Fitted Knits Along

Instructions driving me nuts

I've been looking for a while for someone else who's had this question about the top, but if she's out there, I can't find her.

On page 108 before separating sleeves from the body it says to knit one round. The next round says "knit front sts". That means 2 knit rows consecutively; won't that mess up the garter stitch sections of the front?

I'm desperate for an answer! Did any of you notice a difference if you followed this instruction? Am I overthinking it?

Finished Ballerina Top

Yes, it looks a lot like the one in the book! I loved the yarn, and was delighted when I got gauge (both stitch and row) with the needle size she recommends. That almost never happens! However, something happened, because following the sleeve directions as written, I ended up with long sleeves (maybe I lost gauge?!?). Still, that isn't necessarily a bad thing, since it is such a warm sweater, and I'll be wearing it in really cold weather. I'm not sure which project I'll start next. The yarn I had in stash (Knitaly by Colorado Yarns) that I thought would work well for the Boatneck Bluebell Sweater doesn't feel nearly as soft in the swatch as in the skein, so that's a non-starter. I'll see if I find anything on an expedition to Colorful Stitches in Lenox, MA on Sunday.

I Forgot To Post This Last Time...

I totally forgot I'd uploaded pictures of my Alexandra top in progress!

This is what it looked like Thursday morning...

and this is what it looked like a few hours later!  I love how quickly this is working up, except now that it's 90 degrees and humid as all get-out, I can't bring myself to knit with the wool yarn (I already have a really bad wool allergy, but for some reason wearing the sweater is not as itchy as knitting it).  If I hadn't already bought enough yarn to make the sleeves, I totally would have left the sleeves off because I think it looks cute without them!  I just might make another one with short sleeves in a less bulky yarn, if I'm ever not too lazy to modify the pattern.

Could someone help me with Alexandra Ballerina Top?

I was doing well with my Alexandra Ballet Top this evening, until I got to the directions on the top right side of page 108, labeled "Next rnd"  (the section just above where you separate the sleeves from the body).  I now have several questions, and wonder if someone might be able to help me interpret the information in this section?

First question: It says to work chart A over the next 8 stitches beginning at row 9. Am I to understand that this is row 9, or am I starting with this as row 1 in the chart? I am comparing my yoke to the picture, and it seems as if it might be about time to do a cable, but perhaps I am jumping the gun by 8 rows.

Second and third questions: The directions say to use chart A and then chart B. I did get the correct key to Chart B from the errata page. However, am I reading it correctly that these charts are saying the cables on rows 9, 13, and 17 are different?  (In the picture, they seem the same to me.) And because there are 8 knit stitches in each front panel for the cable, what happens to the extra two if the cable (in rows 9 and 17 in the charts) only involves 6 stitches?  Knit these two stitches?

Next question: Just below this section it says to repeat these two rounds 6 (7,8,9,9) times--I am assuming the two rounds in question are the knit round mentioned at the end of the previous column and then this increase round. At least this I think is right.

Last question: There are just three cable crossing rows in the whole front of the sweater as shown? That is what I am getting from the chart, and it certainly looks that way in the picture.  But is it really correct that the second two are just four rows apart (and the second one is 4 rows after the first one)?

I would like to think my incomprehension stems from it being pretty late at night here, but I am afraid it is more than that! I am a fairly new knitter, and I guess my inexperience is showing. Any help that you can give would be most appreciated. I'd love to get more work done on this sweater this weekend.

Alexandra Progress and Two-Toned Trainwreck

I HAVE been knitting...contrary to outward appearances, at least on this KAL! I just finished the decreases on Alexandra and am starting the increases. I think I should have about 4-5 more inches to go on the body!

I also had an unfortunate incident with the Two-Toned Shrug, and I think "she" will be visiting the frog pond. I went with the 2nd smallest size, which fit great across the shoulders but is too tight in the arms.  I also adjusted the length of the sleeve but should have made the aqua contrast color section longer, to match the picked up section as that would be longer.

I haven't been brave enough to take a picture of it on- I finished the first sleeve, then seamed it to see what it looked like. Not.Good.

So I can either rip the sleeve back and do some increases at the top, or frog the whole thing and move on with my life (and the next Fitted Knits project.)

Thoughts, especially from those of you who've made it?

Alexandra Completed!

I'm very happy with this one, even though I won't be able to wear her for several months! I used 8 balls of RYC Soft Tweed in Kingfisher, and further details are over at the blog.

Alexandra Sleeve Detail

Just wanted to share a shot of the Alexandra's sleeve detail, which you (unfortunately!) can't see in the book:

I've been really impressed so far with the thoughtful construction and detailing that Stefanie has put into her designs -- see that delicate little flare to the sleeve?  I also couldn't believe how well the back-dart shaping of this sweater works on a short-waisted person like me.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through with Alexandra, and hope to have a FO shot by the weekend!  :)

Progress Report

It's been a crazy last day or two, as I cast on for the Alexandra Ballerina Top on Wednesday night and...couldn't stop.  :P  I'm usually not one for bulky yarns, but it sure makes projects come together quickly! I've used up 3 balls of my RYC Soft Tweed so far to get to this point:

My cables seem somewhat wonky, but I'm hoping that a little blocking and tweaking later on will help that.  I was quite pleased with how my swatch reacted to a wash -- the stitches smoothed out and took on a very pretty luster.  I was glad, too, that I re-did my swatch to make it in the round -- it made a definite difference.  Looks like I'll definitely be able to finish this before the end of the month!

I've also picked up my other Fitted Knits project again, the languishing U-Neck Vest.  I'd been worrying that the vest made me look to much like a busty barmaid, but once I actually seamed the shoulders together, it didn't look that bad.  I've just got to do the shoulder and neck edgings now:

Thanks for sharing your project pictures -- I love to see the FOs!

Problem!

I have ripped this sweater so many times it should be green from frogging - lol

I am a few rows out from completeing & coasting off the bottom edge but I really don't like the way the increases look or hang.  My decreases look fine but those pesky increases are driving me batty!  Do you think it would work if I left out the increases?

~ Sherri

P.S. - I do not have cables on my sweater either & my decreases & increases have been done of the sides of the sweater.

short-sleeve ballerina

Hello everyone!

This is my first FO from this fab book - it was a quick knit since I opted for a short sleeve version.  I love this pattern and will actually make another one, long sleeve this time.  I'm still looking for the right yarn, this will probably be an end of summer project.  For now, I'm still doing summer projects (two WIPs: DSL tank & two-tone shrug).

I used Filatura Di Crosa - Portofino in shade 6