First FO of 2010 and first FO for IntSweMoDo2010!

Pattern: Buttercup

Size: XS

Yarn: 4.5 x Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy in Green Sage (021)

Needle: 3.5mm

Modifications: I’m short so I didn’t knit to 38cm for the body; I stopped at about 33cm.

This one isn’t really a modification but I didn’t cast on separately with new yarn for joining in the round. What I did: after knitting to 4th marker and purling to end, turn work around (wrong side facing) and cast on using cable cast-on. Turn work around (right side facing) and purl to Marker A. Begin knitting in rounds.

Picked up total of 8 underarm stitches instead of 4 and decreased to 4 on next round to eliminate holes. Unfortunately, there were still holes and I had to sew them up after finishing.

After picking up for neck edging, I attached edging to lace panel as I knitted by doing a k2tog with last stitch from edging and one stitch from lace panel cast-on edge. Anything to lessen the amount of sewing needed…

I love the fit of the top but I’m not crazy about the sleeves. I think due to my narrow shoulders, the sleeves seem somewhat droopy.

The pattern is clear and well-written.

Hempathy wasn’t easy to work with but the fabric had a nice drape and was soft and cool after a wash. Perfect for the tropical weather. However, the ends kept sticking out through the front. I think I’ll tack them down with some needle and thread.

God, I need a haircut.

My project on Ravelry

• Buttercup

I doubt I can finish another project by the last day of the year, which is tomorrow, so I’m going to do my review now.

At the beginning of the year, I told myself I’ll try to complete at least one project a month, and I did i.e. I finished more than 12 projects. I only blogged about 9 of them but I had a few scarves and hats done that I didn’t photograph before giving them away.

Looking at all the projects I’ve finished this year, it’s amazing that only one of them was for me. Everything else was either a gift or donated to charity.

List of completed projects in 2009:

1. Little Button Loafers (2-button)
2. Little Button Loafers (1-button)
3. Child’s Self-striping Hat
4. Who?
5. Rachel Lacy Rib Hat
6. One Row Handspun Scarf
7. Annette
8. Scrappy Lengthwise Scarf
9. One Row Handspun Scarf

I’m actively working on 3 projects at the moment and I’m happy to report they’re almost near completion.

Mondo Cable Cardi. I’ve actually done a lot more than shown in the pic. Second sleeve is almost completed. Collar and buttons left.

Buttercup. Few more rows on the body, neckline and sleeves to go.

February Lady Sweater. Started on first sleeve and buttons left to be sewn.

I have other projects on the needle that are due to be frogged because I know they won’t fit. Most of them will be reknitted for better fit.

My next post will most likely be in the new year so let me wish all you crafters out there a very happy new year in advance!

This is Annette from Knitty Summer 2009. It’s almost complete. I just need to sew on the buttons and weave in ends and I’m done! Couldn’t resist taking a few pictures first though.

Annnd I’ve begun swatching for my next project! The yarn is Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy and it came out pretty soft after throwing it into the washing machine.

My Project on Ravelry

• Annette

Yet another new home for the blog! I doubt I’ll be moving again anytime soon. The new URL is http://liscrafts.com and the RSS feed is http://feeds.feedburner.com/liscrafts. Please update your bookmarks and feed readers.

Some things on the blog may still be broken so please let me know if you find any. This blog is still very much a work-in-progress so please bear with it more for the next few weeks. You may also see old posts pop up in your feed, sorry about that. You can opt to ignore updated items if your feed reader has that function.

On to the knitting! I got my copy of Breeze last week and I loooove it. I think it’s much, much better than Nectar. Certainly a lot more patterns I want to knit.

I’ve been eyeing Blithe even before Breeze came out so when I received the book, I cast on right away! So far, I’m really enjoying knitting with skinny cotton on teeny needles.

My Project on Ravelry

• Blithe
  

I did it! This is my Ravelympics project for Team Rubberneckers.

Pattern: Rusted Root

Size: XS (28″ – 32″)

Yarn: 4 x Knit Picks Cotlin in Moroccan Red

Needles: 4.5mm for body, 4mm for ribbing

Modifications:

1) Added hip increases.
2) Picked up additional 6 stitches on each sleeve to close the underarm gap, knit 2 rounds of stockinette before starting on ribbing.
3) Used EZ sewn bind-off on all the ribbing.

Pattern Comments:
Pattern was relatively simple and straightforward.

BUT.

No schematics. Theoretically speaking, I usually zoom in on the smallest size but I like to see the bust, waist and hip measurements and there were none in this pattern. I know this is a top down pattern and it’s easy to adjust as you knit but I’ll still like to see some schematics.

Pattern could also do with more stitch counts especially after the increase/decrease sections. I ended up doing my own calculations to make sure I was on the right track.

No chart for lace panel, plus sl1-k1-psso (skp) was written as sl1, k1, psso which confused me for a bit because it looked like 3 separate steps.

The pattern asked for 24″ circular needles. What the pattern didn’t state was that the neckline, when joined in the round, was less than 24″ so you could either stretch the crap out of the stitches or magic loop it. I ended up stretching the crap out of the stitches.

Yarn Comments:
When knitting with the Cotlin, the yarn fuzz was incredible. By incredible, I meant in a “some gigantic red animal just shed a shit load of fur in my room” kind of way. My nose wouldn’t stop twitching. Washing did remove most of it but I suspect it’ll take a few washes before it’s completely gone.

Also, I do not like Cotlin knit at this gauge (20 st st/4″). If I do this pattern again in the same yarn, I’ll go for a smaller gauge and knit a bigger size.

On the whole, it’s a cute top but I’m not sure I like it on me. My mum wants one though.

Edit: 2008 is turned into the Year of the Red!

Edit Strikes Back: Woohoo my Ravelympics medal!

Can Lis finish this before the end of the Olympics? Stay tuned to find out!