Fun
So Log, Farewell
The company policy here at MDK is that a good knitalong never ends. While it can be fun to bang out an FO in an impressively short period of time, knitting is a leisure pursuit for most of us. It elevates and enriches our lives, and it should never feel like deadline pressure.
But it’s also important not to let a knitalong just fade away without remarking on some of its wonders, while the awe (or the “awwwww”) factor is still fresh.
That’s why the phrase “so long,” with its built-in sense that we will keep meeting again, seems appropriate. (And also a good excuse to put up a video of one of my favorite movie scenes.) We will see the Fringe and Friends Log Cabin Knitalong again. We will keep checking the #fringeandfriendslogalong hashtag on Instagram, whenever we are in need of an inspiration boost from our fellow knitters and crocheters.
The Log Road Home
First, a report on my own logalong progress, which may explain why I’d like everyone to go easy on the end-zone celebrations.
I’m getting close (ish) to the finish line on my Relaxed Log Cabin pullover (a mashup of log cabin construction and one of my favorite pullover patterns, Relax by Ririko). A fair bit of time with the US 3s still lies ahead of me. I need to work the shoulders, neck and wee flipper sleeves.
I feel good about the decision to do the yoke in reverse stockinette stitch.
I’m loving every minute of my time with this lightweight cashmere/linen blend yarn, Jade Sapphire Sylph, which has become one of my all-time favorite yarns.
The approach of spring is all the motivation I need to finish, as my Relaxed Log Cabin will be the perfect light pullover for the season of returning sunshine.
A Log Day’s Journey (into Awesome)
We should all strive to be the log cabin knitting we want to see in the world. So it’s appropriate to give an enthusiastic round of muffled applause (because: mitts) to three logalongers who turned their Fringe and Friends Log Cabin Knitalong projects into patterns for all of us to enjoy.
Presenting: the patterns of the Fringe and Friends Logalong.
Karen Templer’s Log Cabin Mitts
These little nuggets of knitting are going to be A Thing, and for a long time to come. They are delicious potato-chip knitting, a good use for all our scraps, and a gift that even a misguided, anti-handmade pal will covet. They already have their own hashtag. Thank you, Karen!
Karen has made a few pairs. Photo: Karen Templer.
Lynn Garrett’s Log Cabin Cardigan.
Watching Lynn Garrett build this cardigan gave me strength for my log cabin pullover journey. It takes faith to see clothing in the flatness of garter stitch strips, and fortitude to make it happen. The Log Cabin Cardigan is a wonderful, wearable, flattering garment. Thank you, Lynn!
Krityum’s Log Hat
Of course I’m thinking: Log Cabin Mitts + Log Hat = a set. And there’s a crochet version, too. Thank you, Krityum Designs!
Did I miss any published patterns coming out of the Fringe and Friends Log Cabin Knitalong? Let me know!
In Closing (But Not Really Closing)
The Fringe and Friends Log Cabin Knitalong has been a rich experience of community learning and experimentation. Knitters have stepped up with projects large and small, traditional and totally not traditional, and taken off on open-ended adventures with this simple technique. I really do want it to go on and on. There are dozens of ideas I want to try myself.
Karen, thank you for knowing that so many knitters and crocheters would embrace log cabin, and for sounding the call to knitalong. And thank you for taking us along on the ride.
You guys and Karen have the best ideas!
Thanks for your no-guilt attitude. I’m still merrily and very happily knitting blocks for a log cabin blanket. I’m working on number 14 (14!!!) of 20, and am still loving every minute of it! Yay,and let the party roll on!
Potato chip knitting – perfect!
I will be working on my log cabin blanket for months to come. ( I too am on square 14, but I have big ambitions about size.) That did not deter me from pulling out the size 3 needles and beginning a summer top, inspired by all the garments others have posted. Can’t wait to see what you all think up next,)
Love the log cabin motif in everything, so versatile, unboring and looks like just plain fun! Thank you for all your ideas and sharing them.
My 10 yo son was so inspired by the Logalong that he designed a log cabin Lord of the Rings-esque RUANA! Sketches have been made, yarn has been chosen – he is on Swatching Island at the moment. So this might be a project you see way way way in the future. I’m so glad he was excited by knitting, i don’t mind if the project marinates! (i might have a few of those myself….)
Keep up the good work MDK – you never know who you’re inspiring!
That is truly inspiring. How great for your son to work through all the stages of engineering a knitting design. Keep us posted.
Love Lynn Garrett’s cardigan and have made it a favorite on Ravelry.
Brilliant patterns! I want to make them all. This log-along has just been sooooo much dang fun!
I planned a blanket; I made some mitts! It was an appropriate adjustment of my expectations, and I love the result.
Thanks to Karen Templer for the pattern, and you for the initial log cabin mojo years ago!
Plus Ann’s blanket recipe!
Nice work on the sweater! Though I only participated with a log cabin kitchen textile, I enjoyed this adventure very much. I can’t thank you enough (which is why I keep trying!) for introducing me to the glory that is log cabin knitting, via your first book. The results of a log cabin project–no matter how humble–always thrill and amaze me!
Kay, will you be making a pattern of your own sweater featured here? Or at least make copious fabulous notes on Ravelry, as you have done before? I’m sure I’m not the only reader who would love to make something like that for herself.
I would be happy to do that, Judy.
If you are eager to get going, get the Relax pattern (you may already have it I think). Then all I did was start with a log cabin strip that is 12 stitches wide by 36 ridges long, and log cabin in a U shape around that center strip, in 12-ridge strips, until you get close to the measurements for the body of the Relax sweater (the part before the underarm shaping). At the end, I did one last strip of 9 garter ridges on each side, so that it wouldn’t get too wide. Then you pick up along the top edge of this log-cabined piece of fabric, and start following the instructions to shape the top part of the back (and then front) piece of Relax. I followed the pattern exactly for the underarm shaping, shoulders and neckline shaping, and I will follow it exactly for the wee sleeves. The only change I made to the pattern was that I worked it in reverse stockinette instead of stockinette.
That’s the rough guide. Of course it might be prudent to wait and see how mine turns out, but I feel pretty confident!
I haven’t decided about edgings but I will probably work the same flat rib called for in the Relax pattern.
I will be logalonging for some time to come. Just finished my 11th fussy cut square and also in the midst of a Moderne throw. And while I can follow #fringeandfrinedslogalong, I can’t tag it. 🙁 Everyone’s projects look great.
After a sad 2 year hiatus from knitting (due to injuries), this KAL had me fired up and happy. A baby bib, 3 pairs of Karen Templer’s fun mitts and the start of a baby blanket later, I am reinvigorated. Thank you for the inspiration.