Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Knitting and Reading


I am so excited to have learned how to knit a top down sweater!  And you know what - it can be very simple like this pattern.  It was intended for a doll, but I used size 9 needles using the yarn I dyed with goldenrod, and I it will fit an infant, probably newborn to 6 months.  Now I have to find some large circular needles (you need circular to hold that many stitches since it is knit in one piece) so I can make some larger.  Does anyone have any patterns for a simple top down sweater?

I am slowly working on the April Showers Scarf.  It is so hard for me to sit and count, but I am determined to do at least one pattern set per day because it really is beautiful.  Does anyone know of a pretty scarf pattern that doesn't require counting?

Finally, I am still reading Out of the Saltbox and enjoying the pure simplicity of a time passed.

Looking forward to all of the sharing today with Ginny's Yarn Along.

22 comments:

  1. Hooray for knitting sweaters Tonya! That sweater is so sweet, and I love your goldenrod dyed yarn!
    There is a top-down child cardigan pattern from Knitting Pure and Simple that I really like. Of course it's the only sweater pattern I have ever made, but I am on my third one right now. Melanie has made it so so many times, I bet she will mention it to you too..

    Wishing you lovely days ahead Tonya. Thank you so much for your kind words, prayers, and friendship!
    Love, Renee

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  2. Re: Top down sweaters
    Check out this designer
    http://knittingpureandsimple.com/

    I've knit up several of her sweaters and the directions are clear and simple and the sweaters are lovely! Here's a link to my ravelry page with pictures with one of the sweaters http://www.ravelry.com/projects/aelfie/-232-childrens-hooded-tunic

    For very girly, girl sweaters try
    http://www.tikkiknits.com/ and
    http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blossom-bolero-child-sizes
    Love!

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  3. hooray, Tonya! And I just dyed with goldenrod too- I really enjoyed it.
    My favorite top down cardigan is the knitting pure and simple child's neckdown cardigan. It comes in many sizes, and has a hood option.

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  4. Elizabeth Zimmerman has some top down sweater patterns in her books. I find Ravelry is a wealth of information as far as that goes. I'm sure you will get some good scarf ideas today at Yarn Along!

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  5. I think I sent you some circular needles....if not, I could send you one....I still have your address. :)

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  6. Oh Tonya...the sweater is just so lovely ~ the color just adds that special something to the style. I know that there are books on knitting from the top down, but haven't tried it yet :)
    m.

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  7. Tonya...That sweater is darling, and all the more special with your goldenrod yarn. (I just did that post on natural dyeing with tansy this morning!). The best neck-down cardi I've come across, for simplicity's sake, is the "neck-down cardigan" on ravelry. Melanie introduced me to it, and it is so easy and straightforward, I love it, too! The tea leaves is wonderful, too, but a bit more focus is needed for the yoke. Good luck!
    xo Jules

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  8. Your sweater turned out so sweet with your goldenrod yarn! I love top down sweaters for their "try them on as you go" qualities. I sent my Mira Sweater pattern to your email:)

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  9. The li'l sweater is just adorable! I love the soft yellow yarn. Have a great day!

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  10. that sweater is so sweet. and the scarf! nice work on that. i finished my first ever sweater as well. but mine has a seem, although it is knit in one piece. it was so fun to knit.

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  11. Lovely little jumper, I put that pattern in my favourites last week to knit up for my youngest's doll. I knit a top down jumper last year it was great not to have to sew everything together.

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  12. The yellow yarn is beautiful as is the sweet little sweater. I've just recently started some of my own natural dyeing. So fun!

    As for top-down patterns in larger sizes, I did a search on Ravelry and found quite a few for children 4-12, http://tinyurl.com/9643793, and toddlers 1-3, http://tinyurl.com/9g933an . I've only made one top-down sweater so far but I really liked the construction. The pattern I used was this one, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/seamless-yoked-baby-sweater .

    Right now I'm working on a Plain Vest for my 2 year old. I have wanted to knit this vest for quite some time and finally cast on for it! :)

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  13. Oh, and another top-down pattern I love (although not for a cardi) is the Milo Vest, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/milo-3 . I've made one for a gift already and will be making another one for a gift soon. Then I plan to make some for my own children. LOL

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  14. This is beautiful! I can't wait for grandbabies so I can knit beebee clothes (not too soon though LOL!)

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  15. Tonya, the sweater is just perfect, congratulations. I think now that you know the how the construction of sweaters work you can attempt any pattern, the only difference is the size. Really, you can do it.:)

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  16. That little sweater is so sweet, and I really like the soft yellow. How neat that you dyed it yourself! Your scarf is looking pretty too.

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  17. I just did my first top-down sweater as well, and love the whole process! Love yours!

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  18. What a beautiful sweater and such a lovely gentle color. I love top down sweaters. The first sweater I ever knit was the Shalom--so easy and I loved knitting it (and wearing it!). A similar pattern for kids is In Threes. Both are available on Ravelry.

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  19. Love your cute knitting projects. I love reading old books from the past...have you read the original "Cheaper by the Dozen" NOT the book version of the movie. The original book and then the sequel "Bells on Their Toes" are books you might enjoy -- the life of a very large family in the early 1900s. Both are very enjoyable reads!

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  20. Tonya, the jumper is so sweetand lovely. I was going to mention the one from 'knitting pure and simple' as well. I have made it 3 times for my growing little boy and I love it. We have been dying with blackberries here and getting some nice results, we don't have any golden rod though x

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  21. After reading this post, I looked up that book and thought it would be a perfect read! I've had it for a couple of weeks now, am almost finished, and have enjoyed every delightful page! What a pleasure to read such a book. Thank you so much for mentioning it!

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