One By One

Anatomy of a Zipper

 

The long overdue model shots:

I really love this sweater. The Organic Cotton does stretch a bit with wear, so I imagine that I will get a toss in the dryer every once in awhile to shrink it back into shape.

For those who are wondering (and because I didn't cover it before) - I knit the size medium, and used five and half skeins of the Blue Sky Alpaca Undyed Organic Cotton in Sand. I completed two round of single crochet around the neck, front and bottom edges and one round of crochet around the sleeves at the wrists. This pattern is currently available for free download from the BSA website, and it gets the "Marisa Seal of Approval" :)

A big THANK YOU goes out to Kris - she showed me the ropes in the crochet edging and the zipper installation - Kris, you rock! :)

Olympic Update V

For the time being, all I'm going to say is:

Finished!

(With alternate closure - but a closer none the less. Jessimuhka - please indulge on my behalf! I am hoping that the zipper that I ordered last Monday will be here shortly)

ETA: Upon visiting Blue Sky Alpaca's website - I discovered that their Zippered Cardigan pattern is now available for free download. Check it out!

Olympic Update IV

Plugged away on the same sleeve last night. Here's sixteen and a half inches complete, two and a half inches to go until I start the sleeve cap shaping:

Hopefully I will get this sleeve complete and make some headway on the next tonight a Kris's (weekly knitting night tonight!).

I am completely over-due for a Stitches wrap-up, but it is going to have to wait until ATO (after the Olympics) - I'm dedicating any free time I have to getting my project complete before Sunday evening :) But, to just wet the appetite:

This is Tess's Superwash Merino. It is absolutely wonderful! I'm bringing this with me in tow tonight so I can borrow Kris's ball winder. I plan on casting-on for W (along with Betty - but more on that later) ATO!

Olympic Update III

On the blocking board:

And onto a sleeve:

Six inches in - thirteen to go until the sleeve cap.

I see a photo finish in my future :)

Olympic Update II

Five days and counting...

Being sick (and therefore tired) is really slowing my progress down. I was hoping to get these pieces on the blocking board last night and move onto the sleeves - no such luck. I ended up re-doing the shoulder shaping on the back and right-front piece using the short row technique I learned during the Stitches class. Tonight I will get this soaked and pinned and start the sleeves. I am thinking that I will need to get the sleeves on the blocking board by Friday evening at the latest in order to complete the seaming, crochet edging and zipper installation by Sunday. I'm cutting it really, really close... let's hope nothing goes wrong from here...

Olympic Update I

In between the family events of the weekend, and the napping while being sick the last couple of days, I was able to get some knitting done on the Blue Sky Alpaca Zippered Cardigan - my knitting olympics project.

Here is the finished back piece:

And my progress on the right front (three inches to go until I'm at the armhole shaping!):

I'm not sure how much I'm going to be able to get done today - I really need to get ready for the Stitches trip this weekend (I haven't even touched my laundry from last weekend). I guarantee you that this will be my project of choice during the trip!

Knitting Olympics Decision

After swatching and blocking, I have decided to go with Blue Sky Alpaca's Zippered Cardigan. The Organic Cotton is much happier being knit in the combination-continental style than the Noro Blossom.

Although the knitting will go much faster with the zippered cardi, there are still challenges with this garment -

First, and foremost, I have a seaming problem. We all know this. Since the finishing class I am taking at Stitches is a couple weeks away, I am hoping this will help me tackle this challenge head on.

Secondly, the outside edges of the sweater are crocheted. Have I every crocheted before?? NO! So, I will be pulling out Stitch-n-Bitch hoping it will get me over this hurdle.

And lastly, there is a zipper that will need to be installed when the first two challenges have been conquered. Have I every put in a zipper in a knitted garment?? NO! I am hoping that Kris and Miyon can help me with this one, in between their Olympic Knitting.

For additional moral support, I have signed up for the USA Sweater Team and Team Threaded Bliss (additional link to TTB's separate blog is near the top right of the page). GO TEAM!