Monthly Archives: May 2022

Into the Wash

It turns out I may have trained my family too well.

It took no more than 5 loads of laundry to get this dang swatch through the washer and dryer. Everybody kept pulling it out of the hamper (including my 4-year-old, who told me “Knitting doesn’t go in the laundry”). Which, I suppose is a good thing, in the long run. It’s nice to know that they all know how to treat knitwear.

But anyway. I made a swatch from Berocco Vintage. It’s half mistake-rib and half stockinette, worked on US5s. A nice sweater-y swatch. Nothing too out of the ordinary.

I took gauge and got roughly 5.5 sts/in in stockinette and mistake rib.

So, now it’s into the wash and…

Well, that felted up! It’s actually super soft and squishy, and I’m sure my 4-year-old would be very into a sweater made from this felted fabric. (They can truly never be “too cozy.”)

Just for science, I took gauge again and got basically 5.5 sts/in. Not much different gauge-wise, but the fabric definitely looks different.

I’m tempted to go ahead and knit up my first-ever felted sweater, but I wonder how much long-term wear a sweater like that would have. Would it felt more every time I washed it? Or, would I have to hand-wash a sweater for a preschooler?

Have you ever planned a big felted project?

And on to the next

Now that I finished my socks (and I was just saying how much I loved making them) it’s time for me to… make another sweater.

What can I say? I just love sweaters.

Also, my big kid is growing like a weed again, and needs a bigger/longer sweater. The one I made them last summer has seen better days- it’s all stained and pill-y (because they basically roll in sand/mud/yogurt/paint every day, and so it ends up getting washed every time they wear it). And, the sleeves are starting to get a smidge short.

I dug into my rapidly dwindling stash, and found a few skeins of Berroco Vintage leftover from a sweater I made for my husband probably a decade ago. (The yarn is practically vintage itself!)

It’s a nice soft wool blend, and I like the idea of my kid and my husband having the same sweater (or at least ones with the same yarn). The only thing stopping me from casting on right now is the fact that Vintage isn’t technically superwash. It’s about 50% wool and 50% man-made fibers, which makes me think it’ll survive the wash, but I’m still a little nervous about it.

So, I think I might actually do the proper thing, and make a swatch and send it through the washer. Fingers crossed that it survives intact (and not too felted). The only thing that gives me pause is that I don’t have that much of the yarn, and I’d hate to lose a chunk to the swatch. But, I suppose that’s the lesser of two evils, if it means the kid gets a sweater that fits.

Have you ever tried machine-washing non-superwash wool? How did it go?

Off My Needles

I did it! Finally! I honestly didn’t know if it was going to happen.

I finally finished my socks.

That’s right. They’re done. I’ve Kitchener-ed the toes and woven in the tails. True, I haven’t blocked them yet, but frankly, I may never do that. We’ll see. They’re still wearable as-is.

I really like how they turned out, and I enjoyed dipping my toes back in the sock-water (ha!). It’s been nice to go back to my roots. I didn’t start knitting with socks, of course, but they were my first real love. I went on a tear for several years, basically knitting nothing but socks. Now, all my socks from those days are worn out and holey. Maybe it’s time to get back on that sock horse. (If that’s a thing.)

What was your first knitting love? Do you ever go back?

New Pattern: Broadview Pullovers

It’s time for something that I haven’t done in a minute- a new pattern release!

And this one is a doozy. One sweater, 17 sizes, infinite options.

OK, maybe not infinite, but pretty close.

Let me introduce you to the Broadview Pullover:

It’s a simple raglan pullover worked in the round from the bottom up, and it’s designed for everybody in your family. Sizes range from itty-bitty-babies up to a 65″ chest. Sleeves can be worked long or short. The neckline can be a crew-neck or a V-neck. There are two options for stripe patterns, AND instructions for designing your own stripe pattern!

It’s truly the most customizable pattern I’ve ever created, and that’s saying something. I love a choose-your-own adventure pattern. This was definitely a labor of love, and I can’t wait to see what people do with it!

The Broadview Pullover pattern is published in the newest Knit Picks collection, Generations, which is just packed to the brim with super cute sweaters that are perfect for everyone in your family.

Grab a copy of my pattern here, or the book here!

Sisters, not twins

One thing that I like about knitting (more than crochet or painting or other mediums (media?)) is that I can get super exact about it. I know that I can exactly replicate a pattern, or make two sleeves precisely the same, or knit a pair of socks that 100% match.

Well, mostly. If I’m paying attention. Which I wasn’t doing when I started the second sock of this pair.

Oops.

But, honestly, it’s really just a “me” mistake. It’s hard to notice even in this picture, when I know what to look for and am looking straight at it. (The stripe pattern is a few rows off… truly not a big deal, but I just noticed it and now it’s the only thing I can think about.)

Sure, it’ll bug me every time I put these socks on, but I’m the only one who will notice. After all, what’s a few rows in the grand scheme of things?

Or maybe I should just rip it back and try again?

No. That would be ridiculous.

Or would it?

What’s the silliest “mistake” you went back and corrected?