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.