Month: May 2024

6×6 Square Neck Cardigan

I am on to a new idea: a cardigan with a square neck opening. It will be a pseudo crew neck, I guess.

I’m also experimenting with videos. There are three here. Let me know what you think. It’s so much easier for me to talk, rather than write, about a new idea. (You may have to turn the volume up. No idea how all this works yet.)

The Back of Neck is 2″ narrower than the two fronts added together, as they would be if they were buttoned up. It will be interesting to see how the neck fits.

Here is the cast on with green raglan markers in place and two yellow markers to delineate the buttonbands.

Here we go, my first try with the short rows across the back of neck. They seem to be working fine.

I did a video of a really easy way to work short rows in a ribbed neckband.

I’m excited. Are you on the edge of your seat? LOL!!! Cheers, more next time. Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free patterns by Deb

Deb.gemmell on instagram

Stuck? Cast On to the rescue

Sometimes, when you’re stuck, the best thing to do is cast on something new.

The writing for my v-neck cardigan is not going well. There is nothing wrong with the sweater, it’s done, just the writing part is stuck, stuck, stuck. I am dithering about my next sweater project, and … just generally indecisive. What sweater should I wear? Is it still cool enough to wear wool socks? What’s the weather like today anyway? Should I go for a walk or a bike ride? Is it raining? Sigh, it’s been that sort of week.

So I cast on a shawl. This shawl: The Rain Outside by Sylvia McFadden of softsweaterknits

I know it will keep me busy and calm my brain down so I can get back to work.

It’s a terrific mix of garter stitch stripes and lace windows. I’ve finished my first window.

Looking forward to the next one. Isn’t it great when the knitting pulls you forward?

I hope your knitting is going great. Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free patterns by Deb

Deb.gemmell on instagram

Deadlines

Quite often, when I have a deadline, I lose interest in my project. It becomes work and not play. Does this happen to you?

You would think, that giving myself deadlines wouldn’t work this way but it does. I guess, trying to do anything knitting-wise in a hurry is not a good idea. Making knitting fabric is just slow going and trying to move it along faster is frustrating. I also find the same thing with writing patterns. Forcing the writing doesn’t make it go any faster in the long run.

I have been pushing myself to finish this Any Gauge V-Neck Cardigan. Last night I went on a 5 hour Youtube binge to get the last of the sleeves done. I’m tired today but happy to show you it is done, or mostly. I have to sew in ends and find some buttons but the knitting is finished.

But … I bet you saw that coming, the writing is stalled big time.

If I got you started with the V-neck, I bet, with a few photos, you could finish the rest, right? I’m sure you could.

I’m going to give myself a week off, look for some buttons, maybe sew in the ends (that might be a stretch), knit on my socks and see if the writing improves next week. Note to self: having some finished sweater photos would help a lot.

Wish me luck! Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free patterns by Deb

Deb.gemmell on instagram