Intro!

It sounds strange to say it, but this is my first KAL! I have lurked around some KALs, and leafed through old ones, but this is my first as a real participant. Right now I am working on Tubey, but Ivy will be my next project. As such, I don't have much to show except yarn, although it is lovely yarn. It's Rowan Cotton Glace (obviously), in the color Dijon, which is a cross between light brown and olive. I am a sucker for the colors most folks think are ugly, the kind you would find adorning '70s kitchen appliances. Yarndex reports gauge should be only one stitch short of the recommended 24 sts per 4 in, so I'm hoping for a no-fuss substitution in yarns. I loved Rowan's 4 Ply Cotton when making Orangina, and am really looking forward to the Cotton Glace. As a vegan I am pretty much in love with Rowan's cotton yarns and usually turn to them for quality subs, and since I'm on the west coast and spring is approaching, a wrap in cotton will be perfect. I'll be making the 44" chest version, meaning 15 balls should be plenty. I purchased the yarn for a great price from the seller Cucumber Patch on ebay. I really am excited about this pattern; I've never owned a wrap, let alone knitted one. I'm kinda endowed in the chestal region and most of my tops are then too loose around my stomach and waist, so a wrap is just what my wardrobe has been lacking, and those cables should pull things in right where I need them to!

Well I look forward to continue seeing everyone else's progress, I hope to have something to report for myself in a couple weeks!

Finished!

I finished sewing up on Wednesday evening, and wore it to work the very next day!

And it looks great with jeans too!

Sleeve One, Done!

I've cast off the first sleeve, and will be casting on the second one momentarily. So far, my knitting and the pattern are in fine agreement with one another. One sleeve took 115 grams of Highland Silk, or just over two balls.

I think I am not going to run short, except when I think I might. I have 15 balls...and I'm knitting the 40-inch bust, although my gauge may make it 42. I got closer to gauge on the sleeve than on my swatch, which was a relief. You might remember I decided to go for it with size 2 needles, fearing size 1s too much :)

Check out my blog for the latest picture!

Getting Started

Hi, all!

Finally, I've gotten started on my own Ivy. Swatching with Highland Silk in a light purple (the flash turned it sky blue), I got down to size 2 (US) needles without getting gauge. I'm at 5.5 stitches to the inch and 7 rows to the inch. As I can't wrap my head around the thought of knitting an entire sweater on size 1 needles, I've heaved a sigh, and cast on a sleeve as an even bigger gauge swatch. Here's two days of knitting time, pictured below. I'm using the stitch counts for the 40" size, and we'll see how far off I am when the sleeve is done. I have altered the cuff of the sleeve to be 7 repeats instead of 8, because I have slightly short arms.

So far? I'm *really* liking the pattern in this wool, and I think my gauge might not be quite as far off as the swatch told me. Stay tuned for further details, and pray I don't need to RRRRIP it. Heh.

Sleeves Completed

I've got the sleeves finished now, so have started on the ties. I think it won't be long before I can post a picture of the finished article!

Just joined the KAL

Hello Ivy Knitters. I just joined the knitalong. I have finished the back and left front of my Ivy. I am almost done with the right front. I am using Harrisville Shetland in a discontinued color called american dream which is a bright pink. I picked it up for 75 cents a skein at Harrisville's big sale a couple years ago. With the free pattern and cheap yarn this sweater will cost me about $6.

Before I start the sleeves I would like your input. I have very small wrists and am not all that fond of bell sleeves, so was thinking of casting on just the 61 stitches and do 4 repeats of the cable pattern as if you are past the second decrease. I may even use 1 needle size smaller to make it a bit tighter.

What do you think? Thanks for any input you can provide!

FINISHED!

I started this Ivy sweater for my sister's birthday present a long, long time ago. Many things went wrong but today I was *finally* able to hand it over to her....only a month & a bit late!

It fits & she looks awesome in it!


I used Nashua worsted in 'nickle'. Although this is a worsted weight yarn, I used a size 6 needle & my gauge was pretty much spot on. I love how it turned out & I'm thinking that *I* need one of these for myself!

Now for the sleeves

Hi there, I was posting as Carola but now we have switched to New Blogger I'm showing up as Knitbert, just in case anybody got confused! I've finished both the fronts now, and here they are, joined to the back at the shoulders, and blocking.
A closer view of both fronts
I've started the sleeves, I'm knitting both at once and so far that is working well. I tried on the fronts and back before blocking and I think it's going to be a good fit and look great! I'm really looking forward to being able to wear my Ivy!