Tag: knitting

Test Knitting The Snuggle Bug Sweater

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Recently, Claire Jackson (aka Perfectly Knotted) released her Snuggle Bug Sweater pattern and I had the pleasure of being one of the test knitters before the release. I had trouble getting gauge with the namesake Snuggle Bug yarn, so instead I used Brava Bulky. Still makes for a very soft, very warm sweater.

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A little knitting and an afternoon “history lesson” (aka showing The Spongebob Movie to the 8 year old) this sweater is apparently this year’s version of the blanket I typically make when it’s too hot to work on a blanket on my lap. Image description: Silver knitting needles are attached to blue ribbed fabric with the yarn leading from the needles. Out of focus in the background, a scene from The Spongebob Squarepants Movie can be seen on the television on the wall. Yarn: Brava Bulky from @knit_picks Needles: Nickel Options Interchangable Needles, also from Knit Picks #Knitting #DIY #TestKnitting #Sweater #SweaterKnitting #SlowFashion #PerfectlyKnotted #WIP #BravaBulky #KnitPicksYarn #KnitPicks

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This pattern works up so quickly in the bulky yarns that I was able to make two within the two months of the pattern test, even with having to wait for two different yarn shipments to come in. The sweaters feature raglan sleeves and a split hem, along with an optional neckline zipper. I added the zipper into the first version, but I left it off the second one.

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Finished my official test sweater for @perfectlyknotted ‘s #SnuggleBugSweater and immediately cast on for a second version with stripes. And yes, my organization system is just to throw my needles into the box the yarn came in because I couldn’t be bothered to move it to something different. Yarn: @knit_picks Brava Bulky in Sky, Denim, and Peacock Needles: Knit Picks Options Interchangeable Nickel-plated, @addi_by_selter Rocket2 Sqaured Image description: A cardboard box holds a variety of blue-hued yarns with a light blue sweater collar still on the needles on top and various needles and cables in the corner. #PerfectlyKnotted #SweaterTestKnit #TestKnitting #WIP #Knitting #KnitSweater #KnitPicks #BravaBulky #Yarn

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I did modify the second one slightly by starting in the size 34 instructions and then increasing to the size 38 instructions for the body to give a bit of a closer fit in the shoulders and the regular amount of positive ease. I also created stripes in the second one by changing colors every 20 rows in the body after doing the top section in a single color. In fact, I ended up with more stripes than I intended because I was using some old yarn that I had and some new and the dye lots were so different that it let me create different stripes out of the same color.

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Just in a sea of sweater over here. Am I the only one who prefers the sleeves to the body when knitting a sweater? I hear so many people talk about being stuck on sleeve island, but I just can’t wait to get to the sleeves after going round and round the body for what feels like forever. Image description: A knit sweater folded over on itself with the needles still in the portion laying on top. The sweater is several shades of blue in large stripes. Yarn: @knit_picks Brava bulky Needles: Knit Picks Options Interchangeable Nickel Plated Sweater Pattern by @perfectlyknotted #Knitting #HandKnitting #DIY #SnuggleBugSweater #TestKnitting #SweaterKnitting #StripedSweater #BravaBulky #BravaYarn #KnitPicks #KnitPicksOptionsInterchangeables #PerfectlyKnotted

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You can find more detailed infor on yarn, needles, etc. in the Ravelry project for each sweater. Click here for the plain sweater. Click here for the striped sweater. You can get the pattern and make your own version on Ravlery here.

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The Snuggle Bug Sweater by @perfectlyknotted is live! This sweater is super fun and a relatively quick knit done in a bulky yarn. The pattern is size inclusive, from 30” to 74” chest measurement, and features a split hem, raglan sleeves, and an optional zipper. Mine are made from @knit_picks Brava Bulky yarn on size 7mm needles. I included the zipper in the first version, the plain one, but left it off my second version. I think it really works both ways, if you are hesitant to sew a zipper in. Head to @perfectlyknotted ‘s latest post for a discount code in celebration of the release today! Image description: Slide 1- A light blue sweater with a zipper at the collar and raglan sleeves lies flat on a wood floor with the sleeve cuffs folded in toward the center. Slide 2- A sweater with raglan sleeves and gradient blue stripes from lightest to darkest from collar to hem lies flat on a wood floor with the sleeves spread out and going out of frame. Slide 3- A plain sweater stacked on a striped sweater, all laying flat on a wood floor. Slide 4- A close up of the split hem on the striped sweater with the front hem folded off to the side to show off the split. Slide 5- Close up of the split hem on the plain sweater with the front and back stacked up to better show the difference in length between the front and back. Slide 6- Close up of the cuff of the plain sweater sleeve. Slide 7- Close up of the zipper in the plain sweater unzipped. Slide 8- Close up of the neck opening in the striped sweater without a zipper. Slide 9- Close up of the raglan detail on the striped sweater. Slide 10- Close up of the zipper when it is zipped closed. #SnuggleBugSweater #PerfectlyKnotted #SweaterKnitting #HandKnitSweater #DIY #Knitting #Sweater #BravaBulkyYarn #KnitPicksYarn #KnitPicks #KnitPicksBravaBulky #TestKnitting #TestKnitter #PatternRelease

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An 18-month Shawl

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I knew this shawl had been hanging arounf for a while, but I did not realize I had started it in February 2019. That means it took me almost 18 months, ignoring the fact that it apparently took three attempts to get started, from start to finish.

Not that I worked on it consistently, of course. I was focusing on it for a while, especially when it was small and a row took under 10 minutes.

Once I ran out of the pink, which was some hand-dyed Knit Picks Shadow Bare that I had dyed with drink powder, and moved on to the white, the rows started taking longer and I started getting bored more easily. It started getting set aside for longer intervals, though it did get dragged along to sports practices.

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Growing ever so slowly. #knitting

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Once I ran out of white and hit the blue, the rows were taking at least 30 minutes each. Not to mention the sheer amount of markers I needed and how paperclips get tangled into stitches so often.

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Adding in color number 3 in the shawl. #knitting

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Still, I kept dragging it along whenever we went out, because that is how I could force myself to work on it without getting distracted by other things I’d rather be doing.

But sometimes I would be able to focus at home while doing other projects that didn’t require my full focus.

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Projects on projects today. #knitting #stickers

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It eventually got to the point where each row was taking an hour, so I tried to fit in partial rows whenever I could.

Don’t even ask how long the picot edge binding off took. It was spread over days, possibly even weeks. I honestly can’t remember at this point because it took so long. But it is finished, it is giant, and it is up in my Etsy shop.

I had originally intended to write up the pattern for this, but I don’t think anyone really wants to make a shawl this big that takes this long. Maybe I will revisit it and make some adjustments to reduce the size and write it up smaller.

A pink and white shawl propped up on various items in a large spiral, showing off the immense size.

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Patchwork Throw Blanket Pattern

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I’ve been working on creating a throw blanket pattern for the past few months. It’s gone through a few different iterations in that time. Started out using Caron Chunky Cakes in a lovely blue variegated color way for one of my grandmothers’ birthday:

I loved working with the yarn and was set to make another blanket for my other grandmother whose birthday is a few weeks later. Until I went to the store and there wasn’t any. I found the Caron Tea Cakes with enough balls in the same color way, so I thought I would just switch to developing the pattern in that yarn. You know, until someone informed me that yarn has been discontinued for years:

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The original yarn I developed this pattern with seems to be on its way out, or in any case is really tough to find. I was informed that the replacement I got that this one is made of was apparently discontinued over 2 years ago. So going to have to re-test knit, tweak a few things, and then use that one to take pictures for the pattern. But this one is finished, finally! Going to take a break before starting the next one and get some other projects done, catch up on the Happy Little Stitch Along (I’m so behind!), and give my wrists a bit of a a break because all that chunky yarn gets really heavy once you get through some repeats. The new yarn seems a bit lighter, too, so hopefully that helps a bit with the weight of the blanket as I work it. ——————————————————— #knitting #blanket #patternwriting

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So I switched yarns again to one I know will be in stock, Loops and Threads Charisma, specifically the Big! version because it took fewer balls:

Now the pattern is finally finished! I have it listed in my Ravelry shop for $1 if you are a Ravelry user, or you can buy it right now by clicking this button:

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