Dear Ann,
Our Bang Out a Sweater knitalong only officially started three days ago, but somehow this week has felt very full and long. It certainly feels full when you look at the mighty sweater-cranking that has been going on. I worry about whether some people are getting enough sleep. Others may feel that they are behind, or moving too slowly. So I offer up some photographic encouragement.
The Promised Land
I want to show you two finished Stopovers. Both were knitted before Bang Out a Sweater was even a gleam in our eye–they are naturally-occurring Stopovers. They have stuck in my mind since I first glimpsed images of them, which I’m sure was a big part of my attraction to the pattern in the first place, and both are reminders of the knitter’s role in the creation of a beautiful garment.
Kathy Cadigan‘s Stopover, dark and dusky, a fully-formed heirloom. (Hanging on a perfect brass wire hanger from Fringe Supply Co.)
(Photo by Kathy Cadigan.)
Lori Ann Graham‘s Stopover, embellished with duplicate stitch and worn over a Dress No. 2 by Sonya Philip. (When a sweater knits up this fast, it leaves time to bang out a dress.)
(Photo by Lori Ann Graham.)
A Request
Not that I’m compulsively checking the #BangOutASweater hashtag on Instagram or anything, but clearly there are Stopovers nearing completion. They could be done today. They could be done tonight. Finished sweaters could be busting out all over, any minute.
Like this one, by jillben4547:
And this one, by AsKatKnits:
(I imagine Jill and Kat exchanging high fives at the finish line, while the rest of us try to look gracious about it. This image motivates me to knit faster.)
I would love to document all these sweaters. I’m not yet sure how, but the variety and bounty of the Stopovers people are making is too good to let slip off into the ether without trying to grab a memento.
Here’s my request: when you’ve finished your Stopover, please send me a picture of it. And I have more requests, in the hopes of forging some consistency out of all the variety and bounty:
- Lay the sweater flat on a neutral background. (Suggestion: bedsheet, floor.)
- Take the photo from above, of the entire sweater. (Tip: stand on the bed.)
- Try to take the photo in natural light, without flash and without casting your shadow onto it. (This may be difficult if it’s winter where you are, but try.)
- Email the photo to me.
- In your email, please give me permission to use the photo, and a link or other way of crediting you.
I don’t quite know what I’ll do with the photos; it will likely be a composite or mosaic of all the sweaters, to share here as a thank you to Mary Jane Mucklestone for designing such an inspired sweater, and as a celebration of the ridiculous fun of a bunch of people blasting through a sweater together. I’ll be most grateful.
Giveaway Housekeeping: Cashmere Edition
This just in: a beaming photo from Leesa M. of Winchester, Virginia. I call it ‘Girl With a Whack of Cashmere (Grey Cat).” Leesa won our drawing for a Lux Adorna cowl kit. She seems pretty happy about it. Thanks for the picture, Leesa: proof of cashmere.
Which reminds me to remind everyone to enter our current giveaway drawing, which is still live.
Love,
Kay
Congratulations Leesa!!!
Congratulations Leesa. You look ecstatic ad well you should.
I won’t be at the front of the pack finishing my Stopover but I will get there.
I am a (very reluctant) non KAL-er. Busy season at work and a deadline sweater to be knitted have conspired against me. But I have plans to bang out a sweater at some point and would love a post on short-rowing the back and/or neck. I know how to do short rows but I can only find a few airy references like “then I added a few short rows before I started the yoke” for shaping help. How do I calculate how many I need? do I do them all at once or spaced out? Longer rows first? Where do they start? How far around? Before or after the yoke pattern?
I’m stuck on the gauge swatch. Queen of the scarves, and such, I never serously made one before. My yarn is Manos Del Uruguay. Yesterday morning I “had guage” after washing a flat swatch. By the time I got home, it measured differently (one too many stitches/4 inches, five too many rows) on my new 10.5 circular needles. The sweater is to be a small. It is going to be for a friend. I read up last night on making a swatch in the round. Shall I do that, then block? I’m itching to start the project. Up till now, all I have done is wind 3 colors (one hour each skein).
What now?
LoveDiane
Sounds like a plan!
OK. Good. Thanks!
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If I stand on that bed in a bit of wintery natural light and get a picture of my sweater without my shadow in it……….does that mean an early Spring? Seriously, I’m slowed down a little due to husband throwing his back out and my needing to pick up the slack in the chores department – leaving fewer knitting hours available. So here I am, knitting and MDK-ing at 5:30 a.m.
Leesa looks happy! That cat looks enormous!
Can anyone help to visually post or explain the YOKE attachment of sleeves to body? It seems like you would need to put all of the first sleeve stitches on waste yarn in order to have the use of your dpns to do the next? Also some stitches go to a stitch holder when do those get joined?
P.S. Makes you want to see a sweater in every possible color combo!
Hi Di, when I got to that stage it made sense. I ended up putting the small number of oxter (armpit) stitches on four pieces of waste yarn – one for each sleeve and each side of the body. Then you knit the remaining stitches from each sleeve (on the shorter circular) onto the longer circ, which already has the body on it. Add the pieces in the order shown in the pattern (unless you have added extra bust stitches like I did and discovered you have created a front and back which naturally are in a different order to those shown, so I did right sleeve then left sleeve). I did have to reload the shorter circular with the stitches for my first sleeve as I had put them on a stitch holder so I could knit the second sleeve.
The stitches on the waste thread get sewn to each other with kitchener stitch at the very end (foot of page 4 on the pattern).
I hope this makes sense and I haven’t just muddled the situation.
I have this Dottie Angel dress/tunic pattern and Lori has given me a great idea how to wear it!
http://www.simplicity.com/misses-dress-or-tunic/1080.html
Lori Ann Graham what are your awesome lopi colors?
hi di, thank you! the colors can be found on my ravelry page
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/lorix5/stopover
I’m so enraptured with all these gorgeous sweaters–and jealous, too, as I’m not knitting one myself, sigh. I have two cardigans on the needles that I’ve been working on forever (and one is on size 17 needles, go figure) and I told myself I must finish them before I start anything else. For some reason, I actually listened to myself this time. As soon as they are cast off, I’m going to order me some Lopi and go to town! The KAL will be over, but at least I can still enjoy the sweater.
I know Leesa! Cashmere could not have happened to a more deserving knitter.
I have been resisting the call of this KAL, I need another project like I need a hole in my head, but Lori Ann’s sweater is so pretty that I may be jumping in anyway.
thank you so much! that’s how I felt when I saw maryjane wearing hers the first time! it’s a lovely sweater/design.
Lori Ann’s Stopover inspired me to join the KAL when I saw it on Ravelry – beautiful! I too am still struggling to get gauge but should start banging along this weekend.
thank you!
Leesa’s cat looks even cuddlier than the cashmere.
Uh, it may be awhile before I email a completed photo, considering after three days of knitting i have about 2″ to show. #bangoutasweaterwalkofshame
I will be there with you Annie! Had to restart my sleeve last night. Sigh…
Sleeve? I’m nowhere near the sleeves! Maybe we can catch up with the rest this weekend. Happy Knitting, Sophie!
I started with a sleeve as my swatch. First one is about 1/3 done. Am trying to knit like the wind while my babe naps. Good luck to you! 🙂
Btw, knitting is good for us:
http://lemag.therapeutes.com/les-benefices-inattendus-du-tricotage/#
thank you very much Kay and Ann, so many beautiful stopovers! Kathy’s is so lovely! I’m looking forward to seeing all the completed sweaters, the most fun part besides how quickly it goes, is seeing the infinite color combinations. x
You spotlighted the two Stopovers that sealed the deal for me, laong wiht that purple and grey one from Kirsten Kapur. I want to do a second one in all dark colors so that you need to get close to see the graphics. And Lori’s is the one that made me realize I can easily add my fifth Stellover Stopover color, though I will knit mine in instead of duplicate stitching . The internets! So inspiring!
Only cast mine on yesterday as wool only arrived day before, only to discover after 8rows that I had a twist in it and had to rip it back and start again! Doh! This is the first KAL I have participated in so hoping I won’t be miles behind everyone else! Good luck all! Xx
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