Enter to Win This Beautiful Sweater Kit :-)
ISN’T THIS A BEAUTIFUL SWEATER?
Rowan is giving away two of these sweater kits in the lovely teal blue shade that’s shown in photo.
Looks like an ideal beginner project too. 🙂
Contest closes on October 8th, so enter soon! Open to US AND Canadian residents.
Easy to enter and to share this contest too (if you want to share!) 😉 at Google Plus etc…
Good Luck and Happy Knitting!
PS: I’m back to working on my Walk in the Park Cardie this weekend.
What are you making right now?Â
Walk in the Park Cardie (Knitting) Conundrum :-(
Some of you may remember this cardie pattern that I blogged about several weeks ago:
I liked the pattern SO much and decided to make it in two different yarns.
The first cardie I started is in the yarn actually shown in this photo above, but in these colors:
Hawaiian Sky for the main color (actually a vivid teal blue, not dark as shown in this photo)
Bubble Gum pink for the contrast
I wanted it to be reminiscent of a sunset sky! 😉
So far, I have knit both sleeves. But even that was not without its problems.
I contacted the customer service dept. at Yarnspirations when I noted that there were errors in the pattern. Even though I am definitely NOT an expert knitter, I could tell that there were errors as soon as I started knitting. VERY frustrating and a lot of wasted time for me. How I hate to “frog” (knit-speak for pull out) stitches, but that’s what I ended up having to do. 😦
After I got word back from Yarnspirations with the assurance that all errors for all sizes had been rectified, I went ahead and knit both sleeves. They worked out fine and the chart for the sleeves was fine too, for the Size M, which is the one I’m making.
Here’s where the conundrum comes in…
I am now working on the body of the sweater, which is knit in one long row across, on circular needles. A lot of stitches, over 200, but no side seams required, when it’s made this way.
I got the ribbing and the plain stockinette area at the bottom of the sweater knit without any problems.
But when I started on the chart, things started to go downhill from there. 😦
I got to Row 3 for Size M, and the pattern didn’t seem to line up as it should. The stitches don’t line up to form the same shape as the sleeve chart design (hopefully that makes sense!)
I contacted the company AGAIN and apparently they looked into it again and found no further errors. But given how many errors there were initially in this pattern, I’m not so sure. 😉
Now, I don’t know what to do. as I said above, I’m NO expert when it comes to knitting. I can follow a pattern just fine but I expect that pattern to be correct and not one I have to figure out along the way, when errors come along. Aren’t these patterns made (IN ALL SIZES) before they are posted, on major sites like Yarnspirations?
Based on this and other experiences with other major pattern websites, that is sadly not always true.
If there are any knitters out there reading this who like a challenge and have a bit of time, I’d REALLY appreciate your opinion if this body pattern chart is actually correct in the Size M?
You can download the (updated/corrected??) pattern here.
I don’t want to start this pattern again without being sure that it is correct, this time. Frogging small stitches like this, on a circular needle and over 200 stitches is NOT MY IDEA OF FUN KNITTING!!!
I hope your own knitting and craft projects are proceeding faster and more smoothly than this one has been for me.
I still ♥ to knit but I could do without errors in patterns!!!
Happy Day and KnittingÂ
and
A Big THANK YOU in Advance to Any Knitters Who Have the Time/Inclination to Check Out this Chart and Give Their Opinion If/Of What’s Wrong.
You can leave a comment below or email me (see contact page).
Stash Busting x 2! Knit and Crochet :-)
If you knit or crochet on a regular basis like I do, I’m guessing you’ve also got a big stash of leftover yarns that are languishing in a craft tote or two (maybe three or four?) 😉
I had a browse around Ravelry a couple of weeks ago, looking for ways to use up my own stash and found these two lovely tote patterns, one crochet and one knit.
Thanks to designer: Kathy North for allowing me to share the photo and pattern of her Stash Bustin’ Tote, pictured above.
It’s an easy pattern, so if you don’t have a lot of crochet experience, this would be a good project to tackle, to hone your “hooking” skills. 😉
The other stash-busting tote that I really liked, was this one: Girl About Town, designed by Joanne Yordanou.
This one is knit and again, an easy pattern that would ideal for beginners.
Thanks Joanne for allowing me to share your tote pattern/photo here too!
***
Both of these patterns are currently free, so it’s a great time to download copies for yourself!
Ravelry is so amazing! So many talented designers over there, sharing their work, often for free or for a very nominal charge. I ♥ it!Â
I hope to make one or both of these soon. I NEED a new tote bag, badly!!Â
Happy Crafting and Week, GÂ
PS: If you are over at Ravelry, do stop by my page too, to see some of my finished projects and say hi! Hope to see you there. 🙂
Want to Make Some Gifts for Valentine’s Day?
There’s still time! 😉
I found this eBook over at Amazon today, with 41 assorted Valentine’s crafts, for the whole family to make.
Included in this collection is a lovely Valentine’s Day Shawl (crochet).
That pattern alone was worth the .99 this eBook cost. 😉
I also really like the:
-Sparkly Kickers
-Rose Bouquet Ball
-Valentine’s on a Stick
-Vintage Spool Valentine
I think it’s so special to make gifts for those we ♥.
Even if it’s just a special cake or card, if it’s made with ♥ and comes from the heart, it’s worth more than any store-bought gift could ever be.
Are you planning to make any gifts for Valentine’s Day?
I hope this post/eBook will inspire you too! 😉
Happy Crafting and Weekend!Â
Top 5: Spring Shawls – Knit Pattern Links
*** Aren’t these shawls lovely?***
I ♥ shawls and have several knit and crochet ones that I’ve made over the years.
Don’t wear them as often as I would like to though. 😦
Are you a fan of shawls? Have you made any recently?
Happy Crafting and Tuesday! 🙂
1: Bedford Spring Shawl with Cobweb Frill (Kathy Zimmerman)
2: Woodland Spring Shawl (Chrstina Wall)
3: Madeira Spring Shawl (Shannon O’Neil)
4: Emily Shawl (Mandy Moore)
5: Spring Leaf (Gerrard Allt)
Another Free Knitting eBook from Interweave!
I ♥ Interweave!
I’ve been enjoying their patterns and books for a lot of years.
And their free knit and crochet resources are hard to beat.
I downloaded a copy of this latest free ebook this morning and I hope you enjoy a copy too.
Don’t you just love that pink knitting bag? 😉
Some great patterns here for beginners too, especially the cowl and hand-warmers.
Click here to get your copy.
And no spam or endless emails afterwards, I know that for sure.
Happy Crafting and Weekend! 🙂
Top 5: Gadget Cases – Knit Pattern Links
***MORE LAST MINUTE HANDMADE GIFT IDEAS, THERE’S STILL TIME :<)***
THANKS TO THEÂ FIESTA CAT YARN CO. FOR THESE PATTERN LINKS.
AREN”T THESE WONDERFUL? I WANT THAT OWL ONE FOR MYSELF.
 HAPPY CRAFTING :>)
1:Â Ipad/ Netbook Sleeve w/Cables (Kristin Blom)
2:Â Owlish Netbook Sleeve (Corrisande)
3:Â Corylus (Kalurah)
4:Â PopTart Cell Phone Case (Hannah Kaminsky)
5:Â bHive (Kristen Briney)
Calling all Critter-Lover Knitters! ;<)
I just noted this fun-looking knitting ebook:
Critter KnitsÂ
over at Amazon today.
Available for free right now,don’t know how long that will last. It’s in the top 100 free Amazon ebooks.
Click to read more here, including the link to the ebook.
Looks like a whole lot of knitting fun for critter-lovers who knit. Like me!
Mr. Cheddar approved too; he’s sitting on my lap as I type this. 😉
Happy Knitting! 🙂