From the Top! Budgie #2

So when I found out that Budgie was not top down I knew that I was going to make two from the start. One mostly as written found here in part 1 and the other "from the top"! I bought yarn for both sweaters at the same time. As soon as I was done knitting the 1st (noticed I did not say "finishing") I moved on to figure out how the heck I would convert it to be a top down totally seamless venture.

NOTE: I totally just "cowboyed" this whole dang thing (which means I made it up as I went. Although when I looked it up on line to see if other people use this term, it has a whole different meaning. Mine is better and I'll stick with it) so don't go thinking I actually know whats going on. Mine turned out really great for me. Sure you can kinda tell where the increases are but I must confess I did not block this sweater. When it was done it went right into use because kids grow up faster than I can knit!

That being said here is how I went about doing the pattern from the top for size 18-24 (both sweaters are the same size)

The down and dirty details:
Size: 18-24 months (it's in this post twice because I forgot it in the last post. Oops!)

Gauge: 21.3 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Needle size: US 6 for main body US 5 icord trim
Yarns: (Color A)Fibranatura Yummy 1 skein in grey dawn (370 yards)

(Color B)Debbie Bliss Rialto DK 2 skeins in grey (230 yards)
(Color C)Debbie Bliss Rialto 4 ply 1 skein in red(198 yards)

For this version I played with adding buttons instead of using a zipper. I think I prefer the zipper but those fish were just too darn cute.

With Color C cast on 51 Stitches and knit 5 rows ( 3 garter ridges) Break yarn and join Color A

**Working in Straight Stitch and switching between colors A and B every 2 rows

1st increase Row (RS) K3, *M1, K2; repeat until last 4 stitches* M1 K4 (83 sts)
P row in color A. Join color B (do not break color A)

Work 4 rows in pattern **

2nd increase (RS) K2, *M1, K3* (110 sts)

Knit 9 rows in pattern

3rd increase (RS) K2, *M1, K3* (146 sts)

Knit 11 rows in pattern

4th increase (RS) K2, *M1, K4* (182 sts)

Knit 8 rows in pattern

Sleeve row: knit 27 sts, place 36 sts on a piece of scrap yarn or holder, knit 56 sts, place 36 sts on a piece of scrap yarn or holder, knit 27.

Knit until desired length in pattern. I personally prefer to make my sweaters for kids and babies a bit on the long side. This way it covers their back when they reach up and play. I never understood why many store bought sweaters and sweater patterns are short and boxy.


You will end as Budgie begins although backwards from working 2 rows in MC to the bind off. You will do the contrast bind off instead of cast on. *NOTE If this does not make sense I'm sorry but I really wanted to be careful not to put the whole pattern up here. I am working on the assumption that you already have the Budgie pattern and are just looking to modify it for top down.


Sleeves:

Working in Straight Stitch in the round and switching between colors A and B every 2 rows

Place 36 sts from hold onto needles Pick Up 8 sts (44sts) from armpit area ( I'm bad at this part but I fix any holes when I weave in ends)

Knit in pattern until the sleeve measures 3 inches from armpit

Decrease round 1: K2, Ktog, knit to last 4 stitches, K2, Ktog. (42 sts)

Knit in pattern for 11 rounds

Decrease round 2: K2, Ktog, knit to last 4 stitches, K2, Ktog. (40 sts)

Knit in pattern for 11 rounds

Decrease round 3: K2, Ktog, knit to last 4 stitches, K2, Ktog. (38 sts)

(Done with decreasing) knit 11 rounds than finish as the sleeves begins but use contrast bind off instead of cast on. (*see note after end of body)

Finish as for zipper in Budgie or with buttons if you choose!

Wow, that was a lot of typing. I hope if you do try following these directions that all goes well. I did knit a second top down budgie and it was also fine. Good Luck!

A Tale of Two Budgies: Part 1

A soon as I saw the pattern for Budgie on Grumperina's blog I though it was the pattern I had been searching for. Finally a baby item with a zipper! Yippee!

I quickly downloaded the pattern and read through it so I could gather my yarn and needles to start right away and then ... BAM! In my mind it was a top down seamless sorta thing with the amazing addition of a zipper. No, sorry, it is a bottom up patten and the sleeves are knit flat.Ok, ok I am not going to let this stop me because the sweater is too darn cute.

I decided to follow the pattern with one minor exception: I knit the sleeves in the round using the jogless stripe technique from TECHknitting. I felt confident in my ability to pull this off since I used this very same technique during my pant madness last winter.


The down and dirty details:

Gauge: 21.3 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Needle size: US 6 for main body US 5 icord trim
Yarns: Fibranatura Yummy 1 skein in grey dawn (370 yards)

Liliy Chin Gramercy 2 skeins in light blue (254 yards)
Elsebeth Lavold Cool Wool 1 skein in orange (109 yards)


Stay Tuned For Part 2: Budgie from the Top!

NOVEMBER 2nd? Time for a new hat!

It can't be! It's not for lack of projects that I have been away once again. I am spending ton's of time knitting and sewing and planning projects. This leaves me with little motivation to hop on the old computer. I also just got an Iphone (my husbands hand me down, but Woot!!! just the same) and, well, it's just so easy to do the basics (email and facebook for me) that my computer has been getting a bit dusty these days.

I whipped up this very basic ear flap hat last month. The weather is only just getting around to being cold enough that it's needed.

"No, no don't eat the leaves Astas!"

The Details of said whipped up hat:

Main Yarn: Baby Alpaca Grande Trim yarn: Malabrigo Worsted
Gauge: 3.5 stitches = 1 inch
Needle: 10

Ear flaps were knit 1st (at the same time) then I cast on stitches in between for the front and back. It was knit in the round using magic loop. The trim is a basic crochet edge, the leaves are free hand embroidery and the top is a simple tassel. All in all less than a day to make from start to finish!