I don’t know if I’ve ever participated in an organized KAL (knit-a-long), but I’m going to participate in this one. It’s all about making sweaters in the summer, so that when the cold season hits, you can wear them. Makes sense. We’ll see how my perpetually sweaty hands fare while working with wool in the heat. The KAL goes from today until September 24th. Surely that will be enough time for me to whip up a Beatnik.
To my astonishment, when I swatched today the size 8 needle is what I used to get gauge. I usually have to go down a size. I started with the 7 and then switched to the 8 when my row gauge seemed too different.
I’ve been hemming and hawing over what to knit for this KAL since I heard about it on Angela’s blog last week. I’m using Cascade 220 Pyrite Heather, to make my matching family sweater to go with Matt’s and Zooey’s out of the same yarn. I originally wanted to make a Kenzo with the yarn, but one Ravelry user commented that Cascade 220 seemed too heavy for the pattern on her project, and I’m having reservations about how much I would wear it. I will probably eventually make it, but it’s back in the brainstorming category for now.
I hardly ever make pullovers. I think Sky is my only one. Beatnik looks like it will keep me interested with the gorgeous cables, and it looks a little feisty. I like that. I need something feisty to get me through another sweater in the same color.
I got through a bit of the twisted rib today. I’m ready to get to the fun part (the cables). Here we go!
Ooh, the Beatnik is going to look so gorgeous in that color. And a knit-along is a great motivation to make a sweater in the summer. Much better to get it done before the season than finishing at the end of the season and having to wait a year to wear it.
Agreed. I didn’t know when I was going to try to make my family sweater, but I’m glad to be working on it now. The KAL goes for two full months, so hopefully I can focus on it intermittently and get it done in that time. Sometimes deadlines motivate me.
I love Beatnik! Every time I see tweedy yarn on sale I debate about what colour to buy in an appropriate colour (I have not been able to decide, so no purchase yet). I’m really excited to see yours in progress – I know it’s going to be gorgeous!
I’m excited. I’ve had a little crush on this sweater for awhile. I never think that I will wear pullovers, but maybe the shorter sleeves will make it more likely to happen. So many of the finished versions on Ravelry are adorable.
Your yarn is perfect for a Beatnik. It will be lovely.
Thanks! I still have 2,300 yards of this yarn, so I’ll probably be able to make a couple of things after Beatnik too. Eeesh.
I’ve adored Beatnik from afar …. many, many more years before I’m going to knit one though, I suppose! 😉
I think it’s going to be a fun knit. Start one! You can do it!
I hope so … Truth be told, I’m still a bit scared of big garments. I know, it’s stupid, I’ve knit socks (tons!), hats and mittens and lace and stuff … But a big thing, like a cardigan? That still raises goosebumps on my arms, ’cause I think I’ve got to be comepletely perfect … Maybe in a couple of months time or next year. 😉
I hesitated about sweaters for years. A top down raglan without seaming is much easier than socks. As long as you swatch, it’s no sweat.
This color will be perfect with Beatnik! Can’t wait for the matching sweater pics of your lovely family!
The nerdy knitter in me is SO PUMPED about having matching sweaters. Hahahah. I’ll have enough leftover yarn in this color to make at least 2 or 3 more sweaters for Z in larger sizes, so I’ll be able to subject us all to this for a few years. 🙂
Great pattern choice ~ I’ve seen so many wonderful variations of the Beatnik and I’m sure yours will be gorgeous. I’m hoping to join in on this KAL, too, but still can’t make up my mind about which design to knit. The dilemma of too many great patterns to choose from.
I know! I was so stumped for awhile. I love the way you can star patterns and compare them in Ravelry now. That helped a bit. I kept comparing cardigans, but I wanted something with a lot of things going on to keep me interested.
I want to learn how to knit but I don’t know where to even begin (size of needles, type of fabric), please help!
I learned a lot from a book called Stitch n’ Bitch. It’s a pretty good beginners guide. There is also a site called Knittinghelp.com that has tons of information. Those might be good places to start. If you live near a yarn store, you could also see if they give lessons. At the very least, they could walk you through picking out the right sized needles for a project.
Thanks so much !!
Looks great! You really do have to knit a season ahead to enjoy. Knit in front of a fan or a/c…not outside. The closest I got to a KAL was the Ravelry Olympics last year. I knit too slow (though I’ve gotten faster) to do a REAL KAL!lol
I haven’t completed any of the Olymipic-related challenges yet. I will shoot for that next time. Last year I was moving, trying to finish a summer class, and about to go into labor at any time so I held off. I really like doing Socktober and NaKniSweMo though. I’ll try to keep those up this year.
I love making sweaters all year long – having new ones waiting for me when the weather cools off is the best!
Good pattern choice! The tweed will add such great dimension to the cables.
I love that colour!
I’ve got to go and find a KAL soon. I feel I’m missing out.
Great combo! I have a sweater in pyrite heather and a Beatnik in different yarn, but had never thought of combining the two. I love the Beatnik pattern (although mine needs some adjusting) and the color. I also bought too much for my intended sweater, so I have a fully matching fall outfit – sweater, hat, mitts.