One, Two and Three- Andrea Mowry Knits

My Daughter loves Andrea Mowry Designs

Kate is a Crocheter (her plan is is learn how to knit this year), but after discovering Andrea Mowry designs she asked if I would knit a few for her.   Well of course, what an thrill to be able to knit her something she likes, and of course all color selections are under her guidance.   

Here's are the 5 sweaters I created.

My previous post, last August (Sorry about that...too much knitting to do) showed the beginning of the Throwback cardigan.  Since then I finished Kate's and a second for my Mentee Gaby 

(cascade 220).

The is the Weekender ---Brooklyn Tweed Shelter yarn

My first AM creation----Wool and Honey, lots of yarn overs (wrapped stitches) give the long floats to create the design.   (Jan 1, 2019-Jan 24, 2019)

The most recent creation.   Shifty with Spincycle Dyed in the Wool yarns.   Super soft and I used a smaller needle to do the work.   

Lost Control -Well not completely

When I sat at the computer today to write a post, the first thought that came to mind was that I just have too many projects started....I lost Control!

Some items in the photo are just a few steps from completion -- weave in a strand or sew on buttons. Others are half finished and some are really just me designing- make a sample swatch or knitting a shawl as I design it.   There is crochet and knitting in the mix.  Charity and gifts.

And did you notice the lovely bags to hold my projects.
(Thanks Katie and Brenda)

Now I could beat myself up about this situation, but the truth of the matter is I need diversity.   I need to have different skill level projects to meet the needs of knitting gatherings..you know it's best to have a mindless project when you knit at Murphy's Pub.  You understand, just in case a cool beer or Margarita fits the bill that day.   

(as an aside, this has been the hottest summer ever).  

How many projects do you have started?   

I have 9. .  No wait, where is that beautiful chevron scarf with the Spanish Yarn????

San Sebastian--Yarn shop Established in the early 1900"s

What a charming shop.  Our tour guide in San Sebastian took us to all the beautiful sites in this city on the Bay of Biscay.  As we walk to one of the many parks, I asked if she knew of a yarn shop in town.   Well of course Eskerne (eskerne@discoversansebastian.com) did know of a place, she knows all the places to go in San Sebastian.   So we walked to this shop, just around the corner.  Large space with classroom, sitting area and many yarns and notions.   I loved it and I guess I was beaming because in addition to the lovely yarns, gadgets and patterns I purchased, the owner threw a few goodies into my bag.   She was very proud of the shop and of the fact that the shop had been located in the same place and running successfully for the last 110 years!!!!  Wow.   Now all I need to do is return to this beautiful city and find that shop again.   It is near Plaza de Guipuzcoa.  

A little bit a breakfast in San Sebastian

Catching up: A collection of Seamlessly Simple Knit Sweaters

The ballet slippers are done in a duplicate stitch.   

Oviedo Spain, Kings, Castile and Cathedrals

Traveling through Northern Spain was a wonderful experience.  Through villages and tall snow capped mountain ranges to the city of Oviedo.   Historically beautiful.   Our Hotel Reconquista was a palace hundreds of years ago.  

Around the corner I found this lovely yarn shop.. so different from what you see in USA.  The shop carried fine children's knit items and socks.   A tiny place but much to choose from. 

Grapes Knit in Sonoma

Baby set--knit using Knit Picks and one of my designs.   ElizSCknits on Ravely

Zippers in sweaters.

Installing zippers in Children's sweaters is not as hard as it may seem and the sweaters look fantastic.  

What you need:

1.  Separating zipper,  I like the bright heavy plastic ones.  Measure the front band of your cardigan and make sure the zipper you purchase to not longer then your measurement.   (13" band buy a 12" zipper).

2. Thread - best to have a color matching your sweater yarn.

3. Straight pins- the longer quilt pins are very good for this job.

4. Grosgrain ribbon, for the finishing on the inside of the zipper.  Double the length of your zipper plus 5 " for length of ribbon needed.   This can be a decorative ribbon, but make sure that it is not wider the 1".  I'll show you how to add this in a future post.


Step 1
A. With a closed zipper, pin the zipper to the band.  The edge of the band should be a scant distance from the teeth of the zipper.  You do not want the zipper to catch.  
Test it by running the zipper up and down, it should do so easily.

B. You can now hand baste (a long running stitch) the zipper and band together so that the pins can be removed.

Step 2

A. Match the left and right band up so that the zipper will be centered up and down.  

notice the zipper teeth are showing and that's OK
You want the space for the zipper to pass through easily

.

In my blue sample I have decided to overlap the bands, so I will be pinning the second zipper inside further into where the band and sweater meet.  

Step 3
A. open the zipper.

B. fold the top and bottom of the zipper to the inside.

C.  hand stitch the zipper to each band. The hand stitches are made in the middle of the zipper band not close to the teeth.

The back stitch is a great secure stitch to use.
Backstitch guide link






D. notice the slip stitches around the folded end of zipper (above) and that when the seam is sewn, the edges of the band are not sewn close to the teeth of the zipper.   I pinned the edge over on this completely sewn band.   The zipper head must have room to move up and down.

Center seamed zipper

Finished sweater.
 That's a cross stitch ballet slipper... directions to follow. in a future post..

FINISHING-  Adding the grosgrain ribbon and finishing the sweater........ To Be Continued

Thing 1 and Thing 2

These sweaters and hats are sooo... Cute.   A friend contacted me and said she wanted to make these sweaters and asked for a suggestion on the hat pattern.   She was using my "At the Game" pattern for the sweaters and I found a the Magic Coffee Hat on Ravalry......Just got this photo of the finished work.    Can't wait to see the babies in these outfits.     Great job.   Deb

Note:  At the Game (on Ravalry--ElizcsKnits)  work in stripes and it's so easy when you knit in the round and top down.  

Magic Coffee Hat (on Ravalry) just at the end do not end at the top of hat, use 5-6 stitches and create an I cord.  

The Package

The package came in the mail yesterday and I actually let it sit without opening for about 3 hours.  Could have been the need to savour the contents at the quiet time, no rush.   This was really a treat.  Since I need to block a large piece (the Knit, Swirl #1) it seemed the right thing to do..ordering blocking mats from Knit Picks.  They had a special sale on books...  well even though I hardly have room for the books I own..The Opinionated Knitter was on the list..could not pass it up and it is lovely.   Absolutely Lovely.   I love the way she thinks.

Sonoma Hoodie

Sonoma Hoodie-  My new pattern It is so easy to do.  Knit from the top down and in the round for the sleeve.  I used a crochet hook to weave in the ends and absolutely no sewing.  Then I found all these great sports buttons in my stash. 

Elizscknits on Ravelry

Happy New Year / New Decade

Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year--  Christmas gifts finished-well almost (still have to refine a crochet bag)  so I'm posting pictures of some of the items that were given away

Audrey's sweater: my design and the pattern will be available soon.  Knit in Vanna's Choice- easy care and quick to knit. 

Neck wrap-- Ivory Aran wool

Lucious Laces from Ravelry -- I added beads on one side

Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket- So much fun and amazing to do. 

This was knit in Baby Bamboo by Sirdar

.