the blue blog archives: what'cha knittin'?

Rowan Summer Tweed, knitting chart and a reserve seat on the Acela bound for NYC - what more could I ask for? My little daytrip to New York for a tiny knitting adventure was the perfect excuse to pick out a new project. As soon as I saw this sweater from the spring Verena magazine, I knew it had to be next on my list. The front, back and sleeves are each knit in three separate strips that fit together like a puzzle. They are sewn together with a crochet seam (alternating chain stitches and single crochets). So it makes a solid sweater with just a touch of openness across those seams. The way that it's constructed seemed so ingenious that I decided I had to put my newly learned crochet skills to use to do this sweater. I was already swatching the summer tweed yarn looking for the perfect springy project for it, so the hardest thing was waiting until the trip to get started! Check out this crazy first piece.

This is the middle piece of the front, going from the lower left side to the top right shoulder. It's so cool I can barely stand it! The chart is really neat with all its little decreases and increases and the back is done the same way but BACKWARDS. I am going to have so much fun on this sweater.

Speaking of fun, I had a wonderful time at the knit shops in town. Pics coming tomorrow! And all that fun has caused me to fall pathetically behind with all my emails and knit-alongs. So fill me in on what I missed!

posted by alison at 8:21 am | in frankensweater

Comments

That sweater looks like so much fun to make! I love it when designers come up with different constructions like that. Love the blue too. I think a blue phase is coming upon me. I just realized that the last few batches of yarn I've bought have been blueish. Hmm....Right now I'm knitting Ana's stripey dress, Rogue (the neverending project--gotta finish that one up) and the Faux Mandarin Cardi from the spring interweave mag in pink Silky Wool. After that, I have some Calmer and some Colinette Wigwam I want to work with. Gotta get these WIPs finished!

Posted by: Karen Heinig at April 12, 2004 8:46 AM

Coming your way - One Super Secret Pal Envelope. Be on the look out!

Posted by: secret pal at April 12, 2004 9:48 AM

I finally have spring knitting to show! Click on my name, then scroll down to the 4/5 entry for pics.

I LOVE the color of your new sweater. Gorgeous!

Posted by: Liz at April 12, 2004 10:16 AM

ooh! do tell how much fun you had in our big apple. :) i would love to hear what you thought of the shops...

Posted by: melissa j at April 12, 2004 10:16 AM

Intersting sweater, it will be fun to watch it come together.

My spring fling sweater is done. I have to plug in the battery charger and take pics later on this afternoon.

Can't wait to read about your NY adventures in yarn.

Posted by: Suzanne at April 12, 2004 10:45 AM

Verena--goody goody! another knitting mag to check out!

Glad you had a fun weekend! I'm excited to hear about all the stores you visited. :)

Posted by: Leigh at April 12, 2004 10:56 AM

You go, girl! I cannot believe this is the same lady who has complained (ever so ladylike) about her lack of crochet skill. You're doing the hookin' world proud! (Pretty sweater, too.)

Posted by: Kerstin at April 12, 2004 11:05 AM

WAY COOL!
Ingenious minds and the products they create are so awesome. I love stretching my mind in this way. Good for you!
I thought of you on Saturday! My mom and I went to Purls Soho. I got needles for my next project, she got yarn for freeform crochet. it was a fun store.
My favorite NYC yarn store is on the upper west side in the 80's. Can't wait to see where you went.

Posted by: Melly at April 12, 2004 12:16 PM

Cool pattern! That is definitely going to be fun to knit. Can't wait to see the progress!

Posted by: froggy at April 12, 2004 12:51 PM

That sweater does look like fun. And I like that color. Blue is my favorite so I pretty much like any shade. LOL! My next project will be in Summer Tweed as well. How do you like knitting with it?

Posted by: Rayne at April 12, 2004 2:15 PM

Cool wips Karen! Love those little bags you just finished.

Suzanne, I'm looking forward to more finished spring fling pics. Poor Cathy seems to have exceeded her daily bandwith (sorry Cathy!). Trust me her spring fling tank looks fabulous. Try the link out again tomorrow!

Hey Melly, too bad we didn't cross paths. You'd think in a city with 10 million people, we'd run into each other. Isn't that the way it always works in NYC?

Rayne, I am on a real blue kick right now. I realized that although blue is my favorite color, I didn't have much in my wardrobe that was blue. Well, I did at one time and sort of overcompensated for not buying anything for a long time that was blue. But now, blue is back!

Thanks secret pal, I can't wait to see what's on its way! :)

Posted by: alison at April 12, 2004 3:31 PM

Thanks for adding me to the Linen Drape along. Do you mind adding my blog as well? It's http://savannahchik.typepad.com.

BTW, I started up Tricot again. I'll try to post some pics tomorrow!

Posted by: jody at April 12, 2004 4:00 PM

Hope you had a great time in NYC!

Posted by: Stacy at April 12, 2004 6:03 PM

Nice stuff!
What am I knitting?
Hmm- good question (runs off and starts knitting diligently).
I've been on the web too much... ;-)

Posted by: Sarah Elizabeth at April 12, 2004 6:42 PM

i'm excited to hear about your trip! :) (p.s. my mind cannot understand that sweater. too hard!)

Posted by: carolyn at April 12, 2004 7:23 PM

Love that sweater! If I didn't have so many darn projects going I might try it myself. BTW, I also love your pattern in the recent knitty. That's definitely going on my list of coveted projects! Now if I could just finish something so I can start something new!

Posted by: Meredith at April 13, 2004 4:14 AM

Rayne, I like the Summer Tweed although I'm not a big fan of the feel of silk/cotton blends. It feels a little like twine to me. But as long as my hands aren't dry, I don't mind working with the Summer Tweed. It's really growing on me. Another Knitsmith finished a sweater in Summer Tweed and it is amazing how the yarn bloomed and softened after washing. Her sweater is what convinced me to use the Summer Tweed.

Posted by: alison at April 13, 2004 10:11 AM