At that point, the pattern wants you to decrease 20 stitches on the next right side row. We got out the Sweater 101 book that had a math equation for us to know how to decrease evenly. Instead, decrease 18 to have the two extra stitches (don’t worry, it’ll balance out with the increases coming).  With the decrease of 18, you get to miss your first increase when you start to divide the sweater out by left front, left sleeve, back, right sleeve,  right front. When I increased, I skipped the increase on the front left and right pieces. The next repeat row, I was at the number she wanted.

Ta-da! Math can do some good. I did keep increasing longer than I should have because of my armhole but that’s the next lesson.

For more lovely information, check out the book and this website: http://howtoknitasweater.com/

A community of knitters. I love that. I love it because I need you guys to yell at me to get it done. Make sure you leave me lots of comments to get it done and bring it tonight. It’s sweater night tonight, so if you want you can bug me tonight to knit it

Its time for some spring knitting (vs. cleaning!).  If you received the latest enews, we were talking about our favorite cotton, linen, lighter weight wools and projects for warmer weather knitting and wear (could be shawlettes, socks, tanks or tees).

GIVEAWAY: Post a link here telling us what you are interested in knitting and with what yarn. You’ll get one entry for posting, and another entry for any link to those project or materials on our website.  You can post on the KTNews blog, Knitting Today facebook page, or Knitting Today Ravelry group.  YOU COULD WIN: a skein of Stiletto, Florafil, Starbella AND Creative Focus Linen. Winner will be drawn on March 31.

P.S. Download the enews to get the coupon for purchase off any yarn mentioned in the enews (with the exception of the Blue Bag specials which are already 40% off!)

First, you want to cast on the amount of stitches then work with your pattern. Once the hood is done, you should be able to understand part 4 when it is published.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R10JY2tkBbI

I did not do a gauge swatch. Why did I tell you to do a gauge swatch when I didn’t? I started the hood way back in August then stopped. My gauge swatch was the hood and was perfectly fine. I picked back up, and my gauge is tight! I thought I fixed my gauge problem in the few projects I completed recently. Apparently, if I speed knit, I think tight and fast —- not fast and loose! Problems will occur later on if you did not do a swatch! But, never fear, my mom (Lea-Ann) will help me through!

From Lea-Ann — BASICS OF HOW TO SWATCH: If you don’t want to use the hood as a swatch, like Tara did, gather together your needles and yarn. Start with the recommendations in the pattern and cast on at least 4″ worth of stitches and work in the stitch pattern for at least 4″. Remember to use the needles that you will use for your project (and the yarn too).  BIND OFF! Yes, you need to bind off. No, you are not wasting your yarn. You did buy an extra ball for “just in case” (and that can be returned for store credit if not needed). You will want to treat this swatch like you will finish the finished garment. For example, if its wool and you’ll hand wash and lay flat to dry, that is what you need to do. Or cotton that is machine wash and dry, then do that to the swatch.  This gives you a chance to observe if the swatch will shrink, grow, pill, etc.  It helps if you keep really good records about your swatch including the needle size, the yarn ball band, the measurements, etc.

NEXT: The next focus for this project is the provisional crochet-cast on.

What are you going to knit for your summer wear?

First thing,  get the pattern and the yarn. The Hayley Hoodie has a measurement of 32-35, 36-39, 40-43, 44-47 and you want to make it 2″ to 3″ bigger than bust. You’ll need 850 (950, 1150, 1200) yards of #4 medium weight yarn.

I’ve taken the time to find some lovely choices in Knitting Today. When I first wanted to do this project several months ago, I wanted to do it out of Dream in Color Classy. Well, we didn’t have enough purple in stock for me to do it, so I chose Shepherd’s Wool. Now, we have the new colors of Classy in stock and I wish I had waited but my Shepherd’s Wool looks awesome and will feel great so I’ll choose another project for the Classy.  Included in the picture are some other great alternative yarns: Cotton Fleece, Julia, Creative Focus Superwash, Creative Focus Worsted, Galway, Ty-Dy, and Encore. I love all the color choices in these yarns. It just depends on what color or if you want superwash.

After researching more about it, the Hayley Hoodie is actually made out of a cotton.  It surprised me but it would be a nice summer hoodie or fall. Oh well, mine is going to be wool. The recommended gauge is 18 stitches = 4″ — we’ll address that in the next post. Off to knit.  I’m ready to get mine done because it’s chilly but warming up.

Please post a comment if you’ll be knitting along with us and if you need help picking out your yarn, just give us a call at the store!

I’ve just updated the website with an “About Us” page. Hard to believe its been ten years at the store.

Tara’s been busy working on the Noni yarn packs page. Its not quite working yet, but she’ll figure it out. She had the Nomad, the Cinch, and a few others to do. She did say “Bettie Boop” is working though.  And, I noticed we are restocked in the Rhythm Superwash for the
Lilly blanket if that is something you’ve been waiting on.

A new yarn in the store is Stiletto. I’ve started a shawl with it. Chelsea, which is one of the Ravelry LYS download service patterns we now support. Doesn’t it match my blouse perfectly? I feel so springy working on it, even though we’re supposed to get six inches off snow tonight! This yarn would make a sock with a little glitz too. I’m not feeling the lurex on my hands but then, I am knitting on size 6 needles. I think if I don’t start a pair of socks, I might do a baby sweater in it. Wouldn’t that look great with a little Easter dress?

And look at the new addition to the store! HiyaHiya Sharps! Come on in and try them out.

This has been a really fun pattern. Fairly quick to knit, especially if you know how to cable without a cable needle. The short row shaping on the cowl makes it lay nicely against the back of neck without bunching up.  I’d knit this again. I’d choose a different color of Classy though, probably a green, so I have one to wear with each outfit.

It took just one skein (YMMV = your mileage may vary) of the scorched earth solids Classy to do the headband and horizontal cowl.  There is also a version of vertical cowl.  The pattern is available in the store using the NEW “Ravelry LYS download service” or you can purchase it online direct from the designer, http://www.chicknits.com.

P.S. I’m playing with an add-on for the blog to see if I want to add a discussion group to the website.