Francie

The Francie pair for my husband is done. It was a very enjoyable knit and has turned out really nice. My husband likes them ( the fact that he has kept them on after the photo session, testifies to this). I can see myself knitting this pattern again sometime in the future.

Amelia

My Ravelympics cardigan Amelia is all done. It was a quick and very enjoyable knit and the FO is perfect in its size and everything :) The yarn, Araucania Nature wool Solid is also very nice.

The few modifications that I did to the pattern were:
1. I used 5 sts instead of 4 for the front garter band as some had mentioned problems with the thin band folding in.
2. I added two inches to cardigan length.
3. Instead of binding off the sts at the neckline and than picking up sts for the neck band, I simply picked sts up at the fronts and decreased the rest of sts to the neck band specifications.

Another plus of this knit was that I was able to read while knitting and so finished my first book of my 2010 reading list.

Ravelympics Day 9

I have joined the sleeves to the body and started the yoke. I have a few busy days ahead but hopefully I can finish and block the cardigan this week, inshaAllah.

Ravelympics Day 5

This is Amelia at noon on day five.

I have reached the first buttonhole on the cardigan. This means another 1.5 inches before I set aside the body and start work on the sleeves. We have a KAL going and Shells is forging ahead with her cardigan.

Ravelympics 2010: Event Sweaterboard Cross

Ravelympics 2010 kicked off, coincident with the opening ceremonies of Vancouver Winter Games 2010. My event this time around is Sweaterboard Cross, in which I will attempt to knit Amelia within these 17 days.
The event started 7:00 a.m Pakistan Standard Time today and I cast on for the cardigan a few hours later. I am nearly finished with the garter border at the bottom of the the cardigan. The yarn I am using is Araucania Nature Wool Solids.

Stay tuned for progress updates during the next two weeks as I hope to get some intense knitting done on this project, inshaAllah.

Lilac Lace Cardigan

I started this cardigan last year in october. After knitting a few inches of the back, i got distracted with other projects and this went it into hibernation. I got it out this summer planning to finish it before fall. I entered the WIP wrestling event at ravelympics 2008 with the object of finishing it but ... Finally, I did finish it today, pattern and all!
The project details can be found in the pattern. The yarn I used was a local Pakistan brand. This being Ramadan, with me fasting and all, I did not feel upto doing much math. So the pattern below is for one size only. Maybe some day, I can add some othe sizes...maybe.

Lilac Lace Cardigan

Edited Sept 17,2008: To correct a few mistakes in the earlier version.

Materials:
· Bambino DK 100gm/ 300 m 4 balls lilac color OR any other yarn that gets the right gauge.
· Straight needles sizes 3.50 mm, 3.75mm, 4.00mm.
· Circular needles 3.75 mm
· Buttons
· Tapestry needle.

Size: 38-40 inch bust

Finished Measurements:
Sweater length: 24 inches
Chest circumference: 42 inches
Sleeve length: 23 inches

Gauge:
11 sts x 14 rows = 2 inches in textured lace with 3.75 mm needles
10 sts x 14 rows = 2 inches in horseshoe lace with 4.00 mm needles

Patterns:
Lace Pattern #1 (Textured Lace):
Row 1: k3,* yo, k1, k3tog, k1, yo, k3; rep from * across.
Row 2: P3,* k5, p3, rep from* across.
Repeat these two rows for the textured lace pattern.

Lace Pattern #2 (Horseshoe on Parade): 10 +1 sts
Row 1: k1,*yo, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k1, rep from *to .
Row 2: purl
Row 3: k2,* yo, k2, sl1, k2tog, psso, k2, yo, k3*, rep from * to *, ending last repeat with k2.
Row 4: P
Row 5: k3,*yo, k1, sl1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k5, rep from * to *, ending last repeat with k3.
Row 6: P.
Row 7: K4,* yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k7, rep from * to *, ending last repeat with k4.
Row 8: P.

Abbreviations:
psso: pass slip st over
yo: yarn over
RS: right side
WS: wrong side

Method:
NOTE:
· Please read through the entire set of instructions before knitting.
· While doing the armhole, neck and sleeve shapings, please make sure the double decreases (sl1, k2tog, psso) match their corresponding yo’s in each row, otherwise you will mess up the number of sts on your needles.

BACK:
With 3.75 mm needles, cast on 120 sts and work in 1x1 twisted rib for 6 rows, increasing 3 sts evenly spaced across the last row (123 sts).
Change to 4.00mm needles and work in pattern #1 starting with row 1 of the pattern. Work until the piece measures 7.5 inches from the beginning.
Then change to 3.75mm needles and continue in pattern until 10.25 inches from the beginning. Change to 3.50mm needles and work 10 rows in 1x1 twisted rib, decreasing 20 sts evenly distributed across the last row.(103 sts)
Change to 4.00mm needles and work in horseshoe lace pattern over the central 101 sts, starting with row 1 of the pattern, working 1 st at each edge in st st.Knit until the horseshoe lace part measures 4.25 inches.
Armhole Shaping:
Working in horseshoe lace, decrease 5 sts at the beginning of next 2 row, 4 sts at the beginning of next 2 rows, then 3 sts at the beginning of next 2 rows.. Then dec 1 st at the beginning of the next 6 rows.(73 sts)
Continue in pattern till the horseshoe lace part measures 11 inches (22.5 inches from the beginning).
Neck Shaping:
Knit 30 sts in pattern, join another ball, cast off the next 13 sts, work in pattern to the end.(30 sts on both sides)
Working both sides at the same time, decrease 6 sts once, then 2 sts twice on every alternate row, at the neck edge. (20 sts on each side).
Work 2 more rows, ending with a WS row. Cast off 10 sts on the armhole edge on both sides. Work one more row.Cast off the remaining 10 sts on both sides.

RIGHT FRONT:
With 3.75 mm needles, cast on 58 sts and work in 1x1 twisted rib for 6 rows, increasing 1 sts evenly spaced across the last row (59sts).
Change to 4.00mm needles and work in pattern #1 starting with row 1 of the pattern. Work until the piece measures 7.5 inches from the beginning.
Then change to 3.75mm needles and continue in pattern until 10.25 inches from the beginning. Change to 3.50mm needles and work 10 rows in 1x1 twisted rib, decreasing 8 sts evenly distributed across the last row.(51 sts)
Change to 4.00mm needles and work in horseshoe lace pattern. Knit until the horseshoe lace part measures 4.25 inches, ending with a RS row.
Armhole Shaping:
Working in horseshoe lace, decrease 5 sts at the beginning of next row, 4 sts at the beginning of next alternate row, then 3 sts at the beginning of next alternate row. Then dec 1 st at the beginning of the next alternate row, 3 times.(36 sts)
AT THE SAME TIME, DECREASE AT NECK EDGE AS FOLLOWS:
Neck Shaping:
When the horseshoe lace portion measures 6 inches in length, start decreasing 1 st at the neck edge, every other row, a total of sixteen times. (20 sts)
Continue in pattern till the piece equals the back length before the shoulder decreases. Cast off 10 sts at the armhole edge. Work 1 more row, cast off remaining 10 sts.

LEFT FRONT:
Work at right front with the shapings reversed.

SLEEVES (make 2):
With 3.75 mm needles, cast on 46 sts and work 6 rows in 1x1 twisted rib. Change to 4.00mm needles and work in horseshoe lace pattern, increasing I st at both ends of the first row and then every 6th row, a total of 17 times.(80 sts) Continue in patt until sleeve measures 18 inches from the beginning.
Cast off 4 sts at the beg of next 2 rows (72 sts). Then cast off 2 sts at beg of next 4 rows (64 sts).
Then cast off 1 st at the beg of next 18 rows (46 sts).
Then cast off 2 sts at the beginning of next 4 rows (38 sts).
Cast off 3 sts at the beg of next 6 rows (20 sts), the cast off 5 sts at the beg of next 2 rows (10 sts). Cast off the remaining 10 sts.

Finishing:
Block the pieces. Join the shoulder seams.
Front Band:
With a long 3.75mm circular needle, the RS facing and beginning at the bottom of right front, pick up and knit 88 sts across the right front, then pick up and knit 40 sts across the right front neck , 36 sts across the back, 40 sts across the left front neck, and 88 sts across the right front. Work in 1x1 twisted rib, starting with the WS row,. On the third row, make four buttonholes( yo, k2tog), evenly spaced across the right front, between the upper neck edge and the lower edge of the waist ribbing. Work 2 more row in rib. Cast off in rib.

Sew in the sleeves and stitch the side and sleeve seams. Sew on buttons and weave in ends.

© copyright ummeyusuf , 2008 http://ummeyusuf.blogspot.com/This pattern is for personal, non-profit use only.

Final Round

This past week has been quite hectic with my son starting new school and an unusual spur of social activity in the family. As a result, I am still wrestling with the lace cardigan. However the good news is that I have started the second sleeve. I was a little nervous about the armhole and sleeve shaping, but I tried on the first sleeve and the fit is good. Also I did the front band and sewed on the buttons, so the second sleeve is the last bit. I have also written the pattern, which I will post with the FO photos in the coming week, inshaAllah.

In the meantime, I could not resist casting on a simple pair os socks for my son, my first toe-up:

Ravelympics Project # 3: Crocheted Yoke Cardigan

I finished this cardigan on Tuesday the 19th, but could not post about it due to computer/internet trouble. This is my own pattern. I started out by crocheting some flowers and arranging them in a yoke. Then I picked up stitches along one egde to knit the neck rib, and picked up stitches along the other wider end to knit a top-down cardigan. The yarn I used was again a local acrylic DK, Dolly (now discontinued). I had only two balls of this, so I added stripes of another blue-with -flecks yarn. Crochet hook size was 5mm and needles were 5.5mm. Here is the back:

Because of my loss of patterns, I have decided to drop my fourth project for ravelymics, as I was already undecided about it. I am now working on my final project in WIP wrestling category, that lilac cardigan for myself.

Changed Game Plan

Ok, I'm feeling a lot better. Thank you to Shells and Stefaneener for their understanding words. Now that I have dropped the baby gift idea, there has been a change in my ravelympics peojects. My third project is now a cardigan for my daughter instead of the originally intended jumpsuit. I already started working on it yesterday.

Baby Surprise jacket is also coming along slowly. It is an interesting piece of knitting and not so complex after all.

A Stumble In My Pentathalon

I lost nearly a day's worth of knitting today.I cast on for my second ravelympics project, the baby surprise jacket last night. I worked on it this morning and was upto 40 rows (which is about 1/3rd of the piece), when I found I had messed up my increases. Unable to localize the error, I frogged the whole thing. Now I have recast and done 15 rows but I seem to have lost steam:(. I think I will go easy on knitting tomorrow, perhaps I should start the third project and knit it first.
But one thing for sure, I can not have the items done by Thursday evening in time for Aqeeqah. Still, the baby will not really be needing these knits for a few months yet as it is still the middle of summer here in Pakistan.

Ravelympics Project # 1: Baby's Sheep Yoke Cardigan

My first Baby Dressage project for the ravelympics is finally done. It took longer than I would have liked but it did require a lot of finishing e.g. weaving in ends, doing duplicate stitch sheep's heads and legs and buttons. This was my first top down cardigan.
The pattern was well written and fun. I did the sleeves in rounds to avoid seams. The yarn was all leftover acrylic DK, the main color being the same as my last project, Joined cable cardigan for my son. Using DK with 3.75 mm needles gave me a 2- years size, so it will nicely fit my daughter. She is having her nap right now so she could not model the sweater.
Now I have to rush with my next ravelympics projects as these are for my cousins' baby son, who is having his Aqeeqah on Thursday.(Aqeeqah is the tradtional Islamic way of celebrating a baby's arrival with the sacrifice of one or two goats/sheep and inviting the relatives and poor to dine on food made with the meat). I am hoping to have the projects finished by that time (though it is a long shot) so I can gift those to the new mom on the occassion.

First Ravelympics Project Underway

With the start of Ravelympics, I cast on for my first project, the Sheep Yoke Cardigan. I had checked the gauge and decided to go with one that got me a FO for size 1-1.5 years. However, as I knit, I realize that it fits my 2 year-old daughter. So I am a bit undecided at the moment if I should finish it off with some pink duplicate st flowers for my daughter or give it to my cousins' newborn who will have to grow up for two years before it can fit him. If I go with the first option, I might have to make Baby Surprise Jacket in the smaller size for the cousins' baby.
Regardless of this confusion, I am loving the way the sweater is knitting up. Here is how far along I have knit:

I am thinking of casting on my second project tonight, most probably the jumper..

Ravelympics Warm Up

With 3 days to go before the start of Ravelympics, I am starting my training. I had decided to take pat in two events, Baby Dressage and WIP Wrestling. Now I am also part of a team, thanks to my Ravelry friend Shells, who invited me to be part of her Team Sporum.

As for WIP Wrestling, I will try to finish my Lilac lace cardigan.

For baby dressage, I have decided to work on four projects. Three of these are to be for cousins' soon expected son. I have decide to knit Sheep Yoke Cardigan as well as a Jumpsuit and a hat. I have made my things ready for the cardigan. I did a swatch as well. I am aiming for a slightly larger size than the pattern.

I have yet to decide on patterns for jumpsuit and hat.
The fourth project to be (inshallah) is Baby surprise Jacket for my daughter. I did a swatch for that too, however I am a little nervous about this one because the original pattern is for much smaller size. Also I have read mixed reviews about the pattern. Also from what I understand, it's difficult to determine what is going on till the sweate is all done, so there can be no instant frogging back.

None of these on its own, is a big project but it sure will be a challenge to finish then all within 17 days.

On the fitness front, I strained some neck muscle yesterday and also have a bruised right elbow, (such a great athlete that I am, I strained the muscle during sleep and banged my elbow on a metal door, LOL). But hopefully all will be well in a few days, inshallah, in time for the ravelymics. Can't wait!