After a deep breath...

If any of you read the post on my blog after I frogged, you probably were thinking to yourself, "Geez, someone should just slap that girl and maybe she'll snap out of it!" Well, blogging as therapy helped, and I took a deep breath, calmed down and started over. I managed to recover and finish the body section. See this post for more details.

Finally updating

I'm just about finished with my Hopeful. There's a picture on my blog (already deleted it from my hard drive):

scottishlamb.typepad.com

I have to say that I love the Elann Esprit. I wish I'd knit one size larger. It's a clingy, clingy little thingie. ;-) The color is much more periwinkle than mauve, but it's called mauve. They just put more up on Elann so grab it while you can.

The mods I made were that I ssk'd on the neckband instead of K2tog on the right side and on the wrong side I just slipped that stitch to tighten it up. I like the clean look of it. I'll take a close up tomorrow and post it. I did some purl rows at the end of the sleeve like Claudia did. It was just too short when I tried it, so I snipped, picked up stitches and am knitting down to add some length.

I'll say this... I probably won't be wearing this one to church, but I sure feel feminine in it. ;-)
I'll post a photo when it's done.

What's that they say?

One step forward and two steps back...

A progress pic after last night's knitting:


As you can see, I ran into some issues that required a bit of frogging. More details on this post on my blog.

One ball of Silky Wool later...

I know I promised to post a picture when I got somewhere exciting. This isn't itself exciting, but I was at least excited by finishing my first ball of yarn (out of 4) and was quite surprised at how far one ball got me! I'm just finishing up the last round of waist increases.


By the way, does anyone know if it's possible to alter the pattern slightly to work back and forth after starting the neck shaping? I'd like to work the first bit of neck shaping on both sides undtil I get to the armhole shaping and then work the left front, right front, and back all separately. After reading Marni's post about this being a seamless sweater, I too want to avoid the short seam but don't want to mess with the neck line placement.

New hopeful started

Hi everyone! I just joined this KAL and wanted to introduce myself. I'm Jen, aka KnittingSpaz and I just cast on for Hopeful on Sunday in Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in a light heather blue color. I posted pics of the cast on using Marnie's picot hem modification on my blog here. Now I'm starting the increases at the waist, so as soon as I get to an interesting part, I'll take a new progress pic and post it here!

Thanks for letting me join the fun!

progress report

I'm a little over halfway done, I'd say. This picture was taken just after the side increases were completed, and now I'm at the neckline & armhole shaping. I screwed up a SSK and had to rip back but I think I fixed it.

I was a stitch short after the decreases, but I couldn't find any dropped stitches so I guess I just cast on too few. I snuck in an extra increase to make up for it, and now I am diligent about counting my stitches at each step.

I can't seem to get a decent picture of the color! It's Wool Cotton in Lavish, and it's really more of a cranberry, not the purpley shade that it looks like in that photo. It's a great color!

I'm done!

I have already worn it twice and received many compliments! Can't beat that.

Specs: Sirdar Snuggly DK in Khaki green, not quite 4 balls; size 6 needles (Denise). I made the largest pattern size.
The Snuggly is a very lightweight yarn, so it was nigh on impossible to press the seams flat, but luckily the ribbing stayed put just fine. I could've made the sleeve openings a little bigger but they are ok as is. Once my daughter is a little older, I'd be tempted to make myself another one of these in Wool Cotton (or something else non-machine-washable). It's very cute. And did I mention my husband really likes it on me? 'Nuff said. Thank you Jenna - my best wishes for your partner's continued recovery.
--Katie

It's in need of a blocking but she's done!

I finished up my Hopeful last night and haven't had a chance to block it yet, thus the disheveled look of the sleeves. Hopeful only took a little over 3 skeins of Wool-ease in Oxford Grey. I knit the sleeves a little longer than the pattern called for, and I used the tie modification that Marnie did. I definitely think I will be wearing a tank top under it, but I really like the overall look. I have some friends that would like this sweater, but this one's all mine!

Another finished Hopeful. 

Made a decision

I decided to bite the bullet and order the Knitpicks Shine yarn in Violet. If this yarn just really does not work well for this project, I figure I can always find something else to make with it. So wish me luck.

Wow,... you make me proud

Wow,.. all your completed Hopeful’s are so beautiful I had to write a note of gratitude to all of you. Since knitting is just a hobby and pleasure for me (I work full time and have a little boy who keeps me busy too) I often don’t feel like a “real” designer-- But all of you make me so proud I could almost convince myself I am one! I also appreciate all of the kind comments and thoughtful modifications that contribute to the collective spirit of making the pattern better than ever. A big thanks to all of you, and an extra shout out to; Claudia for making a sweater so beautiful I can’t believe I was a part of it’s creation, Maire for attempting this as her very first sweater (wow!), Diana, for letting me hold her completed sweater at Purlygirls, and to Sharlyn who caught so early on my very low-low neckline error that was revised and saved many knitters future headaches.

Lastly, (and most importantly) I get many inquires on the total amount of money raised by Hopeful. Currently I have sold 343 patterns. This, plus my additional contribution, rounds out the money for Susan Love’s Breast Cancer Foundation to $2058. I will be writing the first check at the end of the month and thank all of you endlessly…

Finally picked my yarn...

I am going to give it a go with Knit Picks Shine. I swatched it up last night and it looked and felt really nice. I can't wait to see how it looks, but first I have to wait for-ev-er for my order to get here (I wasn't sure it was going to work, so I'd only ordered one skein). I love Knit Picks, but it doesn't do much for my need for instant gratification (or should I say yarnification).

I also finished last night...

Hopeful is done blocking, so I took some photos. I didn't make many modifications, though. This is my first sweater! I'm very happy with the fit and can't wait to wear it.

All done

I finished mine up last night.

Sorry for the horrible image quality.

I have a whole write-up of the various modifications I made, including brief tutorials for modifications to the hem and neckline. You can see all my notes by viewing this post.

Below are a couple more shots of the finished piece, including the modified neck treatment.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marnie MacLean
http://marniemaclean.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My One Armed Bandit

I've gotten pretty far with my Hopeful, though not as far as some of you! :) She only has one arm so far. This is my first experience with short rows. I think the sleeve has turned out rather nicely being my first attempt. I've been side-tracked with a gift WIP that needs to be done rather soon, so the other arm is on hold. I hope to get to it today or tomorrow though. I think the send sleeve will go faster now that I know what I'm doing.

Here she is in all her one armed glory! 

First sweater attempt

Hi all! I chose "Hopeful" to be my first attempt at making a sweater, and I have a question about yarn substitution. I was wondering what you all think about substituting the Rowan Wool Cotton for Knitpicks Shine. I have seen other patterns (Grumperina's Tivoli/Picovoli for one) suggest Shine as a sub, but I just want to make sure it will work with this pattern.

Thanks
Anita

Hope Rewarded

Look, look, look what we have here. Why, its a finished Hopeful!

Fashion photography courtesy of the husband. Hmmm...wonder what caught his interest?

Project Specs:

Pattern: Hopeful by Jenna Adorno. An extremely cute design indeed.

Yarn: Two skeins of nylon ribbon yarn from Tess Designer Yarns, overdyed by moi.

Needles: Addi Turbo circulars in U.S. sizes 7 & 6 (the smaller size for the purl side rows on the flat knitting part and for the edgings)

Mods: Being that I'm narrow on top, I cast on the stated number of stitches for the smallest size, decreased for the waist shaping as written but did not increase again. I hiked up the beginning of the neckline a couple of rows. Frankly, this is just about as low a neckline as I'm likely to wear. For the ribbed edging on the neckline (which is a great design idea -- yeah Jenna!) I used a size smaller needle than the body of the sweater, which worked out great for a non-flaring edge. Since I knew I was facing Yarn Famine, I made both ties a bit shorter than the pattern called for and one is shorter than the other.

I picked up two out of every three stitches for the back neck instead of every stitch as written. Additionally, I only picked up 66 total stiches around each armhole. Generally I don't slavishly follow the number of stitches a pattern asks me to pick up in this situation -- eyeballing it and using my judgment works out better given the infinite variabilty in row and stitch gauge between designers and knitters. As for the sleeves, I only just had enough yarn to finish the short-rowing before the bind-off row. Specifically, I purled the last two short rows, then knit the last full row, then bound off purlwise.

Lastly, I took a needle and thread and put a few stitches at the bottom of the V neck to keep the edging together just a wee bit higher up on the cleavage-area.

Although I used a slippery, drapey yarn for which the pattern wasn't intended, I am really happy with the results. This substitution worked primarily because I downsized the sweater so that the snug fit would make up for the lack of elasticity in the yarn. This yarn is HELL for sewing up and securing ends, so the fact that most of this was knit in the round with minimal seaming and knit-on sleeves was perfect.

If you would like to see the extremely small amount of yarn I had left over, click here. Yup, this sweater could not have been a bit longer or wider. I do believe that I've used up one of my nine yarn lives.

Janell (janXknits) Hopeful- Done and Dyed

It is done- it is still a little damp from being washed and dyed. She is a little low, but it is still a great sweater.

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

Dye: RIT "Scarlet"

Much better

Well, my second try at Hopeful is going much better. I tried her on yesterday and the fit is great. I used the 36" chest as my starting point but I recalculated the torso so that there would be a long gradual transition between hips, waist and chest instead of a lot of straight rows and a quick nip in the middle. If there is anyone who wants help making this sort of modification, please let me know.

I still haven't decided what I want to do for the bottom of the piece, so I'm keeping the provisional cast on there till I do. I may give in and maintain the designer's vision, but I'm not totally committed yet.

Intro & Neckline Question

Hi everyone. My name is Melanie (Mel) and I just joined the knit along this week. So I thought I'd post and introduce myself and show my "hopeful" so far.
I am using rowan's wool cotton in aqua. I love the yarn and color and was very lucky to get it at just $4.50 a ball! :-) WHHHEEEE!!!!

Here she was this morning.


I have finished the decrease section and am now increasing again. I have realized that I am MUCH too small chested to make the neck as low cut as it is. (Bummer. ha ha.) I think I really need to start shaping the neckline at more like 12" or 14" up. Can someone assist me in the easiest way to alter or adjust this pattern to fit me? I've never knit a garment in round, and I've never altered a pattern. I am pretty good with math though, so if someone could just tell me what I'd need to change and how I'd base that change I'm sure I could figure it out. I guess I really just need to know... do I still work 37 stitches as directed in the first sentence of the "shape neckline" section? I wouldn't think so but then again, I'm confused on how I'd figure out how many stitches to take out if It's being knit "diagonally" and not up or down or across where I could just take out 2" worth of stitches. Does that make sense?

Anyway, I'm making the extra small and am getting the exact gauge as recommended.

I'm having a great time following the KAL, and enjoying all of your blogs... can't wait to get to know you all better. Happy Knitting and happy Labor Day.
Melanie

Yarn Shortage? What Yarn Shortage?

Hello fellow-Hopeful knitters. With any luck, I hope to have myself some finished Hopeful this weekend. I'm on the sleeves:

With a few mods, I so DID NOT run out of yarn. YEAH!

I am using a wildly different yarn than Jenna recommended -- this a nylon ribbon yarn from Tess Yarns that I overdyed to get a killer-red color. This substitution has meant lots of mods to take the qualities of the yarn into account. I actually downsized the pattern a bit from the smallest size because this fabric is very drapey, but not at all elastic. As for the back neck, I ended up picking up two out of every three stitches (instead of the one-to-one in the original pattern) and that worked very well to get a non flaring collar.

Due to impending Yarn Famine I also had to scale back the sleeves. Basically I was just able to eek out finishing the short rows before the bind off row. Happily, the sleeve is still appropriately long enough, but I was sweating it folks.

More progress pix are on my blog if you want to see more Red Ribbon Hopeful.

Redux

Here is a side by side of my original, rejected start, and my new attempt after going down one pattern size and one needle size. Big difference! Things are on track now. That color is not at all how it really looks, by the way.

Intro...

Hi, everyone! I actually joined the KAL awhile ago, but haven't made any progress whatsoever due to the usual craziness at our house. I did get the pattern ordered and am waiting for a ball of Knit Picks Shine in the mail to swatch up and see how it looks for the sweater. In the meantime, I am learning as much as I can from all of your great posts!

I am looking forward to getting started one of these days - thanks for having me (this is my first knit-along and I am excited even if I'm rather slow getting started)!

Chrissy