Sweater’s, Sock’s, & Olympics, OH MY!

Yay! I finished my first Sweater! ….I finished it days ago but my internet has been on the fritz- but that’s another story and in the spirit of keeping this positive I won’t go there.



Anyway, YAY!

This is a baby doll tunic that I knit using some of my very own handspun. It was about 720 yards of merino wool , about 11 wpi. I knit it raglan style, top down, on size 10 circulars. I must say, it came out exactly how I envisioned it!




I knit this sweater intuitively. I’ve decided that’s what I’m going to call my knitting style, intuitive knitting. I tend to “wing it”- I get a design in my mind, but I never put it down on paper or work out the details mathematically or otherwise. I trust my gut and problem solve as issues arise.

Originally, I think I identified my style as free form knitting, but that doesn’t seem fitting. Although I’m not following a pattern, there is really nothing free form about it. I know what I want it to be in the end, the trick is just getting there!

To me, intuitive knitting is: having a very clear idea of what you want to accomplish, a good understanding of the material(s) that you are using, and a broad spectrum of skills needed, i.e. increasing and decreasing techniques. It’s also important to TRUST the process. For me, that’s what knitting is all about- the process. Sure getting something amazing in the end is awesome, but it’s the journey that I really enjoy.

…In other knitting news…
I am also participating in Knittydirtygirl ‘s Handspun Sock KAL that she is hosting in Rawfish ‘s Ravely group.
I purchased some gorgeous hand dyed superwash merino from SpinnersHeart and spun it into about 300+ yards of worsted weight yarn.



After I finished my sweater I began knitting my socks on size 5 dpns (I’m not really into the super small needle/yarn thing) using Charisa Martin Cairn’s Lifestyle Sock Pattern, which is totally up my alley!

Of course I had to be different though and I knit it cuff down rather than toe up. This of course totally came back to bite me in the butt when I ran out of yarn as I approached the toe of the second sock.



I’m still thinking through how I am going to deal with this. I’m either going to rip out the feet of both socks and shorten the cuff (which I really don’t want to do, because I love the length), or I am going to purchase some more superwash in a solid color for the toes (probably what I’ll do).

And lastly, I’m going to participate in the Ravelympics…because I’m INSANE! I’ve joined KnitFemme’s Handspun Knitters Team and I’ve been busily going through my stash and picking out patterns for the big event. More on that soon!

Be well, and be positive!