It’s time to cast on for NaKniSweMo, ladies and gentlemen. November is a crazy month. Some guys aren’t shaving, people are writing whole novels, some guys are growing mustaches, and ambitious knitters all over the world are knitting sweaters. The general guideline for these sweaters for NaKniSweMo is to make a sweater with over 50,000 stitches. This works for just about any adult-sized sweater. Check out the Ravelry group if you want to KAL with others.
I’m making Nanook.
Don’t tell, but I didn’t swatch. I know, I know. Cardinal sin. This is the fourth time I’ve used this yarn in a year (see the family sweater post if I haven’t beat you over the head with my use of Cascade 220 yet), and I’ve worked it on a US 5, 7, and 8 needles for those projects. Using Cascade 220 superwash on a size US 6 I got 20 sts over 4 inches. I think the 7 is perfect for stitch gauge, but my row gauge will not be exact. I never worry as much about row gauge, and in this case I’d get more like 22 rows in 4 inches, rather than the 26 called for in the pattern, so I’ll get there slightly faster.
I finished two repeats of the yoke so far today. It was my day off and I got to devote a good chunk to knitting. I’m enthralled.
Of course I’m already thinking about alterations. I usually add a little bit of length. I’ll probably be perusing Ravelry projects further to see what magnificent little tips pop up. So far I’m loving this color and the “bear track” pattern. I realize this isn’t the first pattern I’ve been attracted to that has this type of yoke. Ice Cream Sundae looks like it has the exact same pattern at the yoke. Remember? Nothing new under the sun, even in knitting.
I have a couple of new yarns:
This is Colinette Jitterbug in Sweet Dream. I had leftover Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool from Z’s Halloween costume, so I exchanged my remaining full skein and fell in love with this. If I’m not buying yarn for a specific project, it’s usually sock yarn that I’m buying. Socks, toddler sweaters, hats, shawls, arm warmers, etc. can all be made out of a single skein. What’s not to love about that?
I also ordered some Eco+ in Lichen from WEBS. 
This is destined to become a Latte Baby Coat for Z in the near future. If I had my way, I’d finish up Z’s Abate, my Oshima, Matt’s Hugo, and this Nanook. And maybe whip up a Latte Baby Coat too. All in this month. Anyone good at stopping time? By the way, Matt guessed that I was knitting him a sweater, so I went ahead and checked that he was on board for that particular one, lest I have to rip something out again. The good news is I’m free to knit on it in front of him and blog about it to my heart’s content.
Happy NaKniSweMo! Hope those that are participating are all having fun casting on today!
Good luck!
Those new yarns are gorgeous colors! Perhaps if you just didn’t have to sleep for the next month you could get everything done. 🙂
That pattern you just cast on looks fun to knit and I love the colors you chose for the new yarns. Time goes too fast for me too, it’s just very inconvenient! I was thinking, maybe I could get somebody to hold me hostage for a month or so…….somebody who would make me sit in a comfy chair and knit and listen to music……..I’d be game for that if anybody is interested!
Good luck! Wish I could participate too. Sadly I have to little knitting time and to many gifts to knit to add one more thing to the mix :/
Such a great colour for this sweater!
I love that Matt just happened to guess you were knitting him a sweater. So convenient. L always guesses when i’m knitting something for him, and although it’s a little annoying, it’s so much nicer to be able to knit on it whenever I want!
Agreed. At first I was disappointed because I thought I was being super sneaky, but then on the day when I had to rip out 7 inches and was super sad, he figured it out.
Very beautiful yarn and good luck!
happy november!
I knit Carl a birthday sweater every year. He gets to approve the pattern and yarn. No secrets between us 😉
It’s probably best that way to make sure you don’t spend HOURS AND HOURS on something that might not be the other person’s taste. I showed Matt the BT Men’s collection as soon as it was released, and he liked that one, but I’m glad it’s all out in the open now so I can get some knitting done!
Are you making a BT? Carl’s this year is Timberline. It’s beautiful but what a beast to knit! It feels like I’m knitting a bear!
That one is HUGE! It has so much positive ease, but it’s gorgeous. I would have considered that one if I already had enough in my stash, but I didn’t. I’m making Hugo from that same collection.
I’m unofficially nakniswemo- ing with Hetty, but it’s not enough stitches so it’s just a personal challenge. Your Oshima is what I’m dying to see. I love that design.
I know! I guess I could have made my goal to finish the several ongoing sweater WIPs, rather than casting on something new. I want my Oshima!
Okay, so… I can knit a scarf, and that’s about it. Would you recommend this pattern for a super-beginner? Or should I learn what a cable knit is, first?
Hmmm…it just sort of depends on what you want to knit. There are simple versions of nearly every kind of pattern. Are you on Ravelry yet? You should definitely check it out if not. You can search for patterns for every kind of knitted garment, see how others did with their projects, and see how people rate the pattern. It’s a fantastic site!
I’ve checked it out a couple times, but I’m always too intimidated to try any of the patterns… Thanks for the advice, though! I’ll look around and see if I can find one that looks easier for the first try.