Ivy

FatCat · Ivy

inspired by the wonderful ones I've seen on Carola's and Terri's blogs, and following on from my thread under Purls of Wisdom, I'm officially starting a KAL for this Very Happy

Pattern is here .

Mine's already OTN, and here's a progress pic to prove it Very Happy

Anyone care to join me ... ? Razz

Blossom

That's lovely FatCat...I love the colour...what yarn have you used??!

terri

I'm really tempted to make one for myself when I finish my sisters Confused

maybe a long term project to knit when I get bored in between other bits, cos I never normally make the same thing twice, but it is lovely Very Happy

I saw a grey one on the kal that carola put up and that was really nice, looked snuggly so maybe better for winter Confused

Glynis

Oh, it's tempting Fatcat, its tempting!

pictish

I'm going to cast on soon for this - still deciding on yarn Cool

But is that the Bonus DK cos it's looking stunning Very Happy

. Very pretty colour FC.

FatCat

pictish

Well this will probably be WIP number 96 for me Laughing

But I didn't mean I was surprised about the Bonus - I thought it must be nice or you wouldn't have bought it Wink

But it looks incredibly neat on that rib Razz

And a pretty colour.

Jobo

That is looking very nice indeed Fatcat Very Happy

Wildpurl

That looks lovely FC, and what a gorgeous colour! I would like to knit another Ivy, but I am going to do a few other things first and get rid of some stash! Besides if I don't knit some socks soon, I shall be drummed out of the Sock a Month LOL

I quite fancy doing one in Jaeger Trinity, which by a ghastly co-incidence is currently on sale at Janette's...

And Mr Carola is wanting his alpaca sweater I promised him last year.
So I might just enjoy your Ivys vicariously for now.

Jo028

Looking lovely fatcat, very pretty colour.

I'm in, just as soon as my yarn is here! There, I've said it now, so I'm committed. Just don't put a completion date on the knitalong will you Very Happy

murdo

Carola...you have mentioned that Trinity more than once. I think you should get some. View it as "balancing out" the Tweed mountain...a sort of Ying and yang thing......

cazzie

Fatcat,

That is lovely - love the colour and the pattern - so tempted to join in Very Happy

Aknita

I love it when a pattern and a colour compliment each other - and FatCat that is a wonderful combination. I love it!

KnittingLadybird

your Ivy is starting to look really lovely FC. I'm pleased that someone has made in a cheaper yarn but personally sirdar bonus has been a fave of mine for a long time. The colour you have chosen for this pattern is well suited....I may be in for this one too.

Wildpurl

gilraen

It's looking lovely in the Bonus. I have too many things to knit at the moment to start something else as well. I want to try this but it will have to wait. Smile

I'm looking forward to see all the progress Smile

Rosie

OOh i want to knit this one - just looking at yarn - mustnt really buy any got loads of stuff to knit in stash lol

melody yarns

Ooh I like the look of that too!

I might be in on this one! But first I have to find some yarn to knit it in..... Shocked

What's everyone been using for theirs? Ideas?

jessica

I may well join in on this one too. Off to Scotland for a few days might have to slide into JL in Glasgow and check out the yarns Wink

Glynis

I've got to confess I've been looking out for suitable yarns, but I've not seen any "must have" candidates just yet.
Apart from a Lionbrand microfibre yarn I've not found anything that exactly matches the tension, so there will undoubtedly have to be maths and swatching Sad

Although Artesano Inca Cloud is close.

Aknita

pictish

Debs there is a separate thread on this here Cool

melody yarns

Thanks for the link! I'd completely missed it somehow!

I think I have just the thing in my stash which knits to the EXACT tension Wink

although Inca cloud is close isn't it?

pictish

The Inca cloud comes out almost spot on for me Debs at 3.5mm - think that woman is still doing it at £14.99 too on fleabay Cool

*takes Enabler hat off again* Laughing

Jo028

murdo

pictish

Sorry missed this Embarassed

It's Luxury Yarns Very Happy

They seem to put it up daily.

I cast on for this last night in some teal coloured Inca Cloud and am doing the rib - I'll try and put a piccy up tomorrow Razz

The alpaca looks lovely.

FatCat

cor, sounds great Pictish - looking forward to the pics Very Happy

I'm still plodding along on the back of mine, got distracted into something else kinda sock-shaped .... Embarassed

again

Jo028

Oh no, not teal, it's making me go weak at the knees thinking about it! I even put some Elann Quecha in my basket yesterday beacause they've got teal back in stock, but managed to resist. (I think it stays in the basket too, so I'm not looking until the 'teal' moment passes Laughing

)

terri

Have finished my Ivy now and have a modelled photo on my blog! My sister loved it, which was a relief Smile

CJ

I've seen it. and it looks lovely. Very Happy

shame I've only got 10 balls, cos that's not enough to make ivy is it? Sad

will have to think of some other use for it. Laughing

terri

I made the second size for my sister, and I think she's definately bigger than you CJ! plus I had no 3.5mm needles, so used 3.75mm instead which will also have used more yarn Confused

I already checked and I have a differant colour to yours don't I???? Cos I have one ball left.........

CJ

thanks. yes, I think your's was a slightly different shade to mine. Do you think I'd get away with a smaller size then, cos I'm about 34" underarm and it says 32" closed size?

terri

Maybe look at the measurements on the schematic, cos if its ok across your back, obviously you can tie it as loose or tight as you like!!!!

CJ

oo, thanks.

Just done that, and measured a fitted t-shirt. one of them is 15", the other 17". and the smallest size ivy is 16" across the back. I'm quite broad shouldered as well. oh pants, not sure now. I think I might have to go for the 36" size and risk it being a bit loosish, rather than too tight Wink

Now, just got to decide on which yarn to use. Not got much left in my stash now!! only the cathay in DK weight, which was what I hoped to use. maybe i could get a couple of extra balls, but then i run the risk of the dye batch not matching. decisions decisions, cos I really want to make this now having seen yours' and carola's.

terri

might be worth asking in the craft market bit if anyone has an odd ball or two Confused

pictish

It's looking lovely Terri Cool

Gorgeous colour.

murdo

lovely Terri..really beautiful. CJ...what colour do you need?

Aknita

Looking lovely terri! Very Happy

Well worth the wait!

CJ

murdo, I need 3 balls of shade 12011 (mine's dyelot 10) - it's a purple colour. or 13 (however many terri used!!!!!) of something else, that i can swap with, cos i've pledged to buy no more yarn until woolfest!!!

Wildpurl

terri, yours looks great, what a lovely colour. No wonder your sister is pleased!
CJ there is more info about how much yarn you need on the yarn for Ivy thread. I used less than the pattern says, about 3/4 of a ball less, so you might be alright, but it's a bit scary if you are tight on yarn...

CJ

thanks, Carola, will go and have another looksie Wink

dreamcatcher

Your Ivy looks lovely terri!

I bought the Quechua in Saxony teal when the pattern first came out Very Happy

Needless to say I haven't started it yet! I was going to buy King Cole Anti-Tickle merino but I could get the Quechua for the same price including the shipping. Worth getting as it's now back in stock at elann, it's gorgeous yarn. If you don't mind waiting the surface shipping is even cheaper.

Aknita

Wildpurl

ROFLMAO @ Aknita. I wondered the same thing at first, but CJ is being very very good so far

CJ

no, not ill, just trying my hardest to knit up some of what I have first. Wink

I've just had my march day off, so no more now until april. Confused

I might get the yarn for ivy as a reward when I manage to last till the end of june with only one day off a month. Shocked

chrissy

well after a shopping spree at lidl I have the yarn, I am concerned as it has a bit of sparkly thread around it, but I fell in love with it so am hoping to make ivy out of it, it is my first yarn buy since colinette last year that is how good I have been and as it only cost £12 for 12 balls I couldn't pass the bargain by
Chrissy

n

WOW! I'm impressed with all this yarn frugality.... if only I could apply the same skill to knitting books.... two arrived in the post this morning. Embarassed

n

Jo028

Which one did you get Chrissy? I got the cotton/viscose mix & bought enough for Ivy too. (pic of the colour on my blog).

terri

I didn't relise you had a blog Jo, been for a peak and will add you to my blogroll Very Happy

Aknita

n

I've been for a visit too!
n

chrissy

I got the fantasy, in a really lovely turquoise with gold metallic thread around it, I fell in love with it. I bought 12 balls and I hope it will be the right guage for ivy, yours looks a whole lot thinner then the wool I choose Confused

Chrissy

chrissy

I need help already, the pattern calls for

24 sts/32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

the wool I have states

29 sts/35 rows = 4 inches in st st

what do I have to do to make them match up, lol. I am going to swatch now and see what happens.
Chrissy

pictish

Just seen this Shocked

Did you sort it out Chrissy??

sandrab

I know I'm way behind everyone else, but have just decided to knit Ivy for myself.

Fatcat, could you tell me what size needles you used with the Sirdar Bonus? Think I am going to use that too.

Catknit

If it hasn't been mentioned before, the original yarn for Ivy is on special offer at the moment $2.98 per ball (50%) off

ETA oops, at Elann.com

sandrab

Mmm, looked at that, and the price of the yarn was great, but the P&P was over $43 which I thought bumped up the price of the yarn too much (in fact almost doubled it!!!)

Catknit

If you go for the surface shipping with no insurance, it goes down to $13.50.I've used this before and it took 2 weeks to arrive but still not bad

FatCat

sandrab

Rosie

Yipppeeee i won some diploma gold in cherry on ebay so im fianlly gonna start my ivy as soon as it arrives Smile

worked out at £1.78 a ball inc postage

im smiling Very Happy

sandrab

Well, I've given up with mine and frogged it all Sad

. Really didn't like the way the Sirdar Bonus was knitting up as it was too "stiff" and did not hang well at all. Also, I had ordered it online and the colour was not what I expected, much darker and more "navy" than I thought it would be and so it reminded me a bit of a school cardigan Rolling Eyes

Shame, really, as I really like the pattern - perhaps I'll try again at some point when I find some really nice yarn to use.

FatCat

Now isn't that strange, I frogged my Bonus one too at the weekend Rolling Eyes

Nothing wrong with it as such, but I didn't like the way the stocking stitch was turning out, I think it needed a more textured yarn with a bit more interest. So I've cast on again with some Jaeger Trinity but I'm not sure yet whether I like the way it's turning out, my cables are a bit baggy Confused

It's a shame about your frogging Sandra, but it's the way to go if you're not happy with it. I do hope you find another yarn for it soon Very Happy

Rosie

I STILL havent started my ivy yet but i got the guage right now - i got sidetracked lol

FatCat

that sidetracking's easily done, happens to me SO often! Rolling Eyes

Well, I've been off work sick the last few days so I've done a bit more on my new version of Ivy, doesn't need too much concentration once the cabling's part is done so perfect for days on the sofa with daytime telly. I've finished the back, and got this far on one of the sleeves:

The yarn is Jaeger Trinity, sold to me by the lovely Pictish - thanks! I wasn't sure when I started out on it because the cables aren't as crisp as they were in the Bonus, and a bit holey in places I thought. But I'm happier with it now, the fabric drapes beautifully and is very light and summery Very Happy

gilraen

That looks lovely! Trinity is a lovely summer yarn Smile

pictish

Oooh FC that is going to be gorgeous Razz

The Trinity is a very open fabric on 4mm so I imagine your cables will be fairly 'relaxed' ones Laughing

You've done loads.

Hope you're feeling better soon too.

Jo028

That does look good FC in the trinity. I've a bag here, but I really don't think I can face makning it again, even though I thought I would !

FatCat

Thank you - I'm feeling much better today, hence being back online and working, rather than watching Murder She Wrote Laughing

I'm on 3.5mm with the Trinity, so not too holey, but a nice thin fabric with nice texture. I'm really loving it, I also think it's going to be gorgeous for summer (which is nearly here, allegedly!). The only things I don't like about the Trinity are the @*%$£ little splinters of sharp stuff that it has every so often in it. On behalf of the gap between my fingers where I feed the yarn through I say OW! More than once Evil or Very Mad

Rosie

Oooh that looks great fatcat - i must get started on mine But im trying desperatly to finish my may socks at mo Sad

then my sister wants longies Sad

FatCat

well, I've hiked this to the top of my wiplist, seeing as it would be nice to actually have it to wear in the next couple of months! So far I've done the back and one sleeve, and I finished the left front yesterday.

So, just another sleeve and the other front to go Very Happy

Anyone else still in on this one .....? Confused

cazzie

I had forgotten about Ivy - it was on my to do list (which I really must write down and not keep in my head).

Looks really good in Trinity Smile

Binty

I really like this pattern.

Could I be tempted to make my first "wearing" item??

sandrab

I still really want to do this, but haven't had chance to find any nice yarn to make it with. Any recommendations would be most welcome Smile

though not sure if I have time at the moment - maybe nearer the Autumn, when I will be more motivated to knit for myself maybe.

pictish

I'm still in - JUST Laughing

- I started it in teal Artesano Alpaca and have almost finished the rib on the back but was worried I'd done the wrong size - too big - and stopped. Which size are you doing FC??

Yours looks lovely and delicate in the Trinity.

FatCat

Thanks everyone Very Happy

Binty, as far as I remember the pattern uses any DK yarn, so if you're not sure then perhaps you could try part of it out with something cheap and cheerful first to see how you get on? I started this the first time in Sirdar Bonus, which would have been fine. But then the Trinity came along .... LOL, sounds like I had a Christian moment there Laughing

Pictish, I'm doing the Small size, which is 36inches when closed, so hopefully it should be fine for my 34AA non-jubblies Very Happy

pictish

Thanks FC - think I'm doing the medium.

GrannySmith

That looks really good, so was it a certain GS mentioning Ivy that sprung you back into action? Wink

FatCat

GrannySmith

FatCat

Moi? Troublemaker?

*tries to look innocent*
*fails*

Laughing

GrannySmith

As you can it is still in the carrier bag that I bought the wool in Embarassed

it's still nice wool though and I keep looking at it Laughing

FatCat

well, all the pieces are done, apart from the ties. Currently it looks like this, while I find the time, light and energy to do the sewing up Rolling Eyes

No rush though, with the current weather it's not like I'm going to need this in the very near future, will need something way warmer! Laughing

CJ

very nice, FC. Very Happy

is that the pink jaeger trinity?

cazzie

That does look nice - I was just about to ask if it was Trinty too Very Happy

FatCat

wow, you girls are good at this yarn-spotting stuff! Yep, it's Trinity Very Happy

Thanks for the compliments, hopefully it'll still look nice once the sewing's done Laughing

sandrab

That looks great - in fact, it's inspired me to buy some Trinity off Ebay and maybe I'll finally get round to doing it.

pictish

It looks GORGEOUS!!! But as you say not sure when you're going to wear it Confused

Jobo

It certainly does look good Fatcat - did you enjoy knitting with the Trinity?

FatCat

why thank you! You lot are so lovely, even managing to compliment the pieces all piled up in a heap! Very Happy

It looks like the sewing up elves aren't coming to visit, not in this rain anyhow, so I shall have to knuckle down and do it myself Rolling Eyes

I did enjoy knitting with the Trinity Jobo, it's really nice stuff. The only thing I didn't like was the sharp splintery bits it has in it from time to time. No idea why they're there, but they can be a tad painful if you don't notice them.

Jobo

Thanks for that Fatcat - I have heard varying reports about Trinity, some love it, some hate it - I'm sure someone somewhere said it was hard on the hands.

Anyway, I am sure you will have your Ivy sewn up before we know it and a modelled piccy Laughing

FatCat

That probably goes for most yarns though - some love it, some hate it Laughing

Now you come to mention it is was a little hard on the hands, not as soft as other yarns and not as stretchy either. But I found it OK to work with.

I spent yesterday evening sewing and it's all done

Now I need to knit the ties - 2 52inch lengths over 8 stitches Rolling Eyes

It may be a while before anyone sees a FO photo .....

CJ

I only knew it was trinity, cos I've got some in the denim blue colour, and it was a toss up between this and the pink when I got it before. Laughing

now, I just want some of the pink too. Rolling Eyes

CJ

PS, why don't you crochet the ties, a lot quicker, that's what I'll do if I ever get round to doing this jumper!!

melody yarns

Wow! That does look rather lovely Fatcat, and a gorgeous colour too!

The ties on my wrap cardi seemed to take for ages but they didn't really. They were very tedious though Confused

so I tried to knit about 10cm on them every evening before knitting anything else and they were done in no time at all.

Knitting elves? Do they visit then? Send 'em round to mine!

FatCat

nice idea CJ, but I've already started on knitting them so I'll just keep going. I like that idea Debs, I'll certainly try to do a bit every day. And no, unfortunately, I don't think the elves exist Sad

if they do then they never make it this far south!

Thanks for the compliments, and the support - it WILL get finished in the near future Very Happy

Wildpurl

Oooh Fatcat that looks soooo lovely! I like the colour, and the texture looks good too.
Can't wait to see a modelled piccie!

sandrab

Have finally started my Ivy again, in Trinity this time as Fatcat's looked so nice Smile

, though I'm doing it in blue. I'm 2/3 of the way up the back so far and am really pleased with it - it drapes much better than the Sirdar Bonus did and I think it will look much better when it's finished.

Don't think I'm going to do long ties though, as I'm not sure I want them all the way round my waist. I think I'm going to do a button on the inside and a small buttonhole in the left front to fasten it, with just short ties sewn to the right front and into the side seam between the left front and the back (or somewhere in that region Laughing

) . I've done quite a few cross-over cardigans for children and that seems to work okay for them so I think it should work okay for Ivy too.

FatCat

Sounds good Sandra, I'm so glad you're happy with it this time around.

I'm still working on the ties for mine, so no FO pic yet. I hope you all like it as much when it's actually finished as you do from the pics of it in pieces Shocked