Zimmermania

Silly Pants

2012-01-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

Five balls of DK weight Shetland wool from the actual Shetland islands (brought back from a relative's vacation) and a desire to knit another pair of EZ longies united to form this silly pair of pants. I changed colors and patterns on a whim and had a grand old time. Still need to do some finishing, but all of the loose ends are woven in thanks to the intended recipients mother (she wanted her child to get them before she was too big). The Ravelry link is here: Silly Pants

Pelerine

2011-12-24T20:32:00.000-08:00

I wanted to make this design for a long time and finally took the plunge. The details are on my ravelry project page...
http://ravel.me/woolylady/tvam1

Ro's ear flap hat

2011-10-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

Knit this hat from a pattern I just wrote. It turn out just great. I love to knit my own patterns. Would like to share them with others but don't know how to add them to blog.

Knit One, Knit All

2011-05-24T20:05:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to make sure all our members know there's a new book of Elizabeth's garter stitch designs available: Knit One, Knit All! I hurried over to my favorite yarn shop and grabbed the last of the copies they'd ordered, and it's even better than I'd hoped. I'd never have dared imagine there was such a trove of her genius still unpublished, and her grandson Cully has done a wonderful job of curating the collection. I can't wait any longer to swatch for the mitered yoke cardigan and plan to go wind up the yarn right after dinner.

If you've got a copy, which designs are calling your name? I hope to see some finished projects from the new book here and on Ravelry soon!

Tomten with jacquard

2011-02-15T11:43:00.001-08:00

Belatedly posting this here -- you've probably already seen it on Ravelry or on my blog, but I think this page needed a fresh post for the new year! This is a Tomten sized for a 3- or 4-year-old, a Christmas present for my nephew. I took my lead from Franklin Habit and added some jacquard patterning to the shoulders.

All the details are on my blog! Oh, and Happy 2011 to all the Zimmermaniacs!

BSJ I-cord border

2010-11-16T17:02:00.000-08:00

HI, I'm just finishing my first BSJ. I'm trying to figure out how to pick up stitches around the cuff for an I-cord border. I get how to attach I-cord to live stitches, but can't seem to figure out how to pick up on a cast on edge. Help! Please?

Another Baby Surprise!

2010-11-13T10:49:00.000-08:00

Here is my most recent Zimmermann project.

This one is made with some lovely Berocco alpaca. It is so soft. I love this pattern.

2010-09-11T10:49:00.001-07:00

My February Baby Sweater

2010-09-11T02:58:00.000-07:00

My first WIP project post to the blog :-) I initially started the FBS in June last year, then it languished in the WIP project for quite some time (while the intended recipient continued to (naturally) grow!!), and I picked it up again when a new babe was on the way.

Said babe is now 6 weeks old, and I've just finished the sleeves. Fortunately, we live in a climate that requires layering all year 'round, so this little cardi will get plenty of wear.

(Terrible pic, back view, better ones to come!)

NKOB

2010-07-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to be a part of Zimmermania! I have had the pattern (BSJ) for a year, but felt I was too raw and new to attempt it. Just last week, I received the DVD and have viewed it twice. I am not sure if it helped or hurt, but I'm going to dive in with this sweater as soon as I finish crocheting a hat and bag, this week, for my sister for her birthday. Thanks to Sarah for inviting me to be a part of this awesome blog!

February Sweater

2010-05-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

It has been quite awhile since I've posted here, but since I've made two versions of EZ's February sweater over the last few months I thought I'd share. The baby sweater sweater is not as lacy as the short-sleeved version I made for myself using the gull stitch, but both were fun to make!

My first project - Ganomy Hat

2010-04-14T04:17:00.000-07:00

I started it 2days ago.

Althogh there was strong enthsiasm as a beginner, it's so hard for me to figure out the likes of M1and SSK. They finally made me reknit the hat about 12 times before I found the illustrations of M1 and SSK with kind, clear explanations on the back of the book.

Anyway, I did it!! I think Ez's projects may be like some puzzles with the yarn to me. The moment I begin to knit the right shapings is way too exciting.

I wanted much of a pointy top so I started decreasings later than called for.

I wish I could try all the items in her book.

One more thing , before starting, I felt a little difficult about the numbers of GAUGE and just ignored it.And.... it's too small for me to put on. Don't I look like sort of Mr. Scrooged?

I realize I should check Gauge the next time I try..

Thank you for inviting me in!

2010-03-12T21:28:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to be one of members in this blog. it's very glorious to meet you.

I first met EZ knitting while seeking some gorgeous patterns for hats. I'm a newbie for knitting.
I have never known about who she is, wonderful her patterns ,and how many people adore her . But accidentally I came to see the picture of Maltese Fisherman' Hat. Now I thought I'm so lucky to step into her great world. I've been waiting for the delivery of EZ's Knitter's Almarnac. As soon as it comes to me, I'll start doing my firtst project studying some common knitting terms. It'll be very challengeable to me, so looking through your exellent works on this blog and asking for some terms I would be confused about, I will go ahead. Thank you again.

Chronicles of the Bog - 2

2010-02-22T11:25:00.001-08:00

Gosh, I can't believe I can make so many mistakes in just one project.

After finishing seaming the arms I realized... this thing was supposed to be a cardigan and I had just joined the top part. Wow, unbelievable.

So I had to undo the seaming on the arms that I had just taken a decade finishing and frog the piece back to the neck opening. Which I did. Then I tried my hand at different neck styles. However, in the end, EZ's original design was the one I chose, cause its the best.

The teal yarn was over, so I went to Joan and bought a little red. I-cord with it really brings out the colors of the bog.

The yarn is so cuddly and soft that "A" wouldn't take it off so I could sew on the buttons. Look at him he is so happy.

Well finally, when he did decide to take it off, I finished sewing on the buttons. And what I saw was a beauty !!!

Except this beauty was noway a 3-6mths bog, Ha Ha ! More like a 1-3T size. The icing on the cake for all the mistakes on this project - didn't bother to check my gauge.

Oh well ! I can't remember the last time I had so much fun doing a project and not bother about the knitty gritties.

Good Knitting Times !

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Chronicles of the Bog !

2010-02-17T12:23:00.000-08:00

I think I get a little too over confident with my knitting at times. And then it very rightly teaches me a lesson. Either the yarn or the stitches make sure that they show me my place. After all who am I, just a mortal who decided to go ahead and think of herself as good at this yarny stuff.

The story this time...

I had my eye on the Bog Jacket for quite sometime now. (Big shout out to EZ (Elizabeth Zimmerman)... You definitely rock my knitting world more than anyone or anything else.)

I think the Bog Jacket is just the simplest and most ingenious thing that EZ decided to share with us all. How a simple square of a fabric turns into such a gorgeous jacket is just amazing.

I checked out so many projects that people have made on ravelry (and there are more than 60 baby bogs on ravelry) and they all look gorgeous. So I decided I had to make one. I viewed EZs video and also read the pattern, made notes, made calculations and adjusted it to my yarn and gauge.

But me being my overconfident self, had to go ahead and mess the most simplest of patterns using the world's simplest stitch - the garter stitch. I mean how many more kicks do I need before I settle down and admit that it is never over with the learnings.

First, I went ahead and did the very thing the lady asked us not to do. I did not listen to her and once I was done with the entire knitting I realized I left a join where the armhole was supposed to join. Sigh !

I did not give up though. After all, I had to make the whole thing because I loved it and had worked so hard on getting it right. The new yarn color was luckily joint real close to the arm openings. So I thought, well, I'll just undo the yarn joint, frog back to before the arm openings, redo them the correct way and join back to the new yarn.

I did all of that and then some... Was very happy that I was able to fix everything and went ahead and seamed the arms and just then it struck me... Oh no !!!!! No No No !!!!!! I had to work left and right front separately after the neck opening. How could I be so stupid ! After making a note of it specifically before starting the project.

I totally ruined it. I had knit the front as one piece after the neck. This is what it looks like now. I have finished seaming the arms as I said. (to be continued...)

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Norwegian Mittens

2010-02-08T13:23:00.000-08:00

Here are the Norwegian Mittens from Knitting around. The cuff motif is the yacht club burgee my parents belong to. My mother has been asking for mittens like these for years and I finally made them. I bought more yarn to make them for my daughter and me... I just have to find the time to make them!

I found these incredibly quick and a very satisfying knit... I love the result. My mother LOVED them and her reaction has been posted on my blog. I watch it when I am in need of a smile. Her reaction is the reason I knit and crochet (and design). I am so happy I had the "wits about me" to video it!

To watch the video click here

Three and One

2010-01-26T14:44:00.000-08:00

Already posted on Ravelry and my blog, but I thought I'd share it here, too:

This is the Three and One cardigan, with waist shaping added by switching down a needle size and working a portion of single-strand rib, and with a big old shawl collar that I improvised. It's in Cascade Eco-Wool (the base oatmeal color) and four colors of Cascade Rustic wool/linen. Very warm!

Here's the front... you'll have to forgive that I sewed all the buttons half an inch too low. (I fixed them before I mailed it off to my mother.)

I wouldn't say I loved knitting this (I blame the Aran/bulky wool and a near-disaster in steeking the sleeve openings), but the design is great!

2009-12-28T07:52:00.000-08:00

I decided I wanted a knit hat from some Noro Kureyon yarn I had left after I made a scarf last year but couldn't decide what type of hat it needed to be except that it had to be warm, so, I looked thru all my knitting books and found Knitting Around and found my hat.

It's the Very Warm Hat amy I tried 3-4 times with different needles and singe vs double the yarn and here it is.

This is my Very Warm Hat from Knitting Around done in 2 different colors of Noro Kureyon yarn.

I had to try it on after I finished it and by the time I was back inside I was sweating - so It lives up to it's name.

It's 10 inches tall before the decreases start and will turn up a small bit but I like it as it is, sort of a " bucket" style. It matches the scarf I made last year and keeps you good and warm.

I will be wearing this hat for some time now.

I'm glad I found Knitting Around - I thought I had it but it was playing hide-and-seek and I found where it was hiding - now, to decide what to make next.

.

Arch-Shaped Socks

2009-11-19T08:43:00.000-08:00

I finally took pictures to show off my Arch-Shaped Socks. I knit the fishbone cable & twisted rib version (there are about five others you can choose from the pattern, including several different ones with stranded colorwork and a knee-high Aran version I'm longing to knit) in Teeswater wool from Shaggy Bear Farm in Scio, Oregon (purchased via A Verb for Keeping Warm's Farm Series).

I'm just crazy about them. I wondered whether the twisted rib would be comfortable under the sole of the foot; I'm happy to report that it is indeed. I've worn these five or six times already. Thanks for a wonderful pattern, Meg!

Happy to sign on.

2009-10-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

I adore Elizabeth Zimmerman's work. She really "opens" your thinking about knitting and design.

Thanks for inviting me in.

Public Service Announcement

2009-10-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

I've just taken an action with which I'm not very comfortable, but I think it's the right thing to do in the service of this community. I've revoked one of our member's authorship privileges on this blog. I took this step because a friend emailed me today to alert me that someone had lifted a post from my blog, comments and all (including an in-line reply from me) and claimed it as her own. Apparently she's done this to more than one knit blogger, and when I saw that several of the posts in question (including mine) had to do with the Baby Surprise Jacket, it occurred to me that she might be a member here. She was. I have no way of knowing whether she originally saw the content she stole on this board -- my post, at least, was taken from my personal blog and not from this one -- but I'd like this not to happen to any more knitters of Baby Surprise Jackets.

For my part, I've left her a comment politely asking that she remove my post from her site. Others have lodged formal complaints and had Wordpress delete their work from her blog.

I hope this little corner of the internet can continue to stand for mutual support and admiration plus fair play. Elizabeth and Meg have always gone to great lengths to credit their sources because it's the gracious thing to do. Let's uphold that spirit.

Thanks,
Sarah

UPDATE: The blogger in question has contacted me to say that she doesn't know what happened to draw Zimmermania content to her blog, but that she is working with Wordpress support to correct the problem. It may all be a technical glitch; I'm willing to allow for computer error and reinstate this author if she lets me know the wires have been uncrossed and there's no longer any likelihood of this happening.

UPDATE #2: I've been corresponding with this author and I'm now convinced that she suffered a horrible blog malfunction (possibly even a hacker attack of some kind) and was NOT willfully stealing content from Zimmermania. She is working hard to delete all content that isn't her own. She is understandably frustrated and hurt by how quick readers, including me, were to assume she was thieving. I've apologized to her and I'll leave the comments open on this post in case anyone else wishes to do so.

2009-10-09T19:59:00.001-07:00

I am glad to join in Zimmermania! I have started the Pi R Square shawl, anyone else working on one? Would love to hear from someone working on one or made one in the past.
Thanks, Lin

2009-09-17T21:08:00.000-07:00

My first REAL handspun yard and I LOVE IT! Can I ever go back to machine spun?

2009-09-15T01:49:00.000-07:00

I knitted this little sweater over a cute little glass bottle about a year ago thinking it will come in handy someday.......well, that day came yesterday when my grand-nephew needed to put his feather pen somewhere. He asked, "What happens if I get ink on the sweater?" And I answered, "That's your problem because you own it now. I suppose if you don't want ink on the sweater you might want to be careful about that." And he answered, "Cool." I thought it was rather cool also. :)

Adult Surprise Jacket of Many Purples

2009-09-10T19:23:00.000-07:00

Last winter I was part of a Adult Surprise Jacket class at my LYS, Mendocino Yarn Shop. Very Fun! I didn't really want to buy yarn so I went through my stash and went with purple. I used Cascade 220 in four shades of purple and light purple in alpaca. The buttons are sterling sliver with a Celtic design. I liked the square shape of the buttons. I finished the jacket in the spring. Today I delivered it to the Mendocino County Fair for judging. We shall see what the judge thinks. I am waiting for cold weather so I can wear it!

I'm a Newbie and Thanks for Letting me IN!

2009-09-08T17:10:00.000-07:00

So excited to meet you all.

Trouble with BSJ....

2009-08-21T04:36:00.000-07:00

I was doing great with my first BSJ until I found the increases for the buttonholes.... I do not know how to do the yarn over to then k2tog....

I mean, it's my first pattern in English (I'm argentinian) and even though I'm a teacher of the language (primary and high school), knitting patterns in English (or spanish lol) sometimes confuse me....

Here are 2 pix of my BSJ meant for my 2 months old baby

beginning to work the 90 stiches

Is this the way the increases should look like in the WS?

Finally, for those who are wondering... no, I'm not knitting it in circular needles... I found it extremely difficult... stichtes find trouble going from the cable into the needle (not the other way round...) someone told me national circular needles are not of good quality... anyway.... the left needle is getting heavier and heavier....
cheers!

The back of the sweater

2009-08-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

Meg mentioned in her comment (and yes, I can testify that it's enough to make you tear up when Meg Swansen comments on your knitting, even after she's said lovely things about it in person) that there's a back detail to my Daisy Daisy sweater. I was so busy thinking about showing you how well EZ's set-in sleeves work that I totally forgot to show the rear view. This was a major omission, because the decreases for the waist shaping are accomplished via Amy Detjen's genius centered eyelet decreases. (If you don't know Amy, you're missing out. She's Meg's right-hand girl, and you'll never meet anyone who can exhibit such combination of knitting smarts, humor, sense, and purple.)

Those are Amy's decreases, followed by a decorative increase I threw together to sort of match (a yarnover with the stitches on either side crossed). There's no pattern for this yet, but I'm working on it. I'm bluegarter on Ravelry and the sweater is called Daisy Daisy; I'll post updates there when it's close to being ready.

Thanks so much for all the interest!

Little knittings

2009-08-17T09:56:00.001-07:00

I like to knit for my son. This little hoodie is made from cotton stash. I followed the instructions for the seamless raglan sweater from "Knitting Without Tears", then left a gap for the neck opening, working back-and-forth from that point on. I worked the hood by increasing some stitches in the center back. Later I closed the hood by weaving the sides together (a skill I have taught myself from EZ's books, and I love to use it). For the border I picked up the stitches around neck opening and hood and worked a few rows in garter stitch. As you can see, it puckers quite uncomfortably.

That didn't please me too much, so I went back to look at my books.

For the next sweater, I intended to make a hood at first, too. But then I found and followed the instructions for the open collared shirt in " Knitters Almanac". The placket neck opening is nice and tidy and not difficult to work. And I loved the built-in I-cord border.
I also applied an I-cord border to my latest finished object. I have made quite a few tomtens (from "Knitting Without Tears") so far. This pattern is wonderful and easy to work. This time I used a thick wool I inherited from my grandmother. As I went along, I feared it would not be enough for the hood, which I always like to make a little wider and longer than the instructions suggest.The collar from the open collared shirt also fits, I think. I applied a contrasting I-cord border, and knitted extra little cuffs inside the sleeves in ribbing.

Sorry for my long haul. Have a good week, everyone!

Tomten and BSJ

2009-08-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

This one took a long time. I kept stopping to make baby stuff for pregnant people. The buttons are from Yarn Diva in Hillsdale, NJ and the buttons matched perfectly.

I made it to match Griffin's (Sophia is my friend's neice and Griffin is my friend's son)

This one was for Grif...

The two are made of Jarbo Garn yarn.

My co worker, Mrs. B, who I adore is preparing for another grandbaby (number 3) so I started a baby surprise for that child.

EZ's seamless set-in sleeves

2009-08-04T10:15:00.001-07:00

I just tried the set-in sleeves from Knitting Workshop... now I'm wondering why I waited so long!

This is a little jacket of my own design, knit from Louet MerLin Worsted (lovely stuff). The shoulders fit so well I don't know if I'll ever work a flat sleeve again. Another triumph for Madame Zimmermann!

Jumping on the Bandwagon

2009-07-31T08:46:00.000-07:00

I finally did it. Here is my February Baby Sweater. It is as sweet and easy a project as everyone always says it is. There will be more in my knitting future.

2009-06-09T18:42:00.001-07:00

Baby Suprise Coat of Many Colors

2009-06-09T18:13:00.000-07:00

I'm in a year long Zimmermania class and this was our second project. Since I finally finished it I figured I would share it with you all! I was hoping the colors would knit up in a way that made the coat something a boy or girl could wear (since it wasn't really for anyone in particular), but the purple in the center made it a little iffy and then when I bought the heart buttons my husband informed me it was not a boy friendly sweater. Oh well - I tried! I'll just have to find a little girl to give it to! I used Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn.

Gamble

2009-05-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

Mark and I went to the Gamble House in Pasadena last month. Go.

Sock in it's native setting

My elbow is healed! My knitting has resumed. Inspired to make socks.

Lloie's Cardigan - in Rosemary

2009-05-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

I love my new cardigan, from the 50th anniversary Wool Gathering. It's a special version of the Fair Isle Yoke sweater from Knitting Around. Meg based it on an old photo of Lloie wearing a sweater Elizabeth knitted for her. The biggest challenge was adjusting the stitch count in the yoke to compensate for the extra width I added to the sleeves. (Should not have been that difficult - I was just too intimidated to adjust the Fair Isle pattern. Plus it's my first EPS sweater. I'll be more bold next time.) Learned that my Fair Isle gauge is bigger, not smaller, than straight knitting. Did the crocheted steek as Meg recommended and really liked the result. Yarn is Spindrift. Main color is rosemary. Other colors are eucalyptus, pine forest, flax and natural. Lots of detail on Ravelry. (I'm JudiP53 there, too.) My favorite "personalization" of the pattern was to use a tubular cast-on for the bottom and sleeves.

Mother's Day Surprises!!!!!

2009-05-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely Mother's Day. My children had dinner at my home and presented me with these two lovely gifts. I collect Bears so this Bear is an addition to my Bear Family. I also received a beautiful cabinet to put my yarn, etc. in. Well, it is full with yarn, so it looks like I probably need another one, (hint, hint)!

2009-05-09T20:06:00.000-07:00

My First Babies Surprise!

I've started a couple in the past but never managed to finish them. This time with the new pattern out and the video in hand, I finally finished one.

Now, I just have to decide which one to make next. A child's or an Adult for me.

BSJ & Bonnet

2009-05-04T06:34:00.001-07:00

I made this for a baby gift.

Baby Surprise Again

2009-05-03T08:13:00.000-07:00

For Henry

Lupine Cardigan by Meg

2009-04-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

This is my Lupine Cardigan I made by following Meg's Cardigan Details DVD.

Simple & Noro

2009-04-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

From leftovers from a Seamless Hybrid sweater for my husband, a simple raglan for me:

yarn: 450g Noro Kureyon
needlesize: 5.5mm
pattern: seamless raglan

Are there any pictures of sideway edging?

2009-04-04T07:01:00.000-07:00

I thought I might do the sideway edging to finish off my triangular shawl. I've googled but haven't found any pictures. Does anyone have any please? I don't want to edge my shawl unless it is what I'm looking for. It is mohair so frogging is not an option

2009-03-22T14:04:00.000-07:00

Just a bitty baby sweater done in Ultra Alpaca. I'll be taking a few of these mini sweaters to Nairobi to teach some local women again. You can see what that's all about here.

Thanks for your inspiration!

2009-03-20T13:57:00.000-07:00

Combination of Seamless Yoke with Elsebeth Lavolds cablepattern for "Fjalar".
Shetlands Wolle

ganomy hat.

2009-03-17T21:14:00.000-07:00

a few months back i made a ganomy hat. i love it! its is so cute and the wool is so nice and soft. i am sure you all know, but the pattern can be found in The Knitter's Almanac. just thought i would share.

more info can be found here.

My First Sweater - The E. Z. Way!

2009-02-05T17:54:00.023-08:00

For a long time, I had ideas about what my first sweater would be, but I was afraid to commit. That's a lot of yarn, after all, and what if I bought too little and couldn't finish it? Also, I knew I wanted wool, so that was going to be even more costly. Finally, though, I had a windfall. A Big Lots opened up near the library where I work, and they had this beautiful Lion Brand Magic Stripes on sale for $1.50 a ball. It was superwash wool. How could I pass that up? So I bought a dozen balls and then went home to figure out how I was going to make the sweater.

I'd seen Knitting Without Tears in the library before and looked at it a number of times. It wasn't long before I decided that was the way to go. I chose the Seamless Raglan and began at the beginning.

Right away, I departed from Elizabeth by doing ribbing at the bottom. I just don't see myself wearing a sweater with a flat hem. I also didn't switch back and forth between sleeves and body as she suggests, though I probably should have. I did the sleeves after the body, working both together on a long needle in the manner of Magic Loop socks, and that was by far the most boring and time-consuming part of the project. When I finished increasing and was just going back and forth to finish the sleeves I almost gave up. It almost looks like I could have given up earlier, because the sleeves are a bit too long for the body.

When I joined on and worked the yoke, the project became exciting for me again. Just like E. Z. says, those decreases make every row go faster, and it really felt like I was getting somewhere. I had some angst when it came to the neck shaping, and Zimmermania turned out to be my savior. Several of you had similar concerns to my own, and you helped me get over that hump. As you can see in the second photo (besides that I look ridiculously fat in the face) the collar still didn't come out just as I wanted. It's too square and gaps too much at the sides. Oh, well. Probably nobody will notice but me, and I haven't even washed and blocked it yet.

Many people looked at me funny when I said I was making this first sweater for myself. Some of them just thought it looked too small (especially the sleeves) but I think some thought I was selfish. Should have been making one for the kids, right? Well, my thinking was, I knew I was going to make mistakes. I knew I might get discouraged and take a long time to get done. I might even give up completely if it became frustrating enough. I wanted all of those problems to fall on me, not one of the kids who was patiently waiting for a sweater from Daddy. It turns out, now that I look at Ravelry, that it took me almost exactly nine months. My wife asked if I felt like I had a baby, and I had to think about that for a minute!

Now I have a ton of the yarn left, so someday soon I will cast on and make a similar sweater in a kid size. That will be a lot of fun, I think.

February Newborn Gown

2009-02-04T11:15:00.003-08:00

For this newborn gown, I adapted EZ's February Baby Sweater from Knitter's Almanac. Koigu multi and size 1 US needles account for the teeny tiny size:

More pics can be found here:

Fair Isle-ish Baby Suprise

2009-01-26T17:33:00.018-08:00

The BSJ is a wonderful canvas for using up small bits and oddments of color. My goal is to use up my stash but I cannot bear to throw out even the smallest yardage of yarn, so it's a slow process. When I want to knit a baby gift, I try to make it from machine washable/dryable yarns and from my stash, that means acrylic, as I don't have any machine washable wools or other blends.

I Find knitting in garter stitch to be quite boring, so working with 2 colors in each row makes the knitting more interesting and serves to help use up all those bits and pieces. After this sweater was washed and dried, it softened up quite a bit and no longer felt like cardboard, much to my relief.

It's knit from worsted weight yarns or thinner yarns held together to approximate worsted weight on size 8 needles. The resulting size will fit a 1-year old and hopefully might fit into year 2. I added length to the sleeves and put on a healthy length of cuff. The shoulder seam is knitted together with I-cord and the collar is picked up from the I-cord finish. The hat is knit using the same yarns as the sweater.

I really enjoy checking in on this website and seeing what everyone else is working on, it's always something fun!

Olive in Medusa Yoke

2009-01-23T17:57:00.007-08:00

This pattern is one of my all-time favorites, the Medusa Yoke sweater (from Knitting Workshop). I did it in single ply lopi from Schoolhouse Press, using blue for the body and graduated pinks for the yoke. I used a size 4US needle. There's a few more pics on my blog, here:

Two Baby Surprises

2009-01-22T13:10:00.001-08:00

Hi, I'm Suna (SunaSAK on Ravelry and of the Yes! Suna Knits blog), and I live in the area between Austin and Round Rock, Texas. I've been knitting since I was a little girl, and there is always something fun and new to try. I also really enjoy teaching knitting. As a professional technical writer and instructional designer in my other life, I love the challenge of teaching people with various learning styles and backgrounds.

When I first started with EZ's writings, I mainly knit top-down sweaters with lots of cables. This was in the 80s, when I lived in Illinois. Armed with EZ's instructions and Barbara J. Walker's collections of stitch patterns, I knit my way through graduate school.

One thing I never got around to making, though, was a Baby Surprise Jacket. I guess I couldn't tell how cute they really were until I got The Opinionated Knitter and saw the color pictures. Oh! Nice!

So when two of my young knitting friends said they'd soon be having little babies to knit things for, I decided it was high time I made a BSJ. I took the advice I saw all over the Internet and made my first BSJ (seen above, held by crazed teen boy and here on Ravelry) the standard way. I decided to not look at all the helpful links to shortcuts and handy hints, but to pretend I just got my newsletter in 1968, and wanted to try this odd little garment. I did use a modern yarn: O-Wool Balance, a 50/50 wool/cotton blend. The colors are named after crystals: amethyst, opal, and jade. I made up a stripe pattern that worked out incredibly well when I got to the bottom--total serendipity, too! This jacket, in a worsted weight yarn, came out at I am guessing 6-9 months in size (it is a bit large on the 3 month-size doll). The recipient loves it, and is happy that the jacket will work with her girl baby and with any boy she happens to have later. I did the shoulder seams in a 3-needle bind-off, picking up stitches on the garter stitch side and using the cast-on loops as stitches on the other side (I did a knit cast-on, which leaves nice loops for this purpose).

My second BSJ (Ravelry link) was started practically the minute the other one fell off the needles. Now that I had made the "standard" version, I wanted to tweak things a tiny bit. Mainly I wanted to make the increases and decreases look neater, which is hard to do in garter stitch. So for increases, I left a center stitch in stockinette and did a centered M1 on each side. This looked really decorative, so I left that center stitch to travel down the front, and did P2tog on either side of it for the decrease section. I liked those decorative elements.

I ended up using some Plymouth Encore Sock yarn (sport/DK weight) that I didn't like how it looked on either socks or a ribbed scarf I'd started. The tweedy colorway of red, white and black was accentuated in the longer rows on the jacket, with no really distinct striping. I liked that much better than the sickly stripes it made on socks.

When I finished, I asked the recipient what color trim she would like, and she said she thought white would look good, so I used some leftover white sock yarn to do i-cord edging all around, including along the front neck. When I got to the first shoulder, I picked up stitches on the garter stitch edge, then used the other end of my needle to pick up the same number of cast-on stitches. That left both needles parallel, with the yarn ready to do a 3-needle bind off. The bind-off took me back where I was, so I i-corded around the back of the neck and did the same deal on the other shoulder. When I was back I finished by doing i-cord around the other side of the neck front. I grafted the end of the i-cord to the beginning, so it looks continuous. I was impressed with myself. Other than a little awkwardness transitioning from shoulder back to i-cord, it was easy and fun. No doubt I "unvented" this and lots of you have done the same, but it was fun to try for myself. All I needed was ladybug buttons and the second jacket was a hit! It will be perfect for this fall, unless the baby due in May is HUGE.

I have a hankering to do an Adult Surprise Jacket soon, so you may hear from me again. But I will continue to comment occasionally. I really enjoy this blog and love all of your creative adaptations! Thanks to all who contribute, and thanks for adding me to the list!

Autobots, Transform!

2009-01-20T12:36:00.015-08:00

I can't get away from doing Seamless Yoke Sweaters, it seems. I had ruined a Transformers sweater I'd done for my son (no, even the gentle cycle and cold water is no good for wool), so I promised him another one. It's a lot better than my previous effort, as I did not attempt to add a Decepticon logo, and I re-drafted the Autobot logo chart so that it wouldn't carry so many darned stitches. I do break the rule about not carrying more than five. In the initial row, as you left from the right, there is a six-stitch run of black.

Here's the chart I used for the Autobot logo:

A Seamless Hybrid for my husband

2009-01-12T06:45:00.022-08:00

I just finished knitting a sweater for my husband, using EZ's "Seamless Hybrid" sweater architecture. I had tried to knit him a sweater from a magazine pattern before, and wound up ripping the whole thing out and starting from scratch, doing the math to make sure the sweater fit exactly how he wanted it to. I'm so delighted with how it turned out, and he loves it too (though he looks a bit cold in this picture!):

The sweater has knit-in hems with contrast-color facings, and was knit in the round with a garter stitch column on either side of the steek. It was my first time steeking, but it worked out beautifully!

You can read more about the project here. Happy Knitting!

Poetry in Stitches--Nice and EZ

2009-01-10T11:21:00.008-08:00

This sweater began as a Poetry in Stitches kit for a drop-shouldered cardigan, but due to my fear of steeking and inability to produce a cardigan that stays buttoned, I turned it into an EZ yoke sweater, using her pattern for a child with a 26" chest.

I love how it turned out. If I had it all to do over again, I would have paid more attention to just where I was putting those short rows at the neck, so that the beginning of the row (and the obvious color jog) would be at the back left shoulder instead of front right. For more pics and text, click here:

Jen

Pillbox Hat

2009-01-06T06:25:00.002-08:00

My most recent completed knitted ware: Pillbox Hat by Elizabeth Zimmermann. For more info, visit my blog.

The Specs
Pattern: Pillbox Hat
Author: Elizabeth Zimmermann
Source: The Opinionated Knitter
Yarn: Thirteen Mile
Color: Lavender
Needles: U.S. 4 (3.5 mm) and U.S. 3 (3.25 mm)
Started: January 4, 2009
Finished: January 5, 2009

Latest Zimmer-madness

2009-01-05T18:20:00.012-08:00

Griffin's Snowy Tv Screen Tomten with Spiral Eye Monkey Buttons out of Jarbo Garn

Baby Sophia B.'s Baby Surprise out of Bernet CottonTots w/ Butterfly Buttons

Help with Norwegian Mittens please...

2009-01-03T17:11:00.004-08:00

I’m struggling with my first pair of Norwegian Mittens, and hope someone will be able to help - please…
I have increased the 10 stitches on the palm of the hand for the thumb. The palm of the hand is now 10 stitches wider than the back of the hand. Should I decrease above the thumb hole, or do I continue knitting with the wider palm, in which case the decreases at the top must end up looking a bit weird? HELP - please…

This question has also been posted on Ravelry.

Two baby sweaters

2008-12-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

February Sweater

Yarn: Jaggerspun Heather 3/8 in Wisteria from here
Buttons: Small circle hearts from Webs
About knitting it:
Next time I'd be tempted to knit it all in the round and then just steek it. I forget how much purling annoys me sometimes. I did knit the arms in the round: used provisional cast-on for the underarm stitches. Oh, because I did my button holes differently (row 1: k, bo 2, k row 2: k, m2, k) the edging looked horrible near the buttons. I fixed that by doing a single crochet edging on the front edges. All in all, a very sweet little pattern.

Baby Surprise Jacket

Yarn: Blue is an indigo dyed yarn I bought from a woman at my local spinning guild meeting. The natural yarn is from Cestari. I don't think they still make this yak blend, but I have only positive things to say about their yarns in general... a real pleasure to knit with.
Buttons: Bear heads from Webs
About knitting it: I confess, I finished this a long time ago and just didn't get around to posting it. The cleverness of the construction absolutely blows me away. I'm a huge fan of EZ, and this sort of pattern is exactly why!

Ez's Butterfly Jacket

2008-12-15T14:23:00.005-08:00

Did you hear it's snowing today in Portland/Vancouver?? I'm sure for most of you in colder regions this isn't that big of news except for here - it's a big thing! Everything is closed - schools, government and roads and everyone just stays home. So strange!

Anyhow - so my point is - it's cold here right now and I haven't lived in a cold climate for ages so I have barely anything appropriate to wear. This morning I was craving something warm and wooly. I went digging through my closet and guess what I found -

Hello! I don't remember you.

In my flurry of finishing this summer I wove in the ends of this FO and threw it in a drawer somewhere. I have to admit - I wasn't impressed. The fit and style was well, blah. But today, in the cold weather with a little mixing and matching - it took on a new form, just as a butterfly does and I love it! It feels infinitely wearable and best of all wooly and warm. Just as a Zimmerman knit should be.

Here's a view from the back. (shoulda done it seamless but I was lazy)

I knit it in Berrocco Ultra Alpaca (2 skeins - eeked through, barely) and the pattern is from Wool Gathering #78 (since sold out, and the pattern is now sold as a spun out and it's called the butterfly jacket. It's a modernized version of the classic rib warmer. More details on ravelry as always.

Happy Knitting!
Keri

Seamless Hybrid Sweater

2008-12-10T21:18:00.009-08:00

My romance with Elizabeth Zimmermann continues with my newly completed Seamless Hybrid Sweater. The pattern is from Knitting Without Tears and is knit with Cestari Navy and Natural Medium Gray yarns. You can read all about it here.

Modular Tomten Jacket

2008-12-09T19:29:00.004-08:00

My first Modular Tomten Jacket, a shop model for The Yarnery in St. Paul, Minn., knit with Briggs & Little Heritage yarn. Read more about it here.

Me with the displayed Tomten and wearing my newly completed Seamless Hybrid Sweater in Cestari yarn, also by Elizabeth Zimmermann.

Maltese Fisherman's Hat

2008-11-27T18:22:00.001-08:00

I love this pattern. I started the hat this morning with my coffee. It was finished by 6pm. It is quick, easy and fun. My daughter wants me to add a tassel. I'll do that tomorrow. I used Nepal 5006 yarn by Katia. It is a self-stripping yarn.

I planned to make the hat for myself but my daughter loves it and claimed it for herself. I'll make a second one for me.

The Maltese Fisherman's Hat pattern is in EZ's Knitter's Almanac. I love this book. It is fun to read and the patterns always work out well.

Two for One

2008-11-27T13:23:00.001-08:00

Per usual, blogger screwed up when I posted some socks a week ago. So now you get socks AND a hat.

I just finished my second Maltese Fisherman Hat in Cascade 220 and finished it with "the tassel of my dreams". The hat is ingenious.

And the socks. The sock pattern is a modified version of the Swirl Socks. I worked them cuff down instead of toe up and used EZ's afterthought heel as an experiment. For the "toe" I used in the afterthought heel, it was the wide toe from Nancy Bush's _Knitting Vintage Socks_. Picking out the stitches for the heel is a bit nitpicky and aggravating. But the heel fits fantastically.

Two for One

2008-11-27T13:12:00.001-08:00

ganomy hat

2008-11-27T09:52:00.002-08:00

so i finally did it - i made the super cute ganomy hat - and all it took was one afternoon. i have no idea what yarn i used i pulled it outta the stash without a label. Happy Thanksgiving!

this is my first zimmermania post. how exciting!!

The glass is half-full!

2008-11-25T05:23:00.005-08:00

I just wanted to take a moment to encourage everyone in these tough economic times. How lucky we knitters are to be equipped to give gifts of fashion, color, texture, warmth and love without needing to break the bank to do it. True, the budget may only allow for less expensive yarns: Alpaca instead of cashmere, wool instead of alpaca, acrylic instead of wool, cones of fiber instead of balls. What the item is made of is not nearly as important as the thought you put into it.

Remember:

It is easy to go out and spend money to buy a gift, but much more meaningful to build it stitch by stitch.
You are not a bad person/parent/friend/daughter/son/sibling etc. for staying within a tight budget in a holiday season. Money DOES NOT equate to love.
A great gift to give is a set of needles, a ball of yarn, and time to show someone how to use them!
Even EZ had periods where the money was tight, and she did her knitting part to keep her family warm and happy.

We may not be able to change the course of the economy, but we can pick up our needles and see the fruits of our labor.

Standing on top of the mountain....

2008-11-15T08:37:00.002-08:00

....waving at the people.

Saddle-Shoulder Aran Cardigan

Source: Spun Out #49, $3, Schoolhouse Press. Originally published 2000 as Wool Gathering #63
Size: 50" Chest (about 6" positive ease)
Yarn: Cascade Eco Wool (Used 3 skeins, 1434 yds total)
Color: Brown #8087
Needles: Size 8 for all the garter edges and buttonband/collar; Size 9 for the rest
Gauge: 4.5 sts and 6 rows per inch on size 8 needles in stockinette
Cost: 3 skeins of Eco Wool at $12 each = $36
6 buttons (from Vardhman, Inc. on 39th Street and 8th Avenue in NYC) at $2.15 each = $12.90 TOTAL COST: $48.90
Started: October 11, 2008
Finished: November 9, 2008
Mods: Well, this pattern is one big mod. You can read my three previous posts, if you haven't done so already. The instructions are more like a recipe, as are most of Elizabeth Zimmerman's patterns. The eco wool makes this sweater more like a jacket and I've been wearing it as such for the past week. The times that it was a bit windier, I threw a denim jacket over it. I made it with 6" of positive ease (it stretches a lot!) so that I could possibly wear a sweater under it if I don't want to wear a coat on any given day. In my excitement of finishing it last Sunday, I wore it to work on Monday with safety-pin stitch markers where the buttons needed to be sewn in. I went at lunch and bought the buttons and sewed them at work! HA! I'm going to give the sweater a REALLY good blocking but I hope it doesn't grow too much!! Because, no, I haven't blocked it. I've been wearing it EVERY DAY! ;-) The steeking, of course, made me super nervous. But it's like anything else in knitting that you have to learn: afraid to jump in but then you do and you feel accomplished! Although, I do admit that each time I wear it, I look at the inside to make sure it’s not falling apart somewhere! HA! It’s not, though. I actually think the cut edges are felting themselves to the inside!!! All in all, a tremendously satisfying knit.

Cross-posted from my blog.

Woodman's Sock

2008-11-07T21:41:00.000-08:00

Here is another pair of Woodsman's Socks:

As per usual, there were modifications. I did not keep up the ribbing on the foot and I did a slightly modified heel - I did not do the garter section on the side in lieu of a preferred plainer method. These were knit on size 6 dpns with Raggi wool. These are so nice and easy to make and very warm. This is maybe the fifth pair I have made, but the second pair for my husband.

You can see a few more details and other projects on my blog.

Pi shawl - finished at last

2008-11-02T13:57:00.000-08:00

I have, at last, finished my first pi shawl and already I know that it won't be my last! I love the way it lays so perfectly flat and it is so impossibly easy to knit! I have a few more pictures on my blog and the shawl can be found on Ravelry, where I'm know as teeweewonders.

Knitting what not

2008-10-25T07:40:00.004-07:00

It's been a few days. Life got in the way. It happens. I deal with it.

One of my latest knitting creations is a pair of longies for a swap momma.

I've had a couple hang ups with them, most notably, I was completely done with the body of them when I realized I just couldn't live with how the shortrows turned out. So, I ripped it back to the waistband and started over. They turned out much better the second time around. I'm further along than what the picture shows, as I took the pic last night and have been working on them here and there this morning. I really like the way the colors are playing out, and just realized that my picture is terrible. The colors don't really look like that. But I'm too....blah....to take another. I'd have to change lenses on my camera....

Also, I've been working on Christmas projects. Finished a long floppy hat for my youngest last night and am debating adding ear flaps to it. It will have a tassel at the end, though I haven't made it yet. Turned out quite cute, though I don't have a picture of it, and you are just going to have to trust me on this one. :)

Not much else going on around the homestead. Chickens, kids, work and school. That's about all that happens. Watched the Incredible Hulk last night and I didn't think it was near as bad as what the ratings made it out to be. I actually thought it was pretty good. That could be because I just really like Edward Norton, or it could be because I'm a Marvel movie junkie. Take your pick.

Have laundry, kids and dishes to attend to. And need to bake bread. Yay for the weeekends, huh?

Sleep Sack from Baby Surprise?

2008-10-22T10:22:00.001-07:00

I've had an epiphany! My little sister is expecting her first baby and has asked me to make a snuggle sack for sleeping. I saw this post for a modified baby surprise jacket with legs, but really, I don't need to get that complicated. All I need to do is extend the body of the jacket down (so if you're looking at the front of a finished jacket, after you finish making right angles from the armpit, just extend the bit of back & forth knitting to make it a longer body). When finished, I just need to add buttons all down the front and across the bottom - or just down the front and sew the bottom together. VOILA! A snuggle sack. Even better - a stretchy, extra warm snuggle sack!

Now, to actually find time to do this.....

Another Pair of Mitered Mittens

2008-10-20T15:36:00.000-07:00

This pair is made from Cascade Tweed 220.

Norwegian Mittens

2008-10-13T06:15:00.003-07:00

My favorite mittens. I have made many pairs with lopi light yarn, after a little time and snow they felt wonderfully and are the warmest mittens around. If you are in any cold areas I recommend knitting up a pair for every one in your family. The patterns are in both Knitter's Almanac and Knitting Around.

Anatole in Maltese Fisherman's Hat

2008-10-07T13:48:00.000-07:00

Anatole in his new hat!

More on my blog:

Help with Pi Shawl?.

2008-09-05T01:51:00.001-07:00

I began to knit the pi shawl from the Knitter's Almanac and have trouble with Three Lace-Pattern for Shawl. When I had knitted the very 1st round on 144 stitches, I had 2 stitches left. Is it only me?
The 1st row is: K5, *YO, K2tog, K10. * Ending K5.
I count the pattern stitches: 144-10(stitches not in the pattern repeat)=134:12(repeat stitches)=11 stitches with 2 left, so it means that there is errata in the pattern!
Can somebody clarify what is wrong please?

First Hybrid

2008-08-31T07:24:00.002-07:00

I finished my first hybrid! I loved how easy it was to follow EZ's directions blindly and trust that it would work out in the end, and it did!

Details on my blog.

First Hybrid

2008-08-31T07:24:00.001-07:00

I finished my first hybrid! I loved how easy it was to follow EZ's directions blindly and trust that it would work out in the end, and it did!

Details on my blog.

Three cornered hat

2008-08-28T13:30:00.004-07:00

I wanted to find a quick knit for a hat that was going to charity and of course the first place I looked was in EZ's "Knitter's Almanac" as it has a wee something for every occasion.

My choice fell on the three cornered hat and as with all of the patterns in this book I feel for it hook, line and sinker! I have added a few details about the charity knit and on my blog, where you'll also find a few details about the hat, which is also on Ravelry.

Another Baby Surprise hits the road!

2008-08-27T19:05:00.002-07:00

I finally finished my version of the Baby Surprise Jacket. The yarn is Plymouth Yarn's Happy Feet and it took two skeins with size 4 needles. I am so glad that I got the DVD explaining it - it wasn't hard but I kept getting very sleepy - garter stitch will do that to you! - and then I would have to rip back. I think I will pick two sets of buttons out so that this could go to either a boy or a girl. I also think that I wouldn't make all five buttonholes next time - maybe just three.

Bog Jacket--Seed Stitch

2008-08-25T12:23:00.002-07:00

I made this seed stitch Bog Jacket using the baby bog decreases across the back for a more feminine shape, and cast on and off for the sleeves and collar instead of the recommended grafting method. My Agatha was very pleased with the results. You can see more pics and details on my blog.

Seamless Saddle Shoulder

2008-08-19T14:19:00.003-07:00

This is my first post, but I have been admiring all of the other entries for over a year. This is my latest EZ creation. I have others posted in my blog. http://knittingwithspokes.blogspot.com This one is knit with a alpaca wool blend. Size 6 needles. I still love the seamless concept, the sweater is basicly done with the last cast off.

Mitered Mittens

2008-08-18T15:06:00.003-07:00

This isn't my first EZ project, but it is my first post. I am making Christmas projects. These were quick and easy, made with Cascade 220.

Just an introduction

2008-08-12T12:12:00.006-07:00

I'm new in this group, and I'm so thrilled over all the lovely things you have done! I'm from Sweden, and now and then I have some problems with the English language, but if I just get some time to think, I sooner or later use to understand. May be a bit more problem to express myself, so please don't expect any literary achievements from me.

So far I've just done a few Baby Surprice Jackets and a bonnet of all lovely patterns EZ designed, but I hope to do many more. It's so many on my want-to-do-list, and first of all I would love to try the Adult BSJ. I have read the pattern - several times - and even tryed to translate it in a more read-friendly way, so I hope to start with it quite soon.

Woodsman's Socks

2008-08-11T16:38:00.001-07:00

I finished a pair of Woodsman's Socks from the Opinionated Knitter. I have made these once before and I made some modifications for this pair. These are for my husband and I think I will make him a few more pair. The socks are featured with Wrap Style by Pam Allen and Ann Budd during some kind of inventory reduction sale. I got it for about $5 - what a deal. I might be inspired to make something out of there.

Yarn: Jarbo Raggi Wool
Needles: size 6 dpns
Pattern: Woodsman's socks

I made the heel with a slip 1, knit, turn, slip 1, purl back - this makes a very sturdy heel which is important for a thick wool sock that might be rubbing inside of boots and leather slippers in the winter.

I also made the cuff with a 1x1 ribbing before switching to a 2x2 ribbing. And I skipped the garter stitch section on the ends of the heel flap. I know...several modifications...but EZ would say 'be the boss of your own knitting', right?

A couple more photos on my blog.

EZ Child's Yoke Sweater, Extra Fancy!

2008-08-04T15:18:00.001-07:00

Yet another EZ child's yoke sweater! From Spun Out #4. All color charts came from Poetry in Stitches, except a few of the small ones which came from the original EZ pattern.
Yarn: Satakieli
Needle: US4
Some more pics and info can be found on my blog.

Two variations on the Maltese

2008-07-27T08:58:00.006-07:00

Recently I got obsessed again with the Maltese Fisherman's Hat from Knitter's Almanac.

Lawrence of Arabia?/Fun with Earflaps Version:

Chullo Inspired Version with Improvised top:

For more info, please check out my blog. I'm having a wee contest there right now as well.

Child's Fair Isle Yoke Sweater

2008-07-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

Here's Daisy in her new Fair Isle Yoke Sweater! I used Dale of Norway Heilo on 3.5mm needles, and made very few changes to the pattern. I added a bit of color pattern above the hem ribbing, but that's it. This is perhaps my favorite EZ pattern.

More on my blog:

Armenian-knit Hat ala Meg and Joyce

2008-07-23T20:08:00.001-07:00

I'm probably stretching the boundaries of what really counts for posting on Zimmermania, but I wanted to share a finished project from Camp 2 and encourage you all to take a look at Meg and Joyce's Armenian Knitting book.

Lots more pictures and details on my blog, but the short version is that this rooster is inspired by a design on a ceramic tile by a French artist named Jean Leurçat. I've been wanting to use it in my knitting for years, and the Armenian technique, which involves carrying the second color behind the first throughout the piece and intentionally

My First Baby Surprise Jacket

2008-07-21T11:29:00.003-07:00

I just finished my first Baby Surprise Jacket and now can join the throngs who say, "ONE is not enough!" This was such an enjoyable project. I used Meg's Baby Surprise DVD and can heartily recommend it. There are a few variations on the DVD that I am anxious to try out in the future. My next one will have a collar on it.

Yarn Lorna Laces Shepherd Sport

Color Lake Huron

Needles 5.0mm Inox Circular

More BSJs

2008-07-16T04:27:00.001-07:00

I've become a huge fan of the BSJ. I love to knit them, and I've done many! Here are a few that I've recently finished (well, except for the buttons). The larger one is Sirdar Denim DK, the smaller is from Noro's Kureyon Sock Yarn - love the stripes!

Buttoned Baby Surprise Jackets

2008-07-05T03:02:00.003-07:00

I think the perfect button is just as important as the perfect yarn.

Made of Araucania Atacama a very soft yarn it needed soft bunny buttons.

Made of Elsebeth Lavold Cable Cotton needed organic looking rustic metal buttons.

More on my blog.

Addicted!

2008-07-01T01:17:00.005-07:00

I may yet sort these posts ... apologies!

I've become addicted to the EZ baby patterns: this is the first BSJ I did.

I'm about to start the Adult Suprise jacket and would welcome words of encouragement, and wisdom!

Addicted!

2008-07-01T01:17:00.001-07:00

February Sweater sizing

2008-06-30T19:18:00.000-07:00

Hi there! So I'm venturing into my first EZ knit and I've chosen the February Sweater. I was wondering if anyone can help me with the sizing. It sounds like the pattern from KA produces a sweater approximately 3-6 months in size and I'm looking to alter the sizing to fit a 2 year old. Any help out there? Or possibly anyone that has knit the sweater in that size that happens to remember the mathematics of it (number of cast on stitches, etc)?

And a Tomten is born!

2008-06-30T04:12:00.001-07:00

I started it September 2007 and finished it June 2008. My blog

My third February Sweater

2008-06-22T16:27:00.003-07:00

Here's the third February Baby Sweater I've made for friends' babies.

This was done in Knit Picks Shine DK in Hydrangea. I was worried about running out of yarn (it took a bit more than two skeins) so I made the sleeves shorter than normal. The other mod was to put the buttons only on the yoke, instead of only on the lacework, like in my first February sweater.

Another mystery blanket

2008-06-22T05:37:00.003-07:00

Having knitted one mystery blanket a wee while back I knew straight away which blanket would be on the agenda, when my sister-in-law said that she would like a knitted pram blanket for my niece. I really enjoy this pattern and it being my second attempt I decided to change the method a tiny bit. I knitted six large squares and when knitting the edge on them I continued the increases in the corners right to the last row. I assembled all the squares and continued knitting a border around the assembled squares. A couple of rows before the end I increased the amount of stitches by about 50% to amass an enormous amount of stitches and make a nice fluted edge.

I didn't have a chance to wash and block before handing the blanket over as it was in use practically before the last end was sewn away!

I have a few more pictures on my blog, if it's of any interest. I can heartily recommend this pattern as it can be knitted in any yarn, any colour, any size etc. I am pretty sure this won't be my last mystery blanket!

2008-06-20T10:41:00.001-07:00

I knit a sweater for my son, now is summertime in Croatia, so we must wait a winter time to wear this BSJ. I havent the pattern but I look at the photos!

Pat's Tomten

2008-06-20T10:12:00.001-07:00

My friend saw my tomtens my blog and wanted to make one for her granddaughter and I helped her with it. She is almost done and I'm so proud of her.

Orkney Pi Completed

2008-06-12T07:06:00.003-07:00

Whew! What a knitting project, but isn't it lovely? This pattern is based on EZ's Pi calculations and was a project of the EZAsPi Group at Yahoo Groups. Liz Lovick designed the shawl and did such a lovely job of writing it up and supporting all of us who knit it. Thanks very much to Liz and to everyone at EZAsPi and the wonderful posts here at Zimmermania. I am always inspired by what I see here. You can see more pics of this shawl at my blog, Angelarae Knits.
Edit: I forgot to include the specs for this shawl. Please excuse me:) Here they are:

Pattern: Liz Lovick's 'Orkney Pi'
Yarn: Jagger Spun 'Zephyr' Color: Teal
Needles: Addi Turbo Lace 24" Circular needles, Size 5
Modifications: Knit pattern as written, Section one and two. Knit one pattern repeat of the diamond section and added the mistake 'Aspen Leaf and Horsehoe Edging.' (explained here)
Final Measurement: 48" Diameter