A modest boast

[pensnest]

I spent a fair bit of time knitting last year, and created a sweater each for my nephew and niece.



(click to see full size)

Adorable Nephew is wearing something from Elizabeth Zimmerman's book, a bottom-up seamless sweater with yoke, a first for me, as generally I have done my seamless sweaters top-down. I used a bunch of blues in it, mostly what I had left after a couple of other blue ones, but some strands of mohair got in there, and this and that. It turned out rather well.

Adorable Niece has a textured sweater, also seamless (because, no sewing!), with a big fat cable on one side of the front. Garter stitch for most of the body, and stocking stitch for the sleeves—it was a quick knit, and a bit dull, but very effective.

Beast and I tried a new class today, 'Zumba Strong', which is sort of like minimal dancing combined with boxing, as there's a heck of a lot of jabbing, uppercutting etc. I'd been hoping for a bit more dancing, maybe with weights. Still, a good workout.

*sags into chair*

Comments

[sperrywink]

Ooohhh, I particularly like the niece's sweater! Too bad knitting it was dull because it looks fabulous!

Glad you got a good workout in!

[raynedanser]

Oooh, both jumpers are fabulous. I love them both! :) As I'm in a colorwork mood, I'm loving the nephew's. *grin*

I love love love seamless sweaters. Prefer top down, but I've done bottom up as well.

[pensnest]

There's an up-side to knitting straightforward things - it's easy to do it while watching telly! And it was nice and quick.

George, the instructor, is extremely cheerful, quite giggly in fact, which makes things fun.

[pensnest]

I am a Big Fan of the seamless... anythings! I've always been really bad at sewing knitted pieces together in a smart way, so being able to cast off a sweater and then wear it is *great*. Plus it reduces the boredom factor - by the time you're getting bored with a project you've got so much done, it isn't so difficult to finish.

[raynedanser]

Some things I do really well stitching up and sometimes they just do not want to cooperate. It's annoying. LOL The only thing is when the jumper is a heavy yarn, it can get heavy while working on it. Then again, usually by the time you're at that point, you're nearly done! :P

[pensnest]

I suspect that in my case, my unawareness of the importance of tension did not help matters! Kaffe Fassett had the yarns supplied to him in a variety of colours, but who among us can afford that much Rowan? Hmph.

Perhaps I should go back to multicoloured scarves to use up the copious little balls in the stash.

[raynedanser]

Now I need to go back and look again. Was that Rowan Yarn? Kaffe Fassett is insane with colors sometimes. He did a KAL last year (I think?) that was insane. I LOVE Rowan yarns though.

[pensnest]

I think he generally used Rowan yarn for the patterns in his books. And the colours are beautiful! Well, once in a while he produces a pattern that makes me cringe, but "Glorious Knitting" was the book that inspired me to start knitting, so I am very grateful!

[raynedanser]

I think you may be right. Is he exclusively their designer, do you know?

That looks like an incredible book. I may have to hunt it down. :)

[pensnest]

Hmm. I don't know if he's exclusively their designer, but in all three of the books I have, he lists Rowan yarns for his designs. Though in some cases he doesn't specify a yarn, just a weight and tension.

Glorious knitting is wonderful. The pattern shapes are rather boxy, by and large, but there are some really inspiring colours. I've knitted several of those. And did you see turlough's Kaffe Fassett throw?

[raynedanser]

I think nearly everything I've seen of his has used their yarn, so I've often wondered.

I haven't had her added for quite a long time. Which pattern was it?

[pensnest]

It's like a patchwork of different patterns - a sampler, I suppose - united by the colour scheme. Worth a look! I think she's on Ravelry so there is probably a pic up there.

[raynedanser]

WOW! I'm so glad she is predictable (with her user name). She is an amazing knitter and that throw is incredible! I'm in awe.

[pensnest]

Me too! I have knitted something in (I think) four of those patterns: the diamonds near the front, the zig-zag stripes, the tumbling blocks, and the stars in the back left corner.

[rikes]

Beautiful sweaters! And the niece & nephew look adorable indeed.

[pensnest]

They're pretty good kids. :-) Always write their thank you letters!

[copracat]

They are adorable jumpers and adorable niblings.

[frausorge]

Ooh, lovely work on both! The asymmetrical effect on the one for your niece is really cool visually (even if, as I see you said above, it wasn't exciting to make).

[pensnest]

I am pleased with both!

[pensnest]

Yes, it's a simple design but very striking, I think. The cable is quite fat. It's a jolly good pattern, very easy to follow, and at least having a simple thing to knit means you can watch telly while knitting.

[turps]

They're both fantastic sweaters. While I like the pattern on your nephews, I love the cable on your nieces.

[turlough]

It was the nephew sweater you were knitting on back in September, right? It's looking fabulous! I love the yoke and all it's different shades (and textures) of blue. The niece sweater is also lovely. The big cable is such a cool feature!

You're both being so energetic with your fitness. Go you!!

[pensnest]

That cable is a really neat design feature - simple yet striking. I might have to make a bigger version for myself, or perhaps for Bun.

[pensnest]

That sounds about right. I can't quite divest myself of the Kaffe Fassett Thing of using lots of colours and mixing in a little mohair, silk, cotton.... The yoke came out very well, and was a lot easier to knit than I'd expected. It helps that Ben is rather a good model! And yes, I really like the big cable, and the constrasting textures of the pink sweater.

[watervole]

Very even two colour work. I know first hand just how hard it is to maintain the tension correctly.

[pensnest]

I was very careful selecting the yarns for that section!

[ephemera]

That is some impressive productivity on all scales!

[pensnest]

It's so nice to have niblings who actually like to wear their aunt's knitted offerings, too.