Archive for category Playing Lessons

Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 5 – finishing

Apr 11

Posted by TessM in PL: Provence Baby Cardigan, Playing Lessons | No Comments

Table of contents for Provence Baby Cardigan

provence baby cardigan finished

Here we are in the home stretch of this project! and if I say it myself, it is coming out darned cute! Can't wait to see how it comes out for anyone else. Please do share your version of this project in the comments!

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Tags: baby, cardigan, sweater

Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 4 – sleeves, math, knitting up stitches, tracking progress

Apr 5

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Table of contents for Provence Baby Cardigan

Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 1 – pattern, yarn substitution, design tweaks, size, ~~gauge~~
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 2 – getting started, edge stitches, lace pattern
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 3 – a discussion of armholes
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 4 – sleeves, math, knitting up stitches, tracking progress
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 5 – finishing

OK, here we are with a cute little sweater body, ready to start on the sleeves. Oh, but first we need to do a little… MATH. provence card body no sleeves

Or, you could decide it was supposed to be a vest all along. I believe I *just about* got the whole body out of one skein of yarn, too, so if you make it a little shorter and edge it in something else… let me know how that works out for ya, k?

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Tags: baby, cardigan, sweater

Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 3 – a discussion of armholes

Mar 29

Posted by TessM in PL: Provence Baby Cardigan, Playing Lessons | No Comments

Table of contents for Provence Baby Cardigan

Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 1 – pattern, yarn substitution, design tweaks, size, ~~gauge~~
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 2 – getting started, edge stitches, lace pattern
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 3 – a discussion of armholes
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 4 – sleeves, math, knitting up stitches, tracking progress
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 5 – finishing

OK, we are up to the armhole shaping, yes? (Yes, I know that, more correctly, the bits that sleeves get sewn into are are called armscyes. I am not so pretentious as to need to use unusual words to show how much I know.)

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Tags: baby, cardigan, sweater

Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 2 – getting started, edge stitches, lace pattern

Mar 22

Posted by TessM in It's All About the Blog, PL: Provence Baby Cardigan, Playing Lessons | 5 Comments

Table of contents for Provence Baby Cardigan

Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 1 – pattern, yarn substitution, design tweaks, size, ~~gauge~~
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 2 – getting started, edge stitches, lace pattern
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 3 – a discussion of armholes
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 4 – sleeves, math, knitting up stitches, tracking progress
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 5 – finishing

OK, so time to start knitting!

Since I'm going to knit the body in one piece, first thing is to add up the number of sts for the back and both fronts. The second size says, 60 sts for the back and 28 apiece for the fronts. Adding those up in my head, plus two edge sts, gives me 120 total.

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Tags: baby, cardigan, cat, sweater

Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 1 – pattern, yarn substitution, design tweaks, size, gauge

Mar 19

Posted by TessM in PL: Provence Baby Cardigan, Playing Lessons | 4 Comments

Table of contents for Provence Baby Cardigan

Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 1 – pattern, yarn substitution, design tweaks, size, ~~gauge~~
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 2 – getting started, edge stitches, lace pattern
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 3 – a discussion of armholes
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 4 – sleeves, math, knitting up stitches, tracking progress
Provence Baby Cardigan, Part 5 – finishing

Last week I wrote about how I was frustrated with not getting much actual knitting done, and why that has been the case.

So today, we put the money where the mouth is, so to speak, and I have a new "Playing Lessons" project to share with you!

Next in series…

Tags: baby, cardigan, ravelry, red, sweater

Ribbed Tee Shirt, Part 1 – that’s all, folks

Oct 22

Posted by TessM in FO Files, PL: Ribbed Tee Shirt | No Comments

OK, this one was totally under the radar. black tee

A few people in my group classes have seen it in progress, but mostly I did this one on the sly.

It’s a bottom-up raglan sleeve tee shirt style sweater, in the most funky yarn imaginable — Gedifra "Velato", which I picked up a few years ago on a trip to Canada. GEDIFRA VELATO LABEL

Wrap Cardigan, Part 6 – closure

Sep 25

Posted by TessM in FO Files, PL: Wrap Cardigan | No Comments

Table of contents for Wrap Cardigan

Ahem, ahem. OK, yes, you are right — the last post in this series was in July. Just barely not in June. July 1, to be exact.

Of course, I did include this bad boy in the UFOlympics, so technically, the last post on this project was more like, oh, late August.

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Tags: seed st, three row stripes

Wrap Cardigan, Part 5 – let’s hear it for the sleeves

Jul 1

Posted by TessM in PL: Wrap Cardigan | No Comments

Table of contents for Wrap Cardigan

Wrap Cardigan, Part 1 – design, yarn, gauge, math
Wrap Cardigan, Part 2 – whoops, I did it again
Wrap Cardigan, Part 3 – let’s get this party started
Wrap Cardigan, Part 4 – in which we fix some things
Wrap Cardigan, Part 5 – let’s hear it for the sleeves
Wrap Cardigan, Part 6 – closure

Well, you can’t say I haven’t been keeping you in suspense! It’s been a month since the last post on the wrap cardigan: and against all expectations, I’ve made a fair amount of progress.

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Wrap Cardigan, Part 4 – in which we fix some things

May 29

Posted by TessM in PL: Wrap Cardigan | No Comments

Table of contents for Wrap Cardigan

Wrap Cardigan, Part 1 – design, yarn, gauge, math
Wrap Cardigan, Part 2 – whoops, I did it again
Wrap Cardigan, Part 3 – let’s get this party started
Wrap Cardigan, Part 4 – in which we fix some things
Wrap Cardigan, Part 5 – let’s hear it for the sleeves
Wrap Cardigan, Part 6 – closure

Warning! Parts of this post are verrrrrry graphic and may be disturbing!

Where we left off: I had knitted the back to the underarms, the fronts to the underarms, joined ‘em up, and worked my way down to the waistline. And I was rejoicing over the fit of the armholes.

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Wrap Cardigan, Part 3 – let’s get this party started

May 16

Posted by TessM in PL: Wrap Cardigan | No Comments

Table of contents for Wrap Cardigan

Wrap Cardigan, Part 1 – design, yarn, gauge, math
Wrap Cardigan, Part 2 – whoops, I did it again
Wrap Cardigan, Part 3 – let’s get this party started
Wrap Cardigan, Part 4 – in which we fix some things
Wrap Cardigan, Part 5 – let’s hear it for the sleeves
Wrap Cardigan, Part 6 – closure

Well, an update on the ~~stupid~~ wrap cardigan is loooong overdue.

Last post, it was late at night and I had just used the wrong size needles to restart the upper back. Remember? I sure do.

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Wrap Cardigan, Part 2 – whoops, I did it again

Apr 22

Posted by TessM in PL: Wrap Cardigan | 2 Comments

Table of contents for Wrap Cardigan

Wrap Cardigan, Part 1 – design, yarn, gauge, math
Wrap Cardigan, Part 2 – whoops, I did it again
Wrap Cardigan, Part 3 – let’s get this party started
Wrap Cardigan, Part 4 – in which we fix some things
Wrap Cardigan, Part 5 – let’s hear it for the sleeves
Wrap Cardigan, Part 6 – closure

I really shouldn’t be allowed to knit late at night.

When I left off last time, I was trying to convince myself that I didn’t have to start the wrap cardigan over, that the upper back was not too wide. OK, OK, I knew deep down that it was, but I didn’t want to hear it.

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Tags: gauge, gods

Wrap Cardigan, Part 1 – design, yarn, gauge, math

Apr 19

Posted by TessM in PL: Wrap Cardigan | 2 Comments

Table of contents for Wrap Cardigan

Wrap Cardigan, Part 1 – design, yarn, gauge, math
Wrap Cardigan, Part 2 – whoops, I did it again
Wrap Cardigan, Part 3 – let’s get this party started
Wrap Cardigan, Part 4 – in which we fix some things
Wrap Cardigan, Part 5 – let’s hear it for the sleeves
Wrap Cardigan, Part 6 – closure

OK, I’m probably crazy to do this again after the last one, but here goes with another series of Playing Lessons.

KPS cardigan This time, though, I’ll be designing the thing myself, so any issues will be mine and mine alone. (However, this is not guaranteed to cut down on the drama factor. More than likely, the opposite.)

Next in series…

Tags: blocking, gauge, gods, green, math

Nutcracker Sweet, Part 9 – the happy ending

Mar 18

Posted by TessM in FO Files, PL: Nutcracker Sweet | 9 Comments

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

OK, here we are, finally. It’s done! And, I’m pretty darned happy with it. Although admittedly, I picked a real lulu for the first set of Playing Lessons!

(I didn’t do it on purpose, I swear. Really, I’m usually more lazy than this.)

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Tags: zipper

Nutcracker Sweet, Part 8 – finishing up

Mar 7

Posted by TessM in PL: Nutcracker Sweet | 1 Comment

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Wow, what a difference a couple of weeks makes! Here’s what’s happened since we last saw our friend, the Nutcracker sweater…

Bodice knitting: finished.

FI panel: about a million ends woven in.

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Tags: angora, blocking, fair isle, mohair

Nutcracker Sweet, Part 7 – the Fair Isle panel

Feb 21

Posted by TessM in PL: Nutcracker Sweet | 1 Comment

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Nutcracker Sweet, Part 1 – yarn subs
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 2 – more yarn subs & gauge
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 3 – the technicalities
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 4 – the sleeves
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 5 – the fit of the bodice
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 6 – the new bodice
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 7 – the Fair Isle panel
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 8 – finishing up
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 9 – the happy ending

nutcracker Here we are again – and believe it or not, progress is being made. We are up to the Fair Isle panel, which is the most complex part of the whole thing. Keep breathing.

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Tags: fair isle, lifted increases, VK

Nutcracker Sweet, Part 6 – the new bodice

Feb 5

Posted by TessM in PL: Nutcracker Sweet | 1 Comment

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Moving on… OK, I’ve mostly gotten over the betrayal and the disillusionment (described in full & dramatic detail in part 5). nutcracker

I really did drape that 37" of fabric around me for a few seconds, trying to convince myself I didn’t have to rip it all out. But even I can’t lie to myself quite THAT much. (Somewhere in there is a bawdy joke about lies and 8 extra inches, but I digress.)

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Nutcracker Sweet, Part 5 – the fit of the bodice

Jan 31

Posted by TessM in PL: Nutcracker Sweet | 6 Comments

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Nutcracker Sweet, Part 1 – yarn subs
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 2 – more yarn subs & gauge
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 3 – the technicalities
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 4 – the sleeves
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 5 – the fit of the bodice
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 6 – the new bodice
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 7 – the Fair Isle panel
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 8 – finishing up
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 9 – the happy ending

Or to put it another way, the Turn of the Screw. Emphasis squarely on the word "screw". nutcracker

Because get ready, kids — here’s where it all falls apart. Or at least it gets a whole lot more complicated. Turns out I picked a real doozy to start off the Playing Lessons with…! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

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Tags: fair isle, gauge, mohair, ribbing, schematics, VK

Nutcracker Sweet, Part 4 – the sleeves

Jan 12

Posted by TessM in PL: Nutcracker Sweet | 2 Comments

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Anyone remember this?

Ahem. OK, I admit I’ve been stalling a bit. Last time, I said I was going to address the fitting issues, which leads me straight to a couple of my personal bugaboos. sm_nutcracker

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Tags: DH, engineering, sleeves, sloper, VK

Nutcracker Sweet, Part 3 – the technicalities

Dec 7

Posted by TessM in PL: Nutcracker Sweet | 1 Comment

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Nutcracker Sweet, Part 1 – yarn subs
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 2 – more yarn subs & gauge
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 3 – the technicalities
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 4 – the sleeves
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 5 – the fit of the bodice
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 6 – the new bodice
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 7 – the Fair Isle panel
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 8 – finishing up
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 9 – the happy ending

OK, so I’ve got most of the yarn – one color is on order – and I’m on gauge.

Most people jump in and start knitting here, but not me. As I’ve said, I’ve learned the hard way that too many projects are doomed to failure in the beginning stages. Besides, I usually end up making some kind of changes to written patterns. And I always make a tracking sheet before I start knitting.

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Tags: charts, fair isle, gauge, gods, hem, shaping

Nutcracker Sweet, Part 2 – more yarn subs & gauge

Oct 23

Posted by TessM in PL: Nutcracker Sweet | 1 Comment

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Nutcracker Sweet, Part 1 – yarn subs
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 2 – more yarn subs & gauge
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 3 – the technicalities
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 4 – the sleeves
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 5 – the fit of the bodice
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 6 – the new bodice
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 7 – the Fair Isle panel
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 8 – finishing up
Nutcracker Sweet, Part 9 – the happy ending

So, after a second trip to the LYS, here’s what the yarn collection looks like. The Rowan “kid classic” is in the middle, flanked by all the Berroco “Ultra Alpaca” and some Nashua “Kid Mohair” on the bottom and the left. (The printed color swatches of the Cascade 220 used in the original design are also shown in the picture, sort of.)

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Tags: gauge, gods, mohair

Nutcracker Sweet, Part 1 – yarn subs

Oct 18

Posted by TessM in PL: Nutcracker Sweet | 2 Comments

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

OK, I found my next exciting project. #29 from the recent VK Hol 2007. This sweater is so freakin’ sassy, I can’t believe it. Faux fur & satin pockets!

Actually, I like almost every sweater in this layout, which is a refreshing change – in the past couple of years I’ve spent more time going through my old back issues looking for exciting stuff to knit, than the current issues.

Next in series…

Tags: fair isle, mohair, sassy, VK

Playing Lessons – Intro

Oct 12

Posted by TessM in PL: Introduction | 1 Comment

Not to be immodest, but it’s happened a few times: people look at something I’ve knitted and sigh, "I wish I could knit like you!"

Most of the time, my answer is, "Practice for 20 years."

Read more on Playing Lessons – Intro…

where smart knitters have more fun!

Archive for category Playing Lessons

Table of contents for Provence Baby Cardigan

Table of contents for Provence Baby Cardigan

Table of contents for Provence Baby Cardigan

Table of contents for Provence Baby Cardigan

Table of contents for Provence Baby Cardigan

Table of contents for Wrap Cardigan

Table of contents for Wrap Cardigan

Table of contents for Wrap Cardigan

Table of contents for Wrap Cardigan

Table of contents for Wrap Cardigan

Table of contents for Wrap Cardigan

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

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