10.5.12

luka


Although I am beyond excited about my latest knit, there is also much shame and embarrassment that goes with. You see, the conception of my Rowan's Luka actually began back in April 2011. A lengthy project by any standards but one that has finally, and at times against the odds, been completed. And hallelujah, it fits.

Various excuses are attached to the resumé -

* Those bloomin' cats being the main one. Not fully trained in leaving mama alone when she has knitting on the go, they still delight in pouncing, clawing, dragging a 'wip' across floors, even. This makes me stand up in panic mode, hurrying to finish the row, tension growing tighter and tighter with every stitch. It has been an exercise of the start/stop variety and lately, in a final and desperate bid to get the thing finished, the only option was to lock the kitties in their bedroom (yes, they do have one!) extra early so knitting could recommence. I was also mindful of the fact that the boy was growing, you must understand, making time of the essence.

* The weather. Last April, you will remember, suddenly became incredibly hot. Days after I started the jumper as luck would have it, and so the needles were put down due to sweaty fingers and better things to do in the sunshine quite frankly. Point 1 then came into play and the rest is history.

* Forgetfulness and laziness. Say no more.


It has been lovely to make something for my boy. I'm glad he was first off the grid when I announced I was going to knit something and asked who fancied being the recipient. After all, the Model has had her fair share of makes but all the same, it was a happy occasion to think he wanted his ol' mum to knit for him. He keenly chose his colour combi and the style he wanted from the two or three options I gave him out of this book, unfortunately discontinued now but available still on the internet.

Well, I needn't have worried about it being too small, in fact it is generous to say the least. The body of the garment fits beautifully with bags of room for growth, however the arms would be more fitting for a child of the simian variety. I suppose the right thing would be to take a couple of inches out of the sleeves but to be honest I'm not sure I'm up to the job, emotionally anyway. Given he's just as happy to turn up the cuffs I shall put it down to experience. I seem to remember adding length way back in the day to both the front and back but I don't think I did the same for the sleeves, perhaps my gauge was a bit off. My test swatch revealed tension was too tight so I knitted the jumper with needles one size up and now I'm thinking my tension reverted. Oh well, at least it has been consistent and that's got to be what counts.


Despite the turned up sleeves, the boy is over the moon and that makes it all worthwhile. So now that I've finished, I am keen to get stuck in to the next project .. one for the Model I feel this time. In fact I've had this and also this one in my Ravelry favourites for some time. Any thoughts from you knitters on which would be the easier to do? Whether I'd be able to achieve it, even? One small problem though. She says knitted cardis are itchy so can anyone recommend any non-itchy yarns? Or perhaps I should put my efforts into making something for myself, this one for example. Or maybe this. At least that way, if it isn't finished for a year or two, there won't be a sizing issue to deal with. Fingers crossed anyway!

By the way, there's still enough time to enter my souvenir giveaway which closes tomorrow night.

Have a wonderful weekend.

18 comments:

  1. Looks like a perfect fit :)

    I am on the last round of a blanket I started last June! Hoping it will be finished this weekend - however I have made the classic 'mistake' of starting another already!!

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  2. No wonder he likes it, it's great! I think you got the size right too.
    Now, for the model - I love the second one and there are so many options but I think the first one would be the easiest. Just don't knit anything in wool. A nice soft,easy to wash acrylic would be great -
    For you - perfect style and doesn't look too hard and your reasoning about size and time could be a winner.
    Good luck !!!
    Cheers

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  3. isn't it lovely when they are thrilled with something you make for them x and so he should be, it's great!

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  4. What an amazing jumper and beautifully modelled! I love the contrasting colour of the neck and cuffs. I would recommend using a cotton yarn for your daughter's cardigan, maybe a 4 ply so it's not too chunky. I bought some yarn back in January to crochet a cardigan for myself but haven't found the perfect pattern. Must get onto Ravelry again. Have a lovely weekend. x

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  5. The jumper looks wonderful, well worth they wait! I never realised knitting was so technical, which is most likely why I have never managed more than a 'scarf'!
    Have a wonderful, hopefully sunny, weekend

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  6. That is a proper boy's sweater, nice one :D

    If you're knitting for the model I think you'd find Tiny Tea Leaves easier. Maybe search the projects on Rav for folk who've used an alpaca/silk mix yarn, might give you some ideas. It will be fuzzy but soft and so shouldn't be itchy at all. The pattern was designed for a wool yarn so if you move away from animal fibres you probably won't get quite the drape of the original.

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  7. it looks very nice! one day i hope to tackle a sweater project.so far i've stuck to smaller projects like hats and such...
    have a great weekend...

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  8. We don't have cats in the house, but we do have an 18 month old who loves to make off with my knitting. Ahhh, panic!
    The jumper looks great. It's the perfect 'boy' sweater!
    I made the tiny leaves cardi for our Sophie. I am in no way an experienced knitter, and I found it an easy knit. My girlfriend is knitting one for herself, and it is the first 'big' project that she has knitted, and she is also finding it a fairly easy knit. I used this yarn from Knitpicks: http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Swish_DK_Yarn__D5420168.html It is lovely and soft, no itching!

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    1. Not sure why it put funny spacing in my comment:)

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  9. That sweater is just beautiful!!!!!

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  10. Well done for finishing before he got too big! Wouldn't work for my boy who has grown about 5 inches in a year - that's the teen years for you.
    It looks lovely and soft. What about a cotton or bamboo yarn for the Model? They don't itch and are lovely to work with.

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  11. It is gorgeous! Sometimes those lengthy projects turn out fantastic when finished! You should take a peek at my unfinished pile :)

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  12. It's lovely Kate, well done for finishing!
    Diana x

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  13. It's a beauty; no doubt about it! Congratulations on making your boy happy!

    I had a quick perusal of your favourites on Ravelry: yum to most of them and they look mostly way out of my league so I shall bow my head and demurely make a yarn suggestion, if I may? I am currently knitting with Juno Pearl bought from Loop Knitting online. It has silk in it and is REALLY soft! No itchiness whatsoever... just a little pricey.

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  14. Lovely jumper. I've got the tea leaves cardie in my (ridiculously long!) queue too. I seem to mainly knit with MillaMia yarn and my little girl has never complained about itching with that, not even with the scarf. Alternatively, why not take the pressure off and just make something for yourself?!

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  15. Out of all of your 'excuses' I cannot agree with laziness after all you have been up to. The jumper looks great and the model very 'cool'.

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  16. Hello Kate...Ooh, your son has such good taste!...You have done a wonderful job. It 's a bit frustrating as I can't see your Ravelry links...I have trouble even getting on my own pages most of the time too and have no idea how to resolve it so I can't give an opinion tonight. But there are so many lovely smooth yarns out there...merino/cashmere/silk/cotton blends...lots of choice and no itching...have fun and hopefully I will be able to look at your possible choices next time I return!
    Hope you are having a great weekend,
    Susan x

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  17. What a perfect boys sweater (and I'm singing My Name is Luka in my head!)and if it was finished while it still fitted then it doesn't matter how long it took!
    It's great when something you make is enthusiastically received x

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There's nothing like a comment to stop me feeling like I'm talking to myself. If you leave one here I'll pop one back here too, so don't forget to come back and continue the conversation ..

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