Georgia Peach Review and Pattern Giveaway

 

Welcome Sweatshop of Love readers!! The Georgia Peach is one of the most amazing knitted sweaters I have ever seen for a man. I have searched high and low for a pattern for a sweater that my husband would actually wear if I were to knit one for him. There wasn't a single one that he said he thought looked cool.

When I knit this sweater, he was the model for the finished product. He looked great in it and he actually said he would want one! I was shocked. This pattern was amazing to knit, but what's even more amazing is that my macho man husband likes it too. I knit this sweater using Knit Picks Swish bulky weight in  Planetarium and Red. It was such gorgeous yarn to work with (but then again, what Knit Picks yarn isn' amazing). I also knit this before Allyson had a chance to create the duplicate stitch templates for the teams, which she added later for me

The construction if this sweater was really well thought out. Allyson thought of every design aspect while creating this pattern. The collar was the funnest part for me. At first I was confused with the construction and why I was being directed to do certain things. At this point I didn't have Allyson's pictures to guide me. Once I saw her pictures, it made more sense. Then once I was finished it completely made sense. Seeing as this sweater followed the vintage look from baseball past, you will see some of the inside of the sweater when the collar was opened. Being the professional she is, Allyson thought of this. It made sense to make this portion look as good as the outside. And that it did!

WIP Mom's Christmas Gift

My mom has never specifically asked me for anything. So when she does, I know that she REALLY likes it. When I wore my Summer Lace sweater over to her house one day, she told me a few times how much she liked it. Then one day on the phone, she told me if I wanted to knit her something, she would buy me the yarn and everything. When she told me it was a sweater like mine, but with long sleeves, I knew right then what I would be knitting her for Christmas.

Unblocked lace

Holla Knits Accessories: Multiplicity!

Welcome Holla Knits Readers! I am excited to once again have helped Allyson with test knitting her pattern for the Holla Knits Accessories issue. Not only do I help my sis out, but I get amazing knitted projects in the process!


Top: Emma Welford's Wallpaper Cowl, Katie Canavan's  Scallop of the Sea; Middle: Teresa Gregorio's Knight Service, Tara Shade's Black Swan; Bottom: Anna Elliott's Snowball Bonnet, Allyson Dykhuizen's Multiplicity

WIP Two Boyfriends

Bottom band and vertical side done

With so much going on this week with the house, I have neglected a lot of things. Including my blog and my knitting. Nonetheless, I have made some progress on my Two Boyfriends cardigan since last week. I finished the vertical side, with so much agony in doing so. The pain was worth it because it is turning out exactly how I wanted it to look.

Two Boyfriends with Split Personalities

Allyson, knitting pattern guru, designed a cardigan pattern a few years back that I have already knit a few times. The second thing I ever knit was this pattern during one of her knit-alongs. I joined the knit-along two weeks late with my first version and then joined two weeks after that (so four weeks in) with my second version. That's two sweaters in less than eight weeks.

FO Summer Sweater

I finished the Work+Shelter Summer Lace Sweater on Friday. It was fun knitting a sweater using the colors I did. I knit it a little too big, but thought it would be nicer with more room to breathe.

I wanted to knit the whole thing in the mint green, but as I was knitting it up, I felt that it would not look as good fully green. So instead, I used a color scheme I found on a sweater from Target a while ago.

I struggled a bit with joining the sleeves. This was mainly due to the fact that I was trying when I had had very little sleep.

Once I stopped over thinking it and just followed directions, rather than skip ahead, I found it to be fairly easy.

WIP Dollar and a Half

I fell in love with the Dollar and a Half Cardigan when I saw my sister, Allyson, post a picture of hers. From that moment on I wanted to knit it! When my mother-in-law was getting rid of her old knitting pattern magazines, I went through them. Low and behold I found the Dollar and a Half!!!! I was ecstatic. I believe I even texted or tweeted Allyson about it (yes I'm a nerd). When I posted about it, Lily Ubbelohde asked me if I was knitting it. I said I was and she invited me to join her and some others knit-aong. Its really more of a check your progress with each other rather than reaching goals. Nonetheless, this has helped me keep going at this sweater, despite the obvious lack of space in my schedule.

left front cable and lace

 I made huge amounts of progress in the first week. I got through the rib band along the bottom of the sweater. I decided to ignore the pattern instructions about NOT knitting this sweater in the round, but let's face it, I LOATHE seaming. I will avoid it at all costs! So with knitting in the round, the counts and pattern started out a little confusing.

lace and textured striping on back and right front

However, during week 2 serious pattern progress was made. I've gotten to the point where I don't need to read the pattern anymore (a skill I have acquired due to my strength with math and equations and a somewhat photgraphic memory). I got through a few rows of the lace and textured striping and am loving it! I love everything about this sweater, and am so glad the girls talked me into knitting it in coral rather than cream. Week 3 didn't yield much progress, but here's to looking forward and busting things out in week 4.

FO Delancey #1

This week was an extremely busy week. Knitting wise, it was busy but with only two projects. Both of which were Delancey cardigans. Both of which are finished! I was invited into the Sweatshop of Love's fourth knit along by my sister Allyson; the third in which I have participated. When we voted on the sweater to knit with our last knit along, I voted for the Delancey. We knitted the Aidez sweater, but I really had my eyes on this baby. It was the second place winner, so it was chosen for this knit along.

DELANCEY FINISHED

I loved knitting this sweater! The construction of it was so unique and turned out so amazingly. It was also my first time knitting a sweater using ALL Knit Picks yarn. I again felt spoiled knitting with such great yarn. The color is so rich and the yarn itself is so flexible.

Diagonal stripes

I knit this using Knit Picks DK Swish yarn in Garnet Heather and Brave Sport in Dove Heather. I was unsure of how much I would like this sweater when I initially started, but the further along I got, the more I loved it. I have yet to block this sweater (as we all know, my favorite part) but it fits pretty well as it is. I need to block it in order to lengthen the sleeves a tad bit and get the collar to stay folded down. Im completely loving this sweater! I will share the sister sweater for my sister later this week.

Back of the sweater

12 Blankets in 2 years

My sister Allyson posted a 20 Sweater FO's in Review blog that did just that; went over the 20 sweaters she has knit, frogged, fixing, on her needles, etc. It got me thinking about my own knitting. I was recently thinking about my upcoming projects (which include blankets) and their deadlines when I got to thinking about all the things I have recently knitted. The majority of my workload? Blankets! And a lot of them. I decided to tell all about the blankets I have knit, in the process of knitting, and will knit.

1) Khloe's Blanket. The second thing I knit was a blanket. I started knitting in November of 2009 and my niece was born in December that same year. I decided I was going to be ambitious and knit her a blanket. I bought the most beautiful yarn and knit the thing in less than a week! It was a velvety yarn in a variegated pink, purple and white style. She still uses it too!

2) Caiden's Blanket. I worked with a girl at Uccello's and we were both pregnant and due around the same time. After whipping Khloe's blanket out so fast, I decided to knit Caitlin's son a blanket and matching booties as my shower gift to her. This one took me quite a bit longer than the first. I used the same pattern, which was a simple garter stitch blanket that was knit diagonally with an increase in the beginning few stitches on both the wrong and right sides. It was mint green and very soft. I got bored with the color but got it to her.

3) Nolan's 1st Blanket. After knitting a few blanket for everyone else, I decided to knit one that would stay at my house. I knit Nolan a blue blanket in which I used three different yarns to achieve a striping pattern. I used a variegated blue yarn throughout the whole thing and alternated between a navy blue and light blue. I loved how fast this blanket knit up! The striping kept it interesting.

Nolan's 1st Blanket

4) Nolan's 2nd Blanket. After the first blanket, I knit another blanket using the same pattern. The first blanket was so heavy that I wanted something lighter, seeing as he was a summer baby. I kept the same striping but only used 2 yarns, the alternating striping colors. I chose a light yellow and an olive tones green.

Nolan's 2nd Blanket

5) Hallie's Blanket. I fell in love with this pattern and ended up knitting another in the winter of 2011 for Hallie. I chose to knit the blanket with 2 strands throughout without the striping. Her nursery was decorated in pinks and browns so those were the 2 colors I picked. It was gorgeous! When I found out that I was having Ryenn in July, it was hard to part with it.

6) Ryenn's Seed Stitch Blanket. I found this amazing photo of a baby with a blanket and matching hat. Well I thought to myself, "I HAVE to have it". Instead of paying the ungodly amount for the set, I attempted it myself. I got the hat done without any problems (pom-pom pigtail hat). The blanket is still somewhat unfinished. The majority of the blanket is complete, but I am lost with what to do for a border. What I originally had planned didn't look the way I wanted it to. So it sits unfinished.

Seed Stitch Blanket with no border

7) Ryenn's Patchwork Blanket. I spent a lot of time creating this blanket. Without deadlines, it has been a fun project. I started it back in May of 2011 and wanted it done before Ryenn was born. That didn't happen, but certainly was not going to be needed. This summer was really hot and blankets were rarely pulled out. The pattern called for 5 colors but I couldn't settle for just 5. I ended up using a deep purple, green, hot pink, teal, orange and yellow. The colors were amazing together. Each square was knit in a different pattern according to color and then put together to form a pattern. I still have yet to decided what to do in the ways of a border for this blanket as well. The pattern didn't call for a border, but I think it looks unfinished. I am leaning towards a thin border in seed stitch using the deep purple.

Ryenn's Patchwork Blanket

8), 9), and 10) Throw Blankets for sisters. Christmas was blanket knitting season for me this year! I attempted to knit a total of 5 blankets as gifts. I knit 3 cozy throws for each of my sisters and they were a big hit. Their gifts actually added a few of them to my knitting list. I used size 50 needles for the first time and it was amazingly awkward. I knit each blanket in a matter of hours. It was helpful seeing as I knit these in 2 weeks before Christmas.

Jessi's Blanket

Katie's Blanket

Kelli's Blanket



11) Mom's Patchwork Blanket. I loved how Ryenn's patchwork blanket looked. It made me want to knit another one. I found a pattern for simpler squares so I could knit it up a little faster. I started this blanket in June and didn't finish until Christmas day, and even then I had 2 other people helping me seam it up. It turned out beautifully. It was a little smaller than what my dad wanted, so I am eventually going to knit up additional squares in order to add onto the existing blanket.

Mom's Patchwork Blanket

12) MIL's Blanket. I also started a patchwork blanket for my mother-in-law that I wanted to have done for Christmas. I fell way short of that goal, because it still sits unfinished. I am working on finishing this blanket as soon as I finish my Delancey cardigans and the next blanket, which is going to be a throw like I made my sisters for Amiyah.

Parky Park and the Baby Bunch

Only in Michigan can you spend a whole week in shorts, laying out, and playing in the park just to turn around the next week and need the heat on for freeze warnings. I enjoy the warmer seasons in Michigan thoroughly while I count down the days when its cold until it will be warm again. I have been spoiled this March with the 70 and 80 degree weather. My kids have enjoyed it too. Nolan throws a fit when we have to come inside after playing outside. He enjoys romping around in the back yard with the dogs, playing in the dirt, and loves going down the slides at the park near our house. Ryenn went on the slide with me and wasn't too thrilled. She liked the swings much better. She does love to see me or Adam play with the dogs. Moose, our Saint Bernard, is a big dummy. He chases sticks around the dirt like he is a cat. Then when he can't catch it and Ryenn is hysterically laughing, he runs over and tackles Xandar. I decided just to share some of my kids' playful pictures seeing as I am working on the same sweaters (my knit-along Delancey for the Sweatshop of Love and my second Delancey for my older's sister's birthday) and didn't make much progress this week due to an overload of homework (finals, rsearch papers, labs, etc.). Enjoy!

Nolan on the big boy slide by himself

Ryenn on Nolan's tricycle

Nolan on grandma's trampoline

Nolan on grandma's swingset

Ryenn's first time in the grass

Nolan pushing the Mac Wagon

Ryenn's first time on the swings

Still pushing the Mac Wagon

My little acrobat

Fun with Whip Cream on her high chair tray at Aunt Jessi's house

FO Umbre Lovre

As stated before, I am test knitting some patterns for Allyson for her new baby, Holla Knits. I am finishing up the Umbre Lovre pattern, and I must say that I am absolutely in love with it! Its amazing colors and fantastic yarn (yes I know I mentioned that quite a bit before). Although I cannot show full pictures of the sweater, I will show some snippets of what's finished.

Starting to finish up

 I Love this teal color. Its AMAZING! I want to order a bunch of this color, just to knit a whole sweater of it.  I did have one issue where I didn't read my pattern thoroughly enough and screwed up. That's the problem with trying to knit with noisy kids surrounding you. I ended up pulling out 6 inches of the thing on Saturday! It was hard to do, but it had to be done.

AMAZING colors right?

I finally finished it on Sunday night and it looks great! Pictures do not do this any justice! Its greater, by far, in person! It is definitely worth subscribing to Allyson's e-zine. And that's just one pattern! Wait until you see the next one I am working on and the one's I gotten to peek at that will be included!!!!

KAL Delancey

We are about to enter week 3 of our knit-along with the Sweatshop of Love. Allyson chose the Delancey Cardigan, which I posted about earlier this year. I chose to knit this sweater in Knit Picks Swish DK in Garnet Heather as the main color and Knit Picks Brava Sport in Dove Heather as my striping color.

Garnet Heather

Dove Heather

I have been making some great progress on this sweater (especially since I am also in the progress of knitting a blanket, hat, soakers, and 2 other sweaters). This first week, I exceeded the goal because I was unsure of my color choices once I got them on the needles.

Week 1

 I FINALLY decided I loved the color choice after this weeks goal was reached (or almost reached). I have completed 98 of 108 rows of this sweater (the goal for this week). This sweater has an amazing construction and I am having a ton of fun knitting it, even though the stitch is entirely Stockinette Stitch.

Week 2

I am dying to finish this thing already because the finished pictures look great on Ravelry! My mother-in-law and Allyson have chosen some great colors as well! Check out The Sweatshop of Love's blog for their and other's sweater progress

Aidez Sweater Knit-along

My sister hosted a knit-along this past fall/winter on her blog, The Sweatshop of Love, where we all voted on the sweater in which to knit. The Aidez Sweater was the winner.

The finished Aidez sweater (not mine)

The pattern was super challenging but proved to be such a fun knit. I learned so much and feel now that I can knit up anything I set my mind to. She was great enough to create a chart for us to follow rather than going back and forth between the pages and charts and getting confused. It was hard enough with the charts, I probably would have shot my self and scrapped the sweater (not necessarily in that order) if I was left with figuring it out as I went.

The back of my sweater!

I used a varigated yarn and LOVED the way it turned out. I fell behind due to Holiday knitting and finished like 2 or 3 weeks late. However, I finished and am super happy with the results. Its amazingly warm and have been using it more as a jacket than a sweater.

Seriously, pictures don't do this sweater justice.

I can't wait to start our next knit-along, which is scheduled to start on February 6th (the day before I turn 24). We are knitting the Delancey Cardigan by Alexis Winslow. This was the runner up from our vote this past fall.

Delancey Cardi

I have also been knitting some other things, such as Laura Loop's Short-row Sweater. This fun little sweater is short sleeved and somewhat backless! After recently losing 40lbs, I am excited to wear this. That means I have to hurry up and knit it!

Half-way done with the short-row sweater