I've finally cast on!

Hooray - I've finally cast on for my hourglass sweater, and should get a chance to get lots done as I have a lot of road travelling to do next week.

I've substituted the yarn with Rowan Kid Classic, in shade 840. Wish me luck on my first sweater!

Laura x

I have the yarn, needles, book.....

OK... I am really slacking I have my yarn, needles, and book. I just need to get this thing casted on everytime I see someone else that has finished there's it makes me want to work on mine that much more I have balled up some of my yarn and actually put it and the book in my knitting bag so I should be able to cast on here shortly. Keep up the good luck everyone!!!

If I don't get started soon I will not be able to ware it until next fall.

Still going...

Well finally onto the yoke decreases...the H-Glass and I have been on a rollercoaster ride. I try to squeeze in time to knit but I have this other thing in my life right now called "work" - ugh. But, everytime I pick it up I am reminded of how much I enjoy knitting this sweater. So easy! And...now I am so close. Wish me luck :)

Ciao!

Finally some progress

After frogging twice (the microfaser in this yarn really challenged my tension!) and moving down a size...this could also be because of the microfaser, here is my progress:

You can really get some knitting done when at the inlaws for Easter!

newbie

hi- i am new to the knitalong and just started my sweater. i am using cash iroha in color 64, a teal shade. i bought 10 skeins from ebay but now i am scared that i won't have enough. i am going to try the 41in size for some ease but i don't know what i will do if i run out of yarn, as it has been discontinued in that color. so far i am just working on a sleeve and the bell looks pretty big. we'll see if i like it. but if you see any cash iroha in 64, let me know. i love looking at everyone' s progress on the blog. i'll post pics soon!

**i emailed one of my lys that carries lots of noro and, lo and behold, they had my color! i ran over there during my break and picked up two skeins, just in case. phew. now it's full speed ahead.**

Another WIP

I've finally buckled down and made some real progress on my sweater now that the Sockapolooza is over. I am making my Hourglass sweater with Noro Silk Garden. I found it in my stash and luckily it was the perfect gauge. I plan to make some adjustments to the neckline after seeing some of the finished sweaters and reading the comments. I'll figure it out later. Anyway, here is my progress so far. I'm loving the stripes!

Yet another progress post

Just thought I'd post with my progress so far. I was knitting the body like crazy to get it done as soon as possible (I'm so excited by seeing everyone else's finished sweaters!), but I've hit a bit of a standstill now that I've gotten to the sleeves. I was going to just use DPNs, but after I got a few inches, I decided that it just didn't look quite right and was going very slowly, so I decided to scrap it and order a 12" circular. Until that gets here though, I'm going a little nuts from not being able to make any more progress on it! Anyway, here's a shot of what I've got so far:



Picking a yarn

Still deciding which yarn would be best for this project. I would really like a cotton blend...any suggestions? Thinking about Rowan Calmer (never used before) or JoSharp Desert Garden (haven't used either). If not, I will break the bank and buy the intended Cash Iroha. Here is a discount site for it...I read another canadian in the KAL was searching for it.
http://www.woolneedlework.com/Yarn/Cash_Iroha_by_Noro_Yarns.shtml

Happy Knitting!

progress?

After admitting that it was in fact too small, I ripped the body out entirely and cast on again including the eight stitches I'd left out before. I haven't quite made it to where I was before, which is why my formerly perfect center-pull ball of yarn is still being strangled by the frogged yarn. The new version of the body isn't really looking too different than in the last picture. It is most definitely looser though. I can feel the ease, even if you can't really see it. After seeing Diana's snug hourglass, I think it'll be a nice look. So onward to the increases and the yoke!

The sweater on 

Thank you, Yvonne

At the end of February I started a post called Tears, because I ran out of yarn at the neckline of my hourglass. I want to extend a HUGE Thank You! to Yvonne for letting me know that Elann has more of the color that I need to finish my sweater. Dyelots be darnned, I'm going to finish it without frogging! Thank you so much Yvonne! I'm placing my order right now!

/hugs!

My slightly altered version 

Done

I finished the Hourglass sweater this morning after fighting with the neckline a little.

I made a few alterations to the pattern:
-I've used Bouton d'or Cérès, 50% wool 50% alpaca, as we can't find the recommended yarn in France, and consequently had to do a little maths to get the right size.
-I 've knitted the number of stitches after the decreases for the sleeves as I didn't want them to be flared.
-I've done a turtleneck instead of the original slash neck version as the rest of the jumper is dead warm I thought my neck would be cold without something round it.

I haven't decided whether to keep the hemmed edges or not, I'll have to wear it first before I make a decision. The collar rolls up so maybe I'll keep the edges rolling to match.

It was the first time I knitted a whole sweater in the round, except for the sleeves as we can't find 12" circulars here, and I really enjoyed testing this technique as well as the lack of seaming. We don't get any models knitted in the round in France so this was the opportunity to try it.

A very satisfying experience, I might make another one in cotton for this summer, with the normal neckline this time.

Picking a Yarn

Hello! I just joined today but I've been following the kal for a little while. I've been searching around for the Cash Iroha (Canada) and it's been really difficult to locate at a reasonable price. While I wait for a few mail-order lys to get back to me I'm considering a few other options. Basically I'm wondering if KnitPicks Andean Silk would be a decent sub for the Cash, both in drape and sheen.

Any opinions? Thanks!

Another sweater done!

I just finished my Hourglass. Still got a few little things I want to do but it is basically wearable now. Rather than fight with Hello or Photobucket (neither of which really like playing with me) you can see a picture of it at my blog here.

I really love the way it came out and am seriously considering making another out of different yarn.

Finished Sweater

My hourglass sweater is complete:



The finished sweater is in-between the two smallest sizes. Originally, I planned to modfiy the pattern to create a new size, but when I got 18sts/in gauge, it wasn't necessary. I just followed the instructions for the smallest size (following length instructions for the medium) and it worked out fine.

Some people mentioned the sleeves being too long. I knit mine to 20" instead of 18.5", and they'd be fine longer too! (must have super-long arms...)

I looooove this sweater. The simple styling is perfect. Its a great introduction to working a sweater in the round. My yarn is 100% wool, so it pretty much has to be layered over another shirt. I bet its great in the cash iroha!

More details at my blog.

hourglove

I finished the sleeves and I love them! Now that I've started the body though, I need some advice. Others had said that their hourglass sweaters were running a little large, and there's such a big gap between the two smallest sizes, so I decided to cast on a number of stitches between the two sizes. Well, what I've got fits me like a glove. It is snug! But I'm thinking that the whole hourglass shaping needs more ease to really look lovely. What do you think?



Thanks!

Beginning again

Okay, now I admit, I'm somewhat of a newbie. I began knitting again, after many years, on Thanksgiving. I've mostly made scarves and hats and doodads. The only other sweater I knit was the "To Dye For" sweater in Stitch 'n Bitch and I love it. But it was made using straight needles.

So, I get about four inches of sweater when I realize that it's twisted! Ugh. My 10-year-old son helped me frog it. I said, "I'm a knitting loser." I was joking (mostly) but Travis and my hubby Brian kept saying, "You're not a knitting loser! You're learning." Sweet.

I've started over, have about three rows and don't think I've twisted it this time. Thank goodness I love this Noro iroha yarn! And no problem, now, that I don't have a camera, yet, to photograph my progress. Ha!

Question about dividing for the yoke

I'm just about to start the division for the body and I'm a bit confused by something. It says to knit 5 past the marker, put the last 10 on a holder and repeat at the second marker. That's fine, but then it says to knit to the end of the front again. Wouldn't that have you stranding across the stitches on the holder? Or are you supposed to start putting stitches on the holder with the marker that is for the back, not the round start?

I have begun, but now I need a camera

I began my sweater a couple of weeks ago using a tasty purple Noro Iroha. But I need a new digital camera to post progress (for my current/old Fuji, apparently there is no firewire to hook to the iBook). Soon as I get a new camera, I'll post pics.

I love this yarn. The texture is so right.

Another one on the bandwagon!

I just got my invite to join so I thought I'd introduce myself. I'm Erin and I just got this book last week. My sweater is being made out of some Plymouth Galway that I had in my stash. I've gotten through 3 of the increase rounds on the body so I'm not too far from dividing for the yoke. And at the moment it looks like a large, green, shapeless blob! :)

I'm enjoying this sweater so much that I think I may order some Silk Garden or Cash Iroha to make another one. I've taken a peek at some of your and they are really nice! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's sweaters done.

A fine sweater

Here's my progress thus far with the hourglass sweater (plus one cat!)



I've attached the first sleeve to the sweater body and am working on the second one now. So far, I've really enjoyed working on this sweater. The shaping is simple and straightforward, and its moving really fast. This is the first sweater I've ever done completely in the round.

The yarn I am using is Harrisville Highland, which is one of my favorites. Its a basic 100% wool, this one has tweed flecks of white and brown. The tweed works really well here, because otherwise the sweater is very plain looking.

Since I am a compulsive finisher, I've already sewn down the hems on the sweater bottom and the sleeves. The sleeves look great, but the sweater bottom hem flares out. Has anyone else experienced this? I am thinking that I need to take out the bottom hem, and redo it. Blocking could work too, but I feel like it will always be an issue, so I should just fix it now.

Also check out my (brand new) weblog at www.streetsandyos.com

friday update

One sleeve done. I didn't realize that the sleeves had hourglass shaping as well. Neat!



See ya next Friday for another update! Until then, more at my blog here.