My Free Patterns

Friday, November 4, 2011

A birthday present for me!

You know what I wish?  I wish that there was a snappy name generator for blog post titles.  I am terrible at naming what I'm writing about, so it usually ends up being called, "a hat" "a short sleeve cardigan" etc.  This weeks title is about my short sleeve cardigan--which I finished in time to give myself as a birthday present.  Plus, I think I already used "a short sleeve cardigan" back when it was a WIP!

I am really pleased that I finished my Tappan Zee Cardigan, and I love it!  I went into town just to find suitable buttons, because the three I had planned on using just didn't look pretty enough after all that work.





It fits just as I want it too, so all in all, a great success.  I'll be wearing it to the girls school today for the assembly.


Now, what is better than one finished project?  Two of course! I also finished the hat for my swap partner, and just got back from posting it to her.  I love how it turned out, though I'll warn you I had a hard time taking a decent photograph, I blame the slouch!







I believe I've said before that I'm not a fan of slouch hats---well this one made me change my mind.  I tried it on, you know, just to be sure it would fit an adult human head, and I didn't want to take it off.  The wool is gorgeous, soft, and WARM.  The pattern flattering.  It took all my willpower to put it in the bag and get it out of the house before I changed my mind.  I do hope she likes it.

Here are the details on the hat: Diamond beret by Petra Johnson.  Wool from The Wool Bothy, 50% wool, 50% mohair.


Lastly, I've got a favour to ask of any helpful soul out there.  I think I am finally ready to try my first sock (the big chunky one turned out ok, now I want one that will fit in my shoe!) and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good beginners book?  I really do want a book rather than an online pattern as I want a step by step, hand holding guide I can keep referring back to.  I will overcome my sock fear!!  Thanks in advance if anyone has any suggestions!




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29 comments:

  1. kjsutcliffeNovember 4, 2011 at 4:56 AM

    Although not a sock knitter I hang around knitters who are - and the general consensus is Stephanie Macphie (Yarn harlot) and Debbie Stoller both have good books out for sock knitters.

    I love your slouchy hat, can see why you wanted to hang on to it x

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  2. JacquiNovember 4, 2011 at 5:17 AM

    I love your cardigan - noticed the buttons on your other blog and wondered what was behind them.
    I like Ann Budd's getting started Knitting socks. If i could follow it then...
    xxx

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  3. Memo BoxNovember 4, 2011 at 5:21 AM

    I love the cardigan...if I was slimmer I would definitely make that for myself, but I know that style would make me look like a frump.

    I have trouble with titles too, so you're not alone.

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  4. pinkundineNovember 4, 2011 at 5:26 AM

    The cardigan is gorgeous, and the buttons are just perfect.

    I know you say you want a sock book rather than an online pattern, but I can highly recommend Silver's Sock Class. It is online, but it is a sock making tutorial rather than a pattern, with tonnes of pictures of every single step and lots of handholding. It's what I used for my very first socks and they came out great.

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  5. RhianNovember 4, 2011 at 6:10 AM

    Lovely cardigan & fab buttons. I'm in the middle of kntting my first sock using sock yarn using this pattern - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-ribbed-socks

    I have found it really easy to follow. So if you do change your mind, it's a pretty good place to start.

    I also found this article quite helpful too. http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/FEATsocks101.html

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  6. SrividyaNovember 4, 2011 at 6:42 AM

    Great looking cardigan! I love the hat too. :)

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  7. ChrissyNovember 4, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    The buttons you used on the cardigan are gorgeous. They work perfectly against the pale background.

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  8. Heather WoolloveNovember 4, 2011 at 6:51 AM

    What a wonderful cardigan...and the buttons were definitely worth the trip!
    ...love the hat, too!

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  9. WonderWhyGalNovember 4, 2011 at 6:51 AM

    The cardi is GORGEOUS! The slouch hat is GORGEOUS! You are a rock star! I love the little buttons you picked too.

    I haven't used a book for sock knitting but...surrounded myself with sock knitters and an awesome instructor who also wrote the pattern for my first sock. win/win Good luck! They are super fun to knit (said from the former full of sock knitting fear person)

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  10. NicoleNovember 4, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    The buttons on your cardigan really do tie it all together, it's beautiful! I need to motivate myself to try socks soon, I talk about it enough!

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  11. Kathryn RayNovember 4, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    I love that cardi! If I were to make it, I would add sleeves. The buttons are just perfect!!

    I agree with you on the slouchy hats, but I do like that pattern too.

    I just finished my first socks using this pattern. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sock-it-to-me-2

    It was easy to follow and designed for customizing. So it allowed me to make a pair of socks to fit my husband's odd feet perfectly.

    I see some others posted helpful patterns... so I will go check those out too. :-)

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  12. LauraNovember 4, 2011 at 8:59 AM

    Wow, that cardigan is gorgeous! And I don't blame you for not wanting to post the hat off - hope you find time to make yourself one :)

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  13. MelissaNovember 4, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    Great finished projects....I love slouch hats and this one is stunning. Maybe you could share the pattern name?

    Good luck on the socks....several good patterns already listed. Just take a deep breath and jump in.

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  14. UnknownNovember 4, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    I love Nancy Bush's socks books. Even though I no longer knit socks, I would go to her books if I was interested again. My first socks were from her Knitting On The Road book. I still have that pair in my drawer!

    Love the sweater!!! And that hat is too cute.

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  15. FlorenceNovember 4, 2011 at 10:32 AM

    The sweater and hat are beautiful!!!! And I have to tell you that I love, love, love those buttons! I'm kind of a button fiend. :)

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  16. CalophiNovember 4, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    I love the hat and the cardigan! The buttons are especially elegant.

    Sorry I can't help with the socks. My first pair were beaded mystery socks, hahaha! No hand holding for me. I'm a masochist. :)

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  17. grandmastatusNovember 4, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    I knit my first sock using Stephanie Pearl McPhee's Knitting Rules!, and I think it is a great all-around resource. In the Sock section, she has both a pattern and a set of step by step directions that you can apply any gauge to.
    Since then I have bought many other books about socks, including Teach Yourself Visually: Sock Knitting which I thought would be the best resource as well. Turns out, even though it does have quite a few different methods for socks (including how to knit a sock flat) I still prefer Knitting Rules! and would still go back and flip to the sock section when turning the heel of quite a few of my first socks.
    Good luck finding a good resource- i know what you mean about physical books.
    oh and your finished objects are lovely. i was so excited to learn that the hat pattern is free!!

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  18. AmyNovember 4, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    What beautiful buttons you chose! It really looks great on the cardigan :)

    I love the beret too :)

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  19. Pussywillow & PurlNovember 4, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    Amazing work... & the buttons look stunning! x

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  20. Spinster BethNovember 4, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    Ooooh I like the blouse AND the hat! They both look very soft and comfy!

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  21. BethNovember 4, 2011 at 9:43 PM

    Getting Started KNitting Socks is the book I used when I was learning. I really loved the illustrations and I had no problem going through step by step. I hope you'll join my challenge this year; the second annual Turning Heels in the New Year...stay tuned.

    Your Tappan Zee is PHENOMENAL. I remember seeing it on ravelry, but I'm not sure if I bookmarked or not. Now I will! I like the name of it, too. Tappan Zee is a bridge in New York (you probably know that), but I can hear my brother saying it as he does...all together...tappanzeebridge :-)

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  22. LoulouNovember 4, 2011 at 10:09 PM

    Gorgeous and gorgeous! Both pieces are so nice. You're such a great knitter!

    Loulou @ Loulou Downtown

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  23. karenNovember 5, 2011 at 11:03 PM

    Hope you had a great birthday!I love your cardi! the buttons you chose are perfect for it.
    Ive just used a great tutorial for sock knitting with very detailed instructions and pictures (I needed some hand holding too:)heres a link -http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/ I just wrote about it on my blog and there are pics of the socks I knitted which fit in shoes. heres a ravelry link, I modified the pattern slightly to fit better-http://www.ravelry.com/projects/karen88/toe-up-sock-on-two-circular-needles
    hope that helps xx

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  24. SarahNovember 5, 2011 at 11:47 PM

    Love this..so creative!
    Sarah
    www.budgetfriendlydecorating.com

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  25. BecksNovember 6, 2011 at 1:11 AM

    The bttons are so pretty and contrast the pale colour perfectly, of course you love it! And the slouchy hat is lovely too. I would definitely be tempted by it, as a non-hat wearer.
    xx

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  26. AllyBNovember 6, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    Super cute sweater and the buttons are perfect. Thanks for posting the pic of your beautiful beret. I'm printing the pattern now and look forward to casting it on this week. I'm always looking for cute slouchy hat patterns.

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  27. AnonymousNovember 6, 2011 at 3:50 PM

    Really, really cute sweater!!

    New follower here from the blog hop

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  28. HanniNovember 7, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    I love your beret! Very cute!

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  29. JenniferNovember 7, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    Hello, just wanted to let you know that I have mentioned this post on my blog. Please let me know if there is anything you would like me to remove.
    Cheers
    Jennifer
    www.eatcraftsow.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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