Slowly

Slowly, but at least we're moving along . . . 10 whole rows of ribbing! (Let's hear it altogether . . . "Oooohh . . . Aaaahhhhh . . . ")

--Deb

Excel

I'd be willing to email my Excel sheet with the colorized chart to anyone who'd like it IF you can prove that you have the pattern.

For proof? . . . Tell me the number of stitches you need to cast on for each of the sizes . . . that should do it!

Send me an email at chappysmom AT gmail DOT com

(Although please note that I'm offering this to members of the knit-along ONLY.)

--Deb
www.chappysmom.com

Ready, Set....

Got my yarn....


Got my chart colorized in Excel....



Got my yarn organized into pairs in ziploc bags for organization's sake....



Got my swatch started....

....And, in fact, finished. It's washed and drying as we speak, and I'll measure it in the morning. I started with #2 Suzanne's Ebony needles, but quickly switched down to Addi Lace in US size #1 since my gauge is always notoriously loose. I think I might actually be close to the 30/4 inches required, though, which is something of a miracle. (When I knitted the Celtic Dreams aran last year, I ended up using size 3 needles with aran-weight yarn to get gauge.)

Now I'm just worrying about whether I've got enough yarn, since I plan on modifying the neckline to be not quite so low, and to make fewer decreases for the waistline since, well, my waistline isn't exactly as concave as it should be. (I really need to do more situps.)

But, basically, I'm ready to start! So, hello, everyone.

--Deb
www.chappysmom.com

Somebody stop me...

I think I have finally found the colors I like. I'm going to post all the swatch pics here again so sorry if I slow down anyone's computer. I'm just entirely too anal and I need someone else to look at these and tell me if the one I've picked is crazy. Ok, so the winner (right now *smile*) is the swatch on top. Let me know what you think. I've knit so many swatches I'm worried that I might not have enough yarn for the actual sweater now! I'm also a few stitches off on gauge (too big), don't really know what I'm going to do about that yet, I'm already using size 1 addi's. Sigh...

Cross posted to my blog...

Autumn Rose finale.....

It's done.....well, I think I'll give it a steam press to set it now that I know it fits. After steaming, I'll clean up the neckline steek and tack it down. But other than that, it's done!

This is me trying to replicate one of the photos in the Simply Shetland 4 book......

This sweater is my favourite fair isle.....I love it.

More photos and thoughts on this design at Shades of Shetland.

This sweater has to be close fitting -- no ease to speak of -- or the neckline won't sit close to the body. Don't make your sweater too large.

I started Autumn Rose on Friday, June 29 -- so this was an 8 week knit for me -- don't forget, I got a head start on most of you. But I can attest, the pattern is error free, follow the written instructions as well as the charts, and you'll be okay!

Happy Knitting.

Still swatching

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the group but not to this sweater. I've been swatching like a crazy woman for the past few days trying to decide on colors. I wasn't too happy with all the red in the original so I'm trying to make a mostly blue and brown color scheme. I'm not really liking any of them yet though.

Here are the swatches

I knit only half of each chart cuz I'm lazy and knew I would be doing quite a few of these. I've photoshop'd them to get an idea of what the entire motif would look like.

But I still don't know that I'm in love with any of these and since I know this is going to be a long project for me (my first fair isle) I want to make sure I'm happy before I get started. I'm thinking of ordering some other colors to try out (I'm using Knit Picks palette and Digit yarn). Pretty much all the yarn I'm using was already in the stash so this will be an almost guilt free sweater, YAY! LOL.

I'm loving all the other sweaters I'm seeing here and can't wait to see how they fit as people start finishing up. Thanks for allowing me to share with you all!

Cross posted to my blog.

My Kit Came!

So Excited! I can't wait to get started, but I'll have to finish my dad's vest first. Hurry up Vest, knit yourself!!!!

Gauging the gauge

I got gauge -- both row and stitch gauge! I used size US 4 needles. I'm a tight knitter and I knew the US 2's called for in the pattern would be too small for me. I know that row gauge is critical for a raglan sweater, so I was really sweating it. (If I couldn't get row gauge, then this was not going to be a project for me.)

I really like the jewel tones of the green, blue, and red.

I'm almost ready to cast on. I love the look of corrugated ribbing, but I think I'll go down a needle size or two for that part.

Can't wait to get started

This is my first knitalong, my first kit purchase, and my first sweater that I've fallen passionately for. The kit and book will be sent out to me on Monday for delivery on Thursday...and the sights of sweaters-in-progress and gorgeous swatches are making me ever more impatient to begin. I'll be spending Christmas in Rome, and have hopes that this'll be done in time to come with me.

My Blue/Green Autumn Rose - Swatch

Here is my swatch! I soaked it in water hopeing to get the yarn to bloom a bit to get a more accurate gauge, but I havn't measured it yet. This is my first real fair-isle ever! I'm very excited. I like the yarn too!



More info on my blog

Cutting the steek

I've just cut open the neckline steek on my Autumn Rose.....video on my blog Shades of Shetland.

I've tried it on and it's very flattering -- when I've done the neckline rib, I'll block it out a little bit to give me some "ease".

Autumn Rose finishing

I've finished knitting the body -- right now I'm tiding up the yarn ends on the inside, and will be grafting the underarms later today.

Photos and details on my blog Shades of Shetland.

I'm knitting the 43" size and I'm pretty sure that I've used significantly less yarn that called for in the pattern.....but in the frenzy of knitting, I might have missed some balls somewhere.....I'm going to weigh my sweater to get a better idea of how much yarn I've used.

Sizing

Mikaiya - the sizes given for Autumn Rose are finished sizes -- knit to gauge -- so it's up to you to decide how much ease you want it to have.

Personally, I'm a 43" chest and I'm making the 43" sweater, because it is a very deep wide neckline, and even though I will be wearing a little something underneath, I want it to be snug fitting across the chest -- to keep that neckline in check.
I'm 13 rows from the shoulder -- so I'll be cutting my neckline steek VERY SOON......and I'm very excited (terrified) to see how the neckline looks.

In love indeed...

Hello! I am so excited to get started on this knitalong. I am purchasing the pattern and yarn this evening or tomorrow, I hope, and I aim to cast on at the beginning of September (once I've completed the Mystery Stole 3 knitalong- which surely I will have done by then!). I have knit a few fair isle stockings and little projects, but this will be my very first fair isle sweater. Scary! Fun! I am extremely pleased to know that it is all charted, meaning I won't have to keep track of shaping separately from the fair isle. This is by no means a true beginner project, but I think I am up to the challenge.

I do have a question for those of you with the schematics already- or consider it a request for your knitterly advice. I am torn between two sizes, and there is a significant difference in kit cost depending on which I choose.

Arguing for the smaller size (37), this is a very form fitting sweater. I wouldn't want to knit something that will be loose. I envision wearing it with a little silk or cotton cami, for work and for play. In general, I choose to knit a size 36-38, depending on the pattern. I believe my Bobble Blue was a 36, for example.

On the other hand, the larger size (39) is much closer to my actual bust measurement, and I know that with the fair isle this will be a much heartier fabric and not as forgiving as a simple stockinette, or stretchy like a rib or cable pattern.

How did you select your size? What sort of ease do you think is built in? I welcome your comments! I'm leaning towards knitting the 37, but purchasing the yarn for the 39- worst case, I'll have extra and can make some of the cute mitts Eunny designed.

My book arrived!

I came home tonight to the wonderful sight of a package waiting by the door. And when I opened it, guess what was inside?


My book!!!

The first page has a close-up of the Autumn Rose fabric, and it is just exquisite! And here's the main picture with the pattern:



It's probably the most challenging project in the whole book, and I must admit to feeling just a teensy bit nervous about it, but if there's one thing I've learned in knitting it's that if I take things a step at a time, I always seem to get there somehow. Now I just need to last until my yarn arrives!!

The Rules

This KAL is a place for people to have fun while sharing the adventure of knitting a great sweater. So we don't want to seem bossy, but for this to remain a fun and enjoyable experience, it will help if we all abide by a few simple rules.


Rules for Knitters:

1. Be nice.This should be obvious. But in case you need clarification: Don't insult people, their backgrounds, their religions, their knitting, their work, their ideas, their hometown, their photographic ability, or anything else. If we all respect each other and our differences, this will be a great KAL.

2. Even if you are just a knitter, not a retailer, please try to refrain from mentioning particular retailers by name in your posts and comments. We really want to avoid favoritism or free advertising and keep the focus on the knitting itself. If you know of a retailer who sells the materials for this project who does not appear on our list, please email us at inlovewithautumnrose AT gmail DOT com and we will add them. You don't need to mention it yourself.

3. When you post, please don't steal bandwidth. If you are using a picture from another site or blog, please download it to your own computer first, and re-upload it to blogger. Don't just link directly to it.

4. Please do post! What will make this KAL fun, interesting, and informative for everyone is if we can inspire and help one another by showing our work, asking questions, answering them, and just generally keeping up each other's enthusiasm.

5. Have fun!!


Rules for Retailers:

1. If you are a supplier of the book and yarn needed for this project, you can email us at inlovewithautumnrose AT gmail DOT com, and we will add your name to our alphabetical list of retailers. If you have a special deal or discount to offer, please indicate that on your own website.

2. We will not advertise for any retailer beyond listing your name. You are responsible for keeping your website up-to-date with information about special offers, products, and ordering options.

3. If you are a retailer and also an individual knitter participant in the KAL, you may not at any time advertise your products when you post to the blog. If you do, you will not be allowed to participate in the KAL anymore, and your name will be removed from the list of retailers.

4. If we get enough participants to warrant holding one or more contests, and you choose to donate a prize, email us and we will mention who donated the prize in the post about the contest. You will also be mentioned on the Prize Page, along with all other prize donors, whether private or retail.


One final word:

We can't anticipate every possible issue, so if something comes up that requires a new rule, we will add it here. Thanks for following the rules and making this an enjoyable experience for everyone!

How We Fell in Love

All the way back in March, we were reading through our usual blogs, when we came accross this entry on Eunny Jang's blog. It was love at first sight. The waist shaping! The colors! The neckline! We loved this sweater with a passion we had never known before. We knew we had to knit it. Right away!

But we had to be patient. Eunny had just sent it off to be published, and the book was not going to come out until the end of the summer. Well, finally, that time has come, and the book is here! If you want to see a slideshow with two nice views of Autumn Rose (as well as pictures of all the other projects), click here.

If you don't have the book yet, we have a list of known retailers in the sidebar. You can visit their websites for more information about prices, availability, and discounts. As we learn of more options (or if you tell us about any--via email, please, not the comments), we'll add them.

How to join the KAL:
If you would like to join the Autumn Rose Pullover knitalong, please email us at inlovewithautumnrose AT gmail DOT com. We will send you an invite, and you can join the blog as a contributor. We will probably also be creating a Flickr group, but one thing at a time.

So, start your engines, order your books, buy your yarn, and LET'S GET KNITTING!!!!