Sweater/Tank Top/ Poncho/Shrug Gallery

Here are all of the sweaters, tank tops, ponchos, and shrugs I have made. Click on a picture for details and a bigger picture.

15. Baby Sweater

(page still under construction)

14. Frost Tank Top #2

13. Debbie Bliss Molly Bolero

12. Rowan Flood Pullover

(real photos coming soon)

11. Orlando Ajoure & Cable Sweater

(real photos coming soon)

10. One Skein Wonder

09. Rowan Frost Sleeveless Turtleneck

08. Rowan Nightfall Sleeveless Top

(real photos coming soon)

07. Debbie Bliss Aran Pullover #2

06. Debbie Bliss Aran Pullover

05. Niece#3's Retro Poncho

04. Child's Guernsey Sweater

03. Daughter#1's Retro Poncho

02. Gigi Sleeveless Crop Top

(real photos coming soon)

01. Daughter#2 Poncho

(page still under construction)

Frost Tank Top #2

Pattern:

Frost sleeveless turtleneck from Rowan Knitting Magazine Number 30 (Autumn/Winter 2001)

Yarn:

Classic Elite Spotlight [100% matte cotton]
color: 5734

Needles:

US 7?

Size:

???

Modifications:

Knit in the round up to the armhole.

Finished:

Summer 2006

Comments:

Very soft yarn. Nice pattern.
This is the second Frost tank I have knit for Daughter#2. I made the first one in 2005, but it came out a little small and did not fit for long. It has been passed on to Niece#3. This time I knit a much bigger size, but it still came out tighter than I would like. Sigh.

new and old Frost Tanks, as modeled by Daughter#2 (left) and Niece#3 (right)

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Debbie Bliss Molly Bolero

Pattern:

Molly Bolero from Debbie Bliss Junior Knits

Yarn:

Laines Du Nord Dolly Maxi (from Elann.com) [100% merino wool],
color: 0906 (Dusty Rose), 9 balls

Needles:

US 9 (and US 8 for edging)

Size:

biggest size (ages 9-10)

Modifications:

The body and sleeves of this bolero are knit as one piece (see diagram below) and then the edging is picked up and knit. I used short rows to shape the sleeves rather than using the stair-step cast-on and bind-off specified in the pattern. I used a provisional cast for the sleeves and kitchenered them together to avoid seams. I then knit the ribbed edging on the sleeves in the round (instead of flat, as per pattern). I sewed the short side seams before working on the body edging so I could knit that in the round too (yes, I'm an "in the round" freak, apparently). The edging around the neck uses short rows and the pattern did not say anything about wrapping the turns, but I did it anyway (and I found that it is not easy to hide the wrap in ribbing -- which is probably why the pattern ignored the wraps).

Finished:

November 2005

Comments:

This bolero came out rather large, but it seems that Debbie Bliss sizes many of her children's patterns to be oversized, and I guess I forgot that. My daughter is 9 and it is pretty big on her (in fact, it fits me, except that the sleeves are a little too short). I probably should have made the ages 8-9 size.

The Dolly Maxi yarn was soooo soft. I enjoyed working with it, although it did have a tendency to split.

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Rowan Flood Pullover

(real photos coming soon)

Pattern:

Flood from Rowan Plaid Collection

Yarn:

Rowan Plaid [42% merino wool/30% acrylic/28% superfine alpaca]
color: 168 Stormy Night

Needles:

US 11

Size:

small

Modifications:

Knit body in round up to armhole. Knit sleeves in round.

Finished:

September 2005

Comments:

I LOVE this sweater. It is extremely warm and cozy and was a very quick knit. However, it is very bulky and doesn't fit well under my coat; it's more of hanging-out-at-home kind of sweater. Also, the bottoms of the sleeves are kind of wide and tend to get in the way of things -- but they go with the loose style of the sweater.

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Orlando Ajoure & Cable Sweater

(real photos coming soon)

Pattern:

Orlando Ajoure & Cable Sweater from a free pattern at elann.com (originally from Spring/Summer 2003 issue of ONline Magazine)

Yarn:

ONline Linie 15 - Orlando [39% cotton/39% acrylic/22% nylon] (wide ribbon)
color: 002, Faded Denim
9 balls

Needles:

US 15

Size:

small (6-8)

Modifications:

Converted to knit the body in round up to armhole to avoid having a seam in the middle of the lacy side panel. I knit the sleeves in round for the same reason. I knit the cuffs flat, but grafted them together to avoid a seam there.

Finished:

July 2005

Comments:

I normally don't really like working with ribbon, but when I saw this sweater on elann's web site, it just called out to me. I really like how it came out. It's great for a cool summer evening with a camisole.
Also, I liked working with this ribbon. It was very soft and fabric-like and pleasant to work with.

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One Skein Wonder

Pattern:

One Skein Wonder (mini shrug) purchased from glampyre knits.

Yarn:

Classic Elite Beatrice [100% merino wool]
color: 3202, Crayon

Needles:

US 10

Size:

15" shoulder-to-shoulder size

Modifications:

none

Finished:

July 2005

Comments:

As you can probably guess from the picture above (modeled by Nephew#1), this project was NOT what I would call a 'success' (at least in terms of wearabilty). I was trying to use up this yarn that I had only 3 small balls of, but the yarn was just too COLORFUL for this project. It feels too small on me, but actually, I would say it fits me about the same way it does on Glampyre in her pics. I guess I'm just not the kind of gal who can pull off a mini-shrug. However, the pattern was great and it was a super-fast knit.
This yarn is really soft, and I'm sure I'd like it better in another color. I don't know WHAT possessed me to buy this color.

I think I like it better this way (as modeled by Niece#1).

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Rowan Frost Sleeveless Turtleneck

Pattern:

Frost sleeveless turtleneck from Rowan Knitting Magazine Number 30 (Autumn/Winter 2001)

Yarn:

Classic Elite Spotlight [100% matte cotton]
color: 5734

Needles:

US 7?

Size:

9-10 yrs?

Modifications:

Knit in the round up to the armhole.

Finished:

July 2005

Comments:

I made this for Daughter#2 and she loves it. In retrospect, I should have made it a little bigger, so it would fit her longer. I think it is designed to be rather snug (based on the picture of the girl in the magazine).

I loved working with this yarn. It's very soft because of the matte finish it has. It was easy to work with (unlike some other cottons I've tried).

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Rowan Nightfall Sleeveless Top

(real photos coming soon)

Pattern:

Nightfall sleeveless top (keyhole back version) from Rowan Knitting Magazine Number 30 (Autumn/Winter 2001)

Yarn:

Rowan Lurex Shimmer [80% rayon/20% polyester]
color: 331, Claret

Needles:

US 3

Size:

small

Modifications:

none

Finished:

June 2005

Comments:

This sleeveless top came out well. I love the subtle sparkle of this yarn, but it wore out my fingertips while making it. However, it is not scratchy when I'm wearing it. I think I might make the V-neck version of this in another color.

This model has strange bony shoulders...

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Debbie Bliss Aran Pullover #2

Pattern:

Cotton/Silk Aran from Debbie Bliss Cotton Knits for All Seasons

Yarn:

Debbie Bliss Merino Aran [100% merino wool]
color: 701 purplish dark blue

Needles:

US ?

Size:

small

Modifications:

Converted to a bottom-up in-the-round construction. Knit body in round up to armhole. Knit sleeves in round, slipped underarm stitches to holder, put sleeves on one long circular ndl with body and knit the rest as one piece (which was slightly unwieldy). Then grafted underarm stitches together.

I also had to knit 1 more 'V' center panel repeat than pictured in the book to get the length specified for the body.

Finished:

March/April 2005

Comments:

This was my second sweater knit from this pattern. I originally made it in a different yarn for Sister#1. This one I made for myself. I wanted a fitted-style sweater, so I made the small size (in both cases). However, the raglan style of this sweater is really not conducive to a fitted style; the sweater rides up in the front when you raise your arms, which is kind of irritating.

Although I really like how this sweater came out, I ended up giving it to Daughter#1 (pictured above). It was just a touch short for me, even after blocking, and it kept riding up when I raised my arms at all. No more fitted raglans for me -- lesson learned.

Here is a detail view of the cables.

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Niece#3's Retro Poncho

Pattern:

Retro Poncho from Knitter's Magazine, Summer 2003

Yarn:

Cascade 220 [100% wool],
color: 4009 (blue & teal heather),
9345? (purple heather),
4147 (pale yellow),
9407? (light green heather),
8400? (charcoal gray heather)

Needles:

US 7?

Size:

medium or large?

Modifications:

Made the poncho much longer than specified in the pattern. I think I changed the increase rate at some point, to slow down the increases so it wouldn't be too wide.

Finished:

January 2005

Comments:

I made this as a Christmas present for Niece#3. I really like the way the colors mix in the seed stitch border on this poncho.

that's a lot of knitting

detailed shot of the edge of the poncho

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Child's Guernsey Sweater

Pattern:

Child's Guernsey Sweater from a Design by Louise pattern booklet, Design #23 (purchased at WEBS)

Yarn:

Dale Free Style [100% wool, machine washable]
color: 5364 (purplish dark blue)

Needles:

US7

Size:

4 yrs

Modifications:

none

Finished:

September 2004

Comments:

This was my FIRST sweater (awwwww). I did not yet know how to seam and I had a miserable time doing so in such a dark yarn. Since then I've had seaming lessons with a great teacher, and I don't completely dread seaming like I used to (well, maybe just a little). I made this for Nephew#4, who was 1 1/2 yrs old at the time. I made a size 4 so it would fit for a while, but it came out smaller than I expected. However, it still fits him and he is now 3.

I had to cast off with a US9 because the neck opening came out too tight when I cast off with a US7.

I was not thrilled with this yarn, since it split a lot. But it was soft and machine washable and has held up well.

I also made a matching hat from this pattern booklet.

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Debbie Bliss Aran Pullover

Pattern:

Cotton/Silk Aran from Debbie Bliss Cotton Knits for All Seasons

Yarn:

Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted [85% wool/15% mohair]
color: M-77, Blue Magic

Needles:

US 8

Size:

small

Modifications:

Converted to a bottom-up in-the-round construction. Knit body in round up to armhole. Knit sleeves in round, slipped underarm stitches to holder, put sleeves on one long circular ndl with body and knit the rest as one piece (which was slightly unwieldy). Then grafted underarm stitches together.

I also had to knit 1 more 'V' center panel repeat than pictured in the book to get the length specified for the body.

Finished:

February 2005

Comments:

I made this sweater for Sister#1 (pictured above). I enjoyed making it so much that I made it a second time for myself (in a different yarn). I wanted a fitted-style sweater, so I made the small size (in both cases). However, the raglan style of this sweater is really not conducive to a fitted style; the sweater rides up in the front when you raise your arms, which is kind of irritating.

Above the sweater is picture post-blocking on it's recipient, Sister#1.

Here I am modeling it pre-blocking. The neck was a little big (fixed by washing & blocking) and it was a little short. I stretched it a bit during blocking, but Sister#1 is a little shorter than me so I think it worked out OK.

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Gigi Sleeveless Crop Top

Pattern:

Gigi sleeveless crop top from a Sirdir pattern leaflet #2003.

Yarn:

Sirdar Gigi [100% nylon]
color: 044, Pigalle Purple

Needles:

US 3

Size:

3-4 or 5-6 yrs

Modifications:

none

Finished:

May/June 2004

Comments:

I made this for Daughter#1. I'm not much of a novelty yarn fan, but this pattern & yarn was an impulse buy at my LYS one day when I saw the pattern near the register and fell in love with its cuteness. I think it came out well and my daughter loves it. I remember having problems with sizing. Daughter#1 was almost 8 at the time, but had to make like a size 3-4 or 5-6 in order to get the body not to be huge.

I don't have a good picture of this. Here is Daughter#1 wearing it to decorate the Christmas tree. Doesn't everyone wear tank tops in the middle of winter?

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