Not Another One!

Yup. Another February Sweater! It's my first as well. The "pithy" directions were daunting, but with help from this blog and others, I think it turned out just fine.

I may want to try another one with circulars for the sleeves. Very nice to knit.












Specs: Wool in the Woods cotton (1 & 1/3 skeins)
Needles: US 6

By the way, I'm a new member of Zimmermania, but not new to the blog. It's what inspired me to try the sweater. THANKS to all of you who share your stories and help.

Not Another One!

Yup. Another February Sweater! It's my first as well. The "pithy" directions were daunting, but with help from this blog and others, I think it turned out just fine.

I may want to try another one with circulars for the sleeves. Very nice to knit.












Specs: Wool in the Woods cotton (1 & 1/3 skeins)
Needles: US 6

By the way, I'm a new member of Zimmermania, but not new to the blog. It's what inspired me to try the sweater. THANKS to all of you who share your stories and help.

Pink

UPDATE:
thank you for the lovely comments! This is for my daughter, she's expecting her third child mid November. I also have a boy's BSJ just in case! You can see it here on my blog clicky

I thought you might like to see my first February sweater....
I used some Hipknits yarn that Kerrie gave me after I did a photo shoot for her
I enjoyed every buttery stitch of this pretty little cardigan, I also used some of my antique buttons, it hurt a bit to take them off the card by undoing the rusty bits of metal holding them on, but it had to be done!

Happy Knitting! Marianne :^)

Knitting in Color

Knitting in Color

Adult Tomten

I have finished knitting a Tomten Jacket for my husband.

Pattern: Tomten Jacket, from Elizabeth Zimmermann's The Opinionated Knitter
Size: Men's XL
Yarn: Beaverslide McTaggart Tweed in Sweetgrass (6) and Fisherman Weight in Tamarack (1)
Needles: US 10 KP Options

More details on my blog.

Bog Jacket Question

Hi all. I've recently finished knitting a Bog Jacket. Unfortunately, I was a bit over zealous when casting on stitches for the sleeves and now my sleeves are too long. Like 4 inches too long! Any ideas of what I can do? I would just turn them under but they look fat and unsightly. I considered "steeking" the sleeves, cutting off the excess, then tacking down the cut edge to the inside, maybe adding some i-cord trim to hide the "evidence". Anyone ever tried such a thing? Any help you can offer would be much appreciated! Thanks!

First

Hi! I've been visiting this blog for a while and now I can finally post my first EZ pattern. It's the hat from Knitting Workshop. I wanted to start small , so I could get a "feel" of how to read the patters. This is my first colorwork and very happy with it!



visit my blog for more details and a picture of the back.

EZ's Surplice Baby Jacket

Hi My Name is Therese and i just finished my very first EZ's Surplice Baby Jacket from the VogueKnitting magazine .. i had some help from my fellow Raverly members and Meg Swansen herself helped me TOO ... i really like the pattern and once my brain click this is very easy .. already started my second one :)

My First BSJ

This is the BSJ I mentioned yesterday along with Saartje's Booties. The BSJ is just a tiny newborn size done in Jitterbug in the Copperbeech colorway. The i-cord trim and booties are Louet Gems in Cherry.

Now, I am knitting another for my new grandson, but not this small. He was nine pounds when he was born on the 18th of this month.

On My Way to K

I just wanted to introduce myself as I have been visitng this blog or a long time. I recently finished my first BSJ and the photos are on another computer. Maybe tomorrow I can get that up, but I am at my daughter's with her new baby. While here, today in fact, I will start another BSJ. The first was for another baby, but this baby, Ian, does not have one yet. I did knit him other things though.


I think I must have taken a step into becoming a knitter with a capital K. I have knit or years, and for the last two years, I knit daily. Nonetheless, I can see lately that I have begun to look at knitting in a different way. Whereas before, I skimmed over EZ's offerings, now I read and read and want to understand. After one BSJ, I can't wait to make another, although I frogged the first one three or four times. Then, I got a different yarn, and I knit along happily. But more than that, I have started knitting lace successfully. I can't explain what has happened except that I have taken another advancing step, not that I was not willing before. It just happened without anymore effort than knitting.

One day, a capital K will appear.

Alpaca February Baby Sweater

Hi Folks,
At last I have got around to posting my February Baby Sweater knit for my 20 month old daughter. It's made up of Blue Sky Alpaca Sportweight leftovers from a couple of other projects, knit on a 4.5mm needle to be loose, - more details on my blog www.didyoumakeityourself.com - didn't have a clue what size it would turn out but new that she would grow into it sooner or later! I did the yolk in stocking stitch because I'm not the biggest fan of garter, and I left out the buttonholes because I imagined it pinned with something sparkly and or big. As you can see there is ample room in it, Betsy has worn it a couple of times pinned over with a brooch and I guess it might last her a couple of years because it's loose and easy going on the size and fasten front. Must do one for myself next.
Sarah

Another February Sweater

Hopefully this one will fit a newborn! I have issues with Blogger, so the full details can be found at my blog. I have made 3 of these so far, and don't think this will be my last!

EPS Saddle Shoulder Finished

Ah, it's done. After a great deal of completely avoidable pain, it is done. Two realizations... Zimmerman's brilliant recipes are so brilliant and easy, it is easy to arrive at such an easy state of mind that you make things very hard on yourself. Next time I'll try to pay attention.

And, the Marr Haven yarn, featured in the latest Interweave Knits, and grown just miles from my house? Wonderful. Really luscious stuff.

Now back to that Peacefleece yolk thingy. It had to wait for the penance sweater to be finished!

BSJ Hybrid

It's got the Tomten Hood, but it's actually a BSJ.


Back View:
I made a similar-colored BSJ a few weeks ago, but when a friend saw it, she asked me to knit another one for her daughter. I hate knitting the same thing twice, so we decided to tweak the design a little bit. I've listed all the mods I used on my blog, if any of you would like more details.

Tomten for a newborn

Or at least I hope it's sized for a newborn-ish baby!



I used Lanett Superwash in sky blue (about 2.25 balls) and white (less than half a ball.)
Final measurements are: 17" chest (laid flat) 5.5" hem to underarm, 6" cuff to underarm, 9.5" hem to top shoulder, 20.75" arm span
Knit at a gauge of 26 sts/56 rows = 4" in garter on size US3 (3.25mm) needles

I'm a little disappointed about how the I-cord turned out, but overall I'm happy with it. I think I may have attached it improperly, but what the heck. I don't think the baby will care! :-)
Stacee

Baby Surprise Jacket

Hello, all:



I recently finished my first (but certainly not last) BSJ. It was a really fun project, and I am itching to make the adult version.

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted Multis, color 303 Layette, 2 skeins

Needles/Gauge: Crystal Palace bamboo circular, 24" size 6, approx 4.5 sts/inch

Buttons: Britex Fabrics, San Francisco CA (dark yellow plastic with kitties on!)

Size: 18 months to 2 years (approximately)

Hip shaping for baby leggings

I am making my first EZ project - the baby leggings from February in the Knitter's Almanac. I am so impressed by all the wonderful variations posted on this blog! I have a question about the hip shaping. EZ's text says she increases 2 stitches every 3rd row, but the "pithy" directions seem to suggest that you increase 4 stitches (2 before and after the 3 stitches marked at the front and back centers). If so, how do you go from 84 initial stitches to the 126 EZ says you should have before dividing for the legs?

Also - not to mix subjects - but I have my eye on the February baby bonnet, too. Although I see a general description in the February text, I don't see the details of the pattern written up in the Almanac. Does it appear in any of the other EZ books?

Wendy

pirate bonnet

a fast cap for alba. elizabeth's pattern: fast cap, charlene schurch's: herringbone stripe and adrian's pirate chart. i like the result and right now hats are all i can muster to knit.

Baby Longhies

Wow, from the past several posts it looks like everyone's knitting baby things from KA these days! Here's my incomplete version of the baby longhies using Knitpicks Swish superwash in lemongrass (main color) and indigo (contrasting color). I love how easily this knits up, but I'd intended this for a newborn and it looks more like it's sized for a one-year-old. Oh, well...it's simple enough that I can always size it down and make a second....



















Close-up of longhies in progress...




















...and alongside the approximately 0-3 month sized baby kimono (from Mason Dixon Knitting) -- you can see how much larger it is!

Baby Longhies

Wow, from the past several posts it looks like everyone's knitting baby things from KA these days! Here's my incomplete version of the baby longhies using Knitpicks Swish superwash in lemongrass (main color) and indigo (contrasting color). I love how easily this knits up, but I'd intended this for a newborn and it looks more like it's sized for a one-year-old. Oh, well...it's simple enough that I can always size it down and make a second....



















Close-up of longhies in progress...




















...and alongside the approximately 0-3 month sized baby kimono (from Mason Dixon Knitting) -- you can see how much larger it is!

Stranded version of February baby sweater

As much as I adore the February baby sweater as-is, I find it a bit girly for boys. Combine that with the fact that I never miss an opportunity to practice my stranded technique, I came up with this version for a friend's newborn son.

It is knitted rather tight- standard worsted on size 5 needles. The finished fabric had a wonderful density, but it didn't loose drape, and the hand was fabulous. I will certainly knit at this density again.

What I wouldn't do again- I split the lower design, rather than mirroring it along the placket. Eh, live and learn. Or rather, knit and learn.

And speaking of the lower design, I appropriated it from an 18th century French (? or Belgian) tiled rooftop, found on Google images. Oh, how I love the Google.

My first BSJ

Finally, have something to post about! This is my first BSJ. I still need to seam up the shoulders and attached the buttons. The yellow stripe was knit with left over from my first knitting project--baby blanket for my first born. She just entered first grade this year. And this girl easily turned the knittted piece into jacket, on the first try!

Toddler Surprise Jacket?

So I've procrastinated way too long on knitting the Baby Surprise Jacket for my son, and now he's too big! I've been puzzling over how to size it up to about a size two, but since I've never knit one before I'm not quite sure what to do.

I thought about just using a bulkier yarn, but the yarn I really want to use is worsted weight. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

New member -- Hello!

I have two EZ items for my first post. The first is a Seamless Yoke Sweater I made for my youngest granddaughter. Her favorite color is red so I accommodate her. :D I was amazed at how EZ the sweater came together. I had my first experience with steeks. It came out well--with some fiddling because I used a wool blend yarn. All in all, just delightful.

My second entry is EZ's Baby Surplice Jacket. What a quick knit! I used gray and white in line with EZ's suggestion of using neutrals for babies. The jury is still out on this one for me. Still, it's such a nice sweater that I know I will use it over and over again. I used I-cord all the way around the front edge. This picture shows white I-cord. After about four tries (I know why it is called idiot cord now) I decided to use gray.

bonnet

Pattern: Bonnet from The Opinionated Knitter
Yarn: Rowan Tweed DK
Needles: US 3
Gauge: 5 sts/inch
Size: to fit 18 months and up.

This pattern is similar in construction to the Surprise Jacket, but without all the origami at the end! It was super easy and fast, and would be a perfect baby gift knit at the recommended 6 sts/inch. I sized mine up to fit my toddler.

More photos over at my blog.

Fade To Grey

Baby leggins and february baby jacket from Knitter´s Almanac in grey. The gull pattern gave me a hard time at first and it took me ages to finish, so I tried the baby jacket in stockinette in dark grey with white stripes. The wool was a bargain at ebay. The light grey is new wool by Schachenmayr Nomotta, knit on 4mm/ US #6, the dark is merino ( the needles I used didn´t have a number on them, but the jacket came out much smaller, which pleased me).

Dull grey seems to be my favourite colour this summer, hope the small people who will wear these garments don´t mind !

Another Modified Mystery Blanket

This is the final version of my project from my earlier post. I made this 3'x3' baby blanket based on the EZ mystery blanket square pattern from The Knitter's Almanac and expanded the square until I ran out of long circular needles in roughly the same needle size (remember EZ says we can add 1-2 needles in 1 smaller or larger size without changing gauge when we're knitting circularly!!).

The square was a really easy pattern, especially because it was just knit stitch the whole way around. I knit it up in about a week, so it went really quickly, too. I threw on a few rows of garter stitch for the border.

I did run into a bit of a problem because I bound off too snuggly to make the blanket lay flat; so I ripped out a couple of rows and consulted Knitting Without Tears. I ended up using EZ's sewn cast off and loved how easy it was to control the tension of the cast off edge. It is now my cast off method of choice, I must say!

This will turn out to be a very serviceable baby blanket for my niece who will be born in February. More pictures and info are available on my blog.

Can't have too many February sweaters...

Sweater from "Some Babies' Things", February, Knitter's Almanac
Dream in Color Smooshy Sock yarn, much less than one skein
US #4 needles

Modifications: I cast on 7 more sts to compensate for the finer gauge, and worked a raglan yoke in stockinet so I could be lazy about math. The sweater ought to fit a 3-6 month-old baby, I think, so it should be perfect for the small recipient, who is four weeks old now.

I loved the yarn, and I certainly have enough left for the matching hat and booties. I'm looking forward to snagging some of their worsted weight for a toddler version.

tomten and a very fast cap with bobbles

i love bobbles and from the look on alba's face: so does she. she was so pleased with her tomten that my friend has sewn a zipper into. a very warm garment for the winter that is so much in the air already.

she also liked the cap although she didn't leave us much time to bind it under her little chin.

the hat is the very fast cap from the opinionated knitter. a very good hat pattern for children. it is basically the same as the pillbox with earflaps.

alba's doll is probably envious of tomten. it is just so much warmer than her pink and pointy outfit.

Getting started on a BSJ

I have just begun on a BSJ. I am using Zitron Lifestyle in color #1860. It is a superwash Merino. I LOVE the greens!

~ Robyn

WeeBit Wonky

Yet another BSJ

I never tire of making these sweaters. This one is trimmed with I-cord but seamed at the shoulders with crochet. I used size 8 needles with a yarn that claims bulky weight but is probably more of a heavy worsted weight. I think this one will fit about 9-12 months at least. It measures 11 inches across the chest when flat (22 inches circumference) and 14 inches from neck to hem.

Click the picture to enlarge it.

There is more information on my blog.

Question on seaming up the BSJ

I finished knitting my first BSJ. Now I have to sew it up. My question is, what kind of method do you use to seaming the BSJ, and how do you feel about the selected method.

I use the BSJ like bolero for my little girl! She isn't very little , but she is still my baby!
I knit this BSJ for my son Tomy, but it was too wide, and I have a Idea to knit a bolero for Veronika!
Bolero look better on the withe shirt, but the princes will not dress up another shirt. More about that on my blog .

Directions for Adult Surprise Jacket

I am having great trouble with the directions in The Opinionated Knitter for the Adult Surprise Jacket. They don't make much sense. I can't figure out where you on the sweater body you start the knitting from. I also find the diagram, with multiple points marked with the same letter, quite confusing. Has anyone redone these directions so that they are easier to use? If so, could you tell me where I might find clearer directions.

This is a cute jacket but hard to knit from the original directions.

Thanks,
Diane

Another BSJ

Speaking of BSJs, I just love how no two are ever alike. Mine is my first, but not my last, and I echo the sentiments recently expressed that it will become more and more enjoyable with practice. I used Malabrigo wool and cute little ducky buttons. Heavy worsted weight resulted in a garment that will fit my almost four-year-old daughter, so I am hoping a DK or sock-weight yarn might yield a baby sweater. The possibilities are truly endless.

I had a bit of difficulty understanding the directions, so I bought this DVD for help. It was wonderful. Next one I make, I plan to use some of the alternative instructions Meg uses to make it neater, such as better double decreases.

See my blog for pics and details, this won't let me post pics for some reason!

Knit on, Zimmermaniacs.

Finished Norwegian

Finished Norwegian
Originally uploaded by lolee - knits

Finally finished the Norwegian sweater last seen on Zimmermania in April 2007. The sleeves were pinned in then basted and then sewn in. I think need to learn to be more patient when I finish garments.

I'm very pleased with how this sweater turned out and want to make a cardigan version soon.

Lots of Pink Baby Surprise

I almost forgot to show you my finished Baby Surprise Jacket!

This one came together in no time, although I was more than halfway finished before I could figure out the right-side-upness of it.





I opted for pastel mismatched buttons.

This was knit with Katia Jamica yarn. The BSJ took about 1.25 skeins. I used another .25 of a skein for a improvised hat.

Roxie loves it (can't you tell?) I'm sure that the baby recipient will too.

For more about me, my cats and my knits, you can go here.