KauniKAL

Just updated.............

I figured I might as well post here, even though many of the group are already done and finished.....

Here is where I am:

Well, actually a bit further.  The problem with the colour sequence was that my one ball of yarn had been spliced together, not following the colour progression of the yarn.  I've detailed what happened over on my blog but basically, I had to start a new ball, get it to the same colour and then continue on my merry way.  Of course, I'm worried I won't have enough yarn.  But off we go!!!  Still having fun with this project although it's slow, slow, slow going.

A little bit more Kauni Progress

I've been working and working on my Kauni and thanks to everyone who posted supportive comments.  I meant to get back to everyone but then I ended up knitting on my Kauni rather than e-mailing. :-)  By now, the picture I took just before the weekend is of course outdated but here it is:

I have two more sets of squares completed and all the colour combinations look wonderful together but now, on my ball of yarns, I'm afraid it looks like yellow/orange will collide and I am worried that  there will be little contrast to speak of, if any.  I don't want to rip either.  For the moment, I'm continuing and just watching what happens as I complete the next few rounds leading into the next repeat of squares.

I have updated this on my blog as well.  Anyone else out there currently and actively knitting on their cardi?

Uli - The Slow Poke

The start of my cardigan has been a long time in the making.  I don't even know if anyone is still around or in the process of working on theirs.  But maybe I can breathe some life back into this project for others that may have stalled out by posting that I have finally bit the bullet and have started.

  Since the taking of this picture, I have finished the corrugated ribbing and have moved on to the first few pattern rows.  So far, so good.  I'm having fun.  I think it will be a long term project but that's alright.  I'd like to wear it by fall!!!!

I have another picture up on my blog - Uli's Creative Corner

Come on over and take a peek.

The wrong size

It's been wonderful seeing everyone's sweaters grow and to share this experience with you all.  Everyone's put in so much work, even if some are the wrong size in the end, they all look amazing!

Mine is one of the sweaters that turned out too big in the end.  It's not the sweater's fault.  In the few months it took to knit this sweater, I went from a size 14 to a size 6 (through no fault or intention of my own), so when I put the sweater on, after what seemed a long, long time of knitting it, it just sort of hung there in an "I'm way too big for you" kind of way.  It was especially gaping at the neck and around the shoulders. 

So I took it to my spinning group for advice (and to show it off, after all, it is an amazing design).  They suggested that I do this simple kind of sewing stitch to help take up the slack around the neck and maybe even sew in a bit of bias tape to make the shoulders sag a little bit less.  Both good ideas, only I don't know how to sew.  I managed to re-block the sweater into a more appropriate shape and size (thank goodness for blocking, it's surprisingly useful), but I think I will have to learn how to do their recommendations.  I'm also tempted to felt/full the upper part of the sweater to make it a little bit smaller.

Any thoughts?

Trampled by Geese

Almost ready for the neckline!

Hi Everyone,

It's been really quiet in here, guess everyone must be finished with their sweaters!  If there's anyone else out there working on theirs please let me know as I am about to be at the point of working on the neckline.  Scary!    Maybe it is my inexperience with knitting sweaters but the original directions seem to be hard for me to understand.  If anyone has a good "layman's instructions" I would greatly appreciate it.

So exciting though to see the sweater grow, I like the color changes I have and am about to start my second balls of yarn (from the Kauni prewound balls).  I had to wind off a little bit in order to start at the same color point but can add this back on the tail end so to speak.   Here's a picture of my sweater last Friday, I added a few more blocks of squares over the weekend:

Ta Da!!

Drum roll, please......  It's done!  What a terrific sweater!I I have pictures posted on my Ravelry account under Rischknitter.  Thanks to all of you for posting and commenting on the different techniques used in the sweater's construction.  I made several modifications to suit my tastes, and I got a lot of the ideas from you. 

I did Elizabeth Zimmerman's picked up hem facing on the bottom, and did the striped garter stitch bands everywhere else. 

I did a three-needle bind off on the shoulders of the body, and luckily it occurred right in the middle of the squares, so it looks great over the shoulder line.

I did not pick up the sleeve stitches, but Siamese steeked the sleeves together, knit from the shoulder to the cuff, bound off the steek stitches, and then knit flat the garter stitch cuffs individually. Consequently, the rate of color change more closely resembles that of the body.  There was just more seaming involved.

Again, thanks to all of you for your ideas and free exchange of design elements.  Let's do something again!

 

So Close

Tonight I sewed in my sleeves and tacked down most of the steek edges.  My problem is . . . the Kauni is too small.  I made the medium, thinking that 44 inches would be plenty of ease, but no such luck.  I will be able to fit into this, and it hangs nicely if I don't try to close the front, but now I'm stuck.  I'm afraid that if I use buttons, I'll get gaps between the buttons which is always unsightly.  I can't knit four inches of button bands, as much as I'd like to.  I'm considering using a zipper instead of buttons, but that seems wrong.  Any suggestions?  I had a button band, but I ripped it out because it was pulling the fabric too tightly.

Finished at last

All finished, washed and blocked.  It just has to dry, then I can sew the buttons on.  I tell you, this sweater took ages, but it's worth it.  I'm well pleased with the finished sweater.

Have a look at my blog for photos.

Thanks all, it's been absolutely wonderful.

Neckband and Buttonbands

Just an FYI, if you're using the checkered pattern for your ribbing, make sure to do your neckband and buttonbands in the round with a steek or two.  I don't have a photo to show you what happens if you don't, but trust me, it isn't pretty.  The last two stitches pull out and lie flat because of how you have to manipulate the ribbing to do the purl row.  I had already started the button bands before I realized what happened on the neck, so I think I'm going to leave mine and live with the imperfection.  I'll post photos when I get access to our digital camera again.

I finished my Kauni

You can go to my blog and see pictures of it.  I did steek the front bands and I love the way it finished the sweater. I am at the store working playing right now so I have no access to my pictures so I will post more pictures later when I get home.

Steeking the front bands was easy I just picked up the left side stitches then cast on 13 st then picked up the right side and ended with 13 cast on stitches. I then just knit in the round. I did one little mess up when I cut the first steek before I had cast off the 2nd side to make it easier to cast off.  I had a few tense moments but all worked out fine. I did a Turkish braid cast off. I was fotunate enough to be in the company of expert knitters for my cast off so I had lots of help. I am going to knit a facing for my buttonband as it does roll a bit. This will finish it perfectly.

I LOVE my new sweater and I have wore it steady since I finished it. It is my new favorite sweater.