Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

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

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.)

Continue reading "Nutcracker Sweet, Part 9 – the happy ending"

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

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

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.

Continue reading "Nutcracker Sweet, Part 8 – finishing up"

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

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

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.

Continue reading "Nutcracker Sweet, Part 7 – the Fair Isle panel"

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

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

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

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.)

Continue reading "Nutcracker Sweet, Part 6 – the new bodice"

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

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

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

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.

Continue reading "Nutcracker Sweet, Part 5 – the fit of the bodice"

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

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

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.

Continue reading "Nutcracker Sweet, Part 4 – the sleeves"

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

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

Continue reading "Nutcracker Sweet, Part 3 – the technicalities"

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

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

Continue reading "Nutcracker Sweet, Part 2 – more yarn subs & gauge"

Table of contents for Nutcracker Sweet

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

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.

Continue reading "Nutcracker Sweet, Part 1 – yarn subs"