First Raglan, Final Update

Pattern: My First Raglan, Lisa Knits #SW-024
Yarn: Filtes King Australian Merino (product of Italy) 100% Merino Virgin Wool
It's supposed to be shrink resistant according to the label. Color #1021
Needles: US size 5 for ribbing, US 6 for the rest.
Began: May 3, 2007 at around 8 pm
Finished: June 12, 2007

Well, it took 6 weeks to knit the sweater, but it is now finished! I had a great time taking the knitting class, and I learned a lot. I think that there are some areas of the sweater that could be better, but that's normal. I was very, very nervous about knitting the v-neck at the same time as knitting the raglan shaping for the sleeves, but it turned out well. My sweater teacher did say that the v-neck seemed shallow, but we couldn't figure out why, since I did it exactly according to the instructions.

The other part that had me worried was picking up the stitches around the neckline to finish it. This is one area that I think could have turned out better, but I think it means I need to practice. I did bind off too tightly the first time. It fit over TL's head, but just barely, so I un-bound off and redid it with a larger needle size (7 instead of 6). I think it was too tight because my tension got tighter due to my fear of this part. Now the neckline is nice and stretchy and fits over TL's head just fine. I think it is about 1 1/2 to 2 sized too big for TL right now, which is just what I wanted it to be, since it is in the 90s right now and he's unlikely to want to wear it very soon. He likes the sweater (he said so) but was reluctant to even try it on in the heat. The part where we have air conditioning in the house, so it's not hot in here, notwithstanding.

In an early post about this sweater, I said I wasn't sure if I'd ever knit another one. I guess it's still debatable, but I did buy the yarn to knit myself a cardigan, so here's hoping that I knit at least two!

First Raglan Update

My goodness but it's been a while since I've had time to add updates to the blog! I have been learning a lot in class and have made great progress on the sweater I'm knitting. I have the whole back done, as well as both sleeves. I am just about to start the decreases for the v-neck and the sleeve inset area. Here's a photo I took just a few minutes ago, after I'd set the pieces out to be blocked, but before the wet towel came out of the washer...

Pattern: My First Raglan, Lisa Knits #SW-024
Yarn: Filtes King Australian Merino (product of Italy) 100% Merino Virgin Wool
It's supposed to be shrink resistant according to the label. Color #1021
Needles: US size 5 for ribbing, US 6 for the rest.
Began: May 3, 2007 at around 8 pm
Finished: TBD

The mat that I've pinned the sweater parts to has been covered in clear shelf liner so that the ink from the cardboard mat will not run all over my wet knits. I like using this mat because it has the grid, which is marked in 1-inch increments, so it's easy to make the pieces measure what they should. I put it on a bed, so the pins go right through and hold everything in place.

It doesn't really seem like it's been over a month since I started this project, but then again, a lot of stuff have happened. Including that my friend had her baby (2 weeks early) and I rushed off finishing BBBB#3, and gave it to her, once again forgetting to take a photo of the finished blanket. Oh well, I'm pretty sure she'll let me take one sometime.

My First Sweater

So, I'm now working on my first sweater in my first knitting class. The name of the pattern? "My First Raglan" by Lisa Knits (SW-024) I can't stand the coincidence in all these firsts. I'm hoping that none if it is a hint toward the future where these are all also "Lasts!" To be honest, the pattern I'm using is only based on the Lisa Knits one, as my teacher and I decided not to do the increases after the ribbing, eliminating the "puffy" look at the waist. I hope that the waist looks more like the adult version in the photo from the pattern on Lisa Knits website.

The sweater is for TL, but I'm attempting to make it large enough for him to wear next cool season, but not so big as it will overwhelm him even then. He loves the color!

Pattern: My First Raglan, Lisa Knits #SW-024
Yarn: Filtes King Australian Merino (product of Italy) 100% Merino Virgin Wool
It's supposed to be shrink resistant according to the label. Color #1021
Needles: US size 5 for ribbing, US 6 for the rest.
Began: May 3, 2007 at around 8 pm
(please note the Finished time in my last post)
Finished: TBD

Alterations: My teacher says I'm a "tight" knitter, so we went up a needle size to get the right gauge in the body of the sweater. We also went with TL's measurements (taken from an appropriate shirt). My teacher plugged everything into Sweater Wizard and printed out customized patterns for each of us in class. This way we don't have to negotiate the different size options in the original pattern. She also figured out the CO based on the yarn I chose, so I'm fairly certain that that is also a change. Since I don't actually have the original, I can't be certain, however.

Between Thursday and Friday, I knitted the first 50g (153 yd) ball and I have about 9 inches of the back done. The back is 17 inches wide. When the back is 14 inches long, I start the decreases to make a place to attach the sleeves.

I have decided at that point that I had to knit another ball onto a different project.

Knitting Class!

Good News: I have registered and paid for my first ever knitting class! I'm very excited to be taking "Knit Your First Sweater" on Friday mornings at my LYS, Great Yarns. It runs for 6 weeks and meets for 2 hours on Friday mornings. I'll have to take some leave time, but there have been no objections. More sweater details as they happen. The class doesn't start until April 27th.

I am going to knit my first sweater for Tortuga Lad, he is going to be so happy that one of my big projects is finally for him. He's getting tired of my "not this one, honey" responses. I was struck by the idea that, in just much-too-little time, he's going to not want me to consider making anything for him. I must strike while the iron is hot, so to speak. I'm not taking up metal work, though, no matter how big a freak Wendel Kate thinks I am!