Mr.Greenjeans completed!

Started 10/13/07
Completed 12/26/07
Yarn = worsted Malabrigo
Colorway = Emerald Blue
Needles = size 7 and 6 (I knit loose)
changes = knit 50 extra rows (after the decrease rounds) to make long sleeves
Comments = Loved knitting this pattern!

Finished, with a redone band

Edited: It took about 10 more episodes of Y&R to rip and reknit the button bands. I made them twice as wide, binding off on the 25th row, and used the rib and cable pattern instead of plain rib. That's why I'm editing this entry to put up new pictures. I'm leaving most of the other info about my version.

It took me a little more than 3 weeks. I knit it while watching Young and the Restless and the early news--it was my soap opera knit. I knit the small, 35", which measures about 30" in the cables, not counting the bands.

Modifications included longer sleeves (nearly 8" longer) and slightly longer cuffs (33 rows), longer body (by an inch, 1/2" above the cables, 1/2" in the cables) and the wider bands. The extra width in the bands improved the fit not only in the waist, but also in the collar and sleeves caps. Actually, I think the cabling had a lot to do with the collar and sleeves cap fitting better around my neck and shoulders.

I noticed that in the original version, the narrower bands closely followed the shape of the bodice, producing a noticeable "point" where the increases stop and looking funny when the sweater isn't buttoned. The wider cabled bands help even out that curve and make the sweater hang better unbuttoned--

I used Lonesome Stone handyed yarn, alpaca/wool blend; size 6 and 7 needles. I got gauge. More pictures here.

Although I'm happier with the looser fit, I still like the original version too. The deep v-neck is kinda snazzy, (see the photo below).


I wore this sweater several times already, and I really like it. It's warm, comfortable, and flattering.

I'm thinking about knitting it again. It was a fun knit. Thanks for K'ing a Long.

Introduction

I have been meaning to post an intro to the group and show you my progress but got lost in a very long "To Do List." It's that crazy time of year again....way too many holidays.

My name is Kelly and I am addicted to this sweater. I am using Cascade 220 Hand Painted in colorway #9922 - David's Eyes. I have never used Cascade 220 before. In fact when I hear someone mention this yarn I think...."Oh they must be making a felted bag." I happened to see the Hand Painted on Ravelry and fell in love with it at my LYS. It is very easy to work with and feels nice.

You can just barely make out a small bit of cables that have been done. I am loving the technique of cabling without a needle. I am not usually a person that makes the same pattern twice.....BUT.......I could see myself making another one or two of these sweaters.

Great pattern, Great yarn, Great project!!

Kelly C.

Brownjeans done...Greenjeans midway

Finished my brown Greenjeans...took about a week knitting-wise, but then I forgot to order buttons and they shipped slower than walking, it seems so then of course procrastinated on washing/blocking...knew the drying would take 2 days...didn't get to it until the buttons had been here a few days. Oy. But I'm very pleased with it. Fits well. Liked it enough to immediately cast on #2 in the colorway I originally wanted but WEBS didn't have in stock. Decided to bite the bullet and pay full price for Londonberry to find the next day WEBS listed it so ordered from WEBS and frantically contacted first seller to cancel order and thankfully they hadn't processed it yet LOL the yarngods were on my side that day (love WEBS' discount...) The Londonberry photographed much brighter than it is...it's deeper/richer in person...The Alaskan Twilight (brown) is showing obvious skein changes in the photo but it doesn't look like that in normal lighting. Hate flashes sometimes LOL

I will probably make yet another...want one in Fiesta Boomerang but I'll probably make a slight modification as I think I'd like the ribbing/cabling to start higher. In the 3x size, it seems to start much further down than in the smaller sizes, proportionately speaking. It's fine where it is but I think I want one with a more empire feel to it. The Londonberry one will have slightly longer sleeves but not much as I do like 3/4 length sleeves in general (I'm always pushing my sleeves up...comes from a childhood of having way too long arms (those grew first...was a weird lookin kid with a heck of a tennis serve due to ape arms LOL) and nothing ever being quite long enough so always pushing them up.

Mr. Disappointment

As knitters, we are often faced with challenges that we must either creatively overcome or admit that we are powerless to change the inevitable outcome. Such is the case for my Mr. Greenjeans. I've been in desperate denial since finishing and blocking the cardigan, hoping I would wake up and it would all be okay. It's not going to be okay. I wore Mr. Greenjeans all day today, and I came to this conclusion: I really don't like the finished product. For some reason, the stockinette top portion of the sweater blocked out HUGE and is now fit for the hulkiest of line backers. Seriously, I could wear the 1980's biggest shoulder pads under this thing and still not fill it out. I rechecked the gauge on it after I realized it was so big, and it was a big as 3 stitches/inch in some spots and as small as 4 stitches/inch in others (not so good when it was supposed to be 4.5 stitches/inch). Also, the bottom portion just pulls in too much. Back to the line backer reference, it would be totally fine if my hips were about 25" around. And we can't avoid talking about the sleeves - they are enormous! The cuffs just sag around my wrists. I also hate the button placement. Rather than hitting me right under the bustline, it's more in a low-waist level position. I pulled and tugged at the sweater all day today and found that the more I pulled it forward to keep it on my shoulders, the more the back raglan "seam" came forward to the front of my body. I finally stripped it off when I was trying on some jeans at Target, admitted to myself that it was a flop, and proceeded to carry it draped over my arm for what was left of my jaunt through the store. How devastating to admit that all the time and effort I put into this cardigan was a waste! It really is a beautiful cardigan, and I wanted so much to post a picture of me wearing it and smiling, triumphant at my knitting prowess, but I just couldn't do it. Instead I got a badly-lit, badly-posed picture of the official FO on my too-dark-for-photography couch. I think this is more befitting of the cardigan. It looks as rumpled and defeated as I feel. I hate disastrous hand knits!

My ultimate plan for the cardigan is yet to be determined. I will probably frog it and re-use the yarn for something else. I can't stand the thought of such a beautiful shade of Cascade 220 Heather being pushed into a drawer, never to see the light of day again.

(Cross-posted from my blog).

Mr Greenjeans in Red--Finished

Mr Greenjeans in Red--Visible
Originally uploaded by sunasak

I finished this on Sunday, but didn't have a good photo until today--I had to go into blinding sunlight to get the sweater to show up--a consequence of choosing dark yarn, I guess!

I wore the outfit in the picture to work yesterday and got many compliments, including the dreaded, "Wow, that looks store-bought!"

So, for this version of Mr. Greenjeans, I used Cascade 220 hand painted in very dark reds and black. I love the way this yarn doesn't pool much at all (just one little spot on an arm) and how pleasant it was to knit with some high quality worsted-weight wool for a change (I tend to use "interesting" yarns like bamboo, hemp, microfiber, etc., just so "see how they do" and sometimes that is good and sometimes not). It is very warm and cozy, too.

Things I did on this one include:

* Knitting it one size up, because I wanted more ease, for wear with thicker things under it--I think it can serve as a jacket through much of our Texas "winter."
* Lengthening the arms so that my wrists are covered (because I will use this for warmth). Of course, I am petite, so this would not be a full-length sleeve for many people!
* Did just cables on the sleeves. I am not sure why I did this, but it looks nice.
* Decreased more quickly than the instructions asked me to (due to short arms).
* Lengthened the rib and cable section, so it comes down to a more aesthetically pleasing area of my back end.

I didn't need the short rows all the busty women are adding to theirs, since, as you can see, I don't really fill the sweater out.

Blocking really helped. It made the bottom part a bit flatter, so it is just right, and it made the button band/collar edge lie very flat and nice. Blocking did, however, widen the whole thing. I read on Ravelry that this happened with someone else, too. I still think the fit is good for me, so I don't mind at all.

I will continue to read this blog to see what lovely finished sweaters you all come up with, so please post!

Finished, but not quite done

Mr. Greenjeans in Red, blocking
Originally uploaded by sunasak

Just a brief note to say I did finally finish my Mr. Greenjeans in red yesterday. Woo! It is now blocking, which is why it is so dark in the photo--it's wet. I think it is going to be PERFECT if I can find the perfect button! I hope so, because here in Texas we are finally having a cool spell, so I could wear it!

Modifications: I did the sleeve edges in just cables, without the stockinette stitch edge. Why? Not really sure, but I think it makes the cuff a little narrower. The sleeves are full lengthy too. I also made the bottom border a little longer. My sleeve decreases are "interesting" but they work. I am short, so had to go "faster" than the instructions said in order to get to 60 stitches in time.

I will post a photo of the sweater ON me in the next day or two! Again, I am really enjoying the photos and posts, so keep them coming!

Making progress

Really enjoying knitting this...goes pretty quickly...just wanted to post a quick progress pic. Love it in this yarn too...

Finally casting on

Got my yarn finally...decided on Cascade 220 Handpaints in Alaskan Twilight (color 9932) which is a subtle but pretty bunch of deep browns and plums. Did a swatch, found my gauge, cast on. It occurred to me I'd never used Cascade 220 for garment knitting before...only felting where I'd used huge needles and 2 strands...and I have to say I really like this yarn...nice sponginess to it making for a nice relaxing knitting experience. This color wasn't my first choice but of my top 3, the color WEBS had in stock and I wanted that discount LOL but I was bad tonight and ordered my first choice color after swatching this stuff and heck with the discount because I know I'll want to knit another one of these and I have to have that color...

No pics yet...just about 1 1/2 inches into it...and as I'm making the largest size, had to figure out the known mistake that's been posted elsewhere...the cast-on number for the largest size is off by 2 stitches.

My Slow but Steady Progress

Mr. Greenjeans in Red, progress
Originally uploaded by sunasak

I am so envious of the KAL member who started over the weekend and got to the end of the border. I am knitting as hard and fast as I can, but on my gauge and with my life, 1/3 the way through the cable section is the best I could do.

Of course, knitting is not a race, and I am very much enjoying the process of working with this yarn and pattern. I am certainly enjoying the fact that this pattern is not fussy and full of things to count like so many sweaters are.

Whoever said it's hard to see what size Mr. Greenjeans is coming out to be due to the curling edges sure has a point. I think mine is fitting pretty well, though. I'll probably make sure the sleeves hit the ends of my wrists (I am making this to wear in my freezing office, so I need it to be warm), but otherwise I am resisting my usual temptation to modify a pattern. I am so proud of myself.

Please keep sharing work in progress photos and yarn choices! It's fun!

Length Questions

I finished the body of my Mr. Green Jeans yesterday, and I have some questions to pose to everyone about length. I'm about 5'4" but pretty busty, so I added a half inch to the stockinette portion of the body because I didn't want the stitch transition to hit too high. In doing the cable and rib portion, I decided to add another half inch to lengthen the body. When I try it on, I'm having a tough time figuring out how it's really going to hit because the stockinette sections curls so much and the cable and rib portion draws up so much. I'm seriously considering picking out the cast-off edge of the body and adding length after I've finished the sleeves. Is anyone else adding length to their cardigan? If so, how much and how does that compare to your overall height?

I'm also thinking about making the sleeves longer. Has anyone else done that?

Off to start Magic Looping the sleeves!

Edited to add: I'm making size L.

Hello KAL

Hi,

I cast on for Mr. Greenjeans on Tuesday (I think) and I'm already down to the ribbing, so this sweater is knitting up quickly. I'm using Malabrigo in the color Marine, which turns out to be a very difficult color to photograph.


It isn't as gray as it appears here; it really is all shades of navy to mid-blue that sometimes appear shockingly royal in sunlight (eek).

Anyway, you can see I've just done one repeat of the cable pattern so far. I didn't quite get stitch gauge, so I'm knitting this at 17 sts to 4 inches on #8 needles (the rows are right on though). To make up the difference, I'm making size S and hoping I'll end up with something between S and M. I'm also planning on making it a couple of inches longer; 22 inches, maybe? I do so love being able to try it on to check.

I'm enjoying seeing all your WIPs and I can't wait to see some more finished Greenjeans!

Katherine
http://fuzz.typepad.com/

Got yarn, got gauge for GJ

Considering that the yarn I'd planned to use was too heavy a worsted, and the yarn I bought is too light, I'm quite happy that I got gauge with my second choice.

I went to my lys to find hand-painted, not-too-itchy, wool yarn. Ha. Ha again. After going over all the too-scratchy, not-enough in the colorway, who-would-knit-anything-that-color, yarn, I came up with an acceptable colorway. Painted Desert, by Lonesome Stone. I like it well enough, and am relieved that I got the right gauge by just going up one needle size.

On the plus side, it is a locally (Colorado) dyed yarn. It is an alpaca/wool blend, so not too scratchy. I had 20% off coupons for both hanks. I like the fabric I'm getting, even after I washed the swatch. Now all I have to do is cast on! :)

Mr Not Greenjeans

I say that because I am obviously not doing mine in any shade of green. I used to have a pair of green jeans and I got tired of being referred to as "Mrs. Greenjeans", so the name just gives me the shudders! I am making mine in purple Denim Tweed Aran from Debbie Bliss, right photo is more true.

I am making some modifications to make the design work in my yarn and for my preferences. First off is the increases. I am not a fan of visible increases so I am making mine lifted with mirrored increases. I am using a 6 row cable instead of the four due to the darkness of the yarn. The 4 row just got lost. And I will add the cable to the button band for a bit of dash.

I am also knitting this along with a friend in town, she is using Quattro 220 in a gorgeous shade of turq flavor.

Greetings, Fellow Greenjeans Fans

Hi! I'm Suna, in Austin/Round Rock, Texas. I just found this blog on Ravelry and am glad to find you all! I started my sweater this weekend using Cascade 220 hand paints in a very dark red/black combination. It looks like burning embers to me.

My gauge came out smaller than I expected (I did do a swatch, so who knows what went wrong), so I did an extra repeat of the pattern before breaking for the armholes. Now I just hope I didn't make it too big! I am making size M, because I always make my top-down sweaters too big, and I want to avoid that.

This is exactly the thing I want to wear this winter in my cold, cold office, and it will look so nice with all my red and black stuff. And with no seams and pretty cables, I fell in love with the pattern. I guess you all did, too! Looking forward to reading all of your posts and seeing your WIPs!

I am totaly amazed with all of you fine knitters... some of you are already working on arms! that rocks! I know that some have not casted on... including me. So i can't wait to see everyones stuff. I am getting about 2 or 3 requests for the blog daily. And we have over 50's members in the ravelry group.

keep up all your great work!

So Happy to Find This KAL

Hi everyone, I was so pleased to find this blog and be able to join the KAL. As soon as I saw the Mr. GreenJeans pattern at Knitty I fell in love with it and want to make it for my daughter in law and then myself as well. She is small - 33inch bust so it's such a pleasure to knit for her.

Today, I made up a gauge swatch for the yarn I'm going to use for my daughter in law, Tamra's, Mr. Greenjeans sweater. She doesn't like to spend a lot of time on hand washing knits so I chose a machine washable yarn called Olympic from New York Yarns. It is 70% acrylic and 30% wool. Even though it was quite inexpensive ($3.50 a skein from Knitting Warehouse) it is very nice. It is soft but not too soft and I got the correct gauge of 4.5 sts per inch with a size 8 (American) needle.

It is a single ply yarn and has a nice loft to it and the color is nice - very dimensional with lots of color interplay rather than one flat color. Hopefully, Tamra will like this color - it is kind of an army drab green but is very pleasing in person and she likes colors like this.

Perhaps I'll get a chance to cast on for it tomorrow. I do have tons of housework and laundry to catch up on as we've been staying in our trailer for three weeks while my husband started his new job in Questa, New Mexico!

My personal blog: http://thegrittyknitty.blogspot.com/

Greetings and salutations

Heya folks, just a quick HI...I was thrilled to find a KAL for this pattern. I'm currently in the yarn decidage phase...I'm waffling between the Miss Priss, Blue Moon's Twisted and Fleece Artist BFL. I think I'll probably have to wait til most of my holiday knitting is completed before I can start (which of course gives me that much more time to waffle about yarns LOL) but I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's progress and yarn choices, etc.

Nancy
http://www.sockaholic.blogspot.com/

Hello! Happy to be Here!

What a joy to be able to knit this fun cardigan along with other enthusiastic, creative knitters! Thanks to everyone who is joining and posting. This is going to make the knitting so much more fun!

I've already written several posts about my progress on my blog and in Ravelry about my Mr. Greenjeans, so I may end up repeating myself quite a bit. I thought I'd post some of the little tidbits I've learned along the way so far. Before I even started on my cardigan, I emailed the designer, Amy Swensen, for some fit details. I had some questions about positive vs. negative ease. Here's what she advised:

Here's what I'd recommend: To wear it closed, I'd go for 1-3 inches of ease. If you're going to wear it open, select a size closest to your actual bust measurement or a little smaller.

Hope this helps!

Amy

I decided to go with the size L. This cardigan has completely reinforced for me how much I love top-down sweaters. I love being able to try this on as I go.

I selected some Cascade 220 in Amethyst Heather from my stash for this project, even though it goes strongly against the "green" connotation in the pattern name. Here's some information about my swatching (cross-posted from my blog):

The swatching for Mr. Greenjeans went in a surprising direction. Usually I have to go at least one needle size up because I tend to be a bit of "tense" knitter. I swatched with size 9's, and it was WAY too loose. Size 8's gave me gauge...until I washed it. I couldn't believe how much that Cascade 220 relaxed with washing. It went from 4.5 stitches per inch to 4 stitches per inch. I swatched again with size 7's, and the gauge went from 5 stitches per inch to 4.5 stitches per inch with washing. Even the row gauge was right on! Wow, I can't believe what a difference washing/blocking makes.

I've been working on the cable and rib section for a couple of days now, and I've been doing the cables without a cable needle. This is the first time I've ever tried this technique, and I really love it. Amy gives really clear instructions on how to do it in the pattern, so if you've ever been tempted to try it, now is the perfect time!

I can't wait to see how everyone's sweater progresses! Good luck and happy knitting!

Greetings!

Chan here, also in the yarn procurement stage of this project. I fear I won't actually cast on until the holiday knitting is behind me (read: 1/2008), and I am in search of a not-so-delicate-care, not-all-wool fiber for my creation. I'm waiting with baited breath to see what Cass picks (no pressure, hon!). However, there's always a chance my selfishness will win out and I'll cast on impatiently, and just bump a few holiday projects into 2008 for Mother's Day, birthdays, etc.

Hello! and Yarn?

I have to say this sounds like a fun group. I appreciate the invite! I'm glad to see that several of us don't have our yarn yet. I thought I had the yarn, but I couldn't get gauge with what I had. This Saturday, I'm going to my lys to shop around, and will bring the pattern with me.

I have a couple of questions, and would love to read your opinions. First, variegated or not? I'd love to use a pretty variegated yarn, that doesn't have major pooling issues--any suggestions? Second, what about using something different for the button band/collar? I'm thinking either a complementary color of the same yarn, like a solid if the main yarn is variegated, or perhaps a different yarn altogether. Would a different button band draw attention away from the pattern details?

Hi all, guess I should toss up a little intro and such. My name is Kayt, your fearless leader, ok can't sy fearless.. i have fear! When I first saw Mr. Greenjeans in this edition of Knitty i fell in love! just fell in love. I am yet to choose my yarn yet. I know i want something vergiated and probably green. I am waiting until I finish my 1st sweater ever. It is another Amy Swenson, Emerald, also a knitty pattern.

I am a stay at home mom of a very active 2 year old. So most of my knitting is done late night, in front of my tivo box, or david letterman.

I can't wait to see all of your works!

Also I want to have a contest or 2, but am not sure what kind of contest. :(
So drop me suggestions!

*smilz*

Hello Everyone,

My name is Paula and I am very excited to knit this sweater.

I am thinking about using cascade 220. I am going to my LYS and see if I can pick up a skein to do some gauge swatches.

Paula

Hello!

YAY I'm so excited to see this KAL. I'm going to attempt to knit this on straight needles instead of circs. I have hand and wrist issues that keep me from using circs. I haven't decided on yarn yet. What's everyone else using?

Thanks for creating this KAL. :)

Welcome one and all!

We have all been drooling over this sweater... so why not knit it together? Everyone is welcome, as long as you have the ambition. So if you get stumped ask a question. Show off your work. Let us see the yarn you are using!

If you would like an invite to the blog please drop an email to mrgreenjeanskal@gmail.com

And don't forget..... HAVE FUN!