When did you first learn to knit? And why?

Back in 2005, I wanted a wrap sweater. I have long arms and a long-ish torso, and could not for the life of me find a wrap sweater that fits. On one fateful Saturday in WalMart, I picked up their “Teach yourself to knit” kit and that marked the beginning of a new obsession. After a weekend of casting on and binding off, I picked up the Stitch’n'Bitch Nation book and knit my first sweater - the Lucky Clover Wrap. Ever since then, I’ve knit several sweaters — cabled ones, simple raglans, boleros, and jackets.

Yet despite all that knitting, I have come to realize that the ones that I wear again and again, are the simple sweaters. Take for example, my Thermal. I wear it with a tank top underneath, or a 3/4 length shirt, and when the weather started getting a little colder, a long sleeved shirt. And my Raspy, a simple stockinette raglan that has seen numerous wears. And so when that Phildar Tendences 2007 issue arrived at my doorstep, this immediately caught my eye. But I really wanted to knit with Rowanspun 4ply - despite its slubby texture, and so I forged ahead.

Pattern: Phildar Tendences Printemps’07 Cardigan #18, Sz 34/36
Materials: 8 skeins (with lots leftover for seaming), 0 mm and 2.5mm needles, 3 3/4″ pearl buttons 

Notes: The pattern asks you to knit 8 pieces separately but I cheated. I knit the two front pieces and the back piece in one piece to the armhole, and continued separately. I added an extra stitch in the seam line to visually separate the front from the back, and also kept the beginning and edge of the rows with a selvedge stitch for easier seaming later on. Short-row shoulders, with a 3-needle bind off. The two front ribbed edges were attached to the front pieces using a crochet slip stitch (Note the slight puckering on one of the front edges), and the sleeves were knit the round.

The cardigan has 3 columns of stockinette detail in the fronts on a reverse stockinette background, so basically I would knit in the round in stockinette and just flip it inside out when I needed to seam. The collar was attached using simple backstitching.

(shown here: The knit column on the waist, and the decorative knit columns on the front)

(shown here: the right sleeve seam and the collar to body seam)

Now if you followed the pattern like I did for the buttonholes, that button size mentioned in the pattern will NEVER fit through the holes. Like, NEVER. So I settled for 3 el-cheapo 3/4″ buttons from Joann’s instead. Does the job if you ask me.

In the end, I like my yarn substitution. Wet-blocking Rowanspun really smoothed out the slubbiness and evened out my stitches, and I can predict many many wears in the future already.

And because I just totally raved about simple designs, I will now bite my own tongue and show you this.

(shown here: Fair isle swatch for my first Fair Isle Pullover)

It’s a hefty swatch. I’m having a hard time deciding which shade of grey to go with the yellow. The yarn is Harrisville New England Shetland: Cornsilk for the yellow, and Charcoal –> Dove Grey –> Suede (darkest to lightest). I am planning a simple shapeless potato sack pullover, something to lounge in for the cold weather, but in a bold brocade-ish pattern. Feel free to chime in and give me your two cents. All suggestions welcome.

And oh, in case you were wondering, I did get that pair of crochet slippers from my friend. He done good, y’all. The darn thing fits!

(pink feet make me happy)

It is interesting that after 2.5 years of knitting, triumphing over lace, fair isle, cables and many a sweaters, I have absolutely no ability to crochet. I have drooled over Erika Knight’s turkish slippers many times, and still can’t get myself to pick up a hook to learn the pattern.

One time in a yarn store with a friend, I was browsing the Rowan magazines while he wandered around the store, checking out what it is about these yarn stores that draw me to them irregardless of traffic conditions on the 5pm congested freeway. He noticed the slippers on the cover of Erika Knight’s Simple Crochet, and commented on how cool they are.

So fast-forward a few oohs and ahhs, and I charmed my way into a pair of fuschia colored slippers from a non-crocheter for my birthday this year. I’ll knit him a pair of socks, and he’ll learn crochet and make me the turkish slippers that I so desired. (If this ain’t persuasion skills then I don’t know what is).

“Fuschia? You want fuschia? Are you just trying to make this even harder for me or is that really what you want?”

(Now I would like you all to imagine an ex-football player with a crochet hook and two balls of fuschia yarn. A first-time crocheter, nonetheless)

Several months later, after much ripping and cursing on his part, my right foot was requested for a fitting. And of course, the crocheter can’t help but marvel at his own work and demands photoshoots for his work. I am mighty impressed. And hell, if he can do it, so can I. Guess who learned how to crochet?
Leftover sock yarn here I come. And stay tuned for the finished crochet slippers. It has taken months to get this far, I am sure the other foot won’t be too far away. Yipee!