Freeport Shawl Collar Vest

Freeport Shawl Collar Vest...I have worn this each day since I completed it and have received many compliments. Some are saying it is their favorite of my knits so far. You've gotta try this pattern! There could be endless possibilities with the color combos really.....I had fun with my garnet red stripes against the backdrop of the brown. I am honored to have my photo up on The Brown Stitch's blog, as she is showing samples of what projects people have knit using her patterns. You can check it out and see her other cool patterns over there.

...and look at the texture...

 

Definitely love it even more after blocking. Blocking just makes every stitch fall into place and lay smoothly and I got a bit of length out of it too. Photo shoot outside today by my wonderful husband.

 Shown before blocking.

Shown blocking.

Here's my version of Freeport Shawl Collar Vest by Elizabeth Smith. View her blog, The Brown Stitch and you can get her pattern there too! Or off Ravelry. She's on my sidebar link to the right! Mine was done with less than 3 skeins of Cascade Soft Spun, and less than one skein Malabrigo, both non-plied. I used a size 10 needle throughout. Of course I can never wait to model and wear my finished items before blocking, so I am wearing it here prior to blocking.

 Shown before finishing armholes and blocking...I tried it on and it fits! I am always so happy when this happens. You do a project and make modifications and hope that you got the gauge right and that it all works out fine. Usually it does! In this case, I think I got the correct needle size, gauge and so far it looks like this one will be a winner. Cute pattern!

After a few more rows I will bind off the collar and start on the armhole stitches.

Working on the short rows to shape the shawl collar here....

The Freeport Shawl Collar Vest... a lovely pattern. I liked the stripes in garter stitch and in contrast to the main stockinette body.  Since my yarn is a Cascade Soft Spun with brown and flecks of a red in it, I chose a Malabrigo in burgundy as my accent color for the stripes. Both yarns are soft and not plied. I am doing the medium size on size 10  circular needles. This pattern is seamless from the bottom up. Then you work the front pieces upward separately, putting one side on hold while knitting the other. The back is also knit upward. The stripes are made by alternating to the contrast color every two rows, and done in garter stitch. The shoulders will be sewn using a 3 needle bind off and the shawl collar will be picked up and short rows used to shape it.

Here is the piece layed out flat. You can see where you bind off stitches at the underarm. Modifications: I am omitting the waist shaping called for in the pattern, as well as omitting the "fake seam" called for down the armhole to the hem.I could have probably done the waist shaping, but thought it might be snug on me. It probably would've been just fine if I'd done it.

I think it's coming along well and soon I'll be ready to put the back stitches on hold while I finish knitting up the other "front" side. 

I am working on the picking up of the collar stitches now and getting ready to do the short row wraps for the shawl collar.  It's a cute pattern and vests are my new favorite thing so I look forward to finishing this one.

I am very happy with this pattern and recommend it.  Note: I would not recommend the Cascade Soft Spun necessarily as it seems to "crease" a little bit. Odd, never had a yarn do that. But it then shakes out. Maybe since it is so soft.

Adding sleeve bands on Loppem

Back to Loppem and adding the pattern's sleeve band to bring in the sleeves and underam holes tighter in and finish them off. Before the bands, they are a little big and the armholes dip down.

Adding this extra ridge of 4 rows of stockinette by casting on less stitches than are currently on the sleeve will bring it in closer to the arm and finishes off the underam with a rolled edge.

And since I never got around to blocking Loppem (too excited to wear it!), it is drying now on a towel...taking up my Christmas wrapping table for a few days.

Lovely Loppem is Finished

My beautiful Loppem by Norah Gaughan is finished! Buttons are on and it is laying flat now to dry a bit. Trying to show you the buttons here while taking a self-pic with it on-a bit hard!

I did four cable pattern repeats, and 2 more lines following those before starting the yoke.On the sleeves, I hadn't misread the pattern after all...just hadn't read far enough to the end. If I want to, now is when I would pick up stitches around the sleeves and add another little "ridge" of stitches. I am kind of pleased with it as is. I may just leave it! The cardi does swing open as you can see when it is hung. Probably the most challenging thing for me is trying to lightly steam-press the decreased stitches a bit so they don't show so much on this heathered yarn, as well as blocking to make everything lie flat. Despite a few minor things, I think all in all, it went well!

Loppem from the Norah Gaughan Vol. 3 book, was knit on size 9 needles using Cascade Heathers 220 wool in Aporto Blue on one circular needle from the bottom up. I used 3 skeins. Modifications: Body- Started decreases at 2.75 " and every 1.75 " after-however found wasn't necessary to change the decreases from pattern instructions, as I did end up following the pattern length pretty closely. Sleeves-omitted the extra band rows at the finishing stage. Suggestions: May want to put sleeves on holder instead of casting off armholes, then casting on sleeves-it was very tight casting on the sleeve sts. Definitely check Ravelry and Berroco errata changes on this pattern.

TA DA! I did it! It turned out just as I had imagined it would...

Loppem Sleeves

Loppem shown close to actual color, hanging on a chair! Have worked up through the sleeves and beginning next on the yoke. This is a very fun stage of the sweater, where it is all coming together and soon to be completed. Notes to self: Might have listened to advice of another knitter and done a few things differently. Casting on sleeve stitches was very tight. Might have put some stitches on holders to help through that portion. Decrease rows on sleeves did not line up in pattern. Reverse stockinette on lower portion of sleeves was done only first few rows instead of repeated a few rows later, as I never saw in pattern those instructions to repeat it. Though I am not disappointed in having it only on the edge. It matches the lower hem of the sweater that way. In the yoke portion, will be the buttonholes. I have buttons that I think will work well! This one with flash turned off-NOT actual color but shows stitch definition a little more for you. I have done 4 pattern repeats with 2 more lines of pattern after that prior to yoke.

All in all...it is coming along well and hopefully some of the decreases and rough spots will block out to not be noticeable. A "happy" knit!

Everyday Cardigan, Fall and Loppem

Wearing Everyday cardi to the Arboretum today on the most perfect Seattle Fall day ever!

The trees practically glowed in the sunlight and everyone in the city was there for the show, it seemed!


Even my favorite street to drive on the way to and fro work is blooming in color now!
And now for the progress update on Loppem. I am so far very much in love with this sweater!

Crammed onto a long circular needle, Loppem is being knit from the bottom and heading up! The little "ears" you see are really the beginning of the bottom of the sleeves. That was the hardest part. Could've used a longer cable needle or put the sleeves on holders instead. It won't look so smooshed or curly once it's off the needles, finished and blocked. Next I do more inches on sleeves and continue cabling, then move on to the yoke! This is a great knit so far! I am challenged to the max on my skill level, but trying to go slowly so as not to goof up, and reading everyone's recommendations off Ravelry.This one has too many sts. on the needles which makes it hard to RIP out! So on I go! No mistakes allowed!

Second Pattern Repeat on Loppem

Second time through pattern repeat, done with two decrease rows so far, and on up I keep knitting with a few more decrease rows yet to do...until I get to the place where we make armholes! Cat hiding from the rain I guess...It's pouring here!

Cabling on Loppem

I turned off the flash so you could see better the contrast and the cabling. These are the cables that will run up both sides of the front of the Loppem sweater. It is tricky for me being the first time I've followed a chart on a sweater. But it's going pretty well as long as I go slowly and not get distracted. Definitely not an idle "non-thinking" project for me. Concentrating harder on this one. I'm sure I will get the hang of it. On decrease rows you have to SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit) and K2Tog a few times. All the while tracking your pattern. This is a gorgeous pattern though...
Fall is here!
Enjoy the colors of Fall! And the sunlight while you can!