December 2024 – Deb Gemmell: Top Down, Gauge Free and more

WIP week

I have decided that it’s time to finish a bunch of WIPs. Before New Years Day I hope to finish these projects.

This V-neck cardigan only needs 1 1/2 sleeves. Not a quick finish on 2.75mm needles but it’s been languishing for 8 months and I think that’s long enough. Blog post: 3×3 Stripes . I actually thought it had been sitting a little longer than that. Small needles or not, it’s going to be done. Yarn is Shelridge 80/20 fingering.

Next is the Slanting Slip-On by Anne Venzel.

I knit this in Shelridge Summer Silk, which is a beautiful linen/silk blend. It’s for my daughter and it almost fits! It ended up a little small over the hips. I need to rip it back a couple of inches from the bottom and re-knit it a little wider. That’s OK. I’m looking forward to knitting with this yarn again.

There are still more WIPs. I don’t know why I abandoned this top down cardigan. It only needs 2 x 1/2 sleeves (I was working the 2 sleeves at the same time). I think I even have the buttons for it. I must have been distracted by a new shiny knit. I started this one in 2022 and it looks like the last time I worked on this was December 2023. It’s about time to free up those needles, right?

I wish this was all the WIPs I had but it’s not.

This one needs to be made into a cardigan. I had been putting it off, even though I have lots of the wool, because the steeking sort of scared me. I have recently worked crocheted steeks on two sweaters. They turned out really well. Not scared anymore.

This is Kate Davies Carbeth . A terrific top down knit. The problem now is that I have no idea what needle I used. Since I never get gauge, it’s not the needle recommended by the yarn. I want to rip the ribbing back, make it longer, then cut it up the front and knit the buttonbands. This could be interesting or really, really frustrating. No telling yet.

One last sweater.

I think this one got stalled in 2021. It’s on 3.0mm needles and it may be that I just got tired of the slow progress, especially since I have to pay attention on every row. Who knows after all this time. I won’t get this one done by New Years Day but I’m going to get started on it. I mean, it’s fairly close to being a real sweater.

I dare not look around any more. This is enough to get on with. I keep thinking how accomplished I’ll feel at the beginning of 2025. Here’s hoping!

Cheers, Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free patterns by Deb

Deb.gemmell on instagram.

6×6 Cardigan is published

I’ve decided to put my future patterns out for free. I am finding that as soon as I’ve finished the knitting and writing, I really want to get it out to you. The time involved in the publication of a properly priced pattern puts this off for many, many months. It’s more than I want to be involved in right now that I am more or less retired. My friend, Dana, has knit this and given me a couple of much needed corrections. Thanks Dana.

Here is a video tour of the Any Gauge 6×6 Cardigan pattern.

Download your pattern at my ravelry store. I hope you enjoy knitting it. I’m here if you have any questions: debgemmellmods@gmail.com. I knit mine, the purple one, in Shelridge DK and the gold one, for my daughter, is in Estelle Worsted.

It’s time to tidy up before Christmas. So here is where I’m at. Look at this. The Contiguous Drop Shoulder is almost done. I’m so excited. Only the cuffs to go. Watch for the pattern on my ravelry site because it should be up for free as soon as I can get a proper photo.

The sweater colours are a little brighter than this. At 7am,there is not much choice in lighting. I have to leave at 8 to go to curling. But I wanted to show you that the sleeves are almost done. Yahoo. Did I already say I was excited? I’m excited!

I also finished my christmas knitting. One pair of double mittens (one pair stuffed inside the other) of my Any Gauge Mittens. (discount MITTENS is still in effect).

That’s a wrap. Have a wonderful Holiday Season. See you on the other side. I am already planning my next sweater. How about you?

Cheers, Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-free patterns by Deb

deb.gemmell on instagram

Christmas Crunch Time

Are you knitting for your special people? I am. Even if you’re not, I have some mittens you might want to try.

One pair done. You might remember that I bought wool to make a chunky weight 6×6 Cardigan in burgundy colourway. I didn’t like it. So now I’m pulling it out and knitting mittens with all that wiggly looking wool. I’m going to give them a scrub when I wash them to fuzz them up a bit. They should look fine.

These are the Any Gauge Mittens, knit from the top in chunky or Aran weight (Heavy Worsted) wool for all sizes. Any Gauge Mittens, Top Down 50%Discount Code: MITTENS until Dec. 24, 2024.

I knit one pair with the recommended needle for the wool. Then I knit a second pair with a size smaller needle and the same number of stitches. One pair will fit into the other, for really warm mittens.

You start at the tippy top of the mitten, working increases to the width of mitten you want. I’ve included a size guide in the pattern.

Then you knit the thumbs as a large I-cord. Yup, an i-cord. You get those bars across the inside of the thumb.

Don’t panic. Get your crochet hook out and hook those bars up. They totally disappear. It’s magic.

Enjoy!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, this is where I’m at with my Contiguous Drop Shoulder. It’s totally working great. I tried it on my daughter and I now have measurements for how long the body and sleeve need to be. I’m on it!

I hope you are enjoying this time of year and not stressing out too much. I am trying my best to keep an even keel and my sweater knitting definitely helps.

Keeping it Merry, Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free knitting patterns by Deb

deb.gemmell on instragram

The Steek, the scissors are out

You don’t have to look if you don’t want to. There will be cutting.

I have used a sewing machine to secure the edges of the steek pathway before but … you knew this was coming, my machine is not out and I’m being lazy and leaving it in the cupboard for now. I really want to see if the crocheted style of steek would work. So here goes. I have knit to the bottom of the armhole depth and cast off the 5 steek pathway stitches.

Now the edges of the steek pathway need to be secured. I used this crochet method. Jessica MacDonald does such a good job of describing and showing how to do this. How to work a crochet steek reinforceme nt video.

Here we go. This is my 5-stitch steek pathway as seen at the shoulder.

Next, baste down the centre of stitch#3.

Starting at the shoulder, I crocheted into the left leg of stitch#1 and the right leg of stitch#2, using a crochet slip stitch.

I used a crochet hook 2 sizes smaller than my body-sized knitting needle, and for this worsted weight sweater, sock yarn. My crocheting was not elegant. It was awkward and rather slow going but the result is surprisingly tight. I have no worries about it coming apart.