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. (:

    ReplyDelete
  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!)

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  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!

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  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!

    ReplyDelete
  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

    ReplyDelete
  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!

    ReplyDelete
  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

    ReplyDelete
  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

    ReplyDelete
  12. Kim April 3, 2012 at 1:49 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  13. AngelaApril 3, 2012 at 3:10 PM

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

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  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!

    ReplyDelete
  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...

    ReplyDelete
  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

Post a Comment


Your comments are welcome as long as they are relevant to the post and spread joy, thank you for visiting and sharing your ideas.

Popular posts from this blog

Weekends

Image
My weekend happily contained: -wearing the above woolens all at the same time without being hot -so many walks and taking in the changing leaves. -a leaf shower on Saturday-the wind swirled the leaves off the trees up in the air to float down -changing screen savers to autumn themes! -a craft fair where my husband and I say "we could make that", but we don't. -french fries at the craft fair -scrambled eggs and toast for dinner because we were lazy. -football season has descended in my house. he was in the front room watching whatever is on today -I sat in the family room and watched A Tree Grows in Brooklyn .   Now I want to read it again. -Oh! I finished the socks!! So I wound up about six skeins of yarn and have three projects ready -started a cowl for me in fall colors (I hope to finish before fall ends) -enjoying Spirits of Joy .  Hannah graciously had a one day free sign up for her birthday at the end of September which I luckily saw on Twitter.  Than
Read more

Happy List

Image
  - neighborhood pumpkins - my oak trees showing off - new friends at 'school' - Tai Chi hour - lunch out with my husband - cold morning walks - an unexpected warm up - all the fall knitting (imagined and real) - wearing wool - browsing knitting patterns - sister outings - dark chocolate - blue skies - neighborhood dogs - the kids coming to visit next weekend - the to-do lists that I am creating - afternoon reading (possible snooze) - apples! - soups! - hearing the breeze whisper through the trees - setting intentions - giving myself grace when I need it the most - solitude - grandchildren laughing - Holly being Holly - Blue skies - phone calls from family and friends - the kindness of others - assuming everyone is doing their best - drinking water and staying hydrated - hot decaf green tea in a BIG mug - first sip of coffee - geese flying in V formation and honking all the way (delightful!!) - Focusing on gratitude - focusing on joy  What would make your happy list?
Read more

Knitting News

Image
  Good morning to you! How are you? I'm excited about my hat that I've been knitting enjoying the sea of stockinette stitches. When I first started the hat I thought it would be too small, now I wonder if it will be too big. Gah. I will find out soon I guess. I wish the photo about showed how beautiful the colors are in real life, you'll have to trust me on this! Below is my next knitting project, the habitation throw . I will definitely use the pink and gray, I'm still not sure about that purple, I might have a look-see in my stash and do another ponder about that color. I chose this pattern because I can use up some of my stash and I adore Helen Stewart's patterns. What are you working on this week? Also: I will probably not be posting this Friday and the following Monday because of my family visiting. I hope to be back next Wednesday (unless I change my mind).
Read more