Knitting the Hawthorne Sweater


I have been diligently working on my hawthorne cardigan this past week.  My goal is to empty out my knitting bag of all the wintry items.  This is the last project to finish.  I consider it a winter garment because it is 100% alpaca.  Who doesn't love alpaca when they're freezing?


I'm on the first sleeve but really when you do top down construction, sleeves go lickety split-at least for me.  I also place clip-on stitch markers for every decrease row so I don't have to count over and over again.  They are purposefully color coded as well.


Green for every 10 rows, peach for every six rows.  There's a system to my madness!  This also aids me in making my sleeves identical.  I am into symmetry and guessing is not my forte.



 I've mentioned this before that I do not keep track of my rows on paper.  It just doesn't work for me.
When I was a teenager knitting an afternoon away,  I would always second guess myself.  "did I write that row down?"  "what row am I on?"....so I quickly learned to read my knitting and know where I was in a pattern.  Markers help me with that.

Comments

  1. eidolonsApril 3, 2012 at 8:20 AM

    I think your sweater looks amazing! I have trouble remembering if I've written things down as well. And yet I keep doing it that way anyway. But I suppose that while I like symmetry, I'm not adverse to guessing. The longies I'm knitting right now - I'm aiming for legs of *roughly* the same length. (:

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  2. stephApril 3, 2012 at 8:23 AM

    I love love love your row counting method!!!! Brilliant! I'm going to try that for sure.....if it ever cools off enough to even THINK about knitting a sweater again! Thanks for the tip! (Hawthorne is looking fab!)

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  3. Tracey ~ CloverApril 3, 2012 at 8:43 AM

    I continue to learn so much from you Karen! The stitch marker system sounds like a great idea. I am Finally learning to read my knitting so I am getting a little more relaxed with it. Your Hawthorne sweater is so lovely.

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  4. pinkundineApril 3, 2012 at 9:09 AM

    Sensible approach with the stitch markers :) I write things down, because I am liable to forget with every other method I try, so I have to make sure I always make my notes at the end of a row, otherwise it all goes wrong!

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  5. amanda {the habit of being}April 3, 2012 at 9:29 AM

    sounds like a good idea :) and my, that alpaca looks soft!

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  6. MelissaApril 3, 2012 at 9:31 AM

    I am so impressed. It's looking gorgeous! My sleeves are at a stand still. I just got bored with it and put it aside for the weekend. It's time to pick it back up, but I seriously need to get motivated. I love your color coding with the markers, by the way...brilliant! I'm like you, I can't write it down because I second guess myself as will.

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  7. AnonymousApril 3, 2012 at 9:51 AM

    What a great idea! I'm going to have to try that. Good for you for emptying your basket; I'm trying!

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  8. UnknownApril 3, 2012 at 9:51 AM

    I can NEVER remember if I added one or not. I agree that reading your knitting is much better. The color coding is brilliant

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  9. owlmazingmakesApril 3, 2012 at 10:00 AM

    Alpaca is definitely a more winterey fiber if you ask me! I also always forget if I've written down what row I just did, so I use stitch markers for most of my counting. If I'm counting rows I just use a stitch marker at the beginning and move it 1 over after each row. So when there's a stitch marker 9 stitches from the beginning of the round, I'm on row nine. You don't forget to move the stitch marker nearly as much as marking it on paper!

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  10. Lady CordeliaApril 3, 2012 at 11:43 AM

    wow. I look at that and just want to cry.
    I think I"ll never knit a sweater. Looks way too hard.
    Dang, it's beautiful, though.
    C

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  11. no spring chickenApril 3, 2012 at 1:03 PM

    Mmm... alpaca. Thanks for the tip about the markers at the increases, I'll use that!

    Blessings, Debbie

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  12. Kim April 3, 2012 at 1:49 PM

    Fabulous idea, love it!!! Thanks for sharing. Your sweater looks lovely, and so very soft!

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  13. AngelaApril 3, 2012 at 3:10 PM

    Wow that is a beautiful shade of gray. It looks so soft and cozy.

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  14. Melanie RouthierApril 3, 2012 at 3:25 PM

    Love the way you row count! Do you mind if I pin this on Pinterest?

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  15. AnonymousApril 3, 2012 at 3:36 PM

    That is going to be such a lovely cosy sweater!
    I am same; I can never remember whether I wrote something down yet, so I don't. I'm with you.

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  16. SusanApril 4, 2012 at 1:49 AM

    What a pretty color and pattern! Cant wait to see the finished pictures, it looks like you are almost there!

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  17. EllenApril 4, 2012 at 12:58 PM

    That looks warm and soft and fuzzy - yes, a wintry sweater. I like the ideas of the stitch markers. I try to diligently write down where I am, but sometimes...

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  18. AnonymousApril 11, 2012 at 5:45 PM

    I love your method for keeping track- I'm so copying you- no more counting, recounting, doubting and forgetting!

    ReplyDelete

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