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 have several sweater patterns that I love…Feb Lady, Cambridge Cables, French Braid Pullover, Tea Leaves Cardigan…. I think my next 2 sweaters will be the Featherweight Cardigan in Skinny Bugga and Lightweight Pullover in Traveller (can you tell I really like SG yarn and Hannah Fettig’s patterns?)I really want to make a vest, but haven’t yet. I’ve got the Montana Tunic in progress, that’s kind of like a vest. I would probably use Ann Budd’s Handy Book of Patterns to make a basic vest.
I knit the Wallaby for my SIL several years ago and he still wears it and loves it. I knit some top down, roll neck sweaters for the grands for Christmas ’08 and they were fun to do.
I’m not much of a sweater knitter anymore – hot flashes did me in! Instead, I make a lot of shawls. And socks, and fingerless mitts!
I don’t have a favorite pattern but I love sweaters out of Alpaca yarn.
I can never decide on a favorite anything. Right now I’m finishing up a February Baby sweater and will be immediately casting on for another (my cousin is pregnant with twin girls).
I am thinking of trying the February Lady Sweater, although usually sweaters that I knit and my body don’t seem to match when I am finished! That’s why I don’t have a favorite yet….but just wait till one fits, then that’ll be it!
It’s been great reading all the comments as it reminded me of what sweaters I’ve been wanting to knit. A KAL is the best excuse ever. I actually stopped knitting sweaters a few years ago when my eyes started getting worse, but lately I’ve found a good strong reading lamp really helps! So, let’s see: it’s between Featherweight Cardigan and Susie from More Big Girl Knits or No Gap Wrap (also from MBGK). Decisions, decisions. I will have to decide pretty soon so I can take advantage of that 20% discount. I got a Loopy Ewe gift card for Christmas and I can’t wait to use it!
I’ve only knit a few sweaters because I live in Florida and the patterns I’m most interested in would roast me here. Most of my knitting has been socks. I’m going to knit a sweater for my son again, even if he only wears it once a year. This one will be in a man’s size so he can wear it for a long time (if he likes it). I’m going to experiment more with finer yarns, blends and non-wool yarns for cool comfort.
I think my favorite sweater/jacket pattern has to be the Einstein – short version from The Knit Stitch book. Although it is endless garter stitching, it makes for a great TV knitting project and it comes together like a dream. As soon as I finish my current one I plan to throw another on the needles!
My favourite vest is the Shalom (free from Ravelry). Knit in Bulky, it’s super quick. It’s knit top down in the one piece – a perfect knitting experience if you pick a squishy single ply yarn in a gorgeous colour and finish it with ‘one-of-a-kind’ glass buttons (as did I!).
I’m generally not a sweater knitter. In the eight years I’ve been knitting (jeez, has it been that long already?), I’ve managed to complete two sweaters…and left at least three half finished in a box somewhere.
I do, however, have a bunch of Malabrigo Worsted stashed for a February Lady Sweater for myself and the pattern recommended yarn (novel concept, no?) for a Tempest for my best friend. I think this quarter’s challenge sounds like an excellent opportunity to get in gear on a sweater 🙂
All I make is womans sweaters. It’s so hard to decide which one is my fav. right now I am loving to wear this bulky cardigan I made a few months ago called “The Lion Neck Cardigan” by Wendy Bernard from her book Custom Knits.
I love the idea of a sweater challenge. Question, can we make up our own patterns for the challenge?
It is a tough decision, but I am going to pick….
Endless Knitted Cardi Shawl by Jennifer Hansen
I really like how versitile it is.
Wait, there’s more…
She even has a video showing how it looks wearing it several different ways.
Love it
Thank you Sheri
I don’t have a favorite sweater pattern, though I have made the Feb Lady Sweater twice. I tend to like patterns by Ysolda and Stitch Diva. Oh, and I am currently working on Chinese Lace Pullover–just have to do the sleeves. It hasn’t gotten much attention since I had my first kid 5 weeks ago though.
I am in the middle of knitting the Sylvi (by Mari Muinonen) hooded cable sweater coat; I have a long way to go, but can’t wait to finish it. I am also knitting the Corrie fair Isle vest (knit Picks)-it is progressing nicely. I have the Jacquard Vest pattern (Knit Picks) in my “must do” pattern file and would love to start that after I finish the Corrie vest! Might be a good time to buy yarn and start it for the KAL 🙂
I have knit a few sweaters, in fact knitting one now. Don’t have a favorite pattern but would love to knit one with a hood. I am not good at the finishing so would like to knit one from the top down. I knit 2 baby sweaters last week and they were knit from the top down. They turned out great and knit up fast. Will keep looking for a hooded sweater to knit.
kitty j
I am a sock knitter, but I am seriously considering joining the sweater KAL. The last sweater I finished knitting was in 1970. The KAL will serve as inspiration and motivation. Thank you for the lovely yarn you make available!
I would like to be a sweater knitter, but think I like shrugs better for knitting myself.
I am also a huge fan of the “Hey Teach” sweater. Because I live in Northern California we do not get a lot of wear out of heavy wool sweaters. Therefore my favorite vest pattern is Sandi Luck’s “Diamond Rain Vest” (Ravelry link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diamond-rain).
Diane