Pattern: Bulky Mini Cardigan
Yarn: Bulky 6-ply Merino in emerald and some random Italian wool (Botto Poala) in chocolate brown
Needles: US 11 and 9 Addi circs (8mm, 5.5mm)
Date Started: 10.16.05
Date Finished: 11.07.05

This was an enjoyable knit through and through and I'm sure that it will quickly become one of my favorite knits (I haven't taken it off since I took the picture). The dates are misleading, I ran out of yarn before I finished the sleeves and I had to wait for it to arrive (and I only ended up needing one ounce of yarn!).

I modded this pattern just a bit (out of necessity though). I couldn't achieve the required pattern gauge, so I changed the pattern to fit my gauge (3.5spi vs 2.5spi). This really just means multiplying the pattern with my stitch ratio and trying it on a few times before I split the sleeves. It also means making sure the decrease were hitting in the right spots. I shortened the sleeves by a few rows and I knit them in the round (magic loop). I also knit a half size, if that makes any sense. I think I could have gone even smaller, I like my sweaters small and I've lost a few pounds since I started this. I'll keep this in mind the next time I knit this.

The pattern is well written and is definately quick to knit. I can see myself using it as a mold to make a full-size cardigan. The merino is extremely soft and warm, perfect for this slow starting fall. I don't feel like I'm wearing something heavy, though I'm nice and toasty when I go out. The bf picked out the buttons while we were in Boston when I dragged him to Windsor Button. Now he thinks himself fashionable because he can match colors.

Posted by bitter purl at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)

What does every knitter do just before completing a project? Join two kals and start swatching for new projects of course! Sure, I could've worked on the cardie and had an FO report today, but nooo I rather laze around and start playing with new yarn. I think the breaking point came when, while knitting up the button band, I thought I had a lot of dandruff on my shirt. Weird, I don't have dandruff really! Umm, yeah it was the yarn!!! WTH. Then I thought I cut myself with it which led to it's banishment. I swear that the Silky Wool is cursed. Today though, nothing but lovely yarn.

I first swatched Glampyre's Bulky Mini Cardy. I've been wanting to knit this one up for weeks, but I was waiting on the main color yarn. It finally arrived on Friday and I couldn't stand it any longer. I got the pattern gauge on US 13's, but the fabric was too loose. I decided to go with US 11's at about 3.5 spi. A little less bulky, but it should still be a quick knit. The cc will be some brown chunky wool I happen to have in my stash; I hope the colors mix well together.


The next project on my list is the ever popular Hot Lava, which I'll be knitting in Malabrigo worsted merino in Rosa Vivacity. I still have to tink with the gauge on this one (may even have to whip out "the maths" as I like to call it). The pattern gauge is 3 spi and 5rpi with US 11's. The swatch above is on US 11's but with a gauge of 3.5 spi and 5 rpi, close but the fabric is too loose once again. My first swatch was on 10.5's with a gauge of 4-4.5 spi. I'll keep playing around untill I get a fabric that looks right, but it's a little frustrating since I usually get gauge the first time around. Did anyone get gauge for this pattern or did you just try it on as you went?

Posted by bitter purl at 05:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)