Laura (lauralkeet) knits in 2024

Two favorites from 2023: the Avix Cardigan, and Buggiflooer Beanie

In 2023 I finished only 9 projects, the fewest since 2020. But two of these were sweaters and I started a third, and these take longer.

The Fair Isle beanie -- the official pattern for Shetland Wool Week 2023 -- has inspired me to do more colorwork in 2024. I would also like to use up some of my stash, and colorwork might be a good way to do that. We'll see if I have the right color combinations in the right quantities to do anything interesting. If not, there are always hats!

If you're on Ravelry, you can find me here.

I'm currently knitting this Maja Pullover, in a very different color combination from the pattern. The main color is on the right; the contrast color on the left.

The sweater is knit from the bottom up in the main color and then after about 8 rows of colorwork, set aside to work the sleeves. I am almost ready to attach one sleeve to the body, and then I'll make the second one. Once both are attached I will finally get to knit the colorwork yoke!

That's a very nice pattern, Laura. Looking forward to seeing the sweater in the different colors.

>2 lauralkeet: Dumb question here: Since it looks like the colorwork pattern extends to the sleeves, do you have to do anything clever to make the pattern on the yoke match up to the pattern on the sleeve? In the picture it looks like they align perfectly and it seems like that would be hard to do when you are knitting them in separate pieces!

Julia, that's not a dumb question at all. The answer is that I (the knitter) don't have to do anything clever because the designer did all the clever stuff. The pattern tells you how much (in inches) to knit in the main color before doing the colorwork, for both the body and sleeves, and how to join the sleeves to the body so it matches up. Let's hope it works, eh?!

Yoke sweaters can also be designed to be knit from the top down, so you do the yoke first. That seems like it would be easier to design, but I don't think it matters much for the knitter. I am not sure *why* the sweaters in this book are all knit bottom-up; I'm sure the designer has her reasons.

>5 lauralkeet: Thanks for explaining, Laura. I love the colors you chose and I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product.

OK, one more question (and I'm pretty sure this one really is dumb): Are there any sweater patterns where you knit the body and the sleeves all as one piece? It's hard for me to picture how that would ever work, but if anyone would know how it's a Master Knitter like you!

Still not dumb! There are no dumb questions!

Well ... you can get close to that by knitting a top-down sweater where you create armholes, and then the sleeves are made by picking up stitches along the armhole and knitting down to the cuff. But you'd still do each sleeve one at a time.

I'm trying to think if I've ever seen a design that is truly all one piece, and coming up blank. If anyone else has seen that, please chime in!

Happy new thread for the new year, Laura! I’m looking forward to seeing how your Maja sweater turns out.

Regarding the sweater question, I’ve kind of seen it done, but only with cardigans for babies. In that particular case, you knit the back, increase for the sleeves, cast off for the hole for the head and split into two sides, decrease at the end of the sleeves and finish by knitting the front parts. You end up with a + shaped piece that is sewn together along the sides and under the arms. I suppose you could make a sweater the same way but you’d still need to make the hole for the head and that would mean knitting the sleeves one by one for at least a while. I guess you could steek the hole, but that seems like more trouble than necessary.

Paws, your description reminded me of knitting legend Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket. which looks like this:

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket has truly proven to be timeless, growing in popularity since its conception in 1968. The Jacket is knitted back and forth in Garter stitch, then cleverly folded and completed by weaving the shoulder seams.

I haven't made this myself. At some point in its history additional instructions were provided for making the jacket in sizes from child to adult.

Potential Stash-buster Projects

Here are some projects under consideration for 2024, to make use of yarn in my stash.

Antler Toque


I've made this hat from tincanknits before and enjoyed it. I'll use yarn I bought at a fiber festival last autumn.

Anthology Hat


This pattern, also from tincanknits, is more of a "recipe". You get the instructions for knitting the hat in various sizes and with various weights of yarn, and a slew of colorwork motifs to choose from. You can make a basic 2-color hat or use many colors. Here are a few combinations I'm thinking about. All of these yarns have been hanging around in my stash since 2018 or 2019, left over from the Master Hand Knitting program.

I'd like to use gray as the main color with motifs in blue and pink, but need to play with the motifs to see if that will work.



I could probably use all three of these colors in one design:


Here, I'd use either green or purple as the main color with white motifs.


Wohin? Socks



When I bought the gray yarn I thought I'd just make a basic pair of gray socks but decided that was too boring. A couple years ago someone I "know" on Ravelry made these socks and I decided that was how I would use the gray yarn, if I could just find the right color to pair it with. Last year I gave up on a project using the maroon yarn purchased on impulse, so maybe this is a way to put it to use. ("Wohin?" is German for "Where to?")

>7 lauralkeet: >8 PawsforThought: Thanks to both of you for expanding my knitting horizons!

>9 lauralkeet: Yeah, that looks very similar to what I've seen people making.

>10 lauralkeet: - I love all of these combinations, but the gray, blue, pink is my favorite.

Looking forward to seeing all the gorgeous knitting 2024 is sure to hold for you, Laura. All of your stashbusters look lovely.

Happy New Year! As always, you have a great eye for color and projects!!

Just looking at your proposed colour combinations. I have a project planned that I really want to start working on but I need a skein of wool yarn in the exact shade of purple you have. Completely differently type of yarn, though.

Purple is one of my favorite colors and I'm particularly fond of that shade. I hope you find what you're looking for.

>7 lauralkeet: There are quite a few patterns for knitting all in one piece, but most of them involve sewing seams at the end, from the cuff to the lower edge on each side.

Some of these sweaters start at one cuff and work across to the other, increasing along the way for the body, front and back in the middle, making allowance for the head opening. They can have quite striking one colour vertical patterning.

Others start at the bottom and increase for sleeves, then decrease as you start the other side. These aren't particularly successful for anything other than plain knitting.

Then there are patterns that start at the neck, and work along from there (lots of short rows for shaping, leaving stitches on needles to come back to, picking up, but they are quite rewarding patterns. Here is one I've done from Interpretations Volume 5


image from Interpretations Volume 5

There is a lacy pattern around the neck continued down the front opening, and then featured on the cuffs, and a small dot pattern on the bod. There is a yoke across the back.

I'm a big fan of the Interpretations series, and have knitted several of their patterns..

Thanks for chiming in on this. That's a pretty pattern, too.

I'm finally working the yoke on my Maja Pullover! I'm quite smitten with the color combination.

Oooh, I love it!!

>20 lauralkeet: That looks gorgeous, Laura!

>20 lauralkeet: Very nice!

Thank you so much Amber, Micky & Lori!

>20 lauralkeet: Nice! I especially like that yellow.

Thanks Katherine. I asked a friend from the Fiber Guild to help me choose the colors. Left to my own devices, I would have chosen something a strong color like red or blue, paired with a light neutral like gray or off white. There's nothing wrong with that, but I wanted to choose colors outside that comfort zone and she helped me see some other possibilities.

Well done Laura! It looks great.

And I really like that there is a super-clear contrast between the colours, but you can still see the pattern. People in my FB groups are obsessed with contrast and insist that there must be really high contrast between all colours in a pattern or else it’ll be terrible. And I just look at all the gazillion Fais Isle sweaters out there that most definitely do not have have that…

Thanks Paws. I admit I was worried about contrast at first. Photos of the yarn in gray scale showed they were about the same. But I liked the swatch. I think high contrast would be more important if you were working with several colors. If they were all the same value it could look muddy. You'd want one or more colors to "pop". But getting high contrast between all colors sounds unrealistic.

I've gotten my computer problems fixed and can now see pictures again. I really like the color combination. That will make a great fall sweater.

Thank you Betty! I'd love to finish this sweater soon enough to wear it a few times before the weather gets too warm. We'll see.

The sweater is finished! I need to block it today, and it will take a few days to dry, and then I'll take some photos.

Meanwhile, I started two stash-busting hats mentioned in >10 lauralkeet:: the Antler Toque, and the Anthology hat in the light gray/blue/pink yarns. Anthology involves a bit of design, because you get to choose the color work motifs and decide how to use your colors to create them. The pattern provides several motifs and shows how they can be used with just 2 colors, or 3 or more.. I also have a book of Fair Isle motifs but one can easily get overwhelmed trying to choose, so that book remains on the shelf for now. I might get more ambitious on a second hat.

Congrats on finishing your sweater. That's a big achievement!

Thanks Micky.

That is so nice.

>20 lauralkeet: Laura, what stunning colors! Beautiful work!

>34 mnleona:, >35 PlatinumWarlock: thank you both! Photos of finished sweater coming soon ...

I'd like to get a photo of me wearing this, but weather and indoor lighting have not cooperated. I had to make some adjustments in knitting so it would fit properly, and they worked out as they should (I was nervous about that). So all in all, I'm quite pleased with it.

That's really pretty, Laura. I'm sure the colors are much better in person. My browser is showing the main color as a rusty brown (brownish orange?) I often share your project pictures with a good friend who is a knitter and crocheter and I'm sure she'll like this too. She's the one who made her daughter a coat of granny squares a few years ago.

Thanks Betty, yes I'd say the yarn is a rusty brown/orange. Its official name is "persimmon". There are pics of both yarns in >2 lauralkeet:. They are not bright colors but do look nicer in person.

Wll done, Laura! The sweater looks lovely. Not colours I'm normally drawn to, but I really like the main brown/bronze.

Oh wow. That turned out so well!!

Nicely done. Circular yokes with stranded colorwork are always a challenge, and if the pattern doesn't happen to precisely fit the intended wearer's particular body shape, tweaking the fit can be a major undertaking! Glad you were successful on all counts. Wear and enjoy!

(And now, great-grandma-to-be returns to knitting tiny garments.....)

Thanks Paws, Amber, & Linda!

Linda, to your comment about tweaking the fit ... I did have some challenges to deal with. I don't have a difficult-to-fit body, other than being short which is more of a problem with trousers than tops. However, my gauge was such that I did have to make some adjustments otherwise the sweater would have been too snug and the yoke, too short. Congratulations on being a great-grandma-to-be!

>43 lauralkeet: It's always an interesting question just where a yoke should be. Some, like yours in this sweater go down past the armholes, others are just a suggestion around the top.
Yoked sweaters seem to be making a comeback, and I notice that many, like yours, have a wider neck opening than the older "wrap up tight" versions.

Nice work!

>44 SassyLassy: Oh yes, I know what you mean! I was surprised when I first read the instructions, to see that the colorwork started about 1" below the armhole. And when I tried it on I was equally surprised by the wider neck although on closer examination of the pattern I might have noticed.

Your comments prompted a trip down memory lane. The very first sweater I ever made was a yoke sweater. It had a smaller neck opening and the yoke started above the armhole. Here's a 10-years-younger me in said sweater:

>45 lauralkeet: Oooh, I love that... and I especially love collars like that, which sort of roll a little bit. Beautiful!!

The newest sweater is gorgeous, Laura. Beautiful work as always!

I've got some crochet circle yoke sweater patterns (with yarn to go with them) waiting in my stash and I'm looking forward to trying out this method of making.

>45 lauralkeet: Another great sweater - it's amazing how this style holds up. I like the suggestion of border above the cuffs. The proportions go well with the yoke bands.

>46 PlatinumWarlock: Thanks Lavinia!

>47 MickyFine: And thank you, too, Micky. I enjoy your crochet adventures and am interested to see a crochet yoke sweater, whenever you get around to it.

>48 SassyLassy: Thank you! I agree, the yoke is a really classic style. That sweater is from Ann Budd's Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters, and it's one of those designs that looks more difficult than it is.

Finished! This is the first Anthology Hat I mentioned in >10 lauralkeet:. It's a fun pattern because you are in control of both the colors and the combination of color work motifs. It also knits up quickly.

I had originally planned to make a few of these with yarn combinations as shown in my original post. But my Ravelry stash inventory was off. It looks like I don't have enough of some of the colors, and the yellow has completely disappeared from my stash! I have absolutely no idea where it went.

Fortunately I have enough for a hat in navy and white, and I came up with a design this morning that's quite different from the first hat, so that will be fun to make.

That's a really nice hat, Laura. I like the colors.

>50 lauralkeet: Very cute!

The hat is lovely! Great work, Laura.

Thank you Betty, Amber & Micky!

I finished another stash-busting project. This is the Antler Toque mentioned in >10 lauralkeet:. I've made this before, and it's a fairly easy cable project if someone were looking to try their hand at cables. There's also a matching mitten pattern.

I'm now working on my second Anthology hat, in navy & white. I changed my mind about the socks mentioned in >10 lauralkeet:. I took a closer look at the pattern and thought, "this doesn't look fun". It just seemed overly complicated. I found a herringbone design I like, that has been quietly waiting in a book on my shelves. Go figure.

After I finished my Nordic sweater, I realized I had time to make a summer top that would be ready to wear when the weather warms up. I now have pattern and yarn (a cotton/viscose/linen blend), but am trying not to think about it too much until I finish the navy/white hat. Then I'll have both sweater and socks on the needles. I don't like to have too many projects going at once, but two is fine and sometimes it's nice to switch back and forth.

>55 lauralkeet: Looks great, Laura!

I don't like to have too many projects going at once,

I...am not very good at sticking to just one or two projects...

At least I'm still in the single digits. I think.

>56 PawsforThought: Paws, it stresses me out to be juggling more than a couple. And I have to admit, sticking with two projects does help me to finish them. If I end up setting a project aside to "take a break," there's a good chance that break will become permanent.

I'm the same way with books, rarely reading two at a time and almost never more than that.

I can't even do two at a time. I always end up favouring one over the other so I stick to one at time with a dishcloth usually hanging out in some level of completion that I can take to meetings.

Wow, I've missed a lot here (not sure how). Gorgeous work as always, Laura. Wonderful projects!

>58 MickyFine: I get that Micky. If I have a “big” project underway I like to have something smaller that I can take with me.

>59 avaland: Thanks Lois!

Some cute caps/hats.

Thanks Lori!

Your work is so impressive and practical.

Thank you so much, Leona.

I finished my second Anthology Hat! This one has a folded brim, no pom-pom, and uses different motifs than the one in >50 lauralkeet:. And different yarn too, obviously.

These hats have been a fun way to use up leftover yarn. I still have leftover yarn (who doesn't?!) but not enough of it in coordinating colors to make another hat. At least for now. 😀

>65 lauralkeet: That's beautiful, Laura!

Very pretty!

You've made so many lovely things already! Count me in the fan club for the color choice on the sweater.

>66 MickyFine:, >67 dudes22: Thanks Micky and Betty! I really love the pattern/"recipe" because you can play around with motifs to create your own design.

>68 mabith: Thanks Meredith! I asked a friend from my fiber guild to help me with color choices, because she is really good at it and I wanted to move outside my comfort zone. I never would have chosen these on my own, but they work really well together.

That hat is fabulous, Laura!

>65 lauralkeet: The differences between the two Anthology hats are quite interesting. I would never have guessed they were from the same pattern! (Love those "recipe" patterns.)

>70 scaifea: Thanks Amber!

>71 LyndaInOregon: I know what you mean, Lynda. It was inspiring to look at all the Ravelry projects for this pattern, because every one was unique. Some, like me, used the motifs included with the pattern. Some used other sources (or maybe their own design talents). The "recipe" recommends a specific number of rows be devoted to patterns so it's a blank canvas to do with what you will.

Anker's Summer Shirt (pattern photo)

After finishing my recent sweater project I was looking for another one when I realized it would make more sense to knit something for summer. Over the weekend I started this tee, in a pinkish-peachish color.

I also have a pair of two-color herringbone socks on the needles. I cast on and knit the ribbing before setting it aside for this project. I'm not feeling very enthusiastic about sock knitting these days, and am already wondering whether I will continue with it. Well, no need to make a decision, there's no harm in leaving it alone for a while.

>73 lauralkeet: Ooh! That's a Petiteknit pattern - they're very popular in my Facebook groups. I've been eyes some of her sweater and cardigan patterns for a while.

>74 PawsforThought: Me too Paws! A friend of mine made her Cumulus Blouse not too long ago (bought the pattern and yarn while on holiday in Denmark). She has a way of designing something not very complicated and yet very pretty.

yeah, I really like that about it. I'm fond of simple things.

Ooooo … That’s very pretty. It will pair with so many things.

>73 lauralkeet: That's a lovely pattern, lending itself to so many different yarn choices.

I'm having fun knitting the summer tee! It's knit top-down, so you begin with the yoke. Each section of the yoke includes an increase row, where you knit a small number of stitches and then do a yarnover for the increase. I've done two sections and each time I've had to undo and redo the increase row because I'd unknowingly lost count along the way. Honestly, I *should* be able to count to 3! There are two more sections in the yoke, I wonder if I'll get them right on the first try? 😃

How frustrating! I think I’d have to use markers to make sure I got the right number of stitches.

I was trying to think of a way to prevent the mistake.
Each section is 10 rows of k1p1 rib. Then you do one row which would be something like k2, yo all the way around. Or k3, or k4 depending on which section you're in. Since you start with 92 sts, that's a lot of markers. I just need to concentrate, I think. I also realized I only have one more rib section with increases, not two.

>65 lauralkeet: That looks great!

>73 lauralkeet: That looks like a great pattern.

Hi Lori! Thanks for stopping by.

Ugh. I have trouble focusing on those kinds of rows, too. Good luck!

Progress on the summer shirt: the yoke is finished!

That's really pretty, Laura.

Thank you Betty. I really like the yarn, I think it will be nice to wear in warm weather.

>85 lauralkeet: That is nice!

Thanks! Earlier this week I reached the point where you separate off two sections for the sleeves, and then continue working the body (about 12" more of plain knitting). Not very exciting knitting, but doesn't require a ton of concentration either.

>85 lauralkeet: That looks superb as usually, Laura. Can’t wait for the next update photo.

Thank you Paws. I've knit about 2" beyond the yoke so far; I need to knit 12" before the ribbing at the bottom. I'll have to remember to take a photo as it takes shape.

I checked out the website for the wool place you went to yesterday. I was saying to my friend Lori (we're in AZ visiting) that I sort of wish I had stuck with knitting instead of doing quilting as there are so many nice yarns these days. With lots of great colors. Any pictures of what you bought?

ETA: I have to knit vicariously through you.

Here you go, Betty!



First, some background. I posted about this on my 75 books thread but hadn't gotten here yet. My knitting group met yesterday. Instead of our usual "knit while discussing a topic" format, we went to the warehouse of Solitude Wool, owned and managed by local women (guild members) who raise rare breed sheep and dye their yarn. We learned about their sheep breeds and the process of creating yarn, which was really interesting. They sell at fiber festivals and farm markets and don’t have a brick & mortar store but we were able to browse their inventory and stock up. Yay!

The yarn is sport weight, from a breed of sheep called Coopworth which originated in New Zealand. I plan to use 4 skeins of "thistle" for a sweater and the 2 skeins of undyed for the Guild's annual "dye day" in July. There, we demonstrate a dye method and everyone gets to try it out on the fabric or fiber of their choice. In previous years we've done indigo (blue) and onion skins (yellow/orange). We haven't decided on this year's method yet.

pretty color "thistle"!

>93 lauralkeet: Looks like lovely yarn.

As to this year's dye method - cochineal - fabulous colours.

Dye days are really fun.

That looks like lovely yarn.

>94 al.vick: I love the color, too. The skeins practically jumped out of the bin into my arms, specifically because the color caught my eye.

>95 SassyLassy: Cochineal is a definite possibility. We'll see what the committee decides!

>96 dudes22: Thanks Betty. Besides the color, it has a nice soft texture.

Oooh, new yarn is always exciting. And so cool that you got to visit the warehouse. Did you meet some of the sheep as well? :)

>98 MickyFine: I wish, Micky! The sheep are nowhere near the warehouse, unfortunately. But shortly after I joined the guild the annual Dye Day was hosted by one of the Solitude Wool owners. I met a few sheep there. 😀

Does anyone here do needle felting? I went to a Fiber Guild workshop yesterday where we learned to make a needle felted baby fox. There were about 10 of us, all inexperienced with needle felting. The instructor did a great job walking us through it. Her model was smaller and cuter and mine has a few wonky spots, but as a first effort I'm happy with it. Here's my little guy (about 6" tall):



With a bit of experience behind me, I might even try another project on my own one of these days. I was thinking about something Christmassy: ornaments, snowmen, something like that.

>100 lauralkeet: What a cutie! I haven't tried needle felting yet. The class I signed up for via our then-LYS was cancelled due to Covid, and the shop eventually closed. :=( Hope to have the opportunity to learn at some point.

>100 lauralkeet: - That's really cute. Never tried needle felting but I feel like I know someone who did. I wonder who it was.

Thanks Lynda and Betty! The basic technique is surprisingly easy, but as with all crafts I’m sure there are advanced techniques required for certain projects.

>100 lauralkeet: I have a needle felting kit in stash, but I haven't tried it yet. I think mine is a cat. By the way, lovely yarn up above.

Thanks Lori! I think I’ve found a good project for the yarn which I’ll start after I finish the summer tee (which is moving along nicely btw).

The fox is so cute!

I've tried needlefelting, but my hands just can't deal with the required movements (I have chronic pain issues generally). I occasionally try it again out of vain hope, because you can do such neat things with it, but no luck.

>106 mabith: Meredith, I'm sorry you haven't been able to do any needle felting. I can see how the repetitive movement with the needle could be problematic. Knitting occasionally gives me wrist pain, usually when I'm doing cable work (I think I do something different with my grip). I'm hopeful that all that's needed is to be careful not to overdo it, but I do sometimes worry about whether it will progress.

I love the little fox, Laura! I know someone (a former student) who does needle felting classes, and I've been thinking about bringing her in to lead a Teen Tuesday. I think the TTs would love it.

>108 scaifea: Amber, that would be an excellent TT activity. Our class was only 2 hours long and it required only about 15min to set up the room so logistically it would work well. I also thought it was kinda amazing to make an actual thing during such a short time.

Late to the party but your fox is super cute!

Thanks Micky!

I keep forgetting to post a photo of the summer shirt, still in progress.



The body is finished and I just need to add two short sleeves.

I'd really like to find a good tutorial on achieving more accurate color on the iPhone, either when taking the photo or through edits.

I like that pattern, Laura. Looking forward to seeing it finished. I don't like my iPhone photos either. OLLI near here has a class on taking better phone pictures but I never seem to fit it in.

>112 lauralkeet: You are chugging on that!

I'm still swatching with the vintage bamboo yarn I reclaimed from a disastrous project. (Who knew, back then, how much bamboo yarn was going to streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetch?) Hope to get the preliminaries out of the way and be able to start my summer sweater on May 1.

>113 dudes22:, >114 LyndaInOregon: Thanks Betty & Lynda. It looks like the sleeves will work up quickly -- I've knit the "body" of the first sleeve (only about 2.25") and am working on the ribbing. I'm pleased it will be wearable just as the weather is warming up!

Lynda, I didn't know that about bamboo. My only experience is with a brand of sock yarn, but the bamboo was a small part of the fiber blend. I look forward to seeing your summer sweater. Bamboo should make for a cool, lightweight garment.

When I saw the word cochineal, I remembered the book written by Frank G. Slaughter. I read many years ago. It got me interested in natural dyes and the Phoenicians. I also read other books of his but have not thought about his books for years. The purple is the cochineal.

This is from goodreads:
Purple Quest by Frank G. Slaughter | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1262627
Frank G. Slaughter. The Purple Quest is a masterful recreation of one of the great romantic sagas of the ancient world--the turbulent story of Queen Dido and the founding of Carthage. With no weapons but courage and a sailor's skills, and no ally but Hera, the lovely Grecian who owed him more than her life, a proud Phoenician prince fights to ...

>112 lauralkeet: That is so nice.

Thanks Leona, and that book looks interesting too.

>112 lauralkeet: That's looking great, Laura!

Oooh, that's so pretty so far!

Thanks Micky and Amber. I just finished one of the sleeves so it won’t be long now ….

>115 lauralkeet: Oh, yes. I don't think you can even buy 100% bamboo yarn any more, it was so bad. It's now only available in blends, AFAIK.

But when it first came out (years ago), a lot of us were overwhelmed by its beauty, softness, drape, sheen, and depth of color. I made a bolero sweater out of it with 3/4 length sleeves. Keep that in mind. Bolero. Short.

You will not believe what happened, but it was so awful that I stuffed it in a bag in the depths of the stash. And every few years it would surface, and I'd think, "I need to rip that out and reclaim the yarn." I took it to my knit group for show & tell, and they said I had to post it to Ravelry's "Ugliest FO" thread before I frogged it. Here's the photo, with about half the lace border already removed. Remember -- bolero style cardigan. Three-quarter length sleeve.

OMG Lynda, that's incredible. Given this yarn's qualities, I'm interested to see how your summer sweater knits up!

>123 lauralkeet: I frogged it, re-skeined, machine-washed & -dried the skeins (in a lingerie bag), and made a big (8"x8") swatch in pattern. After hanging up overnight with a small towel pinned to it to simulate the weight of a finished piece, it seems to have kept its shape well. I also dropped down to a #3 needle.

We shall see.

I finished the tee (Anker's Summer Shirt). It fits nicely too and I'll post another photo when I can. I need to enlist the help of my reluctant photographer.

That's really nice, Laura. Great sweater for summer.

Thanks Betty! I'm looking forward to wearing it soon.

And here's what I'm working on now:



The pattern is Wanderling, by Isabell Kraemer. I have a few ready-to-wear tops with a similar henley neckline, and thought it would be fun to try knitting this style. The mock cables at the center back and near the sleeves add interest to the garment and keep the knitting from getting boring.

I'm using the yarn I bought on my knitting group's recent visit to Solitude Wool:

>125 lauralkeet: The shirt looks great, and so comfortable.

Love the sweater design too.

Nice work!

I started a summer sweater with the Disaster Bamboo Yarn from the above post. I don't know ... I may end up with a maxi-dress!

>125 lauralkeet: Beautiful work, Laura.

>127 lauralkeet: Ooh the cable details on the back are pretty!

>129 thornton37814: Thanks Lori.

>130 LyndaInOregon: LOL Lynda. I hope you have better luck with the yarn this time around.

>131 MickyFine: Thank you Micky. And I think I would go crazy knitting just stockinette for an entire top, so I was very happy to see that bit of detail.

Well done on the tee! And I love that henley pattern. I wear henleys all the time - I just love the cut of them.

Me too Amber! I wear my henley shirts all the time, but for some reason it didn't occur to me until recently that I could knit something like it.

>127 lauralkeet: I hit a frustrating obstacle in this project yesterday.

After knitting from the neckband down to a bit below the armhole I tried on the sweater, and it was too tight / too small. My actual gauge is tighter than the swatch I made before starting, which doesn't usually happen. UGH! I did some math and think that if I knit as if I'm making the next size up, it will turn out more like the size I was aiming for. Last night I unravelled the whole thing and cast on for my second attempt.

>135 lauralkeet: Oh, no - how frustrating. That unfortunately happens to me all the time - I apparently knit much tighter than all pattern constructors (which is why I've unravelled a project 4+ times). Hope it works out with your plan to knit the larger size.

>136 PawsforThought: I knew I could count on this group for sympathy! What made this doubly annoying was that I actually worked a gauge swatch before starting the sweater, to confirm the needle size that would give me the right gauge. It was even slightly looser than the pattern gauge. I was unpleasantly surprised to get different results with the sweater itself.

>135 lauralkeet: - Ouch! that must be so frustrating. I haven't done any knitting in a long time, but I was always worried that whatever I was making would be too big or too small even if I'd done a swatch. I guess I never quite trusted that there was a "standard" that designers really followed.

>135 lauralkeet: Wondering if your swatch was knit flat but the garment worked in the round? That makes a big difference with some knitters. (I don't find it so, but now that I've said that, it will probably come back to bite me in the butt on my next project.....)

But that ability to try on as you go is one reason I prefer top-down projects. As infuriating as it is to have to rip back a 1/3 finished item, it's even worse to have to disassemble and totally frog a 100% finished one.

>139 LyndaInOregon: I'm familiar with that phenomenon, Lynda, but I don't think that was a factor this time. Usually the pattern will specify that the gauge is measured in the round, and that was not mentioned. The sweater is actually knit flat to start with, and then joined together just below the armhole.

I completely agree with you, that trying on is a real plus with top-down sweaters. My daughter recently made a seamed sweater that turned out too small, and was so disappointed because she'd put a lot of time into it. She didn't swatch for gauge before starting, but I still felt badly for her and clearly this can still happen even when you swatch.

>137 lauralkeet: How crushing!
I've had that experience too, only in my case, although the gauge was spot on, the yoke was too big. It is in fair isle, but even with gauge checked before and after, correct both times, it was too big. I'm wondering if I just selected the wrong size (one of those patterns which recommends a positive ease of n inches) and should look for a closer fit next time, or whether I should have knitted the yoke one size smaller with the body the size I wanted. This one made me look like a footballer!

That's the most frustrating, when you've swatched and it has still gone off.

Ugh, gauge issues are the worst. I'm always so paranoid about it.

Obviously crochet gauge is a bit different than knitting but one of the designers I follow advocates for both swatching (noting both pre and post blocking gauge) as well as checking gauge every 10 rows or so on the actual project to make sure you haven't started working looser/ tighter and need to change hook size.

My challenge with gauge is always that my stitches are somehow disproportionately taller than they should be. If my rows per inch are correct, my stitches per inch are off, and vice versa. Not a big deal if I'm making a blanket, but it makes a big difference for clothing. I have to tinker a lot with sweater patterns to make them fit properly, and I wouldn't dare attempt clothing for anyone other than me.

>141 SassyLassy: Oh, that's really frustrating. I guess it's possible you accidentally chose the wrong size. But I also think it can be difficult to decide how much ease YOU want, vs. what the designer wants. Do I go with more (or less) ease than usual to get a certain look? Or do I go with my typical fit?

>142 mabith: Thanks for the sympathy.

>143 MickyFine: That's good advice, Micky.

>144 KeithChaffee: Hi Keith, I tend to focus mostly on achieving the correct stitch gauge, but I agree that row gauge is important. If the pattern tells you to work until the piece measures a certain length, then fine. But I suspect you are referring to a situation where the pattern tells you to work a specific number of rows and your row gauge isn't the same as the pattern spec, making your garment too long or too short. This could easily happen in a charted pattern, like Fair Isle or cables, and then you find yourself in a bit of design hell trying to figure out how to make things work. Ugh!

I've been neglecting my own thread, sorry about that! I've recovered from the sweater gauge issue mentioned above. I'm knitting the instructions for the next size up, and it seems to fit better.

Meanwhile, I just finished the 2024 Shetland Wool Week hat!



The yarn is Jamieson & Smith 2-ply Jumper Weight, which is made in Shetland. I bought mine from The Woolly Thistle. They offered the yarn in the original designer colors and curated a few other yarn bundles. I chose one of those bundles because I preferred the colors and I already had one of them (the light purple) in my stash from last year's hat.

>146 lauralkeet: Love the crown detail!

That's really nice, Laura. I'm going to show it to my knitting friend when I see her tonight. I'm sure she'll like it too.

>147 LyndaInOregon: Thank you! Although credit is really owed to the designer. I admire their ability to maintain a design as you decrease the number of stitches in the crown. I had to design a Fair Isle hat for the Master Hand Knitting program, and that was the most challenging part of the design for me.

>148 dudes22: Thanks Betty. Say hi to your knitting friend for me! The pattern is available online if she's inclined to make one herself.

The hat is SO lovely!

>146 lauralkeet: Very nice!

>150 mabith:, >151 thornton37814: Thank you both!

Beautiful work, Laura. I'm in awe!

Is it big horn sheep in that pattern or do my eyes deceive me?

>153 MickyFine: Hi Micky! Those are sheep, all right, but not the North American Bighorn. The hat pattern was designed for Shetland Wool Week, which celebrates the wool produced by the islands' heritage breed sheep. Here's a description of the hat pattern:

The Islesburgh Toorie is named after the Doull Family's farm. The design features a distinctive Shetland Ram motif and a wave lace motif, both of which are lovely representations of the Doull Family as the 2024 Shetland Wool Week patrons. From Islesburgh, Northmavine, the Doull family are famers deeply rooted in the Shetland Flock Book Society. They are dedicated to preserving and championing the highest-quality Shetland wool. Margaret (mother) and Anne (daughter) are both avid knitters producing garments of the highest quality, gaining local and national attention.

>154 lauralkeet: Cool!

This is beautiful work. Will you wear it it or is it for a gift?
Our family did a British Isles cruise in May and we visited the Shetland Islands.

Lucky you! I'd love to visit Shetland.

I made the hat just for fun and considered giving it away or donating it, but when it was finished I loved the colors so much I decided to wear it myself. I have more hats than I need but ... 😀

I'm still working on the Wanderling sweater (see >127 lauralkeet: for a pattern photo). I'm knitting the second sleeve so it won't be long now. After I finished the first sleeve I needed a little break. I've had fun making stash-busting color work hats using a pattern/recipe called Anthology, so I decided to make another one. I used yarn originally purchased to make some Christmas ornaments, but I lost interest in that idea. The Fiber Guild has a booth at a fall fair in late September where we demonstrate fiber crafts and sell handmade items. I sold a few hats last year, and will offer up a few more this year, including this latest effort.



This week I bought yarn for another sweater, a cardigan I've been eyeing for quite a while. More on that later.

That's quite cute! I like that pattern.

>158 lauralkeet: The Anthology hat is so cute. I just put the basic "recipe" pattern in my Ravelry library, and maybe I can use up some stash!

Wanderling looks restful. I'm working at such a snail's pace right now that I need something like that one. Nearing the finish line on Tangled Up in Gray, but I suspect the designer still has a few more curves to throw at me.

>158 lauralkeet: It's so delightfully festive, Laura! I'm sure it'll get snapped up at the sale.

>159 dudes22: Thanks Betty.

>160 LyndaInOregon: Linda, this is my third Anthology hat. I really enjoy mixing & matching the color work motifs to create something different every time.

>161 MickyFine: Thanks Micky.

>127 lauralkeet: That is a lovely sweater. The photo didn't show on my really old computer, but now that I have a new one, your mention of it in >158 lauralkeet: sent me back to it, and now I can see it!

I'll be doing the 2024 Shetland Wool Week Hat with bits left over from an afghan. Your colours are great.

>163 SassyLassy: Thank you!

I can't wait to see your hat. Choosing colors is a real challenge for me, at least if there are more than 2 or 3. I bought my yarn as a bundle from The Woolly Thistle -- they do a nice job putting combinations together.

Finished! I'm looking forward to wearing this as cooler temperatures arrive.

>165 lauralkeet: With the temps what they've been this week, that looks "hot." However, I'm sure you will enjoy it when fall evenings and winter days and evenings come along.

>166 thornton37814: Lori, I admit I waited a few days to take a photo because it was too hot outside, and the temperature finally dropped a bit yesterday. I'm looking forward to sweater weather too -- I just did some closet rearranging and culling in preparation for the seasonal change.

The hat and sweater are glorious!

I love the color and that pattern up the back makes it so interesting.

>168 mabith: Thank you!!

>169 dudes22: When I first saw the yarn I fell in love with the color, and just had to have it. And I wouldn't have chosen this design without the pattern up the back. Not only does that make it interesting to look at, it makes it more interesting to knit. I would go crazy knitting row after row of plain stockinette.

Great work, Laura! Both the hat and the sweater look great. Really nice work on the cables (I can't get mine to look that neat!)

Thank you Paws. Those are "mock cables," which are easier to work than proper cables and they have the added benefit of maintaining the same gauge as stockinette. Here's the pattern for the single "cable" that runs along the sides, both flat and in the round:

Worked flat over 7 sts
Row 1 (RS): K1, p1, k3, p1, k1.
Row 2 (WS): P1, k1, p3, k1, p1.
Row 3 (RS): K1, p1, sl1, k2, psso, p1, k1.
Row 4 (WS): P1, k1, p1, yo, p1, k1, p1.

Worked in the round over 7 sts
Rnd 1: K1, p1, k3, p1, k1.
Rnd 2: Rep rnd 1.
Rnd 3: K1, p1, sl1, k2, psso, p1, k1.
Rnd 4: K1, p1, k1, yo, k1, p1, k1.

The center back panel is made up of 5 "cables".

>164 lauralkeet: Great sweater - it came out really well.

Completely off topic - is that your garden? Wow!

Thanks Sassy. And yes! Here's a photo without me in the way ha ha.



This is on the terrace behind our house. When we moved here in 2021 it was the only garden to speak of, and fairly humdrum. My husband found the sculpture at an auction, and we gave it a year to see what the garden would yield over the seasons. We decided to make it a white garden where ideally there would be white blooms every month of the year. We haven't achieved that ideal yet but we enjoy it nonetheless. We have other formal gardens in front of the house, and a kitchen garden off to the side. We like gardening 😀

>174 lauralkeet: Oh, how beautiful!

We also have a white garden - insomuch as we have a garden that’s covered in snow for 5 months of the year…

Ha ha ha Paws, that made me laugh.

>165 lauralkeet: So gorgeous, Laura!

Thanks Micky!

>165 lauralkeet: Very nice!

Thanks Lynda!

I haven't posted a project update in a while, sorry about that.



I've continued making hats from stash yarn; this is my latest project. The photo is from the pattern, but coincidentally mine is also blue and white. I like to have a small project like this on the needles to take to Guild meetings or anytime I need something that's not too complex.

Speaking of ... I'm also working on Andrea Mowry's Tessellated Cardigan:



I'm making a full-length version vs. the cropped one in the photo. This is a mosaic knitting pattern that uses three colors:



The blue on the left is the main color, used alone for the ribbing and with the other yarns on the body and sleeves. The middle yarn is variegated with blue, green, and pink; the rightmost color is a mohair. I started with a fuchsia mohair but it was fighting with the variegated yarn and it was all too much. I started knitting with the pale green color last night and the combination seems more pleasing.

Mosaic knitting uses multiple colors, but only one color per row and you slip the stitches of the color not currently being used. In this project you use the main color on every row, and change colors every two rows. On each row you knit 2, slip 2 (or purl 2, slip 2 on the wrong side).

Cute Hat! But I LOVE the sweater. I like the way the pattern goes partway down the sleeve. I even like the fact that it's cropped. Although I guess if you knit your own the length can be what suits you best. I find that most sweaters (even petite) are just a tad to long for me. Looking forward to seeing it finished. And I like those colors you've chosen.

Thanks Betty! I completely understand the length issue. I'm just 5' tall so I buy ready-to-wear clothes in petite sizes. Sometimes I can get by with regular sizes in tops but I will always buy a petite if it's available. I recently bought a blouse online in a regular size. When I tried it on, it was practically a mini-dress. It was my first time buying from this merchant and they don't carry petite sizes so sadly, I won't be back.

With handknit sweaters I'm usually able to tailor the length to my body size. In this case the cropped look just doesn't suit my figure and calls too much attention to the waist and hips. It sure looks cute on the model though, doesn't it?

I'm only 5' also so I completely understand. I think since leggings and long tops/tunics became popular, it seems that almost all tops are too long - even some petites. I've got a few tops right now that I'm waiting to take for alterations. I've always appreciated how you can knit so that sweaters are the right length. I may have told this before, but my mother knit and made sweaters for all of us. And even thought she would measure the length of my arms with the sweater on needles, the sleeves almost always were a little too short. I also don't order many tops with "V" necks as the opening ends up way too low without a camisole.

That cardigan is so cute and I love the yarns you've chosen for it.

>184 dudes22: the struggle is real, Betty!

>185 MickyFine: thanks Micky. As usual I found choosing colors a little mind-boggling. Most colorwork designs call for high contrast between the colors and I chose accordingly (the variegated yarn vs. the other two). But there are some gorgeous versions of this cardigan on Ravelry with far less contrast. It's kinda fascinating.

>184 dudes22: Sara Sach on her You Tube channel (not too long ago) made crocheted inserts (I am going to say inserts) for V neck tops.

>187 mnleona: - I'll check it out - although I don't crochet.