Travelling Cables Cardigan Knit-A-Long

For the first time in 4 years....

2011-10-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

...I have progress!

I am the worst KALer on Earth... but... I have progress.

My aunt asked me a couple of weeks ago if I ever finished my sweater, and I sadly had to admit to her that no, I hadn't. She inspired/threatened me that I really should just sew it already, because if I didn't, she would. Hehe.

I took all my pieces to visit her, and we even went out and bought some buttons. She helped me put together the shoulder seams, and it was enough to jump start me into thinking that yes... I might actually be able to do it this time. I might really sew the sweater I have wanted for so long.

I posted about my heartbreaking story on the Knitters Review forums, and after some inspiring posts from the ladies there, I decided to really go for it... so last night I sewed the side first side seam:

And I think it actually looks good! I was so enthusiastic that I decided to keep going and try the second side seam, but to my disapointment, the length of the pieces did not match up.

So I'm blocking them:

They're nearly dry already, so I hope to have that seam done tonight!

That's progress, people!

TCC ALL DONE!!

2007-01-08T16:49:00.000-08:00

My Travelling Cables Cardigan is all steamed and seamed. I was so happy to get her done that I had to put up a picture of her right away. There was no one around to take an action shot so a still photo had to do. She is knit out of red Nature Spun even though she looks pink at times in these photos. I found some big silver buttons to hide my poorly done buttonholes. They have a pretty celtic looking cable pattern on them so I thought them very appropriate. There is a photo of the button detail on my blog. I hope to get some better pictures of her up on my blog by this week-end so you can see the true color.

Travelling Cables Front

2006-12-27T09:33:00.000-08:00

Travelling Cables Front
Originally uploaded by pghjan2.

Over Christmas I came down with a terrible cold which meant that I had an excuse to sit and knit. I managed to finish the front of my cardigan the day after Christmas. I am hiding the buttonholes from you because they leave something to be desired. I am hoping that a good blocking will straighten them out. When I feel better I am going to go shopping for some buttons. I am thinking some pretty silver ones. What do you think?

Just Joined

2006-12-12T07:02:00.000-08:00

Travelling Cables
Originally uploaded by pghjan2.

Hi Everyone! I just joined this KAL and thought I'd post my progress. I started this sweater for the Red Sweater KAL and Jo was kind enough to let me know about this one. So this sweater is a KAL twofer. I am knitting her out of some Nature Spun I had in my stash. She is very bright but I like her. I'm just starting the front and I noticed I didn't do the moss stitch as it is in the pattern. Oh well, I'm not starting over. I knit more of a pebble stitch than a moss stitch. Thats what I get for knitting in a hurry.

A Slow KALer..

2006-12-11T21:46:00.000-08:00

Howdie : )

It has been a while.. I've been a bad blogger/emailer in general lately.. I find that I have a lot of things to do that have nothing to do with the computer at all.. and I am very distracted by my new baby Alfie.

But I have been slowly knitting and toiling away on my TCC. When I last posted I had both of my fronts done, which completed the body.. Currently I have one totally completed sleeve and one that is up to the shoulder shaping. Here's a finished sleeve:

I did figure out how to knit the sleeve in the round.. it really wasn't hard.. although there was some ripping back I'd rather not talk about ; )

I am procrastinating very very badly with the second sleeve, because I cannot figure out for sure if I am going to want another inch of length. I know for a fact that even if every other part of the sweater is perfect in every way, I still will not wear it if I deem the sleeves too short. I like my sleeves to go over my hand about half way, (The way it is on the model on the pattern page) which means I knit sleeves pretty long.. I don't know if the construction of this sweater will make the sleeves the "right" length on me or not.. and I haven't decided if I can block another inch into them if it turns out I want to.

Someone suggested that I just try blocking the completed sleeve to see what happens.. but I am so gun-shy on blocking with a baby kitten in the house it isn't even funny. I keep hoping for a good long weekend at home where I can babysit him and keep him off my dang sweater as it dries.. but I have had no such weekend.

All of this aside.. I am dang determined to get this sweater FINISHED before it gets super hard cold around here.. so I can wear it THIS winter. I just hope my procrastination doesn't get the better of me.

Have any of you thought about seaming this thing at all? The thought of it honestly terrifies me. I don't know what stitch to use because seaming moss-stitch doesn't really make sense to me. And the construction of this sweater is pretty odd if you ask me.

After all this knitting and it all coming out fine.. I still find little things to worry about and stop me in my tracks.. I need to decide to get it done and get it over with.. but I do want to do it right and I want a beautiful sweater in the end, above all.

So, any tips or comments of encouragement are very very welcome. (Threats if the sweater isn't complete soon are also welcome.)

Moving along nicely

2006-12-10T13:45:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it but this pattern is actually working out quite easily so far - there may well be rapids ahead, but at present we're in calm smooth water.

The cashmere/silk seems to be enjoying itself too, giving wonderful stitch definition and altogether behaving like the upper-class creature it is.

I love the way the cables come closer together in the middle, forming a little flare or bustle at centre back. The next stage is to start them travelling outwards. I assumed this would have to be via the usual method of painstakingly cabling sideways, but to my delight I discovered that it's all done by increases and decreases on either side of the moving cable. So much easier and simpler - why didn't I think of it instead of Karabella? (I don't think, somehow, that I'm cut out for knit design, though - you need to have a certain kind of mathematical brilliance, I think, and the capacity to see ahead to a finished product - neither of which I possess.)

Anyway, it's progressing just fine. I've ordered dozens more of my friends to come on over here immediately and join up as well, and if I don't see their contributions posted soon, there is going to be trouble!

Yo! I'm up and running and in there at LAST!

2006-12-05T13:13:00.000-08:00

Yep, thanks to the adorable, the veritably angelic Angeluna, I now have the pattern and I'm ready to go. More than that, I've already started!

Now now, no need to scorn. I only found the pattern in my letterbox when I got home this wild and windy raindrenched night, and it's just after 9 pm now, so I didn't do too badly. I'm making it in some of my very special stash of cashmere and silk yarn in natural. This is that famous yarn I occasionally list on eBay when I can bear to let some of it go, and its most famous attribute is that when you first wash it (on the cone it has this dressing that looms demand for smooth working, so it needs washing), it immediately gives off a strong odour of - well, not to put too fine a point on it - the manure heap. Don't know whether it's the cashmere 50% or the silk 50% but pong it definitely does. Fine after that though, soft and aristocratic and entirely ideal for this beautiful pattern.

When I tried a swatch on the recommended 4.5mm needles, it came out a little larger than the indicated four inches which was fine by me. I'm following it for the smallest size, and I estimate it will actually be one of the larger measurements. Just done the two preliminary rows of rib and then it's on to the cables. Anything I ought to know about in advance here? Danger signs ahead, road works, diversions, disasters? Tell me now! I'm only getting into first gear!

Jo
http://celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com

I WANT to make this! I really really DO!

2006-11-19T11:36:00.000-08:00

So why won't anyone let me?

Let's start again. Alerted to this glorious design by a fashion-conscious friend, I immediately set out to get the pattern. It was so me, so gorgeous, I just knew I'd look great in it. I was prepared for the hard work, probably some frogging, a late night or two, a few swearwords. It would be worth it.

So why can't I get the pattern?

I should make that clearer. Why do American-based online stores think it quite justifiable to charge something in the range of the Gross National Debt to post a paper pattern to Ireland? I mean, it can fit in an envelope, right? It doesn't weigh that much, right? Emigrants have been penning heartrending notes to their families back in Ireland since the postal system was invented, right?

So why this exorbitant extortion?

Let's name some names, shall we? The first stockist I hit upon was Yarnmarket.com. I saw they had Lantern Moon circulars as well, so decided to order a 5.5mm as a treat, to accompany the Travelling Cables pattern on its Atlantic crossing. The total came to around US$30. That was OK - the majority of it was for the needles, since Lantern Moons aren't cheap. They're still cheaper than Colonial Rosewood which I would always use if I could, but not the lowest priced on the market by any means.

Here comes the nub of the argument. You ready for this? To post one circular needle, wood, weight approx. 1 or 2 ozs, plus one paper pattern, weight negligible - they wanted US$32. That's for the postage, not the price of the items. The total bill would have been US$62.

Now I wanted the pattern like crazy, but that kind of bill I wasn't paying. So I dumped Yarnmarket and went looking elsewhere. Ah, Knitpixie. Do they have it? Yes, they do. OK, no risks with circular needles this time - just go for the pattern. US$6.50, that's fine. Now - postage?

Twenty dollars.

All the grannies in America who mailed fat letters back home for the price of a postage stamp must be staring open-mouthed by now. I'm not surprised. So was I, looking at the computer screen as if it had gone mad. Twenty dollars to post a pattern?

I will admit that I emailed Knitpixie. I was good and mad so I informed them I was going to tell the world about this on my weblog and anywhere else I could find. To give them credit (maybe it was my BIG threat, you think? A weblogger's threat must be pretty powerful, surely?) they replied fairly promptly, telling me that they did refund postage on occasion when it was found that the mailing costs were less than anticipated. Hmmm. Not quite good enough. How come, when they knew it was simply one pattern, they still asked for $20 up front in the first place? Thanks, but no thanks.

In the meantime, I'm still patternless. And likely to remain so unless someone comes up with a solution. Call me mean, call me Scrooge if you like, but there is no way I'm paying three or four times the cost of the original pattern just to get it across to here when I can post a letter in the other direction for 75c (that might be about 80 cents American). And although a shop over here might admittedly add on a few more pence for envelopes and things, that is all they would add on.

At this stage, frankly, I don't know what to do. Someone said the pattern had originally appeared in an issue of Vogue. Did it? If I searched on eBay or indeed in the archives of Vogue Knitting, could I order a back number? I'd rather spend my money that way than enriching the pockets of those who habitually rip off their customers with outrageous postal charges.

I suppose I could occupy my time at the moment, frustrated though I am, with deciding in what yarn this lovely jacket should be made. Any suggestions, gang? All advice welcomed.

Jo at Celtic Memory Yarns
http://celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com

I am very intersted in this sweater but...

2006-11-17T07:22:00.000-08:00

The large is not large enough. For those of you working on it, how difficult do you think it would be to add a few inches to it?

My Body Is Done!

2006-09-06T20:47:00.000-07:00

Last night at about 1AM I finally finished my Right Front! I do have the written out directions if anyone wants them, so just email me and I'll send them to you.

There you have my back, right front, and left front.. I think it's going to go together well if I can ever figure out how exactly I'm supposed to put them together. The collar construction really throws me.. I have no idea how it is supposed to go.

But now I have to go work on my sleeves.. I'm hoping to do them in the round.. I'm not sure it'll really work out though.. but I intend on trying it.. right... Now!

The Right Front is taking Shape!

2006-07-21T22:03:00.000-07:00

After fretting about it for quite some time.. I finally decided to just try out what I had written so far of the Right Front directions just to make sure that I was on the right track.

I did find the need to edit some of what I have so far.. because some of it was wrong.. but I'm so glad that I know enough about knitting to know that! Yay for me!

Oh and if you're starting your Right Front here's a tip:
That first button hole sneaks up on you fast.. don't forget about it!

If you look close enough you should be able to see two of my button holes.. I think they're coming out pretty nicely, I ended up using my favorite button hole tutorial which really seems to be working out great for this pattern.

From what I can tell I'm really getting the two fronts to be a mirror image.. which I'm so proud of. I'm so paranoid that they will be grotesquely different somehow and I'll have to fix it. This pattern is doing exactly what I thought it would for me: Making me a more self-confident knitter.

I still have more directions to write out.. but if any of you are interested in having them for your own to complete your Right Front you can email me and I'll send it to you.. I should have it done pretty soon.. and if I know that someone else is waiting for it then I'll probably get it done even sooner!

The Left Front.. Complete!

2006-06-22T22:51:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago I completed my left front... wanna see?

I'm very much uncomitted to it though.. I haven't removed my life lines.. and I haven't cut the yarn.. I put the last stitch on a safety-pin.. and it might just stay that way for a while.

I was very unsure about the short-rows in the collar. For anyone else who has finished: what was the ending result of that for you? Mine ended up that I have an inch more collar towards the shoulder.

The short rows also threw off the moss stitch pattern for me.. but I just went ahead with it anyway.. I figured that the outside edge of the collar will fold over that part and you won't see it.

The really scary part comes with the Right front.. have any of you written out the directions for it yet? I have decided that this is the only way to go for me.. because I won't be able to keep track of everything otherwise.

I am scared.. but I have quite a bit of free time this weekend to type out the pattern for myself.. (Unless ofcourse someone else has already done it and is willing to send it to me, in which case I'd have lots of knitting time instead!)

Travelling Cables Cardigan Knit-A-Long

2006-06-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

Travelling Cables Cardigan Knit-A-Long

School's out and I have two full mornings of meetings. I just might get the last sleeve done. Yeah!!! Then it's on to Joe's Graduation cardigan.

Sharon

Travelling Cables Cardigan Knit-A-Long

2006-05-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

Travelling Cables Cardigan Knit-A-Long
I'm just checking in - haven't actually started knitting my sweater yet! I'd wanted to knit this sweater for a long time, and I bought the yarn and pattern after seeing this KAL. I'm counting on all of you to get me through this! I need to finish a few things, then take a deep breath, say a few knitterly prayers and give it a try. Any advice is gratefully received. Annie

On last piece (sleeve)!!!

2006-05-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

Almost there! I'm on the last sleeve, row 82 to be exact. At least the sleeves are pretty much no brainers LOL. I have to agree with Sharon's post about this pattern- could be a bit clearer.

Have any of you picked out buttons yet? I picked up some at Joanns and I can't wait until it's time to sew them on. I have pics but have no idea how to upload, so if I can email them to any of you to post for me, let me know. TIA!
~Rena

Back, Front & Sleeve

2006-05-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

This is not the clearest pattern I've ever done. I'll start with the Left Front. The first step was to highlight the M1, p2tog, M1P, k2tog. They make sense for making the cables come out right but they read funny. I make a number chart for shaping the collar and moving the cables. 3,5,6,9,10,... The 3 counting pattern is for the moving the marker into the body and the 5 is for the increases in the collar.

For the sleeves I used the 6 counting pattern from the cable to help me keep track of the increases. It's a lot easier to count from the last cable twist than to count the whole sweater or from the last increase. 6,10,12,18,20... Well, you get the picture.

As for the back the only thing I did was I reversed the cables so they are mirror images of each other.

Trying to Figure It All Out..

2006-05-20T20:00:00.000-07:00

Well I'm at the point on the Left Front where it starts to get... a bit complicated. All of that "AT THE SAME TIME" business has got me a little scared. If anyone has a tip to share, I'm all ears!!

Here is a picture of my progress:

I'm thinking of setting up a spreadsheet with row numbers and then going through each row and seeing what would have to be done on that row.. I don't think I'd be able to keep track of so many "At the same time"s on my own. It might be time consuming though.. so I'll have to see.

I hope the rest of you are still working on your TCCs!

More than halfway!

2006-04-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

I've finished the left front and most of the left sleeve(hopefuly will finish that tonight) The sleeve is pretty straightforward, but the front....a bit tricky adding in the shawl stitches. The right front will certainly be a challenge, since I have to reverse all the shaping and it isn't spelled out for me:-)

Hope to post pics soon- looks lovely so far!

~Rena

My Back is Done!

2006-04-12T18:20:00.000-07:00

I found the shoulder shaping pretty odd.. just casting off? No decreases? I had to read the pattern like.. 3 times to make sure I wasn't missing it.. lol.

Blocking is going to be crucial for this sweater.. I can so tell.. The back of mine looks like a little girl's dress:

My row count ended up being 136.. Quite a few.. but there's plenty of knitting to go.. On to the left front I go!

Progress Update!

2006-04-01T17:05:00.000-08:00

Howdie : )

I've been doing some knitting on my TCC so I figured it was time for an update and a picture!

I'm on the last repeat of "curving the cable lines".. and then comes the shoulder shaping. I was unsure the first time about one side of the new stitches. If that makes any sense.. it just looked a little funny when I formed the actual cable after making the stitches on one of the sides... but now that I've done it two more times it doesn't look so bad.

And on another positive note.. I'm more confident now that this sweater is going to fit me how I want it too.. I measured a blazer that I have that is shaped very similar to this sweater and it measures out to the same measurements in the schematic. My actual knitting right now is a tad smaller.. but I accounted for that in my swatch. This yarn grows when it gets wet! (Very good to know beforehand by the way.)

So I'm feeling good about it.. and I think it's looking right so far..

Just moving right a long with it : ) How are you guys doing?

2006-03-25T22:24:00.000-08:00

Hi there, Rena here, just wondering how y'all are progressing on your sweaters. I finished the back, and just completed the second set of repeats on the left front. It's starting to get *challenging* LOL, since now I have to work in the shawl collar stitches on top of the curving cables.

Hope to post a pic soon!

I've Jumped In.. Whose With Me?

2006-03-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

Howdie : )

After having failed my own personal Olympic challenge I decided that it was time to cast on for my Travelling Cables Cardigan.. So I did!

I've knit my way through the decreases in the back, now it's time for increasing and "curving the cable lines".

It really hasn't been as hard as I thought it might be so far.. But I'm not willing to say that it's easy either. I think there are plenty of knitters that can handle this though.. especially if I'm working my way through it!

Before I cast on I emailed Karabella Yarns:

Hello there : )

My name is Kim and I've purchased your Travelling Cables Cardigan pattern and 13 balls of Aurora 8. (The yarn is beautiful by the way) and I just have a few questions to ask before I start.

Have there been any corrections to this pattern that I need to know before I start?

How much ease is this sweater designed to have? I would be knitting the smallest size (34") but I'm worried that even that will be too big for me. My bust size is 28".

I have started a knit along blog for this sweater and I wanted to make sure that it is ok with you guys that I'm using the image of the sweater on the KAL blog. The blog can be found at: http://travellingcablescardigankal.blogspot.com/ and if you want to be super helpful you could let the designer of this pattern know and maybe he/she will join to help us out with the pattern!

Thank you for your time and a great pattern!
-Kim-

Hi Kim,

We received your email. Thank you for your interest in your yarns and this pattern.

The pattern has been out for over a year and there have been no corrections thus far. It is just fine with us that you are using our image for your blog. The cardigan was designed for a roomy fit since it is to be worn as a jacket. I think the small size would be fine and I hope it knits up beautifully for you.

Best of luck on your blog and happy knitting!

So we shall see if the sweater swallows my tiny frame when I get it done.. Once I get more into the back I'm going to measure some of my jackets and compare the measurement to the back of the cardigan.. Hopefully it'll be allright.. I don't want to give this sweater away when I'm finished.. I will make it work for me!

I hope this knit along picks up now that the Olympics are over with.. We need some more members here! Don't forget that if you want to join you can just email me!

I will be updating again soon, and I declare this KAL officially started!

-Kim-

My Introduction and Yarn Choice..

2006-01-30T16:02:00.000-08:00

Howdie : )

My name (incase you haven't guessed by now) is Kim, and I've been dreaming of this sweater since October when I saw it in a magazine ad durring a trip to my favorite yarn store.. Since then I have been enamoured with the very idea of this sweater.. I just had to have it!

I don't know when I will be casting on, but I will tell you that I have my yarn and my pattern and it shouldn't be too long.. All I have to wrestle with is the fact that I have another sweater that is dangerously close to becoming a UFO. Finishing it wouldn't take too terribly long, and it would free up some guilt.. lol.

After investigating some options.. and finding out that I actually can knit with wool(!!), I settled with Aurora 8.. and got Color 20, which is dark teal.. and soooo pretty.. I think it'll do great with this sweater..

I'm excited to get started.. a little scared.. and looking forward to picking out some great buttons!

Whose Got a Button? We've Got a Button!

2006-01-29T21:33:00.000-08:00

It may not be the best button in the world.. (and I would love to see a better one.) but I think it'll do for now.

Jumping In With Both Feet

2006-01-27T10:24:00.000-08:00

Howdie!

I know there isn't much here now, but I'm hoping that soon this will be a flourishing KAL. This is my first time hosting one and I hope it goes well. If you're working on (Or planning to work on) the Travelling Cables Cardigan by Karabella Yarns feel free to email me and join the KAL!

This pattern is very intimidating for me for a number of reasons and I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. This is the perfect reason to have a KAL where knitters can support eachother and help eachother if they need it.

So.. If you're interested.. Please join!