Sweater Workshop

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Comment by judy71585 on February 19, 2009 at 6:53am

I just go the book and am amazed at all the information. Will start the sampler tomorrow.

Comment by Elianastar on February 19, 2009 at 5:17am

Welcome! I'm one task away from finishing my Sampler... IMHO, the book is worth it just for the experience of the Sampler alone. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions along the way... there are a couple of us who have recently completed the Sampler, and another brand new person just signed up yesterday too.

Looking forward to working with you through the book!

Comment by Wayward Knitter on February 19, 2009 at 5:08am

Well I have just joined this group, but have had this book for a few months now. I loved the idea of designing my own sweaters!! I am going to make the sampler first to define my skills a bit more. I am looking forward to meeting and sharing projects with everyone.

Comment by Elianastar on February 9, 2009 at 4:08pm

I wrote an email to the author, Jacqueline Fee, about my dilemma making a first sweater for my granddaughter rather than for myself. I GOT A RESPONSE from her. :-) I thought I might, but I'm still a bit surprised. Just in case someone else might find her reply useful or interesting, I'm sharing it with the KAL...

She makes a good case for beginning with a sweater for myself... even if I just make it from crummy stash I would just like to get rid of anyway and only wear it to clean the basement... which is what I'm considering doing. If it comes out okay, great... if not, my DH will be happy as a clam that I'm finally actually making a dent in my stash! LOL! That might be reason enough to do it... for stash reduction and the sheer practice with no "emotional" connection to the yarn I'm using! I didn't mind screwing up my Sampler because I was using yarn I just wanted gone in the worst way anyway. So, if "the worst way" turned out to be in the Sampler, that was as good as any other! LOLOL!

--
Dear Jackie,

I've finished my Sampler except for the Afterthought Pocket, and decided when I started that my first sweater will be for my four year old granddaughter because it will be a smaller/faster project. She doesn't have any sweaters, so how do I figure out my measurements for her? Winter sweaters are already off the racks, so that suggestion doesn't work...

On top of that, I wanted to make the cuffs extra long and make it tunic length so she'll be able to wear it all next winter as well as in whatever cool/cold weather we have remaining... they are talking about more snow for Portland, OR, next week, as a matter of fact. Is there anything I ought to be aware of in the design that will be useful to know for my first sweater, with these considerations?

I admit I was intimidated by the Sampler, but committed to do every thing, as you instruct, and not take any "shortcuts" like using Magic Loop instead of DPNs or crocheting the cording for the eyelet lacing holes. I'm glad I did because it has increased my confidence significantly just working stitch by stitch through the Sampler. :-)

I'll finish my Sampler in the next day or so and am anxious to get on to my very first sweater... I have the yarn and the model... I'm just unclear about how to proceed to measure for a successful first project. I'm working this in a Knitalong and am anxious to go on to the next phase of the book!

Thank you for any help you can give me to go on to the next step. :-)

Thank you,
StarLysandra

--
On Feb 9, 2009, at 1:23 p, Jacqueline Fee wrote:

Hello StarLysandra,

First, bravo for working the Sampler - it truly will put you on the path to knitting on your own!

Now, I usually recommend the Basic Crew Neck Sweater ADULT size for a first project as you will better understand the relationship between the number of upperarm stitches to the neckline shaping as once the sleeves are gone the neckline must be ready for ribbing. To knit for small people is a bit tricky as their heads are oversized for their little bodies. This is nothing to be alarmed about - the two eventually even out! So, A Crew Neck is NOT a Good Choice for little ones - an open placket neck is best and sometimes the ratio does not work as it should and then it is a matter of eyeballing the yoke stitches and maybe adding or subtracting a few. The Placket Neck is the same as a Crew Neck, except the center neck stitches are split and for a boy the buttonholes would follow the MAN's directions.

As for size for a 4 year old that could be a best guess too. Is there a sweatshirt or something you can measure, or the actual chest measurement at the underarm and adding a few inches/sts. for comfort and ease????

Gads, all of the above is so vague, but I hope not discouraging and sometimes small sizes are fussier than adult sizes. It might be a good idea to work a Basic Crew for you first. Do not fuss with it!!! i don't care if it is only to rake leaves in, the important thing is to get the rhythm of the process.

All now, please write again.... Jackie
--

In case someone else is interested... or needs to... write her, I sent the email to the email address included on the very last page of the 2nd edition with the picture of Jackie.

Comment by Elianastar on February 8, 2009 at 8:58pm

Thanks, Cathy... I have the most recent edition of Sweater 101 but haven't used it yet, at all.

Thanks, I'll work from the chest measurement plus ease... thanks! :-)

Comment by CathyJ248 on February 8, 2009 at 8:38pm

I have made many sweaters using this method and EZ method which are very similar. For a child, I would use the chest measurement and add several inches of ease for the base measurement. I also have Sweater 101 but haven't used it in years.

Comment by Elianastar on February 8, 2009 at 4:36am

Has anyone actually started a sweater... or completed their Sampler? I will finish my Sampler, probably, today... I only have the Afterthought Pocket left to do, but have some other things I need to take care of today, so may not get to it.

My question to anyone who may be able to help is: I don't know how to determine measurements for a sweater for my granddaughter who has no sweaters to measure as a guide, according to Jackie's directions. I suppose I could just "guesstimate" knowing I may have a couple of false starts until I get it right, but if there is something else that might help, I'd appreciate it...

I also have "Sweater 101" which also uses a percentage system to determine design sizing... maybe I'll be able to use that for the measurements and construct the sweater according to Jackie's guidelines?

If all fails, I'll make my sweater first and then tackle the one for my granddaughter this fall. I was hoping to be able to make the smaller one first, so I could finish it sooner, though...

Comment by Elianastar on January 30, 2009 at 4:01pm

OK. I'm confused. Can some explain, in a more sequential manner than the book does, exactly what I'm supposed to do in the "short row" section, page 29-31?

I got the part about working to within 3 stitches of the "seam" and doing the wrap and working back to within 3 stitches of the opposite "seam" and doing the wrap there...

After that, its a little fuzzy...

I then turn around and work back, in stockinette to the first wrapped stitch, pull the wrap up and work the two stitches together... and then what???

On one hand, it sounds like I'm supposed to work my way around the Sampler, on the other, it sounds like I'm supposed to turn around again and go back adding two more rows of stockinetter between the wraps...

and if so... I'm not sure what to do from there...

I need a REALLY REALLY clear, step-by-step-by-step through the entire short row sequence from the "wrap the stitches" part, back to working in the round again.

help?

StarLysandra
Portland, OR

Comment by Debbi NW Ohio on January 17, 2009 at 10:20am

Okay, I'm now on the 2nd from the last step for my sampler. I thought I was closer to being done but now having dug it out again I realize that I need to finish and refresh what I learned last Apr/May. How is everyone else doing?
Debbi
NW Ohio

Comment by Elianastar on January 13, 2009 at 11:12pm

Looks like there may be a new group starting up for 2009! If you are just checking out this group, check out the "Is it too late to join this KnitAlong?" thread... and join us! :-)

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