Hat, Cardi, and School

Sunday, April 26, 2009

So the hat I was knitting for my sister ended up too small.  My gauge swatch said it would be but it just looked so big as I was knitting it that I didn't believe it.  I was about halfway done when I finally tried it on and realized there was no way it was getting over anyone's head.  I ripped it out and flailed around for a project for a few days.  My friend Courtney and I must have looked at just about every cardigan pattern on Ravelry...

I ended up choosing the Garter Yoke Cardi, which Big Geek Beth just finished.  It's simple and cute and (almost) what I was looking for in a cardigan pattern.  I'm using up the rest of my Harmony 10 ply in brown and it is going fast.  I love size 8 needles!

This is the yoke last week after I figured out how to do the couple of short rows it requires.  Thanks for the help Beth and Ravelry peeps!

And here is it now.  I am ready to slip off the stitches for the sleeves and continue with the body.  At this rate, I'll be done before summer weather really hits and might even get to wear it a few times.  

I noticed something last night in the pattern that I was going to mention though.  I had been debating what size to make but because I've been making pretty fitted cardigans and sweaters lately I decided to go with a little extra ease and try modding it to a 35" (the options are 34" then 36").  Luckily, last night as I got to the sleeves where the first size decision needs to be made, I took a look at the schematic which states that the 34" is actually 35.5"... is this normal?  Most patterns I've made seem to be the real size they state, not with ease built in.  I'm glad I double-checked!

I'm seeing an end to the school year right now.  Next week I have a couple of last exams and then the week after I have finals.  Unfortunately, but not really because it will be great, I start a class immediately the next week and working full-time in the lab for the whole summer.  It's going to be awesome!  But busy...  hopefully I will find more time to knit and blog.