FO: teensy sweater #2!

voila!  i feel like this little sweater brought me all the way from beginner knitter to intermediate in one leap and i lurve how it came out.  the doll gets to try it on next week.  hopefully, it will not be too big or too wonky.

WIP: teensy sweater #2

i closed the placket before blocking teensy sweater #2 so i could open up the lacy areas down the front, then i used a spray bottle to wet it.  the sleeves were not exactly the same size, so i worked on stretching out one of them to match.  someone told me recently that it might have behooved me to create both sleeves together the way socks can be made simultaneously.

FO: teensy sweater #1!

this sweater came out great and it fits the american doll for which it was intended! i actually finished it quite a while ago, but i held out on finishing it until teensy sweater #2 was finished.  it is so soft and sweet, i wish it fit ME!

WIP: blocking teensy sweater #1

i finally blocked the corners of the placket on this doll sweater.  the rest of it didn't need blocking at all. 

WIP: teensy sweater #1 - further along

haven't updated in a while, so I thought i would show you how the dolls sweater is going.  i am close to finishing the bottom of the body.  the last bits will be joining the sleeves closed and adding a placket finish with buttons.

a fairly easy pattern--once i figured it how it was supposed to look in the end.  i think i crochet like i drive; i need to see the city in my head and then proceed.  i cannot just rely on GPS to guide me step by step!  having the the finished object in my head helps me sort out poorly written patterns and catch mistakes.  (there were a few things in this pattern that i caught and was able to work around.)  so, for a visual person like me, detail photos in a pattern help tremendously.

it also helped to have some experience behind me.  this pattern has shells and back and front post double crochet.  it actually has a lot in common with the amazing hat i did earlier, although that one was worked in a circle.

back later with the finish!

WIP: teensy sweater #1

my friend robyn asked if i could whip up two sweaters for her daughter's american doll.  i am using a crochet pattern she found and after trying out a couple of locally purchased yarns (one acrylic lace weight and one cotton sport weight), i ordered some knitpicks "comfy" (75% cotton/25%acrylic) in fingering weight.  the cotton blend gives really nice stitch definition on this lacy pattern and is such a pleasure to handle!  the yarn tests really helped me sort out the pattern and i think this will roll along nicely now.

i found a few more amazing little sweater patterns on ravelry that are knitted with cables.  i might try one of those, too!

sweater PWNage!

the hooded cardigan is finished!

i really like it. i think it has a nice overall boyishness. :)

purdy pearly grey buttons!

i confess, due to not-very-neat turning, my edges were not perfect enough to start the placket with ordinary single crochet stitches as per the instructions. instead, i ended up using a line of slip stitches along the edge to give me nice straight line on the front of the sweater. then, i worked single crochet all the way through the front layer and up through the front loops of the neatly done slip stitches. it isn't perfect, but i thought it was a pretty good save for a beginner...and it kind of gave the placket edges some oomph!

i sized up to a J hook and used worsted weight yarn instead of the hook and yarn weight recommended by the designer. that upped the size to 9 months easily (maybe even as big as 12 months.) i was shooting for something this kid can wear next winter and i think i pwn'd it!

oh, by the way, here are some nice measurement references i just found:
baby sizes and other assorted sizes including toddler

my version's final closed-button dimensions:

19” chest
11” length
10”from edge of neckline to end of sleeve
hood: front edge is 15” diameter and 8.5” deep

my first real sweater!

here is the finished Cecily Cardigan! it was pretty easy to do, although you need to stay on top of counting better than i typically do. i had to tear out and redo several bits. nonetheless, it is my first ever sweater! i want to try this pattern again.

the shower is tuesday. i hope the mom makes it! she is looking quite done with pregnancy. :D

olive's cecily baby cardigan

my co-worker cube-neighbor gina is about 25 days from her due date and i am making the lovely cecily baby cardigan for her daughter-to-be (aka olive).gina has had a tough first pregnancy with gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and heavy swelling and i realized today that gina and i are now in a race to see who finishes first their "project" first! i did make some headway today: i stopped at hobby lobby and bought some pretty caron simply soft yarn in aqua mist, then crocheted up to row 5 on the yoke.