FO: chunky sweater jacket

I have finally got around to taking a few pics of the chunky sweater jacket. When I first saw the pattern and looked for the yarn back in February I intended this to be a proper jacket to use in the Winter. Once I saw that the colour of the yarn was more yellow than cream I decided it would be used inside for those chilly days and the finished jacket has already had some use thanks to the typical British weather.

This was my first knitting project for over 20 years and I made a few mistakes but all in all I'm pretty happy with it, apart from the size that is...

I got gauge widthwise but not lengthwise. Now correct me if I'm wrong but that just means I have to knit a few more extra rows to get the required length. If that's so then why is it so enormous??? I understand that as I made the medium the jacket was going to be a little big on me but this is gigantic. I could almost wrap just the back all the way round myself and lets face it I am not a little woman LOL.

I believe I have mentioned a fair few times how much I hate sewing, this was my first real foray into using mattress stitch and I suppose it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, it did improve with practise but the seams on this are far from professional LOL

Overall I am satisfied with it. I did toy with the idea of frogging it because of the size and there's still a possibility that I will but I decided to try it out in the winter over a few big jumpers before I decide if it's really too big.

Doubling yarn - the sequel

Guess what - I've been coding, now isn't that a surprise LOL.

This time I decided to expand on the doubled yarn sizes, lets face it the little chart I put up before wasn't all that helpful... So I decided as I seem to be coding helpful little calculators/gadgets that I would expand on the theme.

I can't seem to find a calculator like this one on the net although the math itself is relatively easy to find. I only put up to four strands in the calculator because I figured anyone up to using more than four strands:

1. Is a braver person than me
and
2. Can probably do the math for this in their sleep LOL

There is no need to put the third and fourth gauges in unless you need them and you can put any combination of yarns (except eyelash and similar novelty yarns). I tested it properly but if you see any problems give me a shout

Once again this will be ugly until I do a proper design for the blog and sort the styles out properly

Yarn 1 stitches and rows over 4 inches
Yarn 2 stitches and rows over 4 inches
Yarn 3 stitches and rows over 4 inches
Yarn 4 stitches and rows over 4 inches

approximate gauge = stitches and rows per inch - ( stitches and rows over 4 inches)
weight

I have finally finished my chunky sweater jacket so I should have an FO post as soon as I get round to taking a decent photo

Summer break...

Did my exam yesterday and now I am officially done with Uni until October 3rd yaaaaaay

So what am I going to do with all this extra time? Well to start off I am taking this week to relax and watch some TV, Virgin has Mutant X season 1 on demand and I've got hold of seasons 2 and 3 so I'm going to sit down and watch them all week. I will be getting some knitting done too, the shawl on the left was going to be done with DK but I managed to get hold of some 4ply in white so I've decided to use that instead. I have also got hold of some interfacing for my swag bag so hopefully I will sort that out this week and have an FO to show off. For now I am getting away from the PC for a while and relaxing.

How many stitches - simple squares or rectangles

I've written another little time saver for myself to help out with a little top secret project I'm doing for my Dad. I haven't started it yet but when I do any Ravelry members can see it (can't see any of my family joining Ravelry when they don't knit or crochet LOL) but you won't see it on the blog til after xmas - just in case...

Plug in your gauge, approximate size required and any stitch/pattern offset you need and it calculates the number of stitches to cast on, rows to knit and number of pattern repeats needed. It also tells you the actual size that any stitch/pattern offset will enlarge the finished shape by.

Once again it's ugly for now but it works like a charm

swatch gauge = stitches by rows over 4 inches
approximate size required = height by width (inches)
pattern offset = multiple of + stitches by rows

cast on stitches and work rows ( pattern repeats)
finished size: height by width (inches)

I seem to be in the swing of coding at the moment. Maybe it has something to do with all that revision I've been avoiding LOL. If any of my family does manage to find this blog - don't worry I am revising - I am just doing this when the revision gets too much. :-D

How big will it be if I use a different gauge

So I'm making a baby blanket, a large one. The original pattern is in 4 ply and I want to do it in DK. I figured out what the new size would be and then decided as all I wanted to do was punch the numbers in, I would write a little javascript function to add to my references. It isn't pretty because I can't be bothered with pretty (except for with knitting) at the moment.

original gauge = stitches by rows over 4 inches
swatch gauge = stitches by rows over 4 inches
original size = height by width

new size = height by width

Looking at the preview it really isn't pretty so sorting out a new blog design has been added to my list of things to do after my exam LOL.

Fuzzy slippers

As predicted I finished the fuzzy slippers this afternoon. Total knitting time around 4 hours - I do love instant gratification LOL.

I used one strand of DK cotton chenille and two strands of the fuzzy yarn I got cheap from ebay. It worked out very well and I am happy with the result.

I intend to use the same three strands to knit up The Bear by Alan Dart for one of my (in my heart) nephews. I say in my heart because they aren't my nephews by blood and I'm making the distinction for the moment because my brother has just informed me that he and his wife are having their first baby - Yaaaaaaaaaaay!! Guess who is going to be knitting lots of cute baby stuff from now on LOL.

The laundry soap is done, I just have to grate and mix it up now then it's ready to use (costs me about 2p a wash and does a great job so its well worth the effort). If the revision pressure gets too much in the next week I may pick up the needles or just make a few batches of soap to keep my mind off it...

Keep your fingers crossed for me next Monday please.

Sewing frenzy

I've been on a bit of a sewing frenzy in the last few days even though I hate sewing. I also hate having so many unfinished (for lack of sewing) projects lying around too LOL.

First I have sewn up the sides on my felted slippers - I hated the way the flaps stuck out at the sides. I also darned and refelted them because I'd worn a hole in the sole because I wear them so much...

Next I put the handle on the swag bag, it's a bit floppy so before I put the lining in I am trying to decide if I should use some interfacing as well to make it less floppy.

Last but by no means least I have sewn all but the hood on my chunky sweater jacket and I should finish the hood this week :-)

I now need to go downstairs and make some laundry soap as my youngest has just given me a load of washing he has been hoarding in his room (typical 18yo) and I have no washing powder left LOL

My final exam is on the 15th so I will be busy studying next week and can't promise an update but I also have a new short project on the needles - some fuzzy slippers which will probably be finished by Monday so hopefully I will have time to post them on here