| Archive for Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns The Friendly UK Board that invites Knitters, Crocheters, Dressmakers, Quilters, Patchworkers, Jewellery makers and Paper Crafters to join in our chat about Craft |
| pictish |
Top Down KAL?I wondered if anyone fancied joining me in knitting something top down?? Lots of patterns like FLS/Mr Greenjeans/Wicked/Something Red and all the ones in the Custom Knits book by Wendy Bernard. Or Green Gable/Sahara etc. The Garter Yoke cardi. Sure there are lots of others.I think I am going to make Something Red in mauve Cashmerino Aran. |
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| Blossom |
Something Mauve then??! I quite fancy making a Sandrine....not sure when though as I have to do a jumper for DH and a hoodie for Max! 
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| pictish |
 Guess so Sandrine is another one on my list too!! And there's a couple of other Chic Knits ones like the Eyelet cardi and Basic Chic Hoodie!!
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| Wildpurl |
I plan to make a Sandrine and then probably a Something Red at some stage.
Unfortunately, in accordance with my new knit one thing at time policy, I'm already about to start another knitalong, the Must Have Cardigan, following which I plan to finish my Babette blanket. So I'll join you all later in the year! I also fancy crocheting a top down cardi Stepping Stones |
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| melody yarns |
I fancy doing the Chicknits eyelet cardie too, and the Basic Hoodie, and a few from Knitting Pure & Simple, and..... somebody stop me!!
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| pictish |
No I'm just going to encorage you 
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| melody yarns |
Wicked Enabler
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| Anna |
*sticks fingers in ears and sings loudly*
I want to do a lot of those patterns but I really must get a few things finished first. Lalalalalalalalalalalalalala |
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| franney |
Well, i have a BPT on the needles still so i could try and pick that up again and not only will i be Finishalonging but i'll be Topdownalonging too! 
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| pictish |
YAYY!! | ||||
| franney |
It might be a week or so til i'm able to pick it up again though, i really have to get this shawl finished!! 
I've only managed 12 rows so far today, it's terrible!! |
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| melody yarns |
I'm sure the penny will drop in about 5 seconds of me asking but wassa BPT? Blood Pressure Taker? | ||||
| cazzie |
I shouldnt sign up for anymore KALS but do want to do a 'Something Red' soon.
Also thinking of a top down crochet cardi - I have 4 skeins of Hipknits Sari Silk that have been in my stash for ages and want to do something with it - think top down might be best as I'm not sure how far it will go! |
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| pictish |
Just join as and when folks!!! I've got a few I'll be doing I think 
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| melody yarns |
British Passport Test?
Baked Potato Thingy? Best Pigs' Trotters? |
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| cazzie |
Will be a first for me - never done a top down before
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| pictish |
I've no idea - I just know it's a variegated hoodie pattern from knitty
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| franney |
Don't know what it stands for Debs, but it's this hoodie
I'm doing mine in a lovely dark grey Sirdar Aran, although i didn't really understand the concept of trying it on and altering the pattern to suit when i started it and if i remember rightly it is too big so i might be giving it to my Mum when i get it finished 
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| melody yarns |
Ah, 'tis a 'Be Patient Then'
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| pictish |
Me too!!! Well have cast on and so far so good  Am changing the raglan increases from YOs to Kfb and it looks ok this time
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| murdo |
I'm in...doing a topdown sweater for me in Drops alpaca and a topdown baby cardy | ||||
| pictish |
Great murdo!!!
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| franney |
 Excellent!!
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| pictish |
Well I have a bit of a conundrum I have to knit until the raglans are 11" or 23 increases - now my row guage is different to the recommended yarn so if I do 23 increases it will probs only be 9" and if I do 11" it will come out too wide cos it will be about 26 increases So am going to go for 23 increases and hope that gives me a big enough armhole. I hope that's the right thing to do
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| melody yarns |
After knitting the FLS, as long as you get all your increases in (23 I think you said?) then you can knit your raglans whatever length you need or require. So you could complete your raglan increases and then knit 'straight' rows without shaping to complete your armhole depth.
I'm sure someone else would confirm if this is right or wrong as it's just the way I'm thinking of it! |
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| pictish |
You see in 'normal' knitting I KNOW what to do but don't yet with this sort of pattern But I expect you soon get the hang of it.
Thanks Debs - I'll see what it looks like after 23 increases 
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| melody yarns |
Neither do I really Ali it's a bit of a guess, so someone more knowledgeable might throw some expert light onto it!
What about asking on Rav? Is there a top-down group on there? |
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| melody yarns |
Here you go:
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/top-down-sweaters# I just joined!
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| pictish |
Thanks!! There's a Knit & Tonic group as well (Wendy Bernard) which I joined - I might ask there
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| melody yarns |
I think I've just found the perfect top down summer cardigan here
It looks non-so-good on the pattern itself but there are some fab examples on the Ravelry pages! I've just had a flash of inspiration to use up some S-T-A-S-H....
Rav pages are here:http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cropped-raglan-sweater/people |
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| pictish |
Looks lovely!!!!
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| pictish |
Just a pic to show my yarn and progress so far. I am about 2/3 through the raglan increases now.
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| dreamcatcher |
That's what I would do, think I did actually do it on the Alexandra top I made.
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| dreamcatcher |
Looks lovely so far Ali! I do like the paired KFB increases effect too. Gorgeous colour!
I'd like to join in at some point, not sure what to make though! |
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| pictish |
Thanks!!! I think it'll be running a while DC cos I've got a few from Custom Knits to do plus others - if I like the results that is
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| dreamcatcher |
I fancy Skinny Empire from Custom Knits, and have enough DB Baby Cashmerino in stash too
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| pictish |
Ooooh yes - someone just did a gorgeous blue one - I saw it on the Knit and Tonic group on Rav Baby Cash would be lovely for that - would that be the lilac?
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| melody yarns |
Oh my that looks fabulous! I LOVE the way the raglans are coming out! Increases look so much better than decreases don't they? And I love the colour too - all fabu! | ||||
| pictish |
Ta!! I'm liking it so far - very long rows at the moment tho
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| FatCat |
wow, that's looking lovely!
I might be up for this one, I fancy making myself a short-sleeved Wicked with some leftover aran I have knocking about. And I bought some Cashcotton DK over a year ago I think  specifically to make Green Gable and haven't got around to it so I ought to make a start on that too at some point Won't be casting on either for a while though, too much else OTN at the moment.
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| dreamcatcher |
Hee yes it would be the lilac That said, I do have some more on the way, hopefully in a spring green - a prize from an Australian yarn company!! I was lucky enough to win a prize in serendipity's blog raffle fundraiser for the bushfires appeal
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| pictish |
Oooooh green baby cashmeriono That sounds gorgeous too!! Congratulations on winning that - what a lovely prize
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| modelwidow |
I'll join in as I have already started making Buttony .
I think it is going ok but I haven't done all of the raglan shaping yet and I have used 2 out of my 10 balls of Patons Jet. Never having done a top down before (and not having made a jumper for myself for at least 10 years) I'm already beginning to panic as to whether I will have enough yarn I'm also not sure how I will know when I have done enough to even consider joining the fronts and back and leaving the sleeves There are days when I wonder what I have taken on 
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| pictish |
Have you checked how much yarn people have used on Ravelry MW?? | ||||
| terri |
Can it be something knit in the round, but not necessarily top down???? So owls perhaps?? | ||||
| modelwidow |
It's a good idea Pictish, but but there seems to be such a huge variation I'm not sure I am much the wiser, ah well, onwards and upwards at the mo, I guess. | ||||
| pictish |
Yep I would say so!!!
Hope you have enough MW!! You could make shorter sleeves I suppose? |
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| terri |
Great, I'll join in too then
Will hopefully get a start by the weekend when I finish the socks I have otn
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| carolinne |
i would also like to join in as my friend at work would like a top down stripey jumper ....i have to "design" it tho | ||||
| terri |
You should get the wendy Bernard custom knits book, loads of tips on designing and tells you how to work out for the raglan on a top down
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| carolinne |
you know that i will have to but it now.............to add to my already over loaded book stash |
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| melody yarns |
you should really get your friend at work to take up knitting!!
Everyone is trying to persude me to buy this book aren't they?
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| pictish |
Have you looked at the patterns on Rav Debs?? There's a link at the beginning of the thread I think. | ||||
| melody yarns |
Yes I did see them and I must say that I'm tempted by some designs, but not by others
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| pictish |
Just divided for the sleeves and have about 3" of the body to do till I try it on tho I might have a go before then
Anybody else cast on yet??
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| dreamcatcher |
Well, I do want to make Skinny Empire but have been sidetracked by Ms Marigold Going to make that in Calmer and hopefully cast on today or tomorrow (started a Porom last night too).
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| pictish |
Great!! That's a gorgeous one and I'm thinking of making that soon too
I have tried it on and it seems to fit fine - difficult to tell when it's still on the needles tho I will do a bit more and put on some spare yarn at the point at which I'm meant to
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| terri |
I'm going to make Owls as part of this Knitalong, but thought I would pop this FO in too. Keira asked me to make a cardigan for her "Hello Kitty" doll/toy. So I used stash aran yarn, and "Custom knits" to work out a topdown pattern. It was simple to work out, and I like the way it's turned out!
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| pictish |
Oooh that was clever!!! It looks great
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| dreamcatcher |
That looks great! | ||||
| melody yarns |
What a cute cardie! It's lovely!! Dolly clothes are SO fiddly to sew up as well - top down is a good solution!
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| murdo |
Thanks to Jo28 I will be putting thistle motif in tonight on baby cardy
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| pictish |
Well this pattern has an awful lot of ribbing in the body - about 10" to be precise and you increase in the ribbing twice to get a flaired effect which means a lot of stitches in that ribbing  I have discovered that I don't really much like ribbing on circular needles 
Another 6" to go to the bottom of the cardi - just hoping I don't give up and move on to something else as I really would like to finish this. But I can't say I'm enjoying this bit
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| dreamcatcher |
I cast on for Ms Marigold tonight, using Calmer. Part A of pattern completed
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| pictish |
Great!!!
I've finished the body and done part of the first sleeve Think I am going to take a break tho to finish some socks today
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| Wildpurl |
You're getting on really well! I'm looking forward to trying one of these - in about three months time LOL | ||||
| pictish |
I'm further on than this now - have done about 2" of the first sleeve. |
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| terri |
you've made LOADS of progress, well done!!!! Looks great
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| dreamcatcher |
Looks fab! I see what you mean about the amount of ribbing though!
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| pictish |
Thanks!!! It looks a bit of a funny shape cos the ribbing is flared and it obviously hasn't been blocked yet. | ||||
| FatCat |
Crikey, you've done loads! It looks lovely
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| cazzie |
You've done that really quickly Looks fab - I love that pattern
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| pictish |
Thanks!!!
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| melody yarns |
Wow, you're fair whizzing along on that, it looks great! | ||||
| modelwidow |
That looks good Pictish.
I haven't touched mine top down for a few days - life is getting in the way atm, still only another 2 weeks and 3 days then I break up for the easter hols  (not that I am counting at all )
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| pictish |
Thanks!!!
Roll on the hols MW and you might get it finished
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| franney |
That looks lovely Ali, you're motoring on!
Unfortunately i am going to frog my BPT. I took it out of hibernation yesterday only to discover that i have either lost A LOT of weight since last summer OR i wasn't paying proper attention and i've made it WAY too big!!
It has a 60" chest... and i don't!
So, my top down KAL has drawn to a somewhat premature close cos i don't know what pattern i am going to try now. I don't know enough about construction to work out how to make this fit me so i'm going frogging
It's back to the drawing board for me and my hoodie dreams
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| pictish |
Oh my goodness - 60" I'm sorry it hasn't worked out franney - I hope you find a nice hoodie pattern soon
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| franney |
I know!! Why i didn't check it properly every time i tried it on i don't know!
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| melody yarns |
Oh no Franney but at least if you frog you can knit summink else from the procedds iyswim? What yarn was your bpt knitted in?
I wore my FLS yesterday when I went to mum and dad's for the day, and mum asked if it was the cardie I'd been knitting at Christmas. She tried it on. She liked it. Now usually I'd have given her mine but I like it and I'm keeping mine, but I did offer to knit her one and she agreed!! . Mum's been a bit picky about knitwear of late but she said she really liked my FLS and wants one in either black or navy... so much for my mother liking green, beige or cream!
so I'm on another FLS knitalong if it's still going cos I want one for myself in navy or black as well! |
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| pictish |
Can we have a modelled shot of yours then Debs??
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| melody yarns |
Maybe later in the week?
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| pictish |
Great!!! | ||||
| melody yarns |
I'm very pleased with it anyway, it's lovely and cosy and I almost bought another ball of Wendy aran to knit another in yesterday
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| dreamcatcher |
I joined Ms Marigold in the round last night and have a couple of inches done of the main body
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| pictish |
Woohooo you're just whizzing along
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| modelwidow |
I did a couple more rows of Buttony this morning (sitting up in bed with my cuppa ) looks like I still have a couple of inches to go til I can join up the body - I have to confess I am getting a little bit bored with all the miles of stocking stitch though
Still, this is how it is looking so far 
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| pictish |
That looks lovely MW!!! Keep going - you will soon have the sleeves on a separate holder and things will speed up, but I know what you mean about the long rows
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| KnittingLadybird |
right if I get enough positive feedback on the crochet cardi (over in the hook,line and sinker forim) I won't be in this but if not then february calls.
DH won't be getting a jumper any time soon *wink* |
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| modelwidow |
Thank you Pictish. I think putting it onto the waste yarn and being able to see that it might actually look like a jumper has helped - can't wait to get to shorter rows though. | ||||
| pictish |
That definitely helps!!! Just seen on Rav that it's the Patons Jet so I imagine it is lovely and soft too. | ||||
| modelwidow |
It is soft, and it is going to be warm too, thanks for the encouragement. | ||||
| franney |
Debs, my BPT is just Sirdar bonus aran, nothing special.
I had a chat with Joy and the lady in Iknit about it on Friday actually and i've decided that i won't lose anything if i just rip it back to before i split for the sleeves, so that's what i intend to do... when i get round to it. I'm a bit caught up in my Clamshell Wrap adventure at the moment to want to knit anything else
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| pictish |
I've stalled a bit on my Something Mauve - I think because I'm finding the sleeve knitting tedious I did a bit yesterday and am about a third down the first one but it's not quick knitting
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| dreamcatcher |
I think it can be a bit tedious when you're just knitting round and round, I have something like another 8 inches of st st to go on Ms M before I do some rib! | ||||
| pictish |
I know!!! But then you will be almost finished Ms M - yippee!! I'll get back to mine soon - might do a bit a day. | ||||
| modelwidow |
I know the stalled feeling, all that stocking stitch just got too much, so I have started the mystery blanket in YF - lots of cabling, then when I get bored with cabling I might be pleased to go back to some plain old stocking stitch again
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| pictish |
Yep I'm having similar thoughts I'm finishing off an astrakhan jacket
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| dreamcatcher |
I've almost finished the neck on Ms M, then I need to pick up round each armhole and do a few rows of rib. | ||||
| pictish |
Well done DC!!! That was a nice quick project
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