Me Made May 2016 – Week 1

Long time, no hear from. I know, I know. But, I just finished out my last semester for my Master’s program and I wanted to end on top. Not much has been happening on the craft scene. However, I did decide to participate in Me Made May. While I have added some new knits to my wardrobe, I have not sewn a thing in the past year. Not a skirt, dress, shirt…Nada. Yet, I still need to challenge myself to wear my handmade items more. So, this is my third year participating. I did not wear anything Me-Made on the first day because I spent most of that Sunday indoors putting the final touches on my papers. So, I’ll begin with Day 2…

Day 2 (Monday) – I’m wearing my Hetty cardigan, which is still in frequent rotation.

Day 3 (Tuesday) – I’m wearing my second Penelope cardigan (which I never blogged about). I really like wearing this because it is in my school colors.

Day 4 (Wednesday) – I’m wearing my self-drafted yellow skirt with my red Hetty cardigan.

Day 5 (Thursday) – It was freezing cold and raining like crazy on this day! I should’ve worn tights. But, I felt really cozy up top in my Elsa jacket, which I wore zipped up most of the day.

Day 6 (Friday) – This skirt was the first thing I ever sewed. It is just an elastic skirt. I’m wearing it with my Henriette cardigan, which gets frequent rotation.

Day 7 (Saturday) – I wore this to work yesterday and received quite a few compliments on my outfit. To date, this is the knit that I am most pleased with. It took me 2 years to finish and I am so happy that I finished it. It is my Vivien sweater.

 

Work In Progress: Penelope Part Deux

I am currently working on my second Penelope cardigan. I wanted to make a maroon cardigan and figured this was the perfect pattern. Initially, I was going to go with an oatmeal color for the contrast. However, I figured why not make it with a grey contrast? Those are my school’s colors.

This project has been flying off the needles. My motivation to finish this is because I have yarn coming in the post to make a green Agatha cardigan, which I am super excited about.

The body is finished and I am now working on the sleeves. Let’s see if I can get this done over the next week…

Finished Object: Penelope

I just realized that I never blogged about my finished Penelope cardigan from the KAL. The pattern is Penelope by Andi Satterlund. This project was super clear and quick. I enjoyed making and I’m actually working on a second version in my school colors.

From the beginning, I knew I wanted to use two colors that were in the same color family. My inspiration for colors was the Paris Cafe cardigan by Modcloth. Initially, I was thinking about going with the yellow color scheme. However, I don’t own a true blue cardigan. So, I went with Cascade 220 Superwash in hyacinth and baby denim. I really like the results.

The buttons came from Joann’s and I am surprised that I found such a perfect match. I didn’t want contrasting buttons because I wanted it to streamline with the button band.

Overall, this was one of those great and simple patterns for netflixing and relaxing.

Details:

Needle – 6 (4.0 mm) –sized down to get gauge with heavier weight yarn

Level – Easy

Yarn – Cascade 220 Superwash

Colors – hyacinth and baby denim

 

 

Finished: Vivien Sweater

After almost 2 years, this sweater is finally complete! Originally, I started this as part of the Knit a Christmas Sweater in 2014 challenge hosted by Andi of Untangling Knots. Well, I didn’t finish it in 2014. But, it is ready for 2015.

What can I say about this sweater? What is my favorite part? First off, I really like the neckline with the button band. It gives the sweater an authentic vintage vibe. I am so very happy with my color choices. I pretty much stayed in the same color family as the modeled sweater. The yarn is so perfect, squishy and warm with the fair isle. The fit is really nice because it conforms to my shape and still has a relaxed fit.

Initially, I planned blocking then seaming the garment. This was suggested in the book. However, I just had to try on the garment first. So, I seamed using crochet slip stitch. I love how sturdy and super fast this seaming technique is. Then, I blocked the garment. Also, I finished the neckline with a single crochet row because it looked untidy to me. There is not much to say about this pattern. I did note a few errors in this pattern and made the following adjustments:

• I think the increase row should say (Rib 5, m1) 20 times, rib 3. This will give me the 123 sts. that is required. Also, the chart is a repeat of 24 sts. yet, I have 123 sts. So, I am going to do the following:
  Row 1: Sl1 k-wise, follow chart, k2
  Row 2: Sl-1 k-wise, P1, follow chart, P1
  I will then repeat these 2 rows.
• The directions said to “shape armholes same as front”. Well, I did this up until the part where it says “continue working for 7.5 inches”. I think this was a mistake because the schematics says the armhole depth should be 6 inches. So, I moved on to the part that decrease 2 stitches for the next 5 rows. I continued working the armhole then after the final 3 rows of shaping, I worked 4 rows straight. I tested out the shaping of the armhole with the front and back. I also used the photo as a guide. My armhole depth is 6 inches, which is what it should be.

Further details:

Yarn – Knit Picks Comfy in Fingering

Colors – Natural/Undyed, Holly Berry, Peapod, Celestial

Needles – US 3 (3.25mm), US 5 (3.75mm), US 7 (4.5mm)

Level – Intermediate to Advanced

Vivien Sweater (The Unfinished Christmas KAL)

Well, since we’re discussing KALs. Let’s talk about the only KAL I didn’t finish. Do you remember I joined Andi’s Christmas Sweater KAL, which was a challenge to finish a Christmas sweater in a year? Christmas 2014 came and went and I didn’t even have a finished front. I failed. So, I tucked the cardigan away. Picked it back up in the Spring. Then, tucked it away again. Chart work takes concentration and most of the time I just want a mindless knit. However, the unfinished project just kept staring at me on my Ravelry page. So, a few weeks back I decided that I was going to finish this sweater if it was the last thing I do.

I mean, it is a simply stunning fair isle. I am really pleased with the color choices (I pretty much stayed in the same color family as the modeled sweater). So, why not finish this? Also, I know it will be a wardrobe staple that I will probably wear for years to come.

With that determination, I finished all parts to this sweater this past weekend! I have started weaving in the ends, which is no fun. I hope to at least start the blocking this weekend. Then, I’ll do the seaming.

I can’t wait to show you all the finished product.

Penelope KAL

As you know, I just finished participating in the Nosegay KAL. I am now joining Andi’s Penelope KAL, which marks my third year participating in Andi’s Fall KAL. The first year we made the Hetty cardigan and the second year we made the Marion cardigan.

I was debating between using shades of yellow or shades of blue for this cardigan. In the end, I decided on the blue because I don’t own a proper true blue cardigan. On the Untangling Knots thread for this KAL, Andi suggested that Cascade 220 Superwash could be used as a substitute because it is a lighter worsted weight. Therefore, I went with the Cascade 220 Superwash (my Hortencia and AtoZ cardigans are made with this yarn). My colors are hyacinth and baby denim. The hyacinth wasn’t as deep of a blue as I would have liked. However, I still really like the blue. Also, I had to go down to a size 6 needle to get gauge.

The past couple of nights, I have worked on the cardigan. I am now currently working on the upper right front. It works up super fast! It looks like ocean waves🙂

Finished Object: Nosegay Vest by Andi Satterlund

Andi hosted a little KAL for about a month. It came to an end September 10. I finished the vest five days before the KAL ended! Yay, me. The pattern can be found HERE or at the Knit Picks website.

Unfortunately, I was not able to participate in the OAL2015. I just had entirely too much on my plate this past summer and it just wasn’t possible. Therefore when this KAL was announced, I knew it was feasible. It’s simple, worsted weight, cropped, and no sleeves. I knew I could whip it up quickly.

Now, it didn’t go as smoothly as planned. I made an error in the pattern because I was supposed to work 2 rows after increasing. I didn’t do this. Also, I started doing stranded colorwork and it was a mess. It was bunched and lumpy. I hated it. So, I ripped back the flower and used intarsia (what I should have done, but I was being a lazy oaf).

Despite the drawbacks, everything worked out beautifully. And I now have a vest that is so lovely.

Details:

Yarn – Knit Picks Wool of the Andes

Colors – Marble Heather, Jalapeno, Firecracker Heather, Blossom Heather, Golden Heather

Level – Beginner to Intermediate

Needle – 8 (5.0 mm)

Me Made May Finale

Why bog you down with a million and one excuses for my extended absence? The upcoming blog posts will feature finished items, almost finished items, WIPs, and even photos from my trips. But first, let me post my finished looks from Me-Made-May 2015 (I have got to be the latest person ever with this post.) So, lets get started…

Day 22 – Features a simple self-drafted elastic skirt and the Shapely Cardigan.

Day 23 – Features a self-drafted elastic skirt and Hortencia by Andi Satterlund.

Day 24 – Features Hetty by Andi Satterlund.

Day 25 – Features Miette by Andi Satterlund

Day 26 – Features a self-drafted skirt and Elsa by Andi Satterlund

Day 27 – Features Hetty by Andi Satterlund

Day 28 – Features Marion by Andi Satterlund

Day 29 – Features Simplicity 1803

Day 30 – Features Marion by Andi Satterlund (Pheonia made a slight cameo)

Day 31 – Simplicity 1803 dress and Myrna by Andi Satterlund

The complete looks from Me-Made-May 2015!

Okay, that concludes this post. I’ll be back later.

Me Made May ’15 – Week 3

I can’t believe that the month of May is almost over. My outfits from Week 3 are below. Day  15 (Friday) – I took my Dad to his doctor’s appointment and we ran some errands. I repeated my red Hetty cardigan and my Simplicity 2512 skirt. Day 16 (Saturday) – My sister was attending a conference for the weekend, so I had my nieces and nephew. I knew it would be a hectic day, so I went for super comfy. Hence, the chucks and my Casual Summer Top. Day 17 (Sunday) – I attended church and repeated my Simplicity 2444 dress along with my Mei-Mei Shrug. Day 18 (Monday) – My niece had her Awards Ceremony. So, I wore my Simplicity 1803 dress from the OAL2014. I took along my red Hetty, but it was so HOT that I never did wear it. Day 19 (Tuesday) – This was a lazy day. I washed my hair (hence the hat) and went to church that night. The hat is Naturally Comfortable by Lisa Gentry. I repeated my skirt, which is a self-drafted elastic skirt (A tutorial for a elastic skirt can be found HERE). Day 20 (Wednesday) – My nephew had his Promotion Day. I wore my Myrna cardigan from the OAL2014 with one of my favorite dresses. Day 21 (Thursday) – I wore my A to Z cardigan with a thrift store skirt that was upcycled.

Me Made May ’15 – Week 2

I completed Week 2 of Me Made May ’15. The details are below.

Day 8 (Friday) – I was a hostess in the graduation and we had to wear black/white. So, I took along my Sweet Pea shawl to keep warm in the cold building.

Day 9 (Saturday) – I started packing up my apartment. So, I wore my Butterick b5653 and my red Hetty cardigan.

Day  10 (Sunday) – This is the second time my Beulah cardigan has appeared. I wore it with my Modcloth dress to church this previous Sunday.

Day 11 (Monday) – I wore this self-drafted skirt and matching headband to work. A tutorial for a simple elastic skirt can be found HERE and the tutorial for a retro headband can be found HERE (It’s not the exact tutorial I used, but I can’t find the original).

Day 12 (Tuesday) – I worked then traveled home on this day. So, I was looking for a super comfy outfit. I am wearing my Marion cardigan.

Day 13 (Wednesday) – I wore my Mei-Mei shrug with a comfy dress.

Day 14 (Thursday) – I spent the day with my Dad running errands and I wore a cardigan and a dress from the OAL2014. The cardigan is Myrna and the dress is Simplicity 1803.

Well, that concludes Week 2 of Me Made May ’15. I’ll see you next week…