Hopeful Knitalong

2007-02-26T20:17:00.000-08:00

Nancy's Done

2006-05-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm new. And I'm done.

2006-04-26T07:48:00.000-07:00

Hi, everybody! I just joined recently, so my name didn't make it to the sidebar. I made my Hopeful in TLC Cotton Plus (white, obviously) with size 7 Denise needles. I used almost all of 4 balls to make the size 36. I changed the k2tog along the neckline to a ssk like most everyone did. Also, I did a 10 stitch 2x2 rib for the 'napkin ring.' Sorry for the crappy pictures. My camera sucks.

I could not get her to smile

2006-04-20T19:17:00.000-07:00

Principessa was so excited to be meeting Vickie Howell, that I could not get her to smile:

She really wanted to wear Hopeful for the occasion, since she saw it for the first time on the show.

More photos on Hollis' blog.

Lu

What's that?

2006-03-26T13:57:00.000-08:00

Look, a sleeve!

Lu

Belated Hopeful

2006-01-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

I finished my Hopeful waaaay back in September, but our computer crashed that same week! Then when I was back up and running with the ability to post photos I procastinated for a few weeks. Anyway, here it is, after all this time. I made it in Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece-- I think the color was called silver plum. This was the first time I'd used the yarn and I really enjoyed it. It knit up quickly and felt good in the hands and needles (addi turbos). I like the finished result! The waist shaping doesn't quite match my body, but I am not patient enough to modify. I think the only change I made was in the I-cord tie... and it was an accident that I did the wrong number of stitches. When I realized, I decided I liked it just as well, so I continued. Anyway, this was my first official knitalong. Thanks to everyone, especially Jessica for hosting.

Hopeful for 2006

2006-01-01T17:25:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

I've just joined the knitalong - I'm planning on starting Hopeful soon. I'll be using Rowan Calmer in "laurel," a nice apple green color. Has anyone else used Calmer to knit this top? And one more question - I'm a 36" bust and am planning on knitting the 36" size. But I'm wondering if I should make the smaller (34") size instead? Have you found it's better to go down a size if you want a form-fitting top? Any suggestions you have would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Elizabeth
A Mingled Yarn

Hey, I finished mine!

2005-12-12T07:25:00.000-08:00

I just realized that I never posted my finished Hopeful to the knitalong - so here she is!

I really had fun with this one, and I love the finished product. I used Rowan Wool Cotton in the discontinued color Lavish. The only chenge I made was to do the SSK at the neckline as explained by Marnie.

I get compliments every time I wear it - congratulations to Jenna for such a gorgeous pattern!

Finally started!

2005-12-11T20:30:00.000-08:00

I bought some lovely KnitPicks Ambrosia in Fog for Hopeful a while back, but got distracted by some gift knitting. I finally cast on last Friday, and knit about 6" in a few days. I'm about halfway through the waist increases.

This is a gorgeous yarn, but it's drapier and not as springy as Wool Cotton, so I went with a little bit of negative ease. I'm not too certain about my choice, but I should be at a try-on point soon.

Progress report

2005-11-27T10:27:00.000-08:00

I finished the body:

working on the sleeves today ......

Lu
Maglia!

Scottish Lamb reporting in...

2005-10-30T13:01:00.000-08:00

The Elann Esprit is PERFECT for this sweater. The yarn band says this is Muave. I say it's Periwinkle. Either way... I love it. Nice and soft and S-T-R-E-T-C-H-Y.

On the neckband, I did an ssk instead of the K2tog called for in the pattern and on the reverse I just slipped that stitch. I think it gave it a much crisper seam. I wish I'd made the sleeves a little longer. I'd like to make another one, a little bigger and make the ties a little longer than I did in this one. They are kinda flappin in the breeze.

Peace,
Jean
scottishlamb.typepad.com

Finally finished!

2005-10-20T16:41:00.000-07:00

Just finished blocking my Hopeful last night. Thanks Marnie for all of the tips on tweaking the pattern. For more on the entire saga, see the post on my blog here.

moving right along...

2005-10-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

Well, the body is all done! I had a minor setback when I was starting the top of the bodice front - I misread the pattern and my stitch count got off and I just wound up frogging a whole section. The Rowan Wool Cotton is very forgiving, so that wasn't a huge deal.

I haven't tried it on but holding it up to myself, I can tell that the neckline is going to be just fine. My only real concern fitwise is that the sleeves may not be too flattering on me - my flabby upper arms are not always friends with cap sleeves.

I've started the sleeves now, and what fun! I love not having to sew them in, and short rows are fun, too! I do find that I need to concentrate on counting stitches more than usual, though - this isn't TV friendly knitting. The sleeves will go pretty quickly, I think, then it's on to the neck. Yay!

Question on Collar...

2005-10-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

Hi! I haven't ever posted yet but I've been reading... I'm making my Hopeful out of KnitPicks Merino Style in Petal. I'm just about done but...

I think I need to redo the collar. It like... poofs out in the back and kind of puckers like I picked up too many stiches or something (which I didn't). I'm making hte 38" size. I think what I'm going to do is rip it out and not only pick up fewer stickes but use size 4 needles instead of size 6.

I wish I had a pic but my camera took a poop on me. I even borrowed a camera for a pic but then it wouldn't upload onto her computer right away and I haven't asked if she's tried again. hrmph...

Anyone else have trouble on the collar?

Knitted up my first ball of Shine

2005-10-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

I finally got Hopeful started and knitted up my first ball of Knit Picks Shine. It is turning out beautifully - I really like this yarn. Here is a pretty unexciting photo of my first couple inches:

Even though I am making the largest size, I opted not to do a fourth repeat on the bottom ribbing because I want it to match up with the ribbing around the neckline. I just hope that Hopeful will be kinder to me than it has been to Ms McSpazzitron!

Ummm, more steps back

2005-10-04T16:50:00.000-07:00

High drama on the neckline, but I'm finally happy with it. Also, I finished the first sleeve, but I'm not exactly happy with it. Long expositions abound on this post, but suffice it to say that I think I'm trying something different on the other sleeve to see which I like better. A progress pic:

No, my body doesn't naturally pull to the right. The sleeve actually pulls the entire garment towards it, it's that tight.

2005-10-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

Finished my Hopeful yesterday, but I am not sure if I like it. It fits, but it is on the big side. I am trying to decide whether I want to keep it the way it is, or frog it and make the 34" size.

After a deep breath...

2005-09-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

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

2005-09-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

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?

2005-09-22T18:01:00.000-07:00

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...

2005-09-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

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

2005-09-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

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

2005-09-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

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!

2005-09-19T07:28:00.000-07:00

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!

2005-09-18T08:43:00.001-07:00

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!