the blue blog archives: tuesday is knitalong day

Finished projects first! Helene finished her big, blue Banff. I might be biased, having a big, blue Banff myself, but I think it's fabulous. And Katie has finished her weasley sweater! It's so like the genuine thing, it even got recognized. That's a real compliment!

Still plenty of people knitting along out there. MA has done a great job on her intarsia "R". Tami's "H" looks incredible! No new pics from Amy Lu (update: now there are - see them here!), but she has set a Dec. 10 deadline on her weasley. Go girl! And me?

My weasleys are all ready for seaming. I declare an official seaming party! I'll be boring you with details of my seaming, so naturally I want to hear all about your seaming too. Misery loves company, right?

Mini weasleys! I must have been infected by some sort of crazy gift-knitting virus over Thanksgiving, because I've decided to use my weasley yarn leftovers to make mini-weasleys for everyone in my husband's family (uh, there's a lot of them!). I'm using the mini sweater ornament pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts and duplicate stitching the initial on after finishing the sweater. If I do one a day, I can get them all done in time. So far each is taking about an hour and a half to make. And I'm not bored of them yet. Fingers crossed!

Lastly, a few calls for help. Anyone found the Rowan Harry Potter pattern anywhere recently? Tami, where did you say you found them? Those of you using the Yarn Warehouse kit, what do you think about pattern and yarn? And anyone know of a good source for letter charts for folks who are making weasley sweaters but want to use other letters? Thanks!

posted by alison at 8:41 am | in weasleys

Comments

EEEEE Mini Weasley sweaters!!! *envisions the sweaters she must make* That's SUCH a fantastic idea!!!! I must make one this week.

As for my opinion of the Yarn Warehouse pattern - it's pretty simple, but sort of whack. The sleeves seem much too short, and maybe it's the UK sizing, but figuring out which size to do was a chore. The yarn wasn't as soft as I thought it was going to be - but I'm waiting till after I wash it before making a final judgement. It does make up beautifully with the tweeding though, and the burgandy color, and wheat colored initial look smashing together.

Though - I was looking through my Hip to Knit book, and there is a pattern there that seemed VERY close to the Yarn Warehouse one - some of the details would need to be changed, but mught function as a Weasley sweater with a few modifications - especially for those that want to make an adult sized-sweater. And there is a adult sized medium Weasley sweater pattern floating around the internet that I found through complete chance, if someone is an ambitious googler.

But mini-Weasleys!!! That is SO AWESOME!!!!

Posted by: MA at November 30, 2004 9:40 AM

Hi Alison,
I have the Knitted Gifts book at home, but I'm at work now.:( Does the mini sweater pattern call for seaming at all? Thanks a bunch!

Posted by: Lynette at November 30, 2004 9:40 AM

I love your mini weasleys!! So cute. I tried once making mini hats for everyone once but got bored after the first one, terrible aren't I?

Posted by: Amy at November 30, 2004 9:47 AM

oooh, those weasleys are cool! Love the mini weasleys. I know I'm coming late to the party, but could I join you and Jenn's knitalong?
Also, I just found the pattern at a store in Kennett Square and Karen, the owner, might have a few more if anyone is looking. She did say that she was running out. Here is her website:

www.woolgathering.com

Posted by: Leigh at November 30, 2004 10:03 AM

MA, thanks for all your ideas! It's so helpful to those who are considering this pattern to get feedback.

Lynette, the mini-sweaters are done flat with four pieces (front, back, two sleeves) up to the armhole. Then you join them all on dpn's and knit the top of the sweater as a yoke. She has you weave in ends on each little piece as you go, so at the end you only have a long end hanging from each sleeve and you use those to seam up the sleeve and down the body. It's really quick and the seaming is very minimal. I think it's a great pattern.

Leigh, welcome to the fun! Thanks for posting where you found the pattern. :)

Posted by: alison at November 30, 2004 10:07 AM

Eeee! Those mini sweaters are soooo cute, and a great way to use up leftovers. Of course, it goes without saying that the big sweaters are cute as well.

Posted by: Colleen at November 30, 2004 10:21 AM

Oh my goodness, are those mini Weasleys adorable!!

Posted by: Jackie at November 30, 2004 10:40 AM

A LYS in my area had the Rowan patterns last time I looked. They don't have a website, but if you are still interested I should be able to get one for you. Just let me know =)

Leah

Posted by: Leah at November 30, 2004 11:00 AM

My LYS had lots of the patterns, let me know if I can help out in any way :)

p.s. Love the mini-weasleys!!

Posted by: taniat at November 30, 2004 11:27 AM

Wow! The more I see your Weasley sweaters, the more I am tempted to join you...is anyone making an adult version that you know of? I don't have any kids that I could make it for at this point...my only niece is just 3 1/2 months old. I love the idea of the mini weasley's too, (why is "mini" stuff so cute?) my roommate is getting one in her stocking for sure!! Thanks for continuing to inspire me with your fun knits!!

Posted by: Stacey at November 30, 2004 11:39 AM

Alison,
I did Weasley-Update with pictures, but I saved it as a draft! Oops! I fixed it {grin} and posted it just now. I have two links on my site of yarn shops that have the Rowan pattern. One is Sophie's Yarns in PA and the other is Jane's Knitting Hutch here in WI.

There is also a mini-sweater pattern in Weekend Knitting. It is the egg-cozy pattern. I was up til midnight last night making a few myself. How funny!

Posted by: Amy Lu at November 30, 2004 11:50 AM

hmm, i am so behind on my weasley!
(still, it will be done!) and your sweaters look great! so far, the yarn wharehouse pattern is working okay, but i agree, it does look...wonky...in parts. and figuring out the sizes took me forever. the yarn isn't as soft as i thought it would be, but i'm hoping that a wash will take care of that.
and the mini's are so cute!!!

Posted by: heather at November 30, 2004 11:51 AM

Those mini sweaters are so adorable. Good luck seaming your weasleys.

I bought my Weasley Pattern from Yarnwarehouse.com they are in the UK. I don't think they sell the individual pattern anymore, but they do sell the whole Harry Potter Pack. It includes pattern and yarn for the project.

Have a great week.

Posted by: Tami at November 30, 2004 12:20 PM

I got the Yarn Warehouse kit (to make a "C for Cari" sweater) and wasn't impressed with the pattern. I'll either fudge it myself or keep hunting for the Rowan pattern (or wait for certain folks to design an adult version. Ahem). The yarn? I like a nice rustic yarn, but this one smelled so strongly of sheep that the dogs went mad for it. After a washing I think it'll be quite nice, though. The colors are really great, lovely tweediness. I got it for the price, but may still end up buying the Rowan yarn instead.

Posted by: Cari at November 30, 2004 12:23 PM

I made a couple of mini raglan sweaters from this KnitList gift pattern last year. They don't have any seams. http://www.knitlist.com/2002/miniraglan.htm

Picture here
http://mimoknits.typepad.com/knitting/2003/11/the_distractabl.html

I love both your mini and regular Weasleys.

Posted by: michelle at November 30, 2004 12:56 PM

Thanks Taniat, it was you I was remembering had seen the pattern recently. Sorry, Tami, the names were so similar I mixed them up.

This is so helpful hearing where everyone spotted patterns. Thanks for keeping links up on your site Amy Lu!

Cari, I'm adding you to the list! The Rowan pattern goes up to a 32" bust and it's drop shoulder, so making it a few inches larger should be pretty trivial. I love the idea of making one for yourself!

See Stacey, you wouldn't be the only one making it for an adult! :) Jenn's also making hers for herself.

Posted by: alison at November 30, 2004 1:01 PM

I emailed Rowan about the pattern about a month ago and they said they've "pulled it" because of licensing problems. I bought the Yarn Warehouse Kit and have only done two inches of the back or so. Scratchy in a wonderfully British way, but I'm already worried I won't have enough even though I got the largest kit available.

Posted by: Melissa at November 30, 2004 1:34 PM

I also used the Yarn Warehouse kit. Their pattern goes up to 38, but the sizing seems small. I thought I had made one a size too big for my son and it fits him perfectly. And MA is right, the sleeves were too short - I made them considerably longer (and was glad I held them up to the boy before binding off). The yarn is pretty nice, especially for yarn made on antique machinery (New Lanark is an historic mill, kinda like Williamsburg or Sturbridge in the US). Slightly scratchy but better than expected and nice tweedy look.
The pattern directions are somewhat vague, esp where the intarsia is concerned. Otherwise it is very similar to the Easy Bulky Sweater pattern by Yankee Knitter.
Alison or other New Englanders, I'm in Boston so if you want a peek at the YW yarn and pattern (I have a skein left over) just let me know.

Posted by: Katie at November 30, 2004 2:13 PM

Such ambition! The sweaters are awesome and the ornaments most original (you're making us look bad).

Posted by: leslie at November 30, 2004 2:17 PM

wow the weasley sweaters look so great! your boys are going to love them. i want one for myself now!

Posted by: thuy at November 30, 2004 3:16 PM

The cuteness of those mini weasleys is unbelievable! The cutenss of the big ones together is pretty amazing too, your boys are going to looks so cute together.

Posted by: jo at November 30, 2004 3:34 PM

OK...I just ordered the pattern for the sweater from www.woolgathering.com and she said that it was her last one...but if you are in the Kennett, PA area she has a sample knit up! It was fun chatting with her, she was very interested in how I found out about her shop, since I live all the way in Colorado! Ha! Oh, the wonders of the internet!!

So...sign me up! I don't have the yarn yet, but I'm sure I'll figure out a way to work it into my budget, I always do!!

Posted by: Stacey at November 30, 2004 3:37 PM

Gorgeous. I'm still looking around for a similar pattern on line. I'm worried about what I hear here regarding the pattern...I'm too new to know how to fix it.
What do you think about this pattern:
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/kkc-blocksAndStripesPullover.html
is that a drop shoulder?
also, check out this...neat page for free patterns:
http://knittinghelp.com/knitting/free_patterns/

Posted by: Orli at November 30, 2004 4:45 PM

I too purchased the Yarn Warhouse kit and encountered a few of the issue mentioned above. I added a couple of extra centimeters between the top of the H and the neck, lengthened the sleeves(one done so far) and had to re-work the neck a couple of times (the opening seems a bit small but that could be me). I had no issues with a gamey smell and the colors are beautiful. The bonus- I purchaed the smallest size but had enough yarn to move up into the next set of sizes. Not to mention, it struck up a great knitting conversation between the mailcarrier and myself. She saw all of the English stamps and the customs declaration -- KNITTING YARN.

Posted by: Diane at November 30, 2004 6:40 PM

http://www.rjkknits.com/iPatterns.html

Here's a link for the Letter sweater patterns - it uses Rowan Felted Tweed, but the site substitues Cascasde Tweed for the ones they make to order. I'm going to have to look into finding Cascade Tweed somewhere, since I want to make a Weasley to match my munchkins.

Posted by: MA at December 1, 2004 9:01 PM