mommyhood KAL

Summer Sweater Knit Along - My project!


sorry about the delayed post ladies.  i had some big time internet probs yesterday.  was kind of a good thing in the end because i go to unplug a bit and get some big time knitting in.  can't wait to show you all what i have been stitching away at..and no...don't worry, it wasn't my KAL project - that's been done a while now (my knit night gals can attest to that).  it's just taken me this long to get pics due to the husband/wife photo session relationship i have..haha.  actually, this one wasn't so bad but it was rushed and the kids were not cooperating plus all the days i had good hair the hubs didn't have time to shoot the pics so you are stuck with my dirty mommy hair day :P  you know you have them too...haha...don't judge me :)


so my sweater for the KAL is done.  i have a love/hate relationship with it.  i've worn it out a few times and am slowly bonding with it.  the blocking helped a ton and the stitches have loosened and lay flatter now which is nice.  here's the deets on my kal project:

pattern: the effortless cardigan by the fabulous hannah fettig of knitbot
needle: 5.5mm knitpicks nickel plated interchangeable

this sweater fits me perfectly everywhere but the front sides.  honestly, i was so picky about fit and adjusted the sleeves and back to fit my bod but never thought to check the measurements of the front panels to the pattern suggestions and just knit as the pattern was written.  big mistake shannon.  i now have a sweater that is seriously like wearing two blankets wrapped around me..haha.  i mean look at all the knitting i did! wowsa!  i'm pretty proud of myself for getting it done.  i love this pattern though, and have no other complaints.  i would make it again but this time making the front sides a fair amount shorter (not so many increases) so the drape would not be so long or heavy on me.


i've found three ways to wear it and my fave is picture number 1 at the start of the post.  i'm on the hunt for a cool vintage brooch to wear it pinned like that.  i think i will get good use out of it like that.  i also wear it at home a ton.  it's very cozy and warm and overall i love the color, the yarn and the style of the sweater.  i highly recommend it as a first project.  it was a wonderful dive in to start playing with seamless knits.  i love the ability to adjust and modify the sizing as you knit.  it's super fun to be able to try it on as you go and see how it's fitting.  it's also exciting.


i will admit i had some challenges with the stockinette stitch.  i get bored easily and usually tend to lean towards patterns with more detail work - lace, cable or even just ribbing, but near the end i got into the flow and started to find how relaxing it is to work on and to be able to carry around with me and knit wherever without worrying about the pattern.  it was great!  i'm definitely hooked and will be doing it again :)


the best part about this cardigan are the memories made while making it. i will forever smile at the images of all the nights spent with laughs and good coffee while working away at it with my lovely knit night gals.  the moments spent in the sunshine at the beach with my little girls while i knitted away and the evenings i sat cozied up in half of it on the couch with the hubs while i stitched away at the other half and last, but not least, the awesomeness of our kal.  that in itself makes this sweater a success.  it's been so wonderful getting to know all of you and chatting everyday in our ravelry group.  it's been a great support system for me and i hope for all of you.  i learned a lot and got so inspired for all the knitting projects and knit alongs to come.  i hope you'll join me and we can continue to take that special time to spoil ourselves while working on a project just for us :)  there's memories to be made and yarn to be treasured.  happy knitting my dear friends!

stay tuned...next week the winners of the prizes will be announced and starting in the first week of october will be our next kal!!!  woot woot!  you ready?  are you gonna join me?  i hope so :)

*all conversations about the KAL can be found in our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group thread here.  you can find all the previous KAL posts here.   you can also friend me on ravlery.com under luvinthemommyhood.  

Summer Sweater Knit Along - A wee reminder :)

Source: i3.tagstat.com via Dana on Pinterest

just popping in really quick today to remind you lovely knitters to get those fab sweater entries in to be eligible for all the fabulous prizes for the summer sweater knit along.  you can find all the prizes here.  tomorrow night at midnight (pst) is the deadline.  entering really is simple and...

*you don't need to be finished your sweater to be eligible.*

here's how to enter:

(you must do both #1 and #2 to be eligible.)

1) leave me a comment on the the prize post letting me know you took part in the KAL along with a valid email.

then 
2) you need to either a) upload your picture to the luvinthemommyhood flickr group

or
b) email me your picture to luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca
or
c) leave me your ravelry id in the prize post comments so i can view your picture there.


easy peasy right?  so get those entries in.  seriously, these prizes are not to be missed!


ok, ladies....i'm dying to see how fab your sweaters are all looking.  thanks again for making this knit along soooooo fun!  i can't wait to start the next one in october!  good luck and i'll be back tomorrow with a new tutorial for you all :)

summer sweater knit along - prizes galore!


ok all you lovely knitters you..today is the day i announce some of the goodies some of you might win for participating in our oh, so fun "summer sweater knit along"!  you all did so awesome and i'm super proud of you!  we battled through all of our fumbles and trust me a lot of those happened to me..haha.  we supported each other in the ravelry group and honestly i had so much fun logging in their to chat amongst you lovely ladies everyday.  it was so nice to see everyone chatting, helping each other and inspiring each other with new patterns and yarns.


now i get to have some more fun.....and give some prizes away!  what could you win???  well....click here to find out more about the fabulous prizes and how to win!!!

Summer Sweater Knit Along - Blocking Party with guest Rebecca of Nook!

if you guys are anything like me blocking may seem like a strange and wondrous world.  having ever only blocked items like baby sweaters and hats/shawls doing a giant adult sweater seemed a tad on the scary side for me.  i'm a bit nervous...i'll admit it.  this sweater has taken me forever to finish and now that i have i really don't want to mess anything up.  so to help us wander through the world of blocking i turned to my knitting extraordinaire pal rebecca from the blog/shop "nook".  she's going to give us the rundown & the lowdown for blocking our precious new sweaters.


i've mentioned rebecca here just the other week when she guested on versus for her jardain coaster tutorial but i'll dare to repeat it again - this girl is the fastest knitter i have ever seen.  she can also simultaneously knit and.....type, cook, bake, chat on the phone and i suspect do anything whilst knitting.  she's a machine and i love her for it.  her spirit for knitting is super contagious and she always has the biggest grin on her face when she's doing what she loves.  
if you guys want to catch the knitting bug too and you live in victoria make sure you sign up for some of her classes at "the cloth castle" - this fall is about jane richmond.  you can learn how to make hats, sweaters, cowls...you name it...becca's got a class for it all using jane richmond's awesome, kick ass patterns!

now let's get those sweaters ready for a dip...here's rebecca....


thanks soo much shannon, for having me here! i have so enjoyed this KAL as i know we all have, and have learned much along the way. bonus... we've got ourselves a sweater for the fall and winter season! woohoo! no better way to kick off the knitting season with one of our own handmade lovelies wrapped around us :)  and with that being said...

hurrah!!!! you've done it! you've chosen your pattern, you've researched your yarn.. swatched and swatched again... and after hours and hours of knitting, ripping, knitting again.. it's done!!! but not quite...  this last step (or next to last step) is quite important, and i'm always surprised to find that many don't want to bother with it. or don't know what it is, or how to do it...

but blocking your knitting will make your life easier! trust me.

basically, what blocking does for your knitting is this.. it flattens your stitches, making your knitting even. it will help to hide any little blips in tension that you may have had, and will give your fabric drape. (depending on how it's knitted). basically, what blocking does for your knitting is what ironing does for your clothes. note... DO NOT IRON your knitting.. no no, i'm just making a comparison. it just smooths out the wrinkles, and gives your knitting a beautiful finished and completed work of art.


honestly, you worked so hard on your project, this last step is maybe a tiny bit time consuming, as you have to be patient for it to dry, but it's oh so worth it.
so now that i've convinced you to take that final step and block... here's what you need to know:)

one thing i'd like to mention is if your sweater is knitted in pieces, before joining the sleeves, sides, etc.. you should block your pieces beforehand. your edges will lay flatter, and joining your stitches, or picking up sitiches are much much easier to do.

Source: flickr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

your blocking tools

Source: google.ca via Rebecca on Pinterest
  • blocking pins (it's probably recommended to get a rust-proof kind, as then you won't be surprised with little rust marks after many uses with your pins... and you can get them at your local yarn store)
  • towels (nice big ones)
  • spray bottle (depending on the method of blocking you choose to do)
  • blocking boards (also optional)
  • measuring tape
  • steam iron
blocking methods

ok you've got your tools, now what? well the fiber that you chose to knit with will determine the method you should block. why? because if you think about it, wool is sturdier and can handle a much stronger blocking, like a wet blocking, where as silk should never be wet blocked because it is so fragile when wet, and a spritz blocking would fare better...


so here's the dish. there are three basic ways to block wool garments:
  1. wet-blocking. this is achieved by pretty much soaking your garment in water. i use either the sink or the bathtub, depending on how large the project is. in this case, sweaters... well in the tub it goes! to press the water out of the fabric, gently squeeze the sweater. do not wring it.. as wool is fragile when wet, and you can damage your hard work! i like to roll it gently in a towel, and then step on it. change towels and then do it again if needed. you can get a lot of moisture out that way! then you'll pin your sweater to the proper dimensions (why you needed your measuring tape) and let it dry. you can pin it to a blocking board, or like me.. i just use a towel on the carpet..  because you totally soaked your sweater, this method takes the longest to dry.. usually a couple of days. 
  2. steam-blocking. what you'll do here is pin your garment out to the desired size and shape wrong side up, then grab a pillowcase that you've made damp. set that on top of your knitting. then using a hot iron, on a steam setting.. gently press down on the pillowcase, forcing steam out. continue to do so until your pillow case is dry.
  3. spritz-blocking. this is best for fine-gauge wools. pin your beauty out to the desired dimensions, then using your spray bottle, spritz it until it's damp.. but not soaking.

ok. you've got it wet....now what?!

just make sure you've got your pins ready, and your measuring tape. you now want to pin your sweater to the size that you've been knitting it to. i use a towel on the carpet, and pin it to that. some people also like to put down a garbage bag, it's really up to you.. you just want to have your knitting pinned to the right measurements, and then left alone. remember, if you've fully soaked your sweater (wet blocking) this will take the longest to dry... a couple of days, probably. I also like to grab a fan and just have it blowing on the sweater. i check it every once in a while too... just to make sure it's drying evenly.

got it? easy peasy! now want to know which method will suit your lovely sweater best? look no further, dear friends! i have found the most helpful and wonderful article on knitty.com. it's great! it goes into wonderful detail on which blocking method is best for which fiber you have knitted with. fibers touched on here include linen, cotton, silk, wool, cashmere, merino, alpaca, mohair, 100% human-made fibers, and blends. there's a great chance that the fiber you've knitted your awesome sweater with has been covered in blocking techniques, so go on over and take a peek.

click here for more info on blocking! and once you've blocked your lovelies, wear with pride! congrats!  thanks soo much shannon, for having me here as your guest! and thanks so much for hosting this kal! i had a blast, and can not wait until the next one!

thanks for helping us out rebecca! you rock girl!  i'll be blocking my new sweater today...cross your fingers for me peeps!  

 you can find all things rebecca (nook) here:



here's to the last week of the KAL ladies! i cannot wait to see all of your sweaters next week!  we've got some awesome prizes for you guys to win so make sure to enter your pics to the luvinthemommyhood flickr group with the tag "KAL" to be eligible for prizes.  

*all conversations about the KAL can be found in our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group thread here.  you can find all the previous KAL posts here.  it's never too late to join in!  you can also friend me on ravlery.com under luvinthemommyhooddon't forget to email me if you blog about your KAL project, i love seeing how yours is going.


and don't forget to show our lovely summer sweater knit along sponsors some love!!

the lovely elisa is offering luvinthemommyhood readers 20% off in her gorgeous shop!! use code LTMH2011 at the checkout of her etsy shop.

Summer Sweater Knit Along - a postponement of sorts


we're almost there ladies!  the finish line is so close!!!!  it was originally going to be this week but after many emails and chats with you ladies i've decided to postpone the grand finale for 2 weeks.  so sept 14th let the prizes roll!  if you are done your KAL sweater make sure to get your pic uploaded to the luvinthemommyhood flickr page with the tag "KAL" so we can all see your lovelies and you are entered in to win one of the fab prizes!  then we will take a 2 week break and start up the next kal.  i'll be doing a post then to gear up for it where we can chat and vote on the theme and project ideas :)


here's my kal so far.  the dreaded border is all done.  phew...what an ordeal that was.  the neck/collar and front uppers were easy, it was the bottom sides that tricked me a bit.  still not sure if one side is correct but it's too late now :)  i've just got most of the last sleeve to finish.  silly thing is i picked up my sleeve stitches on the wrong side and now i have to purl every row!  i had already done it all when i realized what happened and i have to tell you after ripping out so many times with the border that i just want to get this puppy done.  this oopsie was all this tired momma's fault though.  so a purling i will go :)  let's just hope when it's done that it looks like this and not like a big heavy blanket on me...lol.

i still wish i had been able to afford to use the madeline tosh (mental note to splurge & do next garment with this).  the fabric is just so lovely.  i'm not sure mine is going to drape as nicely but here's hoping the magic of blocking will help those lovely stitches hang all nice and flowy.  i know blocking can be a scary thing for some so next week i'll be having a guest come on and give us all a little how to post on the behind the scenes business of blocking.  i can't wait...i definitely can use some help!  i've only ever blocked baby sweaters so i need some tips to do this one the right way.

Source: etsy.com via clare on Pinterest

so for now i'm gonna keep on knitting and try really hard not to get distracted by this lovely (a gift for a pal of mine) that i couldn't resist casting on for.........any guesses which pattern it is??



what do you think?  do you like it so far?  how are your guys sweaters coming along?  are you a blocking pro with tips to share?  did you make the effortless cardigan? 

and don't forget to show our lovely summer sweater knit along sponsors some love!!

the lovely elisaluvinthemommyhood readers 20% off in her gorgeous shop!! use code LTMH2011 at the checkout of her etsy shop.

summer sweater knit along - picking up the stitches


we're almost at the finish line for the summer sweater knit along ladies.  i'm not happy about it though.  i'm sad for the kal to end.  i've been having so much fun that i think we need to do another one :)  i'm also sad because my sweater has gone from something i enjoyed working on to a pain in the ass!  man, oh man.  who would have thought.  i'm at the point now that i just want to "get it done".
via one yarn after another
i worked for hours and i mean hours on one small section of picking up stitches for my border only to realize after the 5th time ripping it out that maybe i needed some help..haha.  i took that bad boy to knit night and my fairy knitting godmother helped me out.  there is no stitch count to pick up for my pattern which is fine.  i had tried to do the old rule of thumb - 2 sts for every 3 rows but it wasn't enough.  the sweater was massively curling and pulling inwards.  so instead we took to measuring and separating the border in half, marking it, and then halving the half and marking it again.  so 4 quadrants were left.  each quadrant requires i pick up a certain amount of stitches.  but seriously, it took me the about 2 hours of my knit night time to only get 3/4 of the 66sts i needed picked up.  wtf!!!!!!!!!!!!    i then went home and stayed up way too late trying to get the other ones done only to realize the next day that i had to rip them out too.  i tell ya, i almost chucked that sweater in a ball in my closet to leave in the dark carnivorous corner of wip's that will never see the light of day again but then i thought of all of you, and how much i want this sweater to turn out and instead persevered.
cartoon by morgan obrien
i got a bit more help to finish the picking up of that side and got to work on my ribbing.  that part is fast for me thankfully.  i was thinking about it last night and realized i was supposed to go from one sleeve to the other but i was bored of the sleeve so i started on the border and now i think fate is testing me from straying from the pattern...lol.  maybe i should just do the other sleeve..haha, cause you know what, i started picking up the other bottom border last night and am already on #3 rip out.  i'm getting pretty irritated now.  my numbers are always off and i think i separated my quadrants badly due to my lack of sleep and working on it in the middle of the night.  so today i will be ripping back again and crossing my fingers it will be the last time especially because i still have the whole upper and neck part to still pick up.  oh my.  at least i can take comfort in the fact that i'm picking them up right...or so i hope...lol....
cartoon by the panopticon
the only thing keeping me sane while knitting is that my knitpick interchangeable needles came last week!!!!!!!!  can we say LOVE!  i'll post more on those later.  in the meantime i thought i would round up some great posts on picking up those pesky stitches just in case i'm not the only one suffering from the "picking up blues".

image via knitting to stay sane
- beyoned the basics: picking up stitches from knitting simple magazine 

- knitty.com on picking up stitches 

- the stitch diva studios shows a great tutorial on how to pick up stitches 

- one of my fave sites knittinghelp.com shows a video on how to pick em up. 

- knitting daily on picking up stitches for a cast-on or bound off edge.

- great post from the crazy knitting lady with lots of pics.

- you could also find a gazillion helpful videos on youtube.com.  there are way too many for me to list here :)

cartoon via connie martin
so hopefully between these posts, knitting buddies, our ravelry group, the blog & fb we can all work out any issues we have with finishing.  it was also brought to my attention that a lot of you would like me to extend the deadline.  i'm open to that, and no, not just because i'm not done :P  the point of the kal was to get you all knitting so if enough of you all want the deadline moved then we can for sure do that.  if you would like to see that happen leave me a comment and let me know.  in the meantime, pick up your sticks and let's get clicking.  i can't wait to wear this bad boy.

are you stuck on a part of your summer sweater knit along project?  are you picking up stitches now?  have any tips or questions?  let's chat yarnies!

*all conversations about the KAL can be found in our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group thread here.  you can find all the previous KAL posts here.  it's never too late to join in!  you can also friend me on ravlery.com under luvinthemommyhooddon't forget to email me if you blog about your KAL project, i love seeing how yours is going.


and don't forget to show our lovely summer sweater knit along sponsors some love!!

the lovely elisa is offering luvinthemommyhood readers 20% off in her gorgeous shop!! use code LTMH2011 at the checkout of her etsy shop.

SUMMER SWEATER KNIT ALONG - KNITTING IS BETTER WITH FRIENDS


knitting is almost always better with friends.  the more the merrier.  even one can be way more fun!  

i heart my knitting group.  i count down the days of the week until it's saturday.  a few hours with good friends, yummy coffee and my knittng?  helloooo....and the hubby has to ask me why i get so excited? love it.  it's like therapy for me now.  a stress release and a feeling of companionship being able to chat with other mommies who are also as equally obsessed with crafty things as i am.  heck there's even books and movies made solely about knit nights.  women have been doing it for ages.  we can't be that nutso right???!

a good knit night can be hard to find though.  especially if you are new to where you are living. it took me a few years of living here to find one and that was only because a friend i decided to start one & it grew from there.  all of the ones i found in my city didn't work with my hubbies schedule and i had gotten to the point of giving up.  so i thought it only fitting to do a little post on how and where to find a knit night in your town.


i think the first place i always look is on www.ravelry.com.  you can find groups on there no problem.  if you click on groups on your main menu bar when logged in the above screen will come up (the pic above will be on the right side) and you can search for groups who meet in person and who are online.  search by place, craft etc...

next up is to ask your local yarn shops.  a lot of shops offer knit nights in their stores.  i found that the times of these meetups were often inconvenient for me with children as they were during the day a lot but that could work perfect for you.  even though your local shop may not have a knit night i'm betting they know of someone who does that they can refer you to.

don't forget to check your local classifieds or coffee shops a lot of groups post info about their meetups locally and will advertise in these places.

start your own.  get one friend or 2 or three and start from there.  you'll be amazed at how fast it will grow by word of mouth and through the natural networking of people.

think outside of the box.  you can have knit nights in a coffeeshop, restaurant, yarn shop, each others homes, online...heck one of our kal participants suggested a skype knit along.  how fun is that idea!  get creative, there's a group out there for you or one just waiting to be made :)  you won't regret it.  the best friendships can be made over coffee and yarn.  it's a great way to get inspired, stay on track with your wip's and to get help when you're stumped.  the brain break from crying kids always helps too :P

so get knitting with some friends.  you can find a group (or start one) i know you can and just in case you can't find anything take comfort knowing that there will always be a friend to chat knitting with in our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group come join!  the knit along's will hopefully be year round & there's always a bit of chitter chatter.  everyone is welcome :)

are you in a knitting group?  how did you find/start yours?  are you looking for a knitting group to join?  how's your KAL project coming along?  happy knitting ladies :)

*all conversations about the KAL can be found in our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group thread here.  you can find all the previous KAL posts here.  it's never too late to join in!  you can also friend me on ravlery.com under luvinthemommyhooddon't forget to email me if you blog about your KAL project, i love seeing how yours is going.

and don't forget to show our lovely summer sweater knit along sponsors some love!!

the lovely elisa is offering all luvinthemommyhood readers 20% off in her gorgeous shop!! use code LTMH2011 at the checkout of her etsy shop.

SUMMER SWEATER KNIT ALONG - YARN SHOP HOP ROUNDUP!


it's time for the yarn shop hop ladies!  you asked and i rounded them up.  so without further ado here's the listing of your fave go to places to buy your yarn of choice:

// FAVE ONLINE

- Ravelry.  the secret source.  after reading about this from buffy i just about squealed.  ever since then i've been scouring for yarn on there.  so fun & a great stash buster!

- Little Knits.  sales and discounts galore here but you have to check back in often and goodies sell out fast.

- Etsy.  tons of hand dyed scrumptious goodness to be found here.  even some of the yarn makers them selves have etsy shops where they sell their goodies.  but be forewarned...they sell out really quick.
           *fave etsy shops: Madeline Tosh, The Plucky Knitter,  The Amy Lee Show, Friends in Fiber
and GRABstuff Creations
 
- Knitpicks - Purl Soho  - Eat Sleep Knit  - Loopy Ewe  - Elann  - Patternworks  - Webs  - Fabric.com  - DBNY.com  - Doodlebugyarn  - The Sanguine Gryphon  - Jimmy Beans Wool  - Spinning Loft  - Into the Whirled  -  Dizzy Sheep  - Loopy Yarn - Yarn Country  - Meridian Jacobs  - Dizzy Sheep   - Plum Project Studio

// FAVE BRICK & MORTAR

Muse - Yarns, Arts & Inspiration (St. Helena, CA)

Purl Soho (New York, NY)

The Button & Needlework Boutique (Victoria, BC)

Beehive Wool Shop (Victoria, BC)

Boutique De Laine (Victoria, BC)

Knotty By Nature (Victoria, BC)

Romni Wools (Toronto, ON)

The Knitting Room (Calgary, AB)

Twisted Yarns (Spring, TX)

Fiber Gallery (Seattle, WA)

A Grand Skein (Grand Rapids, MI)

Loopy Yarns (Chicago, IL)

Habu Textiles (New York, NY)

In Stitches (Deer Park, WA)

A Grand Yarn (Spokane, WA)

Sew EZ Too (Spokane, WA)

Your local thrift shop.

Fibre Space (Alexandria, VA)

Sew What (Redding, CA)

Wooly Ewe (Plano, TX)

Bendigo Woollen Mills  (Bendigo, VIC Australia)

Good Yarn (Baltimore, MA)

Lovely Yarns (Baltimore, MA)

Cloverhill Yarn (Baltimore, MA)

Knitting by the Sea, (Carmel, CA)

Cast Away Yarn Shop, (Santa Rosa, CA)

let me just tell you that my knitting wish list tripled in size just linking these up! wowsa! lots of gorgeous selections to choose from!  so pretty!  i also couldn't resist sharing my friend rebecca's finished KAL project.  i was lucky enough to get to take the pics for her and i think they turned out so pretty as did her gorgeous sweater.  you can find more of rebecca on her blog "nook", facebook, pinterest and on her ravelry page here.

pattern: caramel by isabell kraemer
needle: 3.75mm/us5
yarn: sirdar country style dk.

did i miss your fave?  leave your favorite online and brick/mortar yarn shops below and i'll add them to the list!  how's your summer sweater knit along project coming along?  happy knitting! 

*all conversations about the KAL can be found in our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group thread here.  you can find all the previous KAL posts here.  it's never too late to join in!  you can also friend me on ravlery.com under luvinthemommyhooddon't forget to email me if you blog about your KAL project, i love seeing how yours is going.


and don't forget to show our lovely summer sweater knit along sponsors some love!!


the lovely elisa is offering all luvinthemommyhood readers 20% off in her gorgeous shop!! use code LTMH2011 at the checkout of her etsy shop.

summer sweater knit along - the needles are on fire!

yes, i am that loser who poses like this :P
the needles are on fire ladies!  well, not really on fire, but hot anyways!  i got a fair bit of knitting done (for me anyways) on my summer sweater knit along project being sick and stuck in bed and i thought i would show you some pics of my progress.  not bad right?  i adore the color and the sizing is good...i think..lol.  you see, another reason my needles are hot, hot, hot are that the lovely and oh so sweet jane richmond, who i have the absolute pleasure of being friends with, lent me her knit pick interchangeables to use!!!!!!!!!  can we say cowabunga!!!  my knitting speed improved ten fold...not kidding.  what a difference.  huge thank you to jane!!!

Ohhhhhhh, does it match my eyes....lol!
i've been planning on buying my own set of interchangeables this year and i am now officially sold on the knit pick interchangeables (nickel) set and hope to order mine at the end of the month.  i asked around a lot and got info from a ton of helpful people about what their fave interchangeable set was and knit picks was the top "affordable" line to go with.  i heard a lot of mention of the addi turbos but i can't afford those so i didn't even look at them.

pattern: effortless cardigan by hannah fettig
yarn:  berroco vintage dk in color 2194

i tortured the hubs and made him take more pics of me again..the poor guy, two times in one week!  he hates doing it & we really don't see eye to eye when it comes to photographing me.  i wish i could easily tell him what i visualize in my head but no matter what i do we just butt heads..lol.  oh well, these will at least show ya what the sweater is looking like so far.

me smiling when really i am hissing to him "just take the mother f'in picture" as he kept taking close up shots of my cleavage...ahhhh men.  gotta love them!
you can't really tell how nicely the front is draping cause the length of the needle isn't long enough for me to fully let it go.  i'm saving that for knit night when i can use jane's super fab extender (yes, knit picks rocks like that) and i can fully put it on.  i could have put it on some spare yarn but i didn't cause i'm lazy like that :P  and no, that's not some random pulled yarn sticking out of my sweater, i'm also just one of those weird people who doesn't have stitch markers and uses bits of yarn here and there.  i know, so boring of me right?  i think i really need to up my knitting accessory stash.  my sewing one way outnumbers my knitting one now and i think my knitting accessories need some excitement in their lives :P



for those of you who may not know what circular interchangeables are they are simply a set of needle tips that come with different length "cords" that you twist on to your tips.  the fun thing is you can get all sorts of accessories and can add cords to the one you are using to make it long enough to always fully try on your garment.  they are fast to knit with, smooth and so light! i still can't get over them!  i cannot wait to get a set of my own.  i swear i have been dreaming about them at night....sad, but true. 


are you wishing for a set of interchangeables?  what's your fave brand and style to use?  what do you knit with that sets your needles on fire?  how's your KAL project coming along ladies? and don't forget to get your answers in for our "yarn shop hop" & tell your friends too!  i decided to extend it for another week.

*all conversations about the KAL can be found in our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group thread here.  you can find all the previous KAL posts here.  it's never too late to join in!  you can also friend me on ravlery.com under luvinthemommyhooddon't forget to email me if you blog about your KAL project, i love seeing how yours is going.

and don't forget to show our lovely summer sweater knit along sponsors some love!!

the lovely elisa is offering all luvinthemommyhood readers 20% off in her gorgeous shop!! use code LTMH2011 at the checkout of her etsy shop.

summer sweater knit along - yarn shop hop!


 so we've had a post on choosing your yarns but what about buying them?  if any of you are like me yarn shopping is super fun but it can also be intimidating.  depending on the environment, the staff, the ambiance and of course the price all these things can affect what and how you choose your yarn.

in our ravelry group thread for the summer sweater knit along we've been discussing what our fave online shops are for picking up lovely & yummy yarns for great prices so we decided a fun post would be in order so we can all weigh in on our faves!

so my questions to all you folks are......

1)  what is your favorite online yarn shop to buy from?


2) do you buy from large online retailers or small etsy shops?


3) do you prefer to buy online or in a brick/mortar shop?


4) what is your favorite brick/mortar shop to splurge in?


5) where is your go to place for super deals on scrumptious yarns?

Source: etsy.com via bprinz on Pinterest

i was going to do a poll up but it didn't work right for the questions so i thought you guys could leave me a comment answering the questions you would like to and i'll lovingly compile them all into a great post next week with resources for all our fave places to feed our habit :P


on a separate note i couldn't resist showing you all one of the first completed sweaters from our summer sweater knit along.  this one comes from the talented knitter & sewer - sandra from the blog three pumkins little.  you can see her post on her KAL project here and find her ravelry page here.  the sweater pattern she did was the gorgeous "narrangasett" by designer thea colman.  don't you think she did a fabulous job! so stunning!  i'm so in love with all the warm and cozy tones in her pics as well.  fabulous job sandra!  she's already on her 2nd sweater for the KAL! you go girl!

i don't know about you ladies but i'm always up for finding a new yarn shop...so let's get hopping and let's get shopping!!  

*all conversations about the KAL can be found in our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group thread here.  you can find all the previous KAL posts here.  it's never too late to join in!  you can also friend me on ravlery.com under luvinthemommyhooddon't forget to email me if you blog about your KAL project, i love seeing how yours is going.

and don't forget to show our lovely summer sweater knit along sponsors some love!!

the lovely elisa is offering all luvinthemommyhood readers 20% off in her gorgeous shop!! use code LTMH2011 at the checkout of her etsy shop.

Summer Sweater Knit Along - sea of turquoise


i'm starting to feel like i'm swimming in a lovely sea of turquoise.  the waves, rolls and crescent falls of my cardi are so soothing.  do you see it or have i just got to the point of sleep deprivation and stress that the laundry piles and other inanimate objects in my house have metamorphosized into more soothing and peaceful images as a survival tactic???



i'm super excited that i've gotten as far as i have.  this is my very first adult women's sweater after all.  it's been a fun journey so far and the best part has been sharing it with all of you.  i love seeing you ladies all chatting along in our ravelry group!  does my heart good!  go knitters go!


i tried my cardigan on during knit night on saturday and voila - it fits!!!!!!!!  hallelujah!  i was scared.  i kept having nightmares about my gauge being off and it was really freaking me out.  i cannot explain how good it felt to put it on and it not be gargantuan or minuscule.  it was a huge relief.  i'm also really liking the fabric i'm getting - the drape seems really nice.  fyi - i'm knitting mine with berroco vintage dk and love how soft it is!


while i've been trucking along on my "effortless cardigan" (love this pattern btw) some of you ladies have finished your sweaters already!  wowsa!  huge shout out's to those peeps who are going to be moving onto summer sweater #2 cause you're having so much fun!  i've been trying to squeeze my knitting in between all the sewing & blogging i've got going on which pretty much leaves me car time.  when i'm waiting in the car for even a few minutes i whip out the knitting.  i try to do a row every night before bed (doesn't always happen) and then i try to knit my brains out at knit night..lol.  i think it would be bad if the host of the KAL doesn't finish her sweater in time so I better get my butt in gear.


i've found the discussions of doing stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl the next) really fun in the ravelry thread.  there's been some chat of whether or not just straight stockinette is boring (and if so, how to beat the bores) or if it's relaxing and soothing.  i think i'm in the middle, leaning towards boring but trying to sway happily in between the two.  i like the knitting, i just hate the purl rows.  can't stand the purl rows.  i get excited when it's a knit row so that's something.  i'm used to cable knitting, lace knitting or even ribbing so a project just made of stockinette is something totally new for me. 



what i do love about it is the ease of being able to work on it.  i can do it on the beach, in the car, with the kids, while chatting at knit night and not worry about making boo boo's (well...most of the time..haha).  it is soothing in that way but when i can pay attention i miss the patterns, it almost feels like drawing with yarn to me sometimes.  the design that comes with the movement of stitches is so fun!  i think this pattern is interesting to me because i've never made a seamless top down sweater before so the construction part of this sweater is what has me amazed and intrigued :)

which side of the boat are you on - boring or exciting?  or are you floating in the middle with your life jacket on like me??  c'mon...let's chat knitting!  my hump day could use some excitement (tee hee i used the word hump..lol) or as my mom used to say "ssdd" - same sh*t different day.  i love that one.  it sums up my "mommy" week just perfectly.  sometimes i feel like the days are all the same and meld together.  any of you got that going on too? 

*all conversations about the KAL can be found in our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group thread here.  you can find all the previous KAL posts here.  it's never too late to join in!  you can also friend me on ravlery.com under luvinthemommyhooddon't forget to email me if you blog about your KAL project, i love seeing how yours is going.

a big thank you to all our summer sweater knit along sponsors!!!

the lovely elisa is offering all luvinthemommyhood readers 20% off in her gorgeous shop!! use code LTMH2011 at the checkout of her etsy shop.

SUMMER SWEATER KNIT ALONG || WHERE MY STITCHES AT?


ahhhhh stitches.  what would knitting be without our stitches and our friends of course :)  i know, i know we've got the basics knit and purl.  the good ol standby's but what do you use to add some pizazz to those two lovely loops?  how do you decrease and increase?  how do you add some textures?  well...they come from stitches.  we all have our faves and we all have our hates.  let's go over some of the common ones.

SOURCE: DOTTIE ANGEL
i'll be referring as i go throughout this post to one of my fave knitting sites for help - knittinghelp.com for good diagrams and videos for more info you can get to teach and learn stitches.  but you can also find lots of great help online on knitty.com, ravelry.com, youtube.com and many, many others.
 
// INCREASES

M1L and M1R - make 1 left and make 1 right, the cleanest of the increases but also, to some folks, the most annoying.  me especially.  i have a love/hate relationship with M1L.  i just can't seem to ever remember it when i have to do both and i mix them up horribly.  so under the guidance of my knitting group i decided to just do all the increases in my pattern i'm making as M1R.  it may not be as 100% perfect looking but it's close enough and it's way more relaxing for me to just knit now.  i'm not constantly looking down at my notes to make sure i'm doing the right one.  this increase is done by knitting the bar between the two stitches to make a new stitch.  the difference between the two is from which direction you insert your needle and from which side of your work you knit on. 

KFB -  knit through front and back. this sneaky little increase can also be called a bar increase or can be abbreviated as K1F&B.  a simple increase that is used often.  you simply knit a stitch and then instead of slipping it off the needle you knit another stitch into the back loop of it.  not too hard right?

YO - yarn over...ahhh, the good ol' standby.  this is the easiest, simplest and most basic of the increases but it also will leave you with a little hole saying hello!  so don't use this increase if you want your increases to be as unnoticeable as possible.  this is a great increase if you are using the holes as a pretty detail and it's very commonly used in lace knitting!  love!  yarn over is simply what it says it is...you yarn over.  instead of placing your needle into the next stitch to knit you simply wrap your yarn over the working needle knit wise and then continue knitting as normal.  that's it!

M1 -  there are a few versions of this but i find elizabeth zimmerman's my fave and the simplest.  it simply involves making a backwards loop on your right hand needle and when you get to that "fake stitch" on the next row  just treat it as any normal stitch.  oh, elizabeth how i love thee :)

there are other increases that can be used as well.  you can see some of them and their videos here.  i chose the ones above as they are my faves and the ones i most commonly use.

K2tog & K2togtbl - knit two together (right slanting) and knit two together through back loop (left slanting) are 2 of the most popular decreases.  their ease of use is one of the reasons they are so very popular.  this stitch simply involves inserting your needle into 2 stitches instead of 1 and knitting them together thus decreasing 1 stitch.  easy right?  the k2togbl is the same basic idea of k2tog but instead of inserting your needle as you normally would to knit you insert your needle through the back loops and then knit. (these can both also be done purl wise)

SSK - slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together is another popular left slanting way to decrease.  this one happens to be my fave.  not sure why i just like it.  there's something a bit fun about slipping stitches to the next needle that makes me feel a bit daring..haha. this decrease is a bit self explanatory but just in case i'll send you here to learn how.

SK2P -  slip one knit two together pass slipped stitch over is one of my fave double decreases and i find it lots of fun to do.  again, it's one of those stitches that's very daring in a weird way.  i have a thing for anything out of the ordinary when it comes to knitting.  i like to break up the flow of just straight knitting sometimes :) 

again there other ways of decreasing and to see some more common ones and their videos click here.

// PUTTING IT TOGETHER

stockinette stitch (aka stocking stitch) - knit one row, purl the next.  a little mix of this and a little mix of that :)

garter stitch - knit every row.  can't get easier than this!

seed stitch (aka moss stitch) - Row 1: knit 1, purl 1.  Row 2: purl 1, knit 1.  then you just repeat those 2 rows.  i like it :)

ribbing - a commonly used technique that draws the fabric in and gives a fun texture and definition.  this is used a ton on cuffs and edges of garments.  it's most commonly done by doing the following: Row 1: knit 2, purl 2. Row 2: purl 2, knit 2.  again repeating these 2 rows.  the number of the stitches can be used in any denomination you would like to achieve the look you want.  so for instance you could do a combo of k3 p2 or k3, p3. 

// DECORATIVE STITCHES 

cable knitting - this is my absolute fave! i love it!  i get a kick out of cable knitting.  it's like a fun surprise just waiting to happen when you're knitting.  there is something so exciting about doing the cable knit row that i just can't wait for the next one.  cable knitting is simply crossing one group of stitches over another in a particular direction or denomination.  you use a nifty little notion called a cable needle you slip a few stitches on it and either hold them to the front or back of your knitting while you keep going along to the next stitches and then the fun part is you bring the stitches on your cable needle back out and let them join the party by knitting from your cable needle.  this allows your stitches to be twisted (cabled) and raised above the rest of your knitting.  it sounds way more complicated than it is and it's very addictive for those of you looking for a bit more of a challenge then a basic knit / purl sweater.  here's a great explanation of cable knitting that will give you a better idea of what i'm rambling on about..lol.

you can find some more decorative stitches like bobbles and such at the bottom of this link.

so...you feeling inspired?  did you learn a new stitch?  do you have a fave that you love?  which stitch do you love to hate?  how's your KAL going?  let's talk knitting ladies!

*all conversations about the KAL can be found in our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group thread here.  you can find all the previous KAL posts here.  it's never too late to join in!  you can also friend me on ravlery.com under luvinthemommyhood.

a big thank you to all our summer sweater knit along sponsors!!!


the lovely elisa is offering all luvinthemommyhood readers 20% off in her gorgeous shop!! use code LTMH2011 at the checkout of her etsy shop.

Summer Sweater Knit Along - Got Gauge? (and what the heck it is)


today is the day folks! time for the summer sweater knit along!! yippee! i haven't been this excited to start a knitting project in years! i hope mine turns out :) one way i'm going to do my best is to make sure to gauge & swatch my little heart out. 

22 stitches x 28 rows = 4" (10cm)

what's a gauge & how do i get it you ask? well.....gauge is that nifty line of writing on a knitting pattern that tells you how many stitches and rows should equal an inch so that when you choose your yarn and needle size you get the correct look of that pretty pattern you chose.  it also calculates for you how many stitches you should have per inch.  i mean seriously, you know those funny pics of sweaters with arms 4 times too long?  gauge issue.  the neck hole could fit 10 men?  gauge issue.   giant hats?  gauge issue. gauge is annoying, it takes time to make that you would rather spend working on your fab new project but trust me...if i can teach you one thing about knitting it is to always, always, always do a gauge swatch, especially if it's clothing you are making.


how do you figure out what your gauge is?  first, check your pattern.  it will be listed near the start along with the yarn choices etc.  you should also pay careful attention to the yarn choice & suggested needle size to achieve the gauge listed as well as what kind of fiber it is as this will also aid you in getting correct gauge.  next step, choose your yarn.  if you need help with this step check out our post from last week on choosing yarn.  when choosing your yarn that nifty ball will have a label on it with the recommended gauge.  sometimes the stars align and the gauge matches perfectly to your pattern - that's a good thing but it's not an exact science.  you could be a loose or tight knitter and have to adjust.  so what you do is go on home, get out the needles size suggested for your yarn and do up a swatch.  do as many as it takes to get gauge.


how do you find out if you've got gauge?  i recommend knitting at least a 6-8" square.  boring right?  i know, but it will be more fun when you get going on your pattern.  the reason to make a bigger square than the gauge calls for is you need to have room to measure in the center of your square for gauge - not the edges. make sure to cast on extra stitches than the gauge calls for.  so for instance if the gauge says 22sts (abbreviation for stitches) cast on 28.  same goes with the amount of rows.  if the gauge states 28 rows do 34.  when knitting your rows always knit the first and last 3 stitches and knit the first 3 rows and the last 3 rows.  this will give you a pretty border that makes it easier to measure your gauge. make sure you do as i say not as i do...lol...i was too lazy to make a border on mine because i feel comfy measuring it without the border but it is easier to make the swatch with one if you are just starting out knitting. *tip - if you've used the yarn before but this time you're using a different colorway do a gauge again.  different dyes can affect how your gauge will turn out.


how do you whip up your swatch? there are a lot of different ways to make a gauge swatch but the most common is to use stockinette stitch.  stockinette stitch is knitting one row and then purling the next.  be aware though that some patterns call for how to make your gauge swatch.  they will ask for you to test your gauge using the pattern instead of the garter stitch.  check some of the links i've listed below for many other ways of knitting your gauge swatch.

how do i measure the darn thing?  now that you are done your swatch it's time to measure that puppy.  you can either use a nifty little crafting ruler or you can use a gauge ruler (not sure if this is the right word..lol).  some of these may or may not have a window along the ruler with a red plastic attachment that you can slide along the ruler to mark the start of where you want to start counting your gauge.  it's very handy!  but before you put the ruler down and measure you should take care to get your swatch ready.  make sure it's not stretched.  you need the swatch to accurately reflect the pattern.  i like to pin mine down to my ironing board so it doesn't move and then measure.  depending on what kind of yarn you are using and how die hard you are you can block your swatch too (more on this later in the kal).


now i am by no means an expert.  don't judge..haha.  this is just my layman's terms way of explaining gauge.  just pretend you were sitting down next to me at knit night sipping coffee, laughing and listening to the band and you said "hey shannon, how and what the heck is a gauge and why do you do it?"  i would prolly tell you what i wrote above and then preached to you about how much i hate doing it (with some swear words thrown in) but how important it is to do it especially if you have a tendency to be a loose or tight knitter. my tension changes based on needles too.  if i'm on circular or dpn's my knitting tension is way different than if i was on straights.  or you can be lucky like my pal amy.  she never gauges but it always turns out perfect.  i think she has some weird knitting gift...haha.  i, on the other hand, am not so lucky.  the knitting gods did not bestow that gift upon me dang it.

so in order to help me make this whole gauge thing a whole heckuva lot more easier to understand here's some very helpful and informative posts all on our favorite friend (not..haha) gauge!

*great post on gauge and how to measure it on fuzzy galore.
*knitty.com has a funny and oh, so helpful article on gauge.
*knitpicks also has a handy post all about gauge.
*yarn&fiber has a post on yarn weight and also one on needle conversions.
*i learned a lot from this post on twist collective.
*yarnforward has a knitting tensions/gauge that's great.

i also recommend doing a google search for anything else you just don't get.  there are also super nice forums and communities you chat in and ask tons of questions on ravelry.com.  you can also ask away in our summer sweater knit along ravelry group thread.  also if you are a visual learner like me check out youtube for lots and i mean lots of videos on all sorts of knitting stuff and making gauge and swatches.  tons on there.  one of my fave knitting sites to go to for help has also always been knittinghelp.com  check them out too.

i hope you guys are ready for some knitting fun!!!!  bring on the sunshine and bring on some knitting!  make sure to follow along in our ravelry group to stay up to date on the kal and also here on the blog.  you can click on this link to bring up only KAL posts so it's easier to read.  i'm also super excited to announce our sponsors for the summer sweater knit along!!!!!! that's right...you talented gals are gonna get some loot and gifties from some of my fave knitting designers and shops!!!   i'll be announcing all the prizes later on during the KAL.  i'm sooo bummed i can't win :P

a giant thank you to all of our summer sweater knit along sponsors for joining in on the fun and helping to support knitting in the hot months. you guys rock and i appreciate all the support!  here they are.....drum roll please......

summer sweater knit along sponsors!!!


the lovely elisa is offering all luvinthemommyhood readers 20% off in her gorgeous shop!! use code LTMH2011 at the checkout of her etsy shop.



 wowsa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how's that for goodies ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  happy knitting!!!  make sure to add any pics you'd like of your KAL to our ravelry group and also to our flickr group. i may just show off your goodies on the blog!

do you have any tips or resources you'd like to share on gauge and knitting swatches?  i'd love to hear about them and add them to this post!  have you started your gauge yet?  

Summer Sweater Knit Along - Choosing Yarn Stress Free

Source: flickr.com
 choosing yarns can be fun, exciting & thrilling, but it can also be scary, confusing and overwhelming.  i have gotten a few questions from you guys about yarn choices and such for your projects for the summer sweater knit along.  heck, i even had a ton of questions about yarn choices for my project.  it was a tricky one.  i had to bring the pattern to knit night to get the advice and wisdom of some of my fellow knitters.

since you all can't come to my knit night (i wish you could, wouldn't that be a riot!) i figured what better way to give us all an inside look into our yarn choices than having my pal buffy from passionate design, who is a die hard knitter over to luvinthemommyhood to help take the mystery and fear out of yarn picking and put back the allure and joy into it.  we spend a lot of money on our yarn and it can almost always make or break a garment so choose wisely and be smart about it but most importantly have fun with it!

let's hear from buffy...

Help for the Yarn Challenged by Buffy of www.passionatedesign.blogspot.com

You’re at your local yarn shop and while being surrounded by all that yummy yarn goodness creates some semblance of peace within you it also makes you feel overwhelmed. You’ve made the decision to knit a sweater and yet all the options for what you could knit it with makes your head spin. Just then a vibrant and outgoing woman comes in and she’s wearing a hand knit sweater and instantly the shop owner comments on it along with all the other customers. You shrink back just a little in amazement of her abilities.

Yet you overhear her talking about getting yarn for another sweater. She says that the yarn for the pattern she wants has been discontinued but since she rarely uses the yarn specified it doesn’t make her nervous. Then suddenly she’s quiet and you peek out from behind the display of Cascade 220 to see that she isn’t feeling the yarn like you usually do, but is reading the ball band. Some yarn she puts back without really touching the yarn and others she rubs up against her cheek and forearms.
She’s still perusing yarn when you check out, an armful of Cascade 220 in your arms because it is your go-to yarn and you picked out a bright yellow just to be a little different.

Does this scene sound familiar to you? Do you go yarn shopping only to come out with what you always buy? Maybe there isn’t a local yarn shop in your town and you have to get yours online. However, if you’ve ever despaired of finding the perfect yarn for a project despair no longer. What you need is just a few pointers about the fibers that we love and what makes them great for projects. I’ll let you in on what I’ve learned while knitting and watching others knit so that we can learn from each other. I am by no means an expert, but a knitting friend willing to share my little knowledge with you.

First you have to know that there are a variety of fiber types. You have your man made synthetics, nylon, rayon, acrylic and the like. Next are plant based, cotton, hemp, linen, bamboo and finally the knitters staple fiber animal based, sheep’s wool, alpaca, angora, cashmere. While many yarns are a blend of fibers, you need a basic understanding of each fiber’s characteristic and then those ball bands won’t be so baffling.

image via yogurtandgranola

Let’s start with the standard go to fiber, sheep’s wool. This is Cascade 220 or Knit Picks Wool of the Andes and it is great for layering sweaters, highly patterned sweaters, cables, and color work. Wool is elastic so you won’t have to worry about the weight of your sweater bringing the hem down to your knees. Also, wool is a water repellent. Most wool can hold up to 50% of their weight in water without feeling wet. This is why they are great for cloth diaper cover ups and if you live in a cold and wet area. Also, wool breathes which is great if you easily overheat. However, wool can be scratchy and also not everyone can wear wool. Plus wool can felt which means you’ll have to wash it by hand and dry flat. If you’re prone to laundry blunders you might want to rethink wool.

Of course sheep’s wool is not the only animal wool, there is alpaca, angora, cashmere, bison, yak…so many choices. I haven’t had as much experience with these yarns but there are a few things to watch for in these yarns. One, you’ll be drawn to them like a moth to a flame because of their super softness. For as soft as they are they are also that warm. You need not fear if the yarn will be next to your skin because of all animal based wool they are among the least scratchy. However, unlike sheep’s wool they aren’t very elastic and they will over time turn a tunic into a dressing gown. These yarns are for the most part best in blends, as they need a bit more stability and can shed really bad. You can combat the growing nature of these yarns by knitting with a needle one sized smaller so that your fabric is denser or knit one size smaller than normal to accommodate your yarns penchant for growth.

Source: flickr.com

Next up are our favorite plant based yarns. Sadly there are knitters among us who are allergic to wool also not every knitter is blessed to live in a cold region and wool is just too hot so they have to turn to plant based yarns for their knitting. Cotton is a great yarn. It is cool to the skin, breathes and for the most part easy to care for. However, cotton and many plant based fibers are hard on the fingers when you knit with it, also it has absolutely no elasticity so your sweater will grow. Cotton is also not water-repellent--if you get caught in the rain in a cotton sweater you will be very cold once you get home. Mercerized cotton describes the treatment that the cotton received. Mercerization is a process that they put the cotton through, it makes the cotton slightly softer and very shiny (you’ll have to google the process sometime, fascinating).

Linen is probably the best plant based fiber out there. It is super sturdy and can take the brunt of raising kids. However, it is one of the hardest fibers to knit with and it too does not have any elasticity. Yet once you’ve knit it up if you are diligent with your blocking you will have the softest sweaters ever, and linen will remain strong even though each time you wash it the sweater will grow softer.

Bamboo, Sugar Cane, Soy fibers are also plant based; however unlike cotton and linen they are very soft and easy to work with. They share the similar characteristics of plant based fibers (ie inelasticity and non water repelling) without sacrificing our fingers for knitting. If you have to knit with plant based fibers I highly suggest blends. They will help your fingers and you’ll get amazing drape too. One last thing about plant-based fibers is that while many manufacturers will say that they are to be dried flat, you can from time to time toss them in the dryer to help combat the growth you will get. However, don’t toss it in the dryer if you are unable to commit to watching it, you’ll have to check on it frequently just to make sure your sweater doesn’t shrink to fit your five year old ;)

The last of our yarn choices are synthetic fibers. While there is nothing inherently wrong with synthetics they have quite a few drawbacks. One, they don’t breathe and you will swelter in them. Two, the fibers melt so you can’t take them with you camping or your sweater might melt to you as you stand around the fire. Also, they don’t block. So if you’re working on a sweater with lace detail forget about stitch definition. Now, there are some high quality synthetics, but you’ll probably spend the same amount on a high quality synthetic as you would super wash wool. While I’m not a huge fan of super wash wool (they pill horribly) they do have some of the pros (breathability and elasticity) of animal based fibers.

My final recommendation is to knit up a swatch of the yarn you wish to use. Make it a decent sized swatch, 4-6 inches square and then throw it in your handbag or diaper bag and carry it around for a few days. The stress your swatch will receive in your bag will mimic wearing it and you can tell after a few days if the yarn is a good choice for your sweater.

Still if you’re struggling with yarn options ask someone! The lovely people at your yarn shop, your knitting group or even check out ravelry and the board there. As a knitter you need not fear that which we love so much and remember, even the best laid plans can go awry. Good luck and happy knitting!

thanks so much buffy!  you can find buffy on her blog passionate design where you can ask her any knitting related questions you'd like.  trust me, she loves to chat knitting & is always helping me out.  i learned a lot from this post and i hope you all did too!  next week we'll be talking about one of the most important parts of making a sweater.....your gauge! eeekkk!!! how to make your yarn work with your gauge & your gauge work with your yarn, how to even make a gauge and what all those thingamajiggers mean on the label of your yarn.  hahaha, it should be fun!  if you want to join in for the summer sweater knit along and haven't signed up yet, make sure to leave your name, ravelry name and blog (if you have one) in the comments to this post.  you can find all the other conversations for the KAL on this thread on ravelry.  and for all you sewers, don't worry, there will still be plenty of sewing talk going on here this summer too!

what's your favorite yarn to use?  do you have any tips you'd like to share to help others with choosing yarns?  do you reccomend a particular online yarn shop that you love?

summer sweater knit along - sign up & the deets!


ohhhh, i'm so excited for this KAL!  i can't wait to get started!  are you guys ready??  you excited too?  so after chatting with you guys the KAL is going to start on june 15th!!  yippee!  i toyed a lot with the end date and finally decided to have us finish september 1st!  i know, it's not too far away, but i really wanted to give myself a goal so that the sweater would be done in time for the fall.  i really didn't want to still be working on this in october and i didn't think you guys would either.  i hope the date is still ok for everyone.  if any of you have concerns maybe we can have an extended finish for those of you who would like an extra month?


i've got some great posts lined up to keep us inspired during the KAL.  we're going to go over pattern picking and yarn choices, as well as gauge and needle size to start and then during the progression of our sweaters we can all chat and share what we're experiencing in the luvinthemommyhood ravelry forum group.  you can find the thread here.  i will also be posting about the KAL on here along the way with some of my pics and thoughts as well as yours too.  so get ready to document your progress folks!

then at the end of our KAL some of you mentioned the idea of having some fun prizes to give away.  i think that's a fabulous idea!  who doesn't love a prize right?  i've already got a few lined up and a giveaway but i would love to have enough prizes so we could have a fun awards ceremony of sorts for prizes like "most complicated pattern"...etc.  if anyone reading would like to donate a prize for the KAL please let me know.  this would be great promotion for your business/shop and there will be a post written about our gift sponsors.  we're looking for knitting related items such as yarns, notions, stitch markers, needles, patterns, gifts and accessories.  just send an email to luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca if you're interested.



i do have a few questions i would like to ask you all though.  when it comes to sharing pictures of our progress i'm sure some of you don't mind posting on your blogs but for those of us who don't have a blog or are on ravelry how would everyone feel about posting their pics in the luvinthemommyhood flickr group?  we can tag them "summer sweater kal 2011" and that way we can all see what each other has accomplished.  part of the fun of a KAL is being able to share in each others handiwork and encourage and inspire each other.  i think this would be the easiest way to include everyone.

Source: None via Josie on Pinterest
also.....i've got buttons for ya!!!!!!!!!!!!  i love me a button!  isn't she cute?  i hope you like her.  i sketched her out last night.  it was dark...so pardon the imperfections :P  you can grab a copy for yourself on the sidebar.


i know a lot of you have commented here and on facebook that you are joining in on the KAL, but i would love to put together a list of contributors.  i'll do my best to cross check those other posts but if anyone interested in joining the kal could comment on this post saying you are in and leaving a link with the name of your blog and ravelry name (if you have one) that would be fab!  that way i can keep track of all you talented ladies!  i'm thinking of doing a post later where we can all share what sweaters we are working on so others can have a great resource list of some fabulous patterns to choose from at a later date and it will be easier to know who you all are now.  what do you think?

ok.....get those needles ready!  go drool over your queue, favorites and bookmarks and start thinking about which pattern you're gonna whip up.  watch out summer...here come the knitters!!!

p.s. you can find all the posts about the summer sweater knit along here.

Knitting 911 - Summer Sweater Knit Along!!

we've got a winner and we've got a new summer project to do together! i've chosen the "effortless cardigan by hannah fettig" for my summer sweater. knitting isn't just for the winter ladies! we can knit all year round! in fact this weekend i was just at the beach in the sunshine knitting away on my legwarmers. who says we have to put our sticks away cause the sun is out? knitting is an all year past time in our house. it's easily transportable, it's fun, relaxing, soothing, and stress relieving...all things a mother on the go needs.


reader gynnab suggested we do a knit a long together on last week's post where you all so graciously helped me decided which sweater to whip up this summer. i got super excited and after chatting with some of you we all decided a knit along would be the perfect project for this summer! everyone can pick the sweater of their choice that's the most flattering for your body type and we'll all knit them together...virtually of course :) let's all spread the love of knitting through any season and make some summer sweaters together. the perfect cardi or pullover can be the perfect touch for a stroll on the beach or lounging in the backyard for a bbq. throw it on with shorts, a skirt or as a wrap over your summer dress.


i'll be putting together some info on the KAL and get things ready for us all to join in. i wanted to give you all a heads up so you can choose your sweater pattern and get your yarn stash ready and i also wanted to get your feedback on when you would like to start the KAL. i was thinking mid june?? what do you ladies think? is that enough time to get yarn and get patterns ready? i'll whip up some fun buttons for us to sport on our blogs (if you have one) and the KAL will take place in our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group.

what pattern are you planning on making for the KAL? do you have any suggestions you'd like to see included for the KAL? what date do you prefer as a start date? happy knitting ladies! i'm so excited to make my very first sweater! it's about time....14 years or so is a long time to wait..haha.

knitting 911 - sweaters in the summer??!!?

i know what you're all thinking....sweaters in the summer??? wth? well it seems i'm on a roll with making things i've never done before. i feel the urge to conquer all things unknown and scary to me lately. since i finally got a dress made for myself (click here to make one too) i figured i might as well make myself a sweater too! (click on the pictures to go to the patterns)

yep, that's right. i've never made myself a sweater. i've knit since i was a little girl and never made myself a sweater. i think it's about time to change that. i've made them for kids, and for exes (yes, i made the dreaded ex-boyfriend sweater) but not for myself.

i thought i would share some of my fave pics from ravelry and my knitting pinterest board with you all. these are the ones that are haunting me lately. i'm looking for something that's cozy, flowy and fun....

something that is perfect for dressing up or down...

that is timeless and great for all seasons...

something that is springy and pretty...
only thing is i need your help. i can't for the life of me decide which sweater to whip up. i'd prefer not to be on small needles since struggling through the stella pixie hat but if it's pretty enough i may be swayed.
so help a girl out....which one of the sweaters above do YOU think i should make? remember, i'm a busty gal with some curves...the girls are not easily hidden..haha. enter your vote in the comments below...pretty please? (i had to take the poll out, it was pissing me off and not showing the right amount of answers. sorry to those who already voted on there.)

what's your favorite sweater/cardigan pattern for spring/summer? do you have one that's on the top of your "must make list".

summer sweater knit along 2012


 here's a quick handy reference to all the posts in our summer sweater knit along!

- announcement & roundup
- my yarn and pattern reveal
- guest jane richmond
- knitting with hand dyed yarns with guest tanis fiber arts
- grapefruits galore
- knit like a nike ad: just do it (with guest sandra of three pumpkins little) 
- picking up stitches tutorial with guest jane richmond 
- bound off!!  
- knit pockets tutorial round up 
- seaming tutorial videos (with guest celtic cast on  )
- sleeves
- blocking (with guest rebecca of nook)
- starring you!!!!
- givewaway day!
- winners!

*posts are listed in chronological order.

here's the info my knitty pals...

start date:  june 27th, 2012
end date:  september 30th, 2012 (the prize winners will be announced the following week)

*both knitting and/or crocheting is accepted and encouraged :)

grab our button to sport on your blog!



luvinthemommyhood


enter the summer sweater knit along here:



*you must be entered & have started a project to be eligible for the giveaway at the end of the knit along.

you can follow along with all things summer sweater knit along:


and a big thank you to our wonderful sponsors! thanks everyone!


additional sponsors:

KNIT ALONGS


we love our knit alongs here on luvinthemommyhood!  click on the links below & they will take you to a post with all the kal posts for that series! happy reading & knitting!











- choosing yarn stress free (summer sweater knit along)
- got gauge and what the heck it is (summer sweater knit along)
- picking up stitches tutorial with guest jane richmond (summer sweater knit along '12)
- how to knit pockets roundup (summer sweater knit along '12)
- seaming tutorial videos with guest celtic cast on (summer sweater knit along ‘12)
- knitting with hand dyed yarns with guest tanis fiber arts (summer sweater knit along '12)
- where my stitches at? (rundown on basic knit stitches)(summer sweater knit along)
- yarn shop hop roundup (summer sweater knit along)
- knitting is better with friends (tips on finding other knitters)(summer sweater knit along)
- picking up the stitches (summer sweater knit along)
- blocking party (summer sweater knit along)
- time management (xmas knitting 911)
- understanding fit with guest jane richmond (tops, tanks & tees knit along)
- la la la loving the lace (tops, tanks & tees knit along)
- binding off (tops, tanks & tees knit along)

- the magic loop (video tutorial by jane richmond).
- the magic knot (video tutorial by jane richmond).
- www.knittinghelp.com for other how to videos.
- knitpicks.com for awesome needles and affordable yarns/supplies
- www.ravelry.com where we spend most of our time hangin' with knitter folk
- seaming techniques great illustrations on vogue knitting 





you can keep up to date on our knit alongs and other knitty adventures in our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group where we post our FO’s and WIP’s, show off our yummy yarn stashes and join in our super fun themed knit alongs! feel free to ask questions, get help with your projects and just plain revel in chatting with other knitters/crocheters who love stitching as much as you do! welcome :)


and you can also find me on ravelry under the name luvinthemommyhood.

but don't worry if you aren't on ravelry when a new kal is announced it will be posted about regularly on the blog and on ravlery.  you simply join in using a simple google doc entry form and you are automatically entered into the kal's giveaway and fun!  follow along with the knit along on ravelry and on the blog - it's easy & super addicting!

we also love to see your handiwork!  so feel free to show off your knitted and crocheted goodies in our ravelry group and also in our flickr group!


i love me a knit along!  it's been such a blast doing these and i can't wait to see what you all will be crafting.  i promise we've got some fun ones coming your way soon!

thanks so much for knitting along with me! 

knit alongs












we love our knit alongs here on luvinthemommyhood!  click on the boxes above & they will take you to a post with all the kal posts for that series! happy reading & knitting!






- choosing yarn stress free (summer sweater knit along)
- got gauge and what the heck it is (summer sweater knit along)
- picking up stitches tutorial with guest jane richmond (summer sweater knit along '12)
- how to knit pockets roundup (summer sweater knit along '12)
- seaming tutorial videos with guest celtic cast on (summer sweater knit along ‘12)
- knitting with hand dyed yarns with guest tanis fiber arts (summer sweater knit along '12)
- where my stitches at? (rundown on basic knit stitches)(summer sweater knit along)
- yarn shop hop roundup (summer sweater knit along)
- knitting is better with friends (tips on finding other knitters)(summer sweater knit along)
- picking up the stitches (summer sweater knit along)
- blocking party (summer sweater knit along)
- time management (xmas knitting 911)
- understanding fit with guest jane richmond (tops, tanks & tees knit along)
- la la la loving the lace (tops, tanks & tees knit along)
- binding off (tops, tanks & tees knit along)

- the magic loop (video tutorial by jane richmond).
- the magic knot (video tutorial by jane richmond).
- www.knittinghelp.com for other how to videos.
- knitpicks.com for awesome needles and affordable yarns/supplies
- www.ravelry.com where we spend most of our time hangin' with knitter folk
- seaming techniques great illustrations on vogue knitting






you can keep up to date on our knit alongs and other knitty adventures in our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group where we post our FO’s and WIP’s, show off our yummy yarn stashes and join in our super fun themed knit alongs! feel free to ask questions, get help with your projects and just plain revel in chatting with other knitters/crocheters who love stitching as much as you do! welcome :)


and you can also find me on ravelry under the name luvinthemommyhood.

but don't worry if you aren't on ravelry when a new kal is announced it will be posted about regularly on the blog and on ravlery.  you simply join in using a simple google doc entry form and you are automatically entered into the kal's giveaway and fun!  follow along with the knit along on ravelry and on the blog - it's easy & super addicting!

we also love to see your handiwork!  so feel free to show off your knitted and crocheted goodies in our ravelry group and also in our flickr group!


i love me a knit along!  it's been such a blast doing these and i can't wait to see what you all will be crafting.  i promise we've got some fun ones coming your way soon!

thanks so much for knitting along with me!