Reindeer Sweater with cut and sew neckline

Well, the reindeer sweater is now complete1 It was hardwork but well worth the effort. Knitted in Forsell's Pure New Wool 4 ply Superwash. I did a cut and sew neckline using my own template and the Hague Linker, really pleased with how it turned out.

Here are some photos:
















That's all for now everyone. If I dont get round to posting again before Christmas, then I hope everybody has a great Christmas!

Happy knitting!

Phil

Cut and Sew!!!

Ok ive come out of my knitting room for the evening! Calming my nerves after i cut the neckline in the fairisle sweater I am making. This is my first attempt at cut and sew so im pretty nervous. I'm doing it using the Hague Linker and using Diane Bennett's instructional DVD for the method.

It looks hideous at the moment but Im sure when the neckbands on it will be like a swan on water... beautiful above the water but frantic below! Basicly it needs to look nice on the outside but it can be as messy as it likes on the inside where you cant see!

I will post a pic of the finished sweater ASAP

Thanks for reading

Phil

Update

Thought I would upload some photos of what I have been knitting lately on the 700.

Two tops, one a keyhole vest and the other a drop shoulder sweater, both knitted in Yeoman's Panama 4 ply (Lovely yarn to work with!)

I used some of the first colour to trim around the vest's ribs, just to add some detail. I think they turned out pretty well!

That's all for now!

Phil

Reindeer design

Hi everyone

Sorry I have not posted in a while, been busy with other things.

Though I would share this photo. Ive got another commission at the moment, and a reindeer themed sweater is wanted. I cam up with this design, based on one i found for a hand knitting patter but have slightly modified it to give my own twist.

These are just samples so obviously wont be in these colours. The end colours will be a burgundy and a white. I used the elongation lever on the sample to the left, and i think i will use that one towards the bottom of the sweater, then a panel of plain knitting or norweigan fairisle, then the normal pattern but mirror image to the other.

I think I will just be doing the fair isle on the front, and having plain sleeves and back, maybe with a bit of fairisle just near the cuffs - some herringbone perhaps?

Any ways thats all for now, hope you like :-)

Phil

Swung and Tucked Ribs

Just thought I would upload some photos of some swung ribs I have been trying out. I have never done these before but was amazed how easy they are to do. I cant imagine making a garment in them as its too tedious, but i thought little squares done in different colours would make a nice blanket all sewn up?

Swung English Rib

Swung Rib pattern

Swung Tuck Rib

Swung Rib Pattern




Variation Swing

Herringbone Swing

Swung Rib with racking variation

These were fun to knit up, and I am glad I have tried them out.

That's all for now

Phil

Well at least it works!!

Well, I managed to come up with a temporary idea to attach the ribber to the main bed of the 302 - zip ties! They have done the job and the ribber works so im not complaining. I know i should really have the screws but i will just have to make do and try and keep my eye out for some and hopefully will be able to get them one day.

Here is a photo of the machine set up with the ribber...



I had a go at circular knitting, worked fined! Then i transferred over to the main bed and knit a few rows stocking stitch then transferred for a K1P1 rib, although i did drop a stitch in the process - oops! Anyway had a go at the rib and it came out fine.

What do you think? As long as it does 1 x 1 rib and 2 x 2 rib I am not bothered. All i want the ribber for is to do cuffs and welts, and Im not planning on doing any ribbed garments with it. If i do I will use the 700 to do that.




Thats all for now

Phil

Knitmaster 302 Ribber - At long last!

Yesterday, the 302 ribber arrived! Well, its actually a 305 ribber, but it will fit on the 302, i think the onl difference is the Knitmaster badge on the front, which is red on the 305 ribber. Everything is there, including lots of old fashioned weights, and all the instruction books. There is even the weaving attachment which i have been after for a while.

The only thing missing is the blasted screws to attach it to the machine - typical! I wont let this beat me though, im sure i can invent something to hold the ribber onto the machine. Just need to think!

I hope to get to try it out soon, having re-vamped the sponge bar!

Finally a 302 Ribber!

At last I have managed to acquire a 302 ribber! It has come with another 302 machine, but thats fine. I can use the needles for spare, plus theres a few accessories that my other 302 was missing so they are now complete.

It will need a service to get it working, sponge bar etc but thats fine. Cant wait to use it!

Baby hooded jacket on LK 150

Well, here is my first project knitted on the LK150 - its a baby hoody knitted in James C Brett Magi Knit, for my friends soon to be born grandaughter. Its a self patterning yarn - I love it!

I really enjoyed making this and it knitted up so quick on the 150. I even went to the trouble of making a nice pom pom for the hood and a cord for around the hood.

Hope you like it

Phil

My "New" Option 4/LK-150

Well, it's arrived! My new to me LK150. I got it out and oh my, its like brand new! Perfectly white, all tools, all combs, manual looked un-creased - it's perfect! It could almost pass as a brand new Silver Reed.

All I had to do was replace the sponge, that had gone, but apart from that it looks like it has not been used much lately. I gave it a wipe to clean it of a bit of dust and fluff, but its a beautiful machine.

I have already seen some patterns to make on it, so raring to get going, although need to choose some yarn.

I will leave you with some photos.

Bye for now

Phil

Knitmaster Option 4

Have just won an auction for a Knitmaster Option 4 - which I believe is the same as the Silver Reed LK150. I have been after a "proper" mid gauge for a while as the HK is only 6mm and not 6.5mm. I have not really used the HK much but I feel the LK150 will get used more.

Cant wait for it to arrive!

Phil

LC2 Lace

Having watched Susan's new video using her LC2 lace carriage to knit standard lace and fashion lace, I felt inspired to give it a go. I dont normally use the LC2 as I never really make anything using lace, but it does give some nice effects.

I started with the standard lace and it seemed to go well, but did have the odd stitch that went onto the sinker post, but only on the left of the work.

Here it is:




I then tried a bit of the fashion lace as this is quite tedious. I cant imagine wanting to knit a whole garment in fashion lace as it take an age to do. I suppose it would be nice to make a shawl or scarf or similar.




That is all for now. Tonight I want to get knitting the front to my jumper on the Bond.

Talk to you later

Phil

PS Thanks to Susan for the inspiration.

Raglan sweater finished and new project!

At last the raglan sweater is finally finished having had to extend the length. It just needs another steam to help the stitches set a bit more, but other than that it is DONE!!!

Hope you all like it.



I have also this weekend started my next project on the Bond - finally a jumper for me to wear! It is going to be a saddle shoulder sweater as I have never made one before, so it is quite exciting to see how it turns out. I decided to put a cable design up the sleeves and along the saddle patch.

Here are the sleeves:



Here is a close up of the cable pattern design I chose to use:



I am hoping the sweater turns out really well. Ive also done it slightly larger than I would normally make for myself as I want this to be more of a comfy fit sweater for the winter.

Just the back and front to do now!

Thats all for now

Happy knitting everyone!

Phil

Modifications!

There was me thinking I had almost finished the sweater - NOT! It was slightly too short so below are some pics showing how i modified it. I practically cut it in two, re-hung the stitches and knitted some more mores, then grafted it back to the other piece.

It was hard work and took a whole evening but well worth it, I certainly wasnt re-knitting the whole thing.

Here are some pics showing what I did:
















It doesnt look that noticeable and after I steamed it with my hand steamer the stitches set and the seam is totally invisible now!

Im very proud of myself for doing it and it not going wrong!

Talk to you all later

Phil

Update and first Bond sweater!

Hey everyone, I'm so sorry I haven't posted in a while, Ive had other stuff going on and just haven't got round to it.

First of all here are some photos of the blue vest i made weeks ago...





It turned out ok and on the whole I'm pleased with it. Just slightly disappointed with the front bands as they have pulled the fronts up together abit. I suppose this is quite a common problem people have with front bands, and it didn't really help that the yarn was not really the best to work with - it was quite stiff to knit up on the machine and that's why i chose to do it on the mid-gauge machine.

In other news I am now the owner of a Bond/USM machine. At last I finally decided I wanted a go with one, and I have to say I'm impressed. It knits up lovely - quite different to the SK155, and gives a lovely hand knit quality to the fabric. Just got the keep an eye out for an extension as I feel you are quite limited with just the 100 needles. I've got people asking me to make them cardis already on it (Hello Aunty Margaret!!) Anyway I've started making this sweater:


It's knitted in James C Brett Rustic Aran Tweed in shade DAT15, a nice burnt orange colour. Ive knitted all the pieces and sewn it all together apart from the side and arm seams. Just finished the collar tonight.

I love mattress stitching raglan seams - look how neat they are!



That's all for now. Will post a pic of the finished sweater soon. I have already planned my next project - to be knitted in grey aran on the Bond. A saddle shoulder sweater with cables on the sleeves going up and over the the saddle flap. I think it will turn out really well.

Catch you all later

Phil

Update

Hi everyone just thought I would give an update. Ive managed to finish the blue linen vest, I just need to put some buttons on the band or a zip, have not decided yet. I will put a photo on tomorrow for you all to see.

Im hoping the first lesson of the Ribber course will arrive tomorrow. My partner has bought me the first part of the ribber course through Metropolitan, which I cannot wait to start. Seeing as me and the SRP 60 are now friends I best get practicing! I loved doing the first course, so doing this second for me feels like a progression in the right way.

Hope to put some photos up tomorrow.

Hope everybody is well.

Phil

Hague Linker and Knitmaster 321

Yay!! My Hague linker has finally arrived. I had to adjust the looper but got it working first time. Goodbye hand sewing!!!! Ive been reading apparently you can have hand operated models converted to electric - hmmm one to consider.

I also received the Knitmaster 321 last week and spent a whole evening servicing it and "sorting it out" so that it was useable. It was filthy, and I couldnt move the carriage across, however having scrubbed the needlebed and back rail, cleaning each needle, and replacing the sponge bar, it works as good as my Knitmaster 700. Im impressed with the tool kit - the only thing missing was the latch tool, but Ive got plenty of those.

Here are some photos I took:















It's a quick turn around though, as I've already sold the machine onto a friend. I had been keeping an eye out for a machine for her for a while, and when this one came up I went for it. She has been using a Knitmaster 4500 for a few months, but I think the 321 will be better for her as she finds the casting on a bit fiddly with the 4500. Plus she will have the versatilty of the punchcard.

Looks like my new "Diploma" will be put into practice in the next few weeks teaching her how to use this one.

Should be fun!

Nearly finished the blue linen waistcoat - just got the front bands to sort and then seams. Will upload a photo when its complete.

Hope everyone is having fun knitting!

Talk soon

Phil