Tuesday 23 November 2010

Im still here! Current and recent projects!

Hey everyone, thought I would post some photos of my recent and current knitting projects, both machine and hand.

In terms of machine knitting i recently finished this reverse stocking stitch jacket on my Knitmaster Instant.




Ive made it for my friend who loves little jackets like this. Its actually a hand knitting pattern that i found in one of my mums books so i converted it onto the machine by taking a tension swatch and matching it to the tension in the pattern.

Its made out of some brown double knitting, and has knit up lovely. I thought to be different i would use wooden buttons as the wood would complement the brown autumnal shade of the jacket.

Obviously my Knitmaster Instant doesnt have a ribber, and i cant stand doing latch ribbing on machines, as it takes forever, and quite frankly is quicker to do the rib by hand. So what I did for the cuffs was just to pick up stitches with my needles and knit a 2x2 rib by hand. I think it turned out ok, what do you think? I hope she likes it anyway.

Other projects currently on the go... this grey 4 ply reverse stocking stitch cardigan knitted on the Knitmaster 700.




I came across this bargain cone of 4 ply at a local craft shop for £4.99 for 500g so i wasnt complaining as i knew i would have enough to make a cardi with it. I was also looking out for some grey 4 ply as i wanted to make something to go with some grey skinny jeans i have. I've knitted everything for it and now i have started to sew it up together. I had been looking around on ebay for an SC-3 linker so i could start sewing things together on the machine, however i hae discovered its just as easy to do it on the machine without a linker!!!!! So i have just sewn the side seams on the 700 but i will do the sleeves by hand. Again you may notice that they are hand knitted ribs - me and the ribber for this machine still are not friends and it doesnt want to play, so i have given up for the time being! Anyway hopefully it should be finished soon - just hope i dont start another project.

Here is the left front of the sporty lumbar jacket ive started on the Knitmaster 302:


Its actually from the Knitmaster 4500 manual/pattern book and knitted in black 4 ply acrylic. Even though the pattern is for the 4500 ive done it on the 302 mainly because i trust my life with this machine. It never lets me down, never drops stitches and is just my favourite machine in the world. Shame i dont have the ribber - i will get one someday i suppose. As a result i have just done a 2x1 continental welt as the rib instead.

Im quite chuffed with how the pockets are knitted - looks like ive done it right.



In terms of hand knitting ive been busy trying to finish an aran cabled jacket knitted in Patons Wool Aran. Its knitting up really nice and when its washed it comes out really soft (as i have already knitted a ribbed vest in it before) I cast off the first sleeve yesterday and have cast on and knitted the rib for the second. Just need to get the sleeve done then i can put it together and do the collar. Im very pleased with how the cable pattern came out as its my 'big' project with cables by hand. I had made a baby hoody jacket with cables for my friend but that was just simple 2x2 cable twists. This is actual aran cabling!!! It doesnt have buttons but will have a zip to fasten it up at the front. I hope you like it.



Anyway thats all for now.

Catch you later

Phil.

5 comments:

  1. You have been busy! All I've done this past couple of weeks is mitred squares.
    The cabled jacket looks quite complicated. I'm rubbish at hand knitting so wouldn't have a clue to start with that.

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  2. Thanks Susan, just hope i get things finished!!! I have a real bad habit off starting things and not finishing them. The cabled jacket isnt too bad to do its just simple 2 stitches on to cable needle, knit 2, then knit 2 off cable needle. To get the pattern they are just at different places along the rows. I thought it looked difficult but im amazed how easy it was. Glad to be back on my machines though - when youve had a break from them makes u remember how much more fun machine knitting is. I really do need to get a chunky machine, as i tend to like working with thicker wools like DK and aran. Will have to see what father christmas brinks.

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  3. You have been busy! Everything is looking great!

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  4. Thanks for your comment Monique. Your projects always look great!

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  5. Great jacket. Delighted to see the knitmaster instant casts on and knits. I have an instant but no instruction book. Do you know where I can get a manual?
    Cheers
    Carol

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