I can’t make up my mind. I have had this KAL Challenge planned out since last fall, and I still haven’t come to a decision on my pattern. I have scoured Ravelry. I have gone through pattern books. I have asked for favorites on The Loopy Ewe group on Facebook. And still … I’m undecided. Our First Quarter KAL Challenge is to knit a sweater. We haven’t had a sweater challenge since we did the Dream in Color Classy one about two years ago. It’s time, again! I have had my yarn picked out for a month. I’m using String Theory DK in Black Cherry. I do love Lisa’s Central Park Hoodie and Melanie’s Chinese Lace Pullover. Both of those caught my eye way back then, and the photos still make me want to knit them. Of course I have queued quite a few more in the meantime. I think the thing with sweaters is that in my mind, they are a much bigger time commitment than a pair of socks. I never stress over sock patterns, because I’ll finish one and start in on another. For some reason, committing to a sweater pattern makes me feel like I can only pick one a year and it makes me indecisive. FPS. For the DC challenge, I knit up a Mr. Greenjeans and I love that sweater. It was very do-able for an inexperienced sweater knitter. So – pick a sweater pattern and come knit with us! Since this is a bit of a longer knit, we’ll leave this open until May 1st. (We will, however, have a new challenge go up in April to coincide with the beginning of the Second Quarter. They’ll just have to overlap a bit.)
We need you to vote on all of the entries from our Fourth Quarter ’09 Challenge, where I asked you to knit a shawl. There are over 100 photos in that gallery for you to look through – wow. You all did such beautiful work. Please take a look at the photos and email to tell us your vote for the “Reader’s Choice” award. We give a Loopy gift certificate to the winner of that, and we also do a random drawing among all entries for a second gift certificate. We’ll take your votes (support AT theloopyewe DOT com) through next Monday and then will announce the winners.
Back to the new challenge – in order to participate, pick any sweater pattern (or vest, or tunic) that you’d like to make. The yarn needs to be a line that we carry here at The Loopy Ewe (although if you actually bought that yarn elsewhere, that’s ok. I know many of you have stashes to work from.) If you do need to purchase yarn for this KAL, we are offering you a 20% discount on the yarn for one sweater project. Just leave us an order note that you’re participating in the KAL Challenge and tell us which yarn in that order you’ll be using for it, and we’ll adjust the price on your invoice. (Note – if you are going for the $75 free shipping level, make sure that this discount won’t put you below $75.) This offer is good on an order placed between 1/18 – 1/31, for those of you who want to participate in the KAL. Don’t forget to leave an order note for us.
Just in time for sweater knitting, we put up a full re-stock on Dream in Color Classy. We also have Malabrigo Worsted, Noro Silk Garden Worsted, Cascade 220, Fiesta Boomerang, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted, and Madelinetosh Worsted in stock. (We do have more Madelinetosh Worsted shipping out to us next week, but I’m not sure it will be here in time for the discount. No promises, but we’ll do our best. In the meantime, we also have a new Tosh Sock order enroute to us already, and the new Pashmina base coming after that. Fun things to look forward to.) And of course there are lots and lots of DK and fingering weight options for your sweaters as well. There are some really fun sweater patterns in those weights.
In addition to the DC Classy re-stock today, we also added in a re-stock of Dream in Color Smooshy, Lane Borgosesia Cashwool, new Trekking colors (#417-421), a luscious new merino/alpaca/nylon sock yarn from Berroco, new Berroco Sox colors, Lorna’s Laces Pearl, Alpaca With a Twist Fino, and more Atenti bags. (And might I point out, those Atenti bags are perfect for carting around sweater projects. Ask me how I know. Isn’t it helpful that I sprinkled a few photos of them in this blog post?) Also coming soon – our 2010 Valentine Kits – watch for them in a couple of weeks!
Knitting Daughter went back to college today, so the holiday season is officially over. (I like that it lasted a long time.) Zoe came to Loopy with me this afternoon, but she’s not very helpful. She likes to be in front of the computer screen while I’m trying to work. Or maybe she just misses these two kids like I do.
Our January Blog Contest question: Do you have a favorite sweater/vest/tunic pattern? Or are you not a sweater knitter? I’ll use the random number generator to draw a winner from your comments, and I have Wollmeise to give away for the prizes! We’ll announce the winners next Monday.
Sheri sorryforthelonglongblogposttoday.Toomuchtotell!
I am making my first sweater now. it is a feb lady sweater. i have the yarn for mr greenjeans, and the plymouth yarn kimono. i want to be able to knit sweaters and do it in a timely fashion.
Right now I am knitting the Vine Yoke Cardigan and it is really fun – knit sideways!
I also really like Loppem – planning to do a second one of those very soon. But next on the agenda is the Fireside Sweater….lots of cables but (or is that and?) sooooo pretty!
I have a favorite baby sweater that I love to knit (to give away).
But I haven’t found a favorite adult sweater pattern yet.
Never knit a sweater — unless you count that one I knit in college for the boyfriend who is long since forgotten…….Maybe this is the time for me to try!!!!!
A favorite is the generic neck down raglan cardigan. Never grows old.
I’ve only been knitting for about 6 years now and have graduated from scarves to hats, then mittens, then socks. I love making mittens so that is what I mostly do. But in an enthusiastic burst one day on vacation about 4 years ago, I went into my favorite knitting store (we go to the same place every year) and asked if I was a good enough knitter to make the vest in the window! She didn’t know me so didn’t have a clue but that didn’t dampen my enthusiasm! I bought the Oregon Vest pattern by Oat Couture and Cascade yarn but have yet to “commit” to that big a project! Maybe I will now.
I knit sweaters, but I don’t have a favorite pattern. I do know that I don’t enjoy knitting sleeves in the round onto the front and back of a sweater (which I’m doing now) — too much twisting! I prefer to seam.
I’m going to try to knit my first sweater for this KAL – the February Lady sweater in Malabrigo Worsted (sweet grape). Wish me luck!
This was hard. I narrowed it down to my top 20. I love sweaters, maybe because I live in Minnesota or maybe because it calls for lots of knitting. I still love my old Bear Brand cardigan pattern from the Raglan Book Volume 80. It was my first sweater. There is no date but the book cost 85cents.
I have not yet finished a sweater, but I have many that I would love to make someday. I got on a role with socks and just kept going with those. However, one of my favorite things to do is to search sweater patterns for sweaters that could be converted to vests. Someday I will make one of them!
So far (ahem, 20-25 years or so) my very favorite sweater i’ve knit was for my son when he was about 8 or 10–it was the “Cashel Child’s Sweater in Celtic Knotwork” from AStarmore’s book, The Celtic Collection. Knit in Cascade’s LanaD’Oro in a nice emerald shade chosen by Terry himself, he loved it, wore it, and even better his older teenage sister thought she could squeeze into it when he was growing out of it!
I am a newer knitter and want to make the featherweight cardigan in Malabrigo lace one day. Need to get over the hot flashes first though:-) For now it is tanks and shawls!!
I am just not a sweater knitter. I have a couple sweater UFO’s around and the only things I seem to finish are smaller things like baby sweaters, shawls, and many, many hats. I’m a good knitter but somehow I never seem to finish a sweater. I can blame the toddler right? (Even if this behavior started before he was born???)
I’ve been wanting to make A Little Something for quite a while:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-little-something
And even better–right now, 50% of pattern sales will be donated for disaster relief in Haiti. I just bought my copy. 🙂
All I ever knit was sweaters … then I discovered socks and I haven’t looked back. I’m hoping to cast on for the Central Park Hoodie one day, tho’.
My all time favorite sweater pattern is Neck Down Shaped Cardigan #241
by Diane Soucy . It’s nothing flashy but it’s comfortable and fits nicely! It was the first cardigan I ever made and the pattern was super easy. I highly recommend it.
I have knit lots of sweaters, the first way back in 1972. My absolute favorite right now is Elizabeth I by Alice Starmore.
I’m still a newbie sweater knitter, but I have a lot of patterns in my queue! Elsebeth Lavold in my favourite designer at the moment, I love looking through her pattern books and dreaming about what I would make if I had all the time in the world … like Marika or the Fjalar Sweater!
I am trying to decide on my sweater project, too many choices all of which I want to knit! I have am torn between wicked or Tea leaves cardi in Madeline Tosh Worsted. I may make them both.
I love knitting sweaters. The first two items I ever knit were a simple raglan in wool and then a short sleeved in cotton ribbon.
Now I live in such a hot country that for 10 and a half months of the year it is too hot to even knit sweaters never mind about wearing them.
Instead I spend most of my time knitting socks and afghans as presents for friends living in colder climates. I have promised myself a sweater though I’m just debating between Thermal or Tubey (both Knitty patterns)
I have been wanting to knit the Feather weight cardigan by Hannah Fettig — I’m intrigued by a lace weight sweater.
The last two sweaters I have completed are both from Lisa Lloyd’s book, “A Fine Fleece.” St. Patrick, and most recently (blocking on the guest room floor recently) Two Hearts. And before them, I did the Basic Black cardigan. Loved all three! I’m wanting to do a cardigan again next 🙂
I like the February Lady sweater pattern. I keep looking at the pattern but haven’t got up the gumption to knit it yet. I have never knitted a sweater for me just my boys when they were little.
Not a huge fan of sweaters, perhaps because I don’t wear them but once or twice a year. Love shawls, perhaps it is because I am very warm blooded.
My goal is to finished a sweater this year! I started Mr. Greenjeans but have had to knock out a couple of hats and mitts instead.
I’m not a sweater knitter. I’m a sock and shawl kinda girl.
My first sweater is on the needles right now, and its the February Lady Sweater. I want to make Owls, but am having trouble finding affordable bulky yarn that I like!
Sweaters are not really my “thing”. I done several and have had one in my WIP pile for over 10 years and that was one of my resolutions was to rip it out and donate the yarn. I’m a sock and shawl knitter basically but it probably has to do with being a larger size and most time having to fiddle with the math to make it fit.
I have never knitted a sweater before. My 14-year-old son LOVES sweaters. His classmates are my motivation in knitting him a sweater. They always ask him, “Did your mother knit that sweater?” So over the long weekend, I looked through ALL the books and magazines I have to find him the perfect first sweater. It was in the issue of Verena Knitting Fall 2008. It is called Ambitious, a ribbed sweater. The ribbing is of various widths. Really cute! Now I have the task of looking for some yarn. He would like a maroon sweater. Does anyone have any suggestions? Here is the link of the sweater. Thanks!
http://www.verenaknitting.com/shop/patterns/Men/Ambitious
I have a couple favorite sweater patterns. I enjoyed making the Apres Surf hoodie from Interweave Knits and Arisaig from Knitty. And I love wearing my Thermal sweater from Knitty too. It made a nice warm sweater that isn’t too bulky. I think I need to knit more sweaters, though first I should try and finish the one I started last winter.
I’ve only made one sweater and that was when I first started knitting, Tubey. After that, I was pregnant -once with my daughter, and again with my son – so my, eh em, bust size was always the issue. I’m still nursing so the milk factories are still rather large but maybe it is time to jump into making a sweater again. The Central Park hoodie? The Mariah? Gosh, there are so many to choose from!
My favorite is Liesl by Ysolda Teague. It is a beautiful pattern, knits up quickly, and looks way more difficult than it is!
My favorite sweater pattern is the Central Park Hoodie by Heather Lodinsky, published in Knitscene and Interweave Knits a few years back. I also like Knit It Down, a top-down sweater published in Creative Knitting.
I knit Steggie for my little cousin for Christmas, it was quick and got a lot of compliments. I enjoy knitting Starmore’s aran sweaters but they a much larger time commitment!
My favorite sweater pattern is Mr. Greenjeans. It’s easy to knit and looks fabulous on me.
I love to knit the Baby surprise jacket for the little ones.
While this is still in the queue – my favorite is the Men’s Ribbed Zip jacket – from Knit Picks.
http://www.knitpicks.com/cfpatterns/pattern_display.cfm?ID=50643220
My favorite is always the one that I’m wearing that day – today it is Apres Surf Hoodie. My favorite part of the sweater is the I-cord bindoff because it is such a nice finish for the sleeves and hem.
I loved knitting Thermal from knitty and soon I hope to lose the baby weight (especially since my daughter is almost 2) and wear it again!
For the Ravelympics I’m going to knit the Eva Raglan Pull – it’s a super cute cabled, short sleeve cardigan.
My favorite sweater/pullover/vest patterns are those that you can customize and refine, so it has to be any Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern where elements, shaping, and size are “knitter’s choice”.
I’m stuck on loving the February Lady pattern. I have knit three but still not one for me yet!
I love the Daily Sweater. Quick, easy and no seaming!! CPH is on my list of sweaters I want to knit.
I am not a sweater knitter, but I am willing to give it a try. I would like to try the Lady Feb sweater but i don’t think that i will be entering the challenge because I don’t think I’ll be finished with a sweater by May. Socks, no prob, but sweaters are a HUGE commitment to me, lol.
Working on Madeline Tosh Tea Leaves and liking it a lot.
I don’t have a favorite sweater pattern. I think I’ve made two or three sweaters-if you count the baby one. I’ve had my eye on Mr. Green Jeans for a while, I also want to try Hey Teach. I need to frog the sweater that’s snoring in my ufo basket & do something else with it. Almost forgot Tomato, want me some Tomato.
I am a frustrated sweater knitter. I have the same issues Sheri has – I think a sweater is a big committment, and I like instant gratification.
I think i may try the KAL though….
The knitting pure and simple wrap cardigan. I love making sweaters with cables, but the sweaters I actually wear are really simple.
When I first started knitting (30 plus years ago) I knit sweaters for myself and for my husband. I favored heavy wool sweaters with cables or patterned yokes. (I seemed to have a lot more time in those days.)
Now most of my projects are smaller and quicker-to-complete accessories; scarves, socks, bags, etc. (Can someone tell me how my Jolly Green Giant Girasole fits that pattern? Oh, never mind–)
I’m thinking of knitting an Eyelet Yoke Cardigan for my niece in the little girl pink Cascade 220 I recently bought from you. So I will enter that to the Q1 KAL. I’m fairly new to sweaters but I prefer those knitted in the round. I’m not confident with my seaming skills, or possible lack thereof.
I think my current favorite sweater pattern is still the Central Park Hoodie. I need to make cardigans, because I need to be able to take the sweater off one shoulder or whole arm, or have it half on & half off, because I get hot and cold, and it varies, sometimes within the hour or a few minutes. A pullover does not give me that option. Also, I have learned that layering works best for me. 🙂