjusting the stitch count. Knitting the back and fronts as one piece -- going pretty quickly.

Whoops!

2008-05-12T05:27:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when I talk too much and too excitedly at knitting group!

Oh noes!

Nevermind, I've since dropped those stitches down and fixed the mistwist in the cable!

(excuse the dodgy blurry photo - it was evening and hard to take a nice one without flash)

First sweater done!

2008-05-11T03:28:00.000-07:00

My Central Park Hoodie (first one ever) is finished! I'm really happy with how it turned out, and its super warm, which is good as its just turning cold where I am.

I knitted size 36", which is a little loose fitting around my chest, but the sleeves are quite snug. Made some very slight modifications- grafted the top of the hood and added 2" to the length, which made it pointy (not what I wanted to achieve!). I knit the button band in one piece with a long circular needle, but I need to re-block the button band as I cast off a bit too tight.

The yarn I used was a 12 ply felted lambswool and got gauge with 4.5/5mm needles.

Trouble with the front panels

2008-04-22T18:55:00.000-07:00

Hello there, hoodie-knitters! Please excuse my potentially naïve question. I have embarked on my first sweater with this pattern, and all was going well until the right front panel. I've reached the point where I should do the armhole and I am having some conceptual second-guessing with the decreasing and the cables. Will I be decreasing some of the cable stitches?

Clara Park Hoodie II

2008-04-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

This will be the second update on my CPH. Last two weeks I finished the hood and the buttonband.

For the hood I decided to continue with the cable from the back. But after some time I realised that the cable will end in exactly that corner of the hood, that is not shown, if the hood lies on my shoulder. So I decided to modificate the hood a little, stop some time earlier for the stockinette region and continue just with the cable and in every new row I knitted together the last stitch from the cable with one stitch of the hood. (I sounds complicated in english ... I hope you understand what I mean).

It was quite hard to finish - especially the cross with the front-band cable was quite difficult. That is why it looks a little crumpled, but I think it's ok. (My first idea was to twist the "back cable" with the "front cable" But I had no clue, how to do this.)

After that I continued with the buttonband. I did it the same way Shameka described here. So I took 3 stitches for 4 rows and after all I had 316 stitches on my needle. It's surprising how long it can take to knit just one row, if this row has this many stitches. The buttonband is nearly 3 inch wide. The buttonholes are over 4 rows, which is perfect for my nice green buttons.

Last but not least I will give you an impression of my hoodie, although the sleeves are still missing:

Clara Park Hoodie I

2008-04-08T04:34:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I just started blogging last week and knitting is my new obsession since octobre last year. The CPH is my first project that is bigger than a hat or socks. I call it Clara Park Hoodie, because I live in Leipzig - Germany and our biggest park is Clara-Zetkin-Park. (And I'm sorry for mistakes - I'm not a native speaker especially not in knitting language - but I do my best)

It took me some time to find a yarn in a nice colour and quality. The best I found was "Schachenmayer Trachtenwolle - loden meliert". It's kind of mottled dark green new wool. And I use Knit Pick Harmony Wood needles in 5mm (size 8).

I started 10 days ago and I'm very suprised how fast it grows. I already finished the back and the two fronts. And I could not resist and closed the parts to see how it fits. I knit the CPH size 40 (my bust in inch fits this size).
I think the back is ok. It's close-fitting (maybe too close?) but I decided to be satisfied. Fortunately its flexible and at the moment it does not stretch, if I wear it.
But for the front - I know there is still the band to knit, but it seems to be too small. I mean, if I stretch it, it can fits, but without any help it's wide open.

At the moment I decided to go on with the hood instead of the sleeves - as soon it is finished I can knit the front band. I want to include buttonholes and if I still have the feeling, that it is to small I will make a wider band.

You can also read about me and my Clara Park Hoodie in my german blog or look at some more photos.

Hoodie Sleevie!

2008-03-20T05:19:00.001-07:00

I haven't posted in a long while but only because there's been no knitting on the hoodie front for a long while too! I'm afraid it was put into hibernation while I did some gift knitting - but now it's full steam ahead!

Previously I had knit a sleeve passed the elbow before realising it was simply too tight. In fact I was doing the increases incorrectly - only half as many as I should have done, Gah! So I haven't frogged that sleeve, but cast on anew for the first sleeve and am now almost up to the shoulder! A few more centimetres and I'll be able to start the sleeve cap - hurrah!! =D

I'm super keen to keep cracking on with the Hoodie so I can have it ready for the cooler weather which is just peeking it's head around the corner now here in Oz, but not quite ready to grace us with its presence! I'm also eager as I've never done sleeve caps and set in sleevey goodness before - well, this is my first jumper so I suppose that's not surprising! So that will be fun to do in only a little bit more knitting time!!

Non Hoodie Finished!

2008-03-15T06:05:00.002-07:00

I've finally finished my Hoodless version and I have to say I love it! It mets and exceeds all expectations! If you're interested in all the details you can see them on my blog, otherwise here's a pictures!

Happy Knitting!

I'm new - any yarn recommendations?

2008-03-12T13:24:00.001-07:00

Hi all,
Just thought I'd post a snippet to say hello. I've been searching for a while for the perfect first-sweater pattern, and I think/hope I've found it! I haven't bought yarn yet, but I'm off to the shop this weekend then I'll cast on. Can anyone recommend a good type of yarn to use for this? I live in New Zealand so I can't get all the brands I hear mentioned (Knitpicks, Ellan, Cascade etc). I was thinking of a merino-silk blend , or possibly a merino-possum blend if I can afford it. Any ideas? (I'm assuming I need to use a worsted weight yarn...)

My Finished Central Park Hoodie

2008-03-07T13:11:00.000-08:00

Yarn: Cascade 220 in Color 8013 (Walnut Heather), a little over 5 skeins
Needles: US #7 and #9 to obtain gauge
Modifications: Lengthened the body by half an inch

Cross-posted with additional photos on my blog here.

Nearly Done!!

2008-03-06T19:14:00.002-08:00

Thanks to some a lot of waiting room knitting time I have the finish line in my sights!! I'm going to cast off while Omarosa tries to pull off a miracle!

just starting out

2008-03-01T09:01:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone. I just joined, and the CPH will be my first sweater. Everyone has advised me to knit my first with a pattern that doesn't require seaming, but I couldn't help but fall in love with this one.

I bough 9 skeins of Cascade 220 superwash for this project and am moving very slowly. I knit up a gauge swatch, but couldn't get the same gauge without it being very hole-ly looking. Then I realized that I should probably wash and block my swatch then measure my gauge. That is my next step.

I'm excited to cast on! To determine what size I needed, I took a hoodie that I love, laid it flat on the ground and measured the bust circumference. I plan on casting on for that measurement. I didn't know how many inches to add on to my actual body measurement for 'give' so I did it this way... Do you think this will be okay?

Stars in my eyes...

2008-02-27T13:15:00.001-08:00

Warning: Knitting during the Oscars can be hazardous to your WIP.

Hi, folks. My CPH has been in production since September, but by Sunday night, I was confident that both sleeves would be done by the end of the 3-hour marathon that is the Oscars. Heh, heh, I thought to myself, by the time I know Best Picture, I'll have only the front ribbing to pick up and knit, the sleeves to seam in place, the final blocking, and, at last, Fin.

Not so fast. Triumphantly holding up the bound off sleeves around midnight, I knew who'd won each and every Oscar, who was currently "seeing" Ben Affleck, and why so many people have commented that CPH sleeves can be a bit snug. For 3 star-studded hours I had kept gauge, I had followed the pattern correctly, and I had knit two too-little sleeves. What had gone wrong? How had I ended up with a Razzie? (Two Razzies, actually.)

Well, I'd been so focused on the small screen that I never once compared what I was knitting with what I'd already knit. Now, thanks to Jenna Wilson's wonderfully detailed articles on sleeves in "Thinking Beyond the Pattern" on Knitty.com, I know that my sleeve caps don't match my armscyes. So after I hit "Publish Post," I'll be pulling out the stitches above the decrease rows and modifying the pattern to make the sleeve caps a little wider and a little longer to increase their overall perimeter. Be kind, rewind, as they say in the movie biz.

Viking Version Cables

2008-02-26T18:32:00.000-08:00

Hi!

I've started a CPH with a cable substitution. Here is the beginning of the back. Instructions are available on LisaKayKnits.

Happy Knitting!
Lisa Kay

Hood?

2008-02-26T12:02:00.000-08:00

I am so not in love with this thing anymore. I had a decent enough time making the pieces, I just knew something was going to go wrong once I put it all together. I have no idea what I'm doing with the hood. I just don't see where I'm supposed to start picking things up from - from holder to neck to holder, and so on - how is that even possible? I started thinking that I start from the small number of stitches on a holder at the very edge of the front panels. But there are WAY more than 11 sts between that and the back panel holder. I have no idea how to approach this and turn it into something that doesn't look so sloppy. If anyone can give me a basic walkthrough, I'd be very grateful!

~ My CPH ~

2008-02-16T22:17:00.000-08:00

I just realized that I hadn't let you all know that I finally started my CPH. ;D Here is a pic of the left front. I've finished it and the back, now to get motivated to start the right front. LOL

Yarn ~ Cascade 220 Ruby

Dawn ;)
Simplified Life

Moving right along

2008-01-29T06:12:00.000-08:00

I cast on last Friday and I'm moving right along. I started the Left Front yesterday. I'm planning ot make a hoodless CPH. Has anyone else done this?

Happy Knitting! Bobbi

Understanding the cable charts

2008-01-22T19:26:00.000-08:00

I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out the cable charts, as I've just started the back. So for my size (36") I knit 14, work row 1 of A, k10, row one of B, k10, row one C, k14. Buuuut... What's row 1? I can normally read cable charts well (I survived Knitty's Mariah) but I don't get this one. I thought row one might be the one where the cable is, but I can't tell because the numbers aren't lined up with the boxes. Also, what's with the two plain rows below it?

Furthermore, how many rows does this thing repeat for? The pattern only specifies two, but the charts are numbered to 9. But there's more than 9 rows on the charts. Do I work from 1-9 and start over, work from 1-the top of the picture and start over, or work from 1- the top and then do the two unnumbered rows below it?

Thanks for any clarification you can offer. I'll be making this in Plymouth Galway Paint, in a bunch of reds.

Large Sizes Use How Much Yarn?

2008-01-14T10:45:00.000-08:00

Hi all. I'm Jonna and I'm just now joining the CPH KAL. I have two questions relating to knitting the large size hoodie.
First, for the 52" size, the yarn requirements are almost 3,000 yards and this seems like a really large amount. On Knitting Daily, as an answer to someone in the comment section (which day?), Lisa Shroyer said, basically, you need that much yarn to cover us 'big' folks. But on other cardigans I've looked at in the larger sizes, the amount is closer to 2,000 yards. I could even see adding another 500 for the hood but.... so has anyone done these larger sizes and did you actually use the yardage the pattern suggests.
My second question is about the sleeves. I noticed a difference between sleeve shapes in the schematic and I was thinking about doing a 52" bottom but a 48" top. There seems to be more of a slope on the larger size and the difference in inches spanned along the top is double!
Anyway, I really appreciate any help anyone can give me before I start. But I'm so excited to get going that I may just buy the large amount of yarn and work out the sleeves later.

Got the Yarn

2008-01-10T16:45:00.001-08:00

Beth picked out the most gorgeous shade of purple Tahki donegal tweed for her CPH - I just love it!!!

Next step - the swatch.

Christmas Cardi

2007-12-31T20:23:00.000-08:00

Cast On December 11
Finished Knitting December 23

Yarn: Paton's Classic Merino Wool, 6 balls, Burgundy
Needles: US 5 & 7
Size: 44

Modifications: Body knit in one piece, center cable on back changed to 4x4 to account for mismatch in ribbing (see detailed blog post for more info), sleeves knit in the round, shoulders bound by 3-needle bind off, cable carried up and over the top of the hood, edging cables grafted at top of hood, edging knit continuously, closed by zipper :D
Whew!

Full details and lots more photos are on my Finished Objects Blog - definitely a fun knit!

Blocking question

2007-12-29T12:09:00.000-08:00

I am still in the process of knitting my CPH. I knit the back in a size 36 according to the pattern and I felt comfortable with how it looked, sizewise. However, as I worked on the right front, I worried that it looked too narrow and added a few stitches to both the center and side seam. Now it looks better. But now I'm worried about the back. Would it be ok to block the back before I do the seaming and the front band? If I did that, I think I could see more clearly if it fit.

I finished ages ago...

2007-12-22T11:32:00.002-08:00

...But neglected to get pictures until very, very recently. I actually finished the knitting last spring/summer when it was impossible to wear, so didn't bother putting in a zipper until this fall.

Lately though I've been wearing this almost every day! I love it. Here are the specifics:

Size: 52" -- I made my own modifications based on other sizes, although it's great to see larger sizes available through Knitting Daily! There's a thread for my mods on Ravelry.
Yarn: Classic Elite Skye Tweed -- I want to say the color is "Grampian Purple"
Modifications: Besides size, I also did a zipper (obviously), short row shoulders (thanks to this KAL!), and made sure the sleeves were ample enough :)

I do wish I had made it a smidgen longer, but I hope it'll get longer when my baby bump gets smaller :)

Thanks for all the great advice and inspiration on this KAL!

Here we go a cable-ing...

2007-12-21T14:43:00.001-08:00

I'm finished with the entire body and the hood...incidentally I've become a pro at dropping stitches to re-knit cables - due mostly in part to my fiddling with the pattern...I've been officially on Sleeve Island for 2 days now hoping to have this sweater done for xmas :D

Obsessed.

2007-12-18T16:17:00.001-08:00

With the cool/cold weather I've found myself obsessed with knit coats - I had been resisting the dire urge to cast on some phenomenal amount of stitches to try to knit a knee length coat when the note from knitting daily appeared in my inbox. I was smitten. So smitten that I immediately purchased the pattern, detoured on the way home to 2 different shops to buy yarn (the first didn't have enough balls of the right dyelot to get the hoodie done) and cast on immediately.

I opted for the knit the body all in one piece option and was originally planning on making it "seamless" by grafting every possible stitch...after initial battles with the pattern (I failed to subtract the seam stitches, and for some reason I thought the Right Front and Left Front started with K2 vs P2 on the RS...no, I didn't rip it out - I made modifications :) ) In less than a week I've knit the entire body and the hood. Apparently I'm obsessed. I've been staying up til 2am knitting away (and sometimes tinking back several inches (only on one occasion) and doing things like unraveling cables and picking them all back up again (I've become amazingly proficient LOL) I wound up doing the 3 needle bindoff on the shoulders because grafting the cable was giving me a twitch...I'm proud to say I've figured out how to graft cables/ribbing for the hood though...I'm hoping to have this hoodie done for Christmas!

New to KAL introduces

2007-12-17T02:22:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! My name is Nessa and I joined the CPH KAL last week. Couple of days ago I started my first Central park hoodie and last night I finished the back piece. I love knitting it but I can't wait to finish the whole hoodie. :D My little sister also fell in love with it, but since she can't knit, I'm probably going to have to make her one, but I think that won't be a problem! :D
You can find me from Ravelry by the name kirsikka.
Here's a pic of the back piece. The yarn is Novita's 7 veljestä (a Finnish yarn, if anyone's wondering), color green, needles 5 mm/80 cm Inox bamboo.

My CPH - A Work in Progress

2007-11-19T20:12:00.000-08:00

Hi I'm Chelle (ravelry: nosheep4chelle) and I'm knitting the Central Park Hoodie for NaKniSweMo. This will be my first completed sweater and I can't wait to finish it. I'm greatful to all that have contributed to this KAL blog because I got great tips before I had started my CPH. I knit the body till the armholes in one piece, also I'm knitting the sleeves in the round using magic loop (one at a time though.)

Specs so far:
Yarn: Cascade Pima Tencel
Colourway: Moss
Needles: Knitpicks Options in size 3.75mm(US 5) and 4.5mm(US7)
Completed so far: both front panels, back, and one sleeve
Thoughts: I think I'll use a stretchier yarn next time. I love how soft Pima Tencel is; however I'm worried about the drape and the fact that the yarn doesn't doesn't hold it's shape after a while of wear. For my next CPH because we all know that one is not enough I'm going to use Tatamy Tweed because I've heard it's a great non-animal fiber replacement for tweedy wool. I'm allergic to animal fibers.
I apologize for the poor quality photos these were taken by my cell phone camera because my digital camera is on a business trip in China with my partner.

KnitScene Copies at LYS

2007-11-17T18:04:00.002-08:00

Our newest member, Lisa C, emailed me to let me know that FOUR copies of the Fall 2006 Knitscene magazine are available from her LYS. Permission was granted by the shop to post their contact info for those in need of the pattern. Thank you, Lisa!

The Sow's Ear
Verona, WI
www.knitandsip.com
608-848-2755

Hours:
Sunday 7am - 5pm CST
Monday starting at 6:30am (coffeeshop attached)

Getting a Copy of the Pattern

2007-11-09T09:29:00.000-08:00

When I saw the posting of how the Fall 2006 KnitScene magazine was out of print I made a point to contact Interweave's Customer Service. I fell in love with the pattern and several of my knitting friends have this project in their list of To-Do's. I don't want them or any other knitter to miss out.

This is the email response I received:

~:: :: ~

Hi Kris, we offer photocopied reprints of patterns/articles from any magazine that is completely sold out. The cost of reprinting the pattern is $4.00, that includes the cost of printing, material & shipping. If you or someone you know would like to place an order for an individual photocopied pattern/article please contact customer service at 1.800.275.2193.

Thank you,
Chevette

~:: :: ~

want to knit it!

2007-11-08T12:34:00.000-08:00

HI! I drool over your guy's CPH pics and want to knit one so badly! I finally decided to invest in the yarn and thought "duh, buy the pattern first"! Well it's not that simple since, as stated, that issue of Knitscene is sold out. Does anyone have the pattern they could share? I have no idea how that copy right thing works, I mean I don't plan to sell the pattern or any product made from it...
If you can help, please contact me jonahsbigfish (at) yahoo
Thank you! Kristin

EDIT: I found it!! Royalyarns.com! And ordered yarn (one month before Christmas, BAD) Berroco Ultra Alpaca. Good price tho, I think, for a project like this. Thanks Kristin

I LUFF MAGIC LOOP!

2007-11-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

I'm well into my first trial of the Magic Loop method and ABSOLUTELY loving it!!

I learned the technique by watching the great video over at KnittingHelp.com - very informative, very free and very FANTASTIC!!

I'm so excited because i've been wanting to knit the Hoodii sleeves in the round, but didn't want to splash out for more DPNs. Plus then there's the worry that the DPNs will be a slightly different size (even though marked the same) than my knitpicks Circs I'm using for the rest of the Hoodie! So problem solved!! I can use the very same circular now! Wheee!! =D

In other news I've had a few things happen (Granpa in hospital I want to knit for) so I'm focusing on other projects for the moment and have had to put Hoodie to the side in my woven basket. It calls to me though sometimes, as I sit on the couch knitting feverishly away on Pa's socks or Gran's shawl - "knit meeee!! Finish up soon, so you can knit me agaaaiin!"

It won't be long Hoodii.. I promise :)

Greetings and hood question

2007-10-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, new to KAL and I have a question about continuing the cable from the fronts up into the hood. There's probably something I'm missing in the pattern because I haven't found anyone else with this problem, so I'd definitely appreciate some help. On the right front, my last row on the cable chart before moving the stitches to a holder was a RS row. But it appears that when you start the hood, you start with another RS row on the right front. If this is true, then my twist row will end up being on the WS, which doesn't quite seem right. What am I missing?

I'm not quite at the point of starting the hood (I'm working on the sleeves right now which seem endless) but I wanted to make sure I have my ducks in a row when I do get there.

Thanks in advance for any assistance, I'll be sure to post up pictures of my progress soon!

Finally, it is done!!!

2007-10-22T19:30:00.001-07:00

Not bad for my very first sweater, huh?

My Cascade 220 Central Park Hoodie is finally complete. I finished it just in time to wear it in Rhinebeck this past weekend. It took forever for me to get the seaming right. Nonetheless, I absolutely love this sweater. So much, that I decided to make a second one.

I am making it using Aruacania Naturewool in a Fuschia-Amethyst color. I am loving the slight variation of the color in this yarn. I also picked up some buttons at Rhinebeck from Briar Rose Fibers. I am working this all in one piece, because I have come to realize that I certainly don't like seams. I intend to work the sleeves in the round as well. I am trying to have this finished by Thanksgiving. I refuse to let so many seasons pass between casting on and casting off.

Swimming in the Frog Pond

2007-10-22T13:21:00.000-07:00

I only hit a minor bump in the road Saturday night. My brilliant plan to do both fronts at the same time seemed easy enough, only I should have read a little more carefully before I got started. I made it through the 4" of ribbing on Friday & decided to work on putting them onto the larger needle over the weekend. Well when I sat down Saturday evening to do the deed, I discoved a slight flaw. I had two left fronts. The ribbing begins opposite of one another (k2, p2 or p2, k2) & I hadn't forseen that. What to do? Yank one of those puppies off the needle to redo it, of course! I put one of the left fronts on the bigger needle & reknitted the right front ribbing. Wouldn't you know the very thing that takes hours the 1st time, flies in an hour the 2nd time around? That done, I was able to whip up to 13" on both fronts together on Sunday afternoon. So, the back's done & the fronts are halfway. It's all good. Learning from mistakes is half the fun anyway. BTW, the cables for the shoulders match up to the back without any finagling. Both the sizes I used for front & back have 14 side stitches before the cable. I didn't have to make any adjustments for the cables to match.

Finished

2007-10-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my hoodie, and I love it! I started in February, after taking apart a failed "Tubey," and cast on with my yummy Debbie Bliss Cashmerino.

There are a few more pictures on Ravelry--I'm courtneyq.

I finally finished and was delighted to find it fits. It's snug, but fits. When I knit the fronts, they seemed more like suspenders than sweater sections, and I was terrified that I was knitting yet another sweater that wouldn't fit, but I took a friend's advice and blocked the front pieces before picking up stitches for the button band, so I could see if I needed to make a *really* wide button band. It turned out I didn't need to.

I did the short-row shaping for the shoulders--I think I did it right--and I like the effect. I didn't carry the cable up the back of the hood because I wasn't sure what to do with it. I did a few quick searches to see how others handled it, but didn't find anything right away. I like how it turned out.

If I were to do this again, and I very well might, I would try it in the round for ease, so that the ribbing comes out the same length (oops), and to avoid a seam on the sides, though they aren't that bad. I think having it in parts made it easier for me to set the sleeves in, a task that made me nervous. I might also do some minimal waist shaping (or, really, add room for my hips, perhaps by somehow loosening the rib a bit).

I mistakenly flipped the order of cables on the back, so flipped them on the sleeves as well. I kept making cables too small, so did a good amount of frogging, but it's a joy to knit, so not as miserable a frustration as I'd expect.

I have a feeling I'll be wearing this sweater *all the time.*

Thanks to everyone for sharing your solutions and advice and beautiful knitting as inspiration!

Hi

2007-10-19T11:48:00.000-07:00

Hi, My names is Lyndsey-Jane (bagpuss on Ravelry) and I have just cast on for the CPH. Thanks for letting me join the KAL. I have knit a few sweaters/cardigans in the past but most recently they have all been top down raglans - so no seaming. I am also thinking about putting a zipper in. I am using Rowanspun Aran in Caviar. So far I have completed the ribbing and one repeat of the charts on the back and really like the look of it. I have come to a stand still as I have been using my 5mm straights as I don't have a 5mm circ needle but I have bad joints and am finding it too heavy to knit comfortably on the straights. I plan on ordering the circs over the weekend so should be back in action early next week. I will take photos over the weekend so show. Feel free to friend me on Ravelry is your are over there.

Couldn't Resist the CPH

2007-10-18T11:11:00.001-07:00

I bought Moda Dea Silk 'n Wool in Sangria for my Central Park Hoodie rendition. (It's a dark color & very difficult to capture in a photo. Sorry about that.)
I am combing the smallest size Back with the next size up Front to get the measurement I want and the majority of the sizing on the front side. This will accomodate my smaller frame with my larger than average cup size. I got the idea from my years of sewing experience alongside sweater attempts that resulted in "baggy in all the wrong places" finished products. I have 8" pictured here on the Back View. I'll knit it up to the 14" in order for the Fronts & Back pieces to match.
I decided obviously not to knit-in-the-round. I felt that this yarn was pretty hefty & my wrists are already sore from the weight of my Puff Sleeved Cardi. This yarn has a pretty sheen (my current obsession) and is very soft, yet it holds stitches crisply. I think that this will be a fast knit for me as it is an easily memorized pattern & pretty mindless. I am knitting away here.

Central Park Hoodie

2007-10-16T21:59:00.001-07:00

Finally, here it is. My Central Park Hoodie, easily my favorite knit. I've been wearing this all the time, it's so warm and toasty.

I knit this in Briggs and Little Heritage, the color is their Anniversary Twist. This Hoodie was very economical, $15.50. The yarn was 1.50 a skein when I bought 2 other Briggs and Little yarns, and the buttons were 5.50. The yarn is rough, definitely not for next to the skin, but so far there has been no signs at all of pilling, this is one hard wearing sweater. I don't prefer the rougher yarn, but it's great for a jacket.

Mods: I short rowed the shoulders and did a 3-needle bind off. This is such a great way to seam the shoulders, I will be using this from now on. Also, I carried the cable up the hood and grafted the hood together and I knitted the button band in one piece. I'm so glad for this knitalong where I was able to glean so much help.

My only complaint is that the hood is to small for my head, but that's not the patterns fault just my not realizing I have a bigger than average head and compensating for it.

There are a few more pictures on my blog if anyone's interested.

Finished! Thanks everyone!

2007-10-11T12:09:00.001-07:00

My first adult sweater, I'm thrilled. It even fits! Thanks to everyone on Ravelry and the CPH KAL and my LYS who helped me.
Cascade 220 Smoke Heather, almost all of 7 skeins. I knit the size 40 pattern, following advise of everyone who said the pattern runs small. Almost could have done the next size up, I like a roomy, cozy sweater. I knit the body in one piece, eliminating side seams. I added length in the bottom ribbing and sleeve ribbing, since I have freakishly long arms and a long torso, also added length in the body itself and the sleeves. I did short row shaping to the shoulders and did three needle bindoff, instead of seaming. I grafted the hood instead of seaming. I added short row shaping on the button band in the body, to add width without making the hood too deep (thanks Lara for all your help and suggestions). I did a two stitch ICord bindoff, and incorporated button loops into it on the right side. I haven't picked buttons yet. I'm too excited to wait. Thank goodness cool weather is here!

Thanks!

2007-10-06T07:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all the kind comments about my sweater.In my excitement at finally being finished I forgot two things. First, I did knit the body all in one piece. Second, there are additional pictures on my blog here.

Finished At Last

2007-10-04T15:37:00.000-07:00

I joined this KAL in February and have been working on my sweater off and on since then with a long break over the summer. This week I finally finished it and am really pleased with my first sweater.

Yarn: Classic Elite Skye Tweed, Scottish Mist, 12.5 balls

Needles: Addi Turbo Size 6 and 8

Size: 44

Modifications: Shortened the ribbing on the sleeves but otherwise followed the pattern.

I've enjoyed seeing and reading about all the sweaters created by this group.

Almost there..coming down the home stretch

2007-10-03T22:43:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I posted, so I wanted to update everyone. I am trying to finish this before the trip to the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival at Rhinebeck, which is in 16 days.

Here is a work in progress of my buttonband done all in one piece. I joined 3 cables from the Boye Needlemaster kit to make this work

In order to pick up the stitches, I picked 3 then skipped 1. When I got to the center of the hood I picked up every stitch for about 8 stitches. I had to add 4 on each side to even out the ribbing. I picked up 328 stitches in total.

I also found a mistake on the left front portion.

I made one cable cross a few rows before where it should have been. However, I am going to keep it. I think it makes my sweater look very special, and noone will have the same thing. LOL!!! Funny I say that on a KAL forum.

Found It!

2007-09-29T16:59:00.001-07:00

Thank you to Octopus Knits for providing me with the much-needed gauge info on the CPH. I'm happy to report that I found the magazine. Of course it was hiding someplace it never should have been.

Finally.

Time to CAST ON!

Stupid Gauge Question

2007-09-28T20:05:00.000-07:00

OK, this is probably a very stupid question coming from the Administrator of this KAL, but... I seem to have misplaced my copy of Knitscene with the pattern in it. I already re-wrote and charted it in the round so I have the "pattern" but what I don't have is the gauge. I just knit a swatch and washed, blocked and measured it—about time, eh?—and have my gauge established, but I don't know what the target gauge is.

Can anyone tell me what the pattern's gauge recommendation is and also the biggest size and how many to cast on?

Thanks...

Signed,
Horribly Embarrassed

Tearing along, sort of

2007-09-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

I've finished the body, done in one piece, had help from my wonderful LYS and all of the KAL people here for the short-row shoulders and three needle bind off for the shoulders, thanks everyone for your tips and hints and help. Between here and Ravelry, it's been wonderful for a sweater virgin. I've now picked up and got about 6" on the hood, I want to be able to Kitchener graft it, but can't quite visualize how that's going to be, since I'm carrying the cables up the hood. I also cast on for the sleeves, doing both at once on one circular, have about 4" of the cuff ribbing done. This is exciting, I'm enjoying the process, the learning (see shoulders above, plus cabling without a cable needle, woo hoo!) and I'm really looking forward to having the sweater done to wear. More pictures on my blog, at: http://catmum.blogspot.com

As promised - pics!

2007-09-25T09:10:00.001-07:00

Ta da! I'm working on a sleeve now... ;o)

I hope to be done this weekend (I'm working on an HP cloak for my 5 yo and Wicked, too). I'm giddy, and this is awesome to knit!

Crisis averted!!

2007-09-23T22:45:00.000-07:00

So I sat up late in the night and charted out the first RS row of the Hoodie pattern, from Right Front, through the Back, then the Left front...

AND IT WORKS!!!!

WHEEEEHEHEHEHEHHEHE!!!!

It matches up with my ribbing!

*does crazy happy party dancing*

I can now recommence The Knit!!!
Thanks so much for all the tips and support everyone :)

I love this cardigan!

2007-09-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

Hi! I'm new to this KAL, but I'm oh-so-happy I found it. Of course, I had already started on the right front, when I read the notes about doing it all in one piece..ugh. However, since I plan on making more than one, I might just try that on the next one.

I'm making mine in the Malabrigo merino, in the Olive color - beeeutiful! But, of course, I want other colors, too. And after completing the back and left front, I eyed it and thought it looked kinda small (I'm making the third size). We'll see how blocking and the button bands will improve that, though.

This is also another sort of *celebriknit*, since it's my first time doing cables...yay!!! And they're coming out quite nicely, I dare say. I want to put cables on everything now...hehe. I'll be back with some progress pics, too!

HellooooOh My Goodness!

2007-09-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, my new fellow Hoodie Knitster friends this, my first post, has not it turns out ended up being the "Hurrah! this is awesome! I'm about to start the cables!!" opening post I had in mind..

I've been stalking the CPH for some time now, lurking here on the KAL blog, pattern at ready, bought the yarn back in January all the way from Webs (I'm an Australian knitter, so that meant planning and SHIPPING!) - a gift from my lovely mum actually! Suffice to say I've been DESPERATELY waiting for the moment to cast on! Well the moment arrived, I finished a lot of other projects I needed to do and then this month I cast on my 194 stitches for the 44" hoodie - which is 4 stitches less than the pattern quoted amount seeing as I'm knitting the three pieces in one and have left off those seam stitches.

Well I knit away at a great rate of knots, LOVING the knitted fabric, the tweedy goodness and the feeling of knitting my first jumper (translation - 'sweater'). Yesterday I reached the end of the ribbing - which is 6 inches seeing as I'm doing the body a little longer than normal.

SUCH excitement! The anticipation of being able to get cracking on the real pattern part of the jumper! So close! Just around the corner! "Can't start now, too sleepy, I'll have to wait 'til tomorrow."

Just as well I did. I've come across a bit of an obstacle.

I know.. an OBSTACLE! This is NOT what we want, fellow Hoodie Knitsters! I suppose it is a learning experience in disguise as an obstacle.. but I still have that sinking feeling in my stomach.

See, I've gone to start with the Right Front part of the pattern, on the RS and have decided that I will omit one stitch from the K18 on each Front, and omit 1 stitch from each of the two K18 sections on the Back - that way taking care of the 4 seam stitches. Simple, right?

Well! LITTLE did I know!!

It seems I may have b_ggered up utterly! *grim look* I think I may have needed to set up my ribbing differently. Instead of doing K2P2 all the way along, I may have needed to go K1P2K2P2 and continue on with normal 2x2 ribbing - but start with ONE KNIT/PURL STITCH! Oh no!! Have I totally come undone, Hoodie Knitsters! Will I have to frog SIX INCHES of 194 stitch wide fabric?!?! *slightly hysterical eye twitch*

Look at it!! How can I frog that?!

*calms down a little* alright.. I have a plan.. I'll calm down. Then I'll eat some chocolate. Then I'll get out the graph paper and a pencil. Eat more chocolate. Poor a glass of Gin'n'Tonic with lemon. Mark out the ribbing.. eat more chocolate...

Let's see it we can figure this puppy out!!

p.s. By the way I'm VERY excited to nbe part of the KAL and have thoroughly enjoyed following all your CPH's so far - thanks so much!

Launched!

2007-09-10T19:19:00.000-07:00

After months of preparation and steeling myself, I've cast on. I've read some of the modifications pages that people have kindly posted, I'm knitting the body in one piece. Along the way, I've taught myself cabling without a cable needle, and I'm using a knotted looped string for a row counter. Since I'm a sweater virgin, I'm pretty darn excited. I'm almost ready to start reading obsessively about the armhole rows. I appreciate any help and suggestions along the way.
I'm using Cascade 220 Smoke Heather, and doing the size 40. I'm going to make it a little longer too, I like a long sweater.
c
http://catmum.blogspot.com

Cascade Ecological Wool?

2007-09-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking of making yet another CPH, this time using Cascade Ecological Wool and would love to hear everyone's reactions... Is the yarn too heavy, too different in gauge, etc? I think I could knit the smaller size instructions and it would yield the proper size for me, but I'm not sure.

Thanks in advance for your opinions!

Finished!

2007-09-10T00:38:00.000-07:00

I know I haven´t been participating

here on the blog too much

but I´ve been so busy knitting

I didn´t have time ;)

Anyway, here´s my CPH finished

and I can say it´s already a favourite!!

I wear it as soon as I can.

And then I´ve used a cheap

acrylicyarn to knit it in....

So now I´ll try and find some

nicer yarn and I´ll knit one more!!!

My CPH is done

2007-09-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

I finished knitting the Central Park Hoodie last spring. Then it languished for months until I found buttons for it in August. So here it is, in all it's glory.

And the back.

I used Cascade 220 Heathers in Sea (colorway 4005), about 6 skeins. I'm really happy with it and I think I'll wear this quite a bit. I even got compliments on it at my knitting group this morning -- that feels so good!

Pattern Modifications: I did short rows and a three-needle bindoff on the shoulders, and I used kitchener stitch to seam the hood. Thank you all so much for your help with those suggestions. They worked out great and I learned a lot.

If I knit this again I'll do it all in one piece instead of two fronts and a back. That way I won't be off in my rows when stopping for the arm holes. Also, I'll make the arm holes smaller. They start a little low on me.

More details are on my blog.

Knitting Body In One Piece - Armhole Question

2007-09-05T17:10:00.000-07:00

Hey all! I am about 11.5" into the 14" of knitting the body. Today I decided to look ahead and see what is up next when I get to the armholes. I noticed that for the Right Front directions it says to knit up to 14" ending working a Right Side Row. Now, for the Body and Left Front it says to knit up to 14" ending working a Wrong Side Row. How can this be? I thought maybe it was an error but found no correction. So my question is, how did anyone else handle this when they knitted the body in one piece? Any and all advice, guidance, would be much appreciated! Thanks!

New to this

2007-09-05T08:39:00.000-07:00

Well I caved and joined the knitalong. I have been lurking and watching everyones beautiful CPH come out. I just couldn't join until I had the perfect yarn in the perfect color. I found it too. Cascade 200 colorway Ruby. I love love love the deepness of this red. I'm so excited to get started. So far I have decided to knit it all in one piece and I'm still thinking about the arms, if I want to do them in the round or not. I have swatched and decided that I like the fabric a little bit more firm than see through, which I feel that 17-18-or even 19 spi looks like to me. So I think that I'm going to cast on for the largest size and go down to about 5 spi. I hope that this make up for the small guage. Thoughts?

2007-09-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

Hello, CPH KAL’ers. I’d like to introduce myself as the newest and 127th member. (If that's not right, here's hoping I do a better job counting my stitches!) In the shot above, I have some of my supplies assembled: Denise needles; Tahki Donegal Tweed in color 834, a Hobbit-worthy lichen green; and my thumbed copy of knitscene, which opens to page 70 every time. Look closely and you may be able to see the posted corrections pasted into place under “Left Front.” It’s not just my initials that are AR, folks! My goal is for this CPH to be worn this winter by my daughter on those long treks from dormitory to dining hall.

What I can’t show in the picture is the good advice and brilliant ideas you ALL have given me through this KAL and your blogs. You’ve gotten me this far, with needles ready to cast on for my first (human) sweater. So before even an inch of that wool is wrapped, I want to thank every one of you. To fellow blog-free Freda in particular, your post on the all-at-once approach to back and fronts is a gem.

With apologies for the verbification, I do feel the need to screed. I must give a few hyperlink shout-outs to some of the bloggers whose technique and creativity have gotten me to reinvent and reimagine my knitting, specifically as it will be employed in CPH production: the ladies of Crossroad Knits, particularly Liz, who introduced me to the astounding nona, who really deserves her bragging rights; to Cara of January One – I always wondered how to get rid of the purlish bumps that show up on the first knit row – because one of her links showed the way and because she’s just amazing; and to TECHknitting; Wendy; and Sara. Your tips are tops. That said, I feel much better. And yes, I’ve got gauge! I’ll be back when I have more knitting and fewer words to share, promise.

Finished Hood and Picked Out Buttons

2007-09-02T21:39:00.000-07:00

I've picked my buttons. My dear, sweet husband drove me into Vancouver so I could check out this shop called Button, Button. It was so exciting, almost as fun as a yarn shop, with all the beautiful buttons surrounding me. I had to pick quick, cause the kids were with us, but, I'm very pleased with my new buttons. And I am going to find a reason to go back soon without my darling children and browse to my heart's content.

Also, here's another picture of the hood. I ripped back and added a shortrow to get the cable on the very front to line up and then I redid the grafting and am now much happier with how it looks. I will be blocking this soon, so be on the lookout for a finished object shortly.

Ready To Knit

2007-08-30T18:42:00.000-07:00

I am joining the fun of getting ready to start my Central Park Hoodie! I just received my yarn order from Knit Picks today. I have chosen to use Wool of the Andes in colorway Cranberry. To me, this is a warm and fuzzy feeling color and I thought it would be perfect for this sweater. I have also decided that I am going to knit the body in one piece, like several others have done. I really dread seaming so I really like this idea. I will be doing my swatch this weekend and hopefully ready to start the body!

Some progress, finally!!!

2007-08-26T21:05:00.000-07:00

I am finally making some progress on my Central Park Hoodie. I am up to the point where I am working on the hood. Here are some pictures of the shoulder seams. I crocheted it on the wrong side using the Single Crochet stitch.

Wow!!! What a neat seam for my first try. This is why it is very important to bind off loosely.
Now it is starting to actually look like a sweater.
Progress on the hood, about 4 inches.
I added the cable to the center of the hood. It looks better this way. Only 7 more inches to go!! Woohoo! You think maybe I can finish this before the week is done?
Although there were many distractions while knitting this sweater, I am all excited all over again, and I am still in love with the color.

Progress

2007-08-22T17:49:00.001-07:00

Knit, knit, knit and we have a hood. I carried the cable up the hood, because it would drive me crazy just ending it at the neck. Knitting can really bring out the grouchy perfectionist inside. Or maybe I knit so I can let her hang free and not drive my family crazy with trying to keep all their ducks in a row.

Here's the top of the hood. I grafted the two sides together, but I'm not satisfied with how it looks. The cable on the hood where the two edges meet is very sloppy. I'm not sure if doing the three-needle bindoff as the pattern suggests would look better or if I just need to fiddle with things until I'm happy. Any ideas?

I want to figure this out, and get the edging started, I could have this finished for September if I keep plugging away.

too late for the tips!

2007-08-21T16:12:00.001-07:00

I stumbled across this KAL yesterday and think it was a sign that it's time for me to pick up my Central Park Hoodie again! I worked on it last fall until Christmas knitting waylaid me and then again until it got too hot to consider knitting a long-sleeved cardigan in California. I edited the picture from knitscene to keep track of progress on my own blog, and have included it here. All I really have left is one sleeve, then the seaming and picking up stitches for the hood and button band (which I plan to make without buttons and holes). Seeing all the finished CPHs posted is making me anxious for mine (knit in pink-flecked brown tweed from Tahki Stacey Charles), so the KAL may be the motivation that gets me to wear this sweater THIS fall. Unfortunately, I have found all you lovely ladies too late in the game to take advantage of all the good advice on how to knit the body in one piece and short-row the shoulders. When I started this project last year I was not brave enough to try and figure it out on my own ... but now I am and might be a little cranky when it comes time to seam all the pieces I finished a year ago :)

D's CPH

2007-08-18T02:57:00.000-07:00

After reading Lauren's post about knitting this body of the sweater in one piece, I thought this was an excellent idea - I also hate seaming.

I have made a few adjustments, eliminating a stitch at each edge for selvage, then adding an extra set of cables – which will be under the arms (where the seam should be).

I am knitting the hoodie in Medium size (40"), so I adjusted the pattern, so I have 10 stitches inbetween each set of cables.

CPH FO

2007-08-16T01:06:00.000-07:00

Just in time for hot August, my CPH is done! I think it took me about 3 months.

I used ONline Cora. Mods: Short-row shoulder shaping and 3-needle bind off. More details on my blog!

Thanks for hosting this KAL, I've enjoyed knitting the hoodie as well as reading the suggestions and comments!

Sleeves

2007-08-15T14:39:00.001-07:00

The Central Park Hoodie is seeing lots of consistent knitting. I can't wait to finish. I finished the fronts up last week, and have started the sleeves. I am not actually going to knit both sleeves at once, but I wanted to get the ribbing out of the way. This wool is not very pleasant to rib on 4mm needles. Much more comfortable to work on the larger needles.

And I am blocking the fronts and back right now. The yarn softened and bloomed just wonderfully. I was a bit worried the hoodie was going to be to snug, but now I think it will be just fine.

I really want to finish both sleeves by Sunday, and then I'll just have the hood and edging to go. It might even be finished by the end of the month.

Lisa's CPH

2007-08-11T13:02:00.000-07:00

Knitters, may I present my Central Park Hoodie!

And yes, I know I am no good at taking pictures but I do try.

Yarn: Cascade 220 Heather in Lavender #2422, 7 1/2 skeins

Modifications: My gauge was a bit smaller than the pattern's so I knit a size 44" bust but it's closer to 40". I knit the body in one piece and the sleeves in one piece so I wouldn't have to seam them. Excellent! I also made the ribbing on the cuffs only 3" instead of 5" because it just seemed like too long of a cuff. The buttons are iridescent shell buttons and I would have preferred wooden ones but I just didn't find any that struck me. This hoodie is probably going to need a strip of ribbon behind the button holes to stabilize it but I haven't gotten that far and I might never. All in all, a lovely knit that went fairly quickly. This is my first finished adult sweater and I am rather pleased with it. :)

Now I'm ready to go to on my trip to Alaska!

Finished!

2007-08-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

It's taken me a while, and it kinda makes me look like a linebacker, but my CPH is off the needles! You can read more about it here, but here are the main specs:

Yarn: Black Water Abbey 2-ply worsted weight in Pippin - 7 skeins
Needles: US 7 and 8 Addi 24" circs
Size: 48"
Mods: Knit the band as one piece, omitted buttons
Cast on: March 2007 Finished: August 2007

Except for my yarn choice, this project was a great knit. Unfortunately, the BWA two-ply is very tightly spun, and very rustic, and the two things combined 1) really hurt my hands and 2) made my cable tension wonky, resulting in unseemly looseness. (I tried wrapping stitches and Ktbls to tighten things up, to no avail.) But I love the pattern, and if I ever made another one would use a more forgiving yarn.

Thanks for hosting this great KAL. Through it I've made new friends and learned some new knitting tricks, too. Happy knitting, everyone!

MY CPH

2007-08-07T19:20:00.000-07:00

I am using Cascade 220, Burnt Orange, #7824 thank you for looking

New!

2007-08-06T00:03:00.000-07:00

Hello, I'm new here :-) I've been working away at my CPH this week and have completed the back and am starting up the first front.

I short rowed my shoulders for the very first time after hearing about it here, wow, I really like how they turned out.

I am hoping to get both fronts finished this week, will have to see how fast I knit.

My yarn is Briggs and Little Heritage. It's very sturdy. I mean I can just pull the needle out of the cables and rearrange the stitches and slip them back on in the right order and the yarn doesn't slip at all. Definitely outerwear this yarn, but my swatch did soften up after washing so it won't be to stiff to wear comfortably.

Hello All!

2007-08-05T08:20:00.000-07:00

I'm new to this KAL and I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Lauren and I'm thoroughly addicted to knitting! (Aren't we all? ) Please excuse the pictureless post, as I am at my mother's and am unable to upload any right now. Rest assured I am knitting away every moment I get. I am about 1/4 into the project, about 3 cable repeats away from shaping the sleeve caps. I chose to knit the body in one piece in attempt to avoid lots of seaming (hate it). I'm also planning on knitting the sleeves in the round, too. I'm using some Paton's Classic that I had lying around in a nice tangy green. The only mod I'm planning is lengthing the body a couple of inches to accomodate my freakishly long torso.

Anyhow, I am so happy to be here, knitting this fabulous pattern! Pictures soon!

-Lauren J.

Almost Home

2007-08-02T14:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am almost done with my CPH. I'm about 75% done with my last sleeve and I need a little advice for the next bit.

1. I knit the body in one piece and I have the hood and button bands done, too. Should I block the sweater and sleeves before or after I put them together?

2. Any recommendations on how to seam the sleeves to the body and make it look great? I'm terrible at seaming and I could use any help you've got.

Thank you! :)

CPH

2007-08-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

Hi all, I am working on the CPH in size 48". I have one sleeve to go. Modifications I made are:

- used Rowan Scottish Tweed Aran (bit harsh on the fingers, like knitting with a pot scourer!) in a dark tweedy blue (sort of French navy)

- made it a bit longer - 15"

- adjusted sleeve cap as my row gauge is more than the Tahki one

- used 4.5mm needles for the rib on the fronts and back as it seemed a bit tight. used 4mm for sleeves.

Here is a pic.

I need advice please - do you block before joining the shoulders for the hood and button bands? I think I have to soak this as it's so stiff I need to soften it up! But if I do this the hood and button bands will be a different texture so guess I need to soak them to at the end? Advice gratefully received!

(I'll be honest with you, I'll be glad when this is done, knitting on dark yarn is a bit debilitating after a while!!)

Finished!

2007-08-01T11:40:00.000-07:00

It's done!!! Yay! The details:

Start Date: May 2, 2007
End Date: July 29, 2007

4 skeins of Araucania Nature Wool in teal

Mods: I knit the button band in one piece and hated it. The natural variegation of the yarn flipped from being horizontal to vertical on the ribbing for button band and it broke the sweater up and made a very flattering piece very unflattering. So I ripped out the button band (ripping 312 bound off stitches IS NOT FUN). Re-Knit the ribbing on the hood and then knit 2 pieces 10 stitches (7 in stockinette, 3 in garter to stop it from rolling). I also knit a one row button hole vs. the 2 row that was called for in the pattern.

Newbie

2007-07-27T01:51:00.000-07:00

Hi! I´ve just joined this Kal and like

to introduce my self.

My name is Maggan (actually it´s

Margareth but nickname for that

in Sweden are Maggan) I live in

Sweden and love knitting ;)

I have this passion for cables so

I´ve wanted to knit CPH for quite

some time now.

I´ve knitted the back so far and

started on one of the front pieces.