Decisions, decisions, decisions ...

I'm nearing the border now and need to decide on what to do. I know the child size has those single loops ... but I prefer the double loops on the adult size. So that means I need to add a 2nd color. Time to pull out my Magic Marble Teleidoscope ... Have you ever used one of these?


See the Magic Marble in action ...




I decided to use this like a color wheel to help decide on which color to use with the Winterberry in the loops around the border of the Pinwheel sweater.

What do you think? Green, Off White or Purple



I'm leaning towards the green. The off-white is too light. The purple is nice but it's also only 3 rows in from the edge.... so maybe too much purple in one place I think. Should I go with the green? Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Here are all the colors ...

I think I'll start knitting the sleeves tonight and save color choices for tomorrow. Good idea if I ... sleep on it tonight!

Got yarn?

Hello everyone. Thank you all for embracing this knitalong and running (or should I say knitting , heehee) with it! I'm thrilled at the response and can't wait to get mine started, especially now that get to see everyone's progress on a daily basis. I'm really itchin' so I decided to buckle down and try to commit to some colours!

So I waited for my little Jubilee to settle down for his glorious nap and then did what any crazy person would do: copy and past wool colour samples in a pinwheel shape (using Power Point no less!) to help me pick out the colours. No kidding. I've been doing this for an hour and a half!!! Sure I should be doing laundry and preparing dinner but I got so engrossed that once I got started I completely lost track of time. That and did I mention I was crazy ;0)

Here's what I came up with (from the centre out): natural, lace pink, orchid, lotus blossom, grape, aubergine, and eggplant. The sleeves will be knit in lotus blossom. Oh, I should mention that I'll be using the recommended peruvian collection highland wool.

Now all I have to do is finish up my Knitting World Cup project and wait for my beloved mailman (who can resist a man that brings you yarn ;0) and I can cast on for this baby! Hopefully sometime in the next week or so. I'll be knitting the child's version for my 3 year old neighbour.

Happy pinwheeling everybody!

I'm back on track ...

Just a quick note to show you that I'm not a total knitting buffoon. I'm again past the sleeve openings and this time I know I did them right. So it's back to knit, knit, knitting...





[And look at the next post to see Stripedsocks19's beautiful sweater.]

Hello again! The armholes are now established. Since I am larger (fluffier?) I set up the armhole after I had 35 stitches between increases. I used the provisional cast on from the pattern. It was easy to do. To review-once I got to the place where I wanted the armhole, I put the stitches from the next "section" (slice of pi, so to speak) on a stitch holder. Using a smooth cotton yarn and a straight needle (same size as the circular), I cast on extra stitches (same number as on the holder). Using the working yarn, I knit across these provisional stitches. Went as far as the other armhole, repeated the same thing. Then worked merrily round and round. Since I started the armholes later in the knitting, I will also have larger sleeves (10 stitches larger-I waited until I had 35 stitches between increases, so that means my sleeves will have an extra 5 stitches on the front, and an extra 5 on the back)
Something to take into consideration if you are upsizing. As well, however many extra rows I put on the back, I need to also put on the fronts. That means I will also be looking at a longer sweater (since it is a circle, after all). Not a problem for me-since I am tall, but certainly one if you are shorter. Hey Rhonda- does this help???

I am soooo Here!!

I am so excited about this KAL.. I started the sweater a couple weeks ago you all can see the pictures on my blog at www.plumpknitter.blogspot.com But dont get to excited.. bad news..I had trouble with the sleeves..as per a previous post on here I did a provisional cast on added new stitches and put them onto the holder as well..(i was reading the directions!) so maybe the wording needs to be switched a little on the pattern.
Anyway I'm rambling.
So after getting mad at my pinwheel and trashed it and started a the child size one out of some (red,white,blue) varigated yarn..I think of it as my practice one, and now since reading on here how the sleeves are suppose to be worked.. I'm am all set!! so for the child size version I am past the sleeves and almost finishing the body then I have the sleeves and edging..and voila I can start on one for me!!.. I will definately have to add more rounds since (a nice way of putting it AMPLE) *lol*..
Love hearing your stories about your own knitting on this project it helps a great deal!!

Jumping into the pond...

The frog pond that is...sigh...Well, I was on round 49 of the sleeves, had 52sts in each section. I slipped it all onto waste yarn and tried her on. Well, my arms are too large for this. It fits barely, I want a semi fitted sleeve, not peeling off skin fit. Sigh. Lostpurl has some great advice on her blog about doing the sleeves as "afterthough sleeves" as in you knit your sleeve sts onto waste yarn then pick them up later, rather than having the big holes.

I'm still not sure about the increasing rounds. Lost purl mentioned about the increasing only every 6th round, but since I'm changing the stitch (doing Spot/Dot stitch rather than Garter) I think I'll need to keep the frequency of increases.

Sigh. So, I'll be frogging back to where the sleeves were put in, then knit until I have 35sts in each section, then do the afterthought sleeves, then continue around until I run out of yarn, then do those pesky sleeves. Sigh.

I have pics posted on my "real" blog...

Knit up the back yesterday ...

But I`m rather hesitant about the sleeve openings. I`m not sure if I`ve done them right. I put the 18 stitches [this is the baby sweater] on the stitch holder and then did a provisional cast on in a contrasting color as instructed & slipped on the stitch holder also. Now the sweater is then continued from the other side of the stitch holder to the next 18 stitch section. Is that correct? That's what I'm worried about. Can you see it in the picture? The provisional cast on was done in the light lavender. I'm hoping I don't have to frog back to the arm holes, but it might be in the cards if someone says, "STOP, stop, stop!" ... Note: The more I look at this picture & then the pattern, the more I don't think I'm doing it right -- the armholes I mean. Help!!

Sleeves...

Hi All!

I'm onto the sleeves! I'm not done with the sweater body yet, but as sleeves are my nemesis, I figured I'd better start them sooner rather than later! I am currently on round 28 of the sleeves, and I'm decreasing every 12 rounds rather than 10 rounds as the pattern says. I'm doing them 2 sleeves on 2 circs method, as I loathe dpns. So far so good. Pretty boring knitting...

Since I'm not doing the garter stitch edging and have decided to do the Spot stitch instead, I'll also do the same treatment on the sleeve cuffs. I'm not planning on increasing the sleeves as the pattern calls for, as I'd rather they were a bit more fitted, and I don't roll my sleeves up anyway.

I'm just changing everything, aren't I? ;)

So how's everyone else doing???

Danger, Wil Robinson...Danger!

Well, thought I would be a smarty pants and just cast on stitches with a knit cast on over the arm hole(instead of the prescribed provisional cast on). BLECH! It looks ugly-too stretchy compared to the back. So- I had knit up about 20 rows past the armhole-now we are frogging frogging frogging....... So- if you think you can just cast on stitches-please- do not try this at home.

My yarn has come in!

This is what I ordered from KnitPicks for the Pinwheel sweater for baby Jayden. What do you think about the color combo? It'll be in the order I'm showering here from right to left. The far right being the center of the circle. I'm still looking & deciding between the Avacado & Violet being in the right spot. Should the Avocado be next to the Cherry Blossom and the Violet next to the Beige? I've got time to decide later but I'd like someone elses opinion.

Notice the other stuff I got from KnitPicks as well? Another pattern book? Ye Gads, where does it end?!!

I really hope I can start the sweater soon. My fingers are itiching ...

Let the Pinwheeling begin ...

New here..

Hi All!

I just joined as I just found you all!!! :) I'm excited to be in this KAL. I'll intro myself, then give you the specs of the Pinwheel! My name is Tammy. I'm married (almost 8yrs) have 3 kids (2girls & 1boy). I currently stay at home, but will be going back to work next month. I live in the desert which makes it hilarious htat I'm knitting a WOOL sweater! Well, actually knitting 2 wool sweaters, but who's counting??

I am on 50sts in each round (well past the arm holes) and am getting ready to pause in the sweater and do the sleeves. Here is a current pic (w/my middle child "helping").

I'm liking the pattern. I'm planning on doing a different st rather than Garter for the boarders, but will keep increasing every other round rather than every 6...if you want to read more, check out my blog (yeah, it's elsewhere)...

I am at the "30 stitches between increases" part

So far, so good. The piece measures just a bit under the 23 inch mark (the sample sweater is 22 1/2 inches at this point). So, obviously, Filatura di Crosa 127 Print is a good substitute. I will post pictures when I get to my armhole part (I am making mine bigger)-stay tuned.

Later edit- I got an email from Shelley, the designer. This is what she said about the measurements of the sample sweater-
"The measure of the entire sweater across the center is 43" with the edge. 41 1/2 to the edge( the front from the sleeve join is 11" with the edge.). I would think however many rows you add to get your width across the back you should add that many more rows to the sweater after the sleeves. The only problem is for every row you add you are also going to add to the length as being round when you add anywhere you add everywhere." I currently have knit to 24 inches across. I think I will go to 25 inches across (my armpit to armpit measurement across the back is 21 inches, so adding 4 is a complete guess as to what I might want for ease. I don't want this sweater to get too long, so....more later as I know more.

Any ideas for an ample sweater?

I have now joined 2 things-this pinwheel sweater knit along and a sock kit swap. So far, the pinwheel sweater is coming along, slowly but surely. Is there anyone out there who is making it larger sized and has some idea of where they are putting the sleeves? On the ample knitters list, there is one lady who is thinking about using Row 40 as her starting point. But I don't know how big she needs hers. I usually need about a 52" chest, and that includes a bit of ease. Any ideas? Experience with it? Let me know.....

New to the Pinwheel

Hello! I haven't started my Pinwheel Sweater yet. I don't know what colour(s) I'm going to do it and I don't know who I'm going to make it for yet, or even what size. I just know that I want to make it. *lol*

Happy Knitting!
~Samantha
http://milotis78.blogspot.com

Not quite pinwheelin' yet...

...but will probably start it in August, once my knitting and work schedules (the way I ordered those was NOT accidental, friends!) clear out and I'm back in the country!

For right now, though, I'm getting my practice making an adult version of a similar-but-different, yet still brilliant, cardigan, seen here.

I can't seem to upload my own progress on it...

Anyway, looking forward to knitting with y'all!

Yarn on order!

I ordered Wool of the Andes from KnitPicks

The colors I picked are listed [but not in true color shades as shown of course]

Snickerdoodle [don't you just love the name?]
Cherry Blossom
Hollyberry
Violet
Hush
Avocado
Cloud [well this one is really a shade of white]


And this is the little munchkin whom I'm knitting it for ...
She's 31 days old here, but will be closer to 6 months when I'm done with the Pinwheel sweater. Won't she look just adorable in that sweater? I sure think she'll look as cute as a "bug-in-a-rug" in it!! But I'm prejudice because ...

BTW, she's my GREAT- grand daughter!

Well, I started mine!

Hello! I started the pinwheel jacket-but I am not doing the stripes. Don't get me wrong- if my stash had something I could use to make stripes-I would. However, I went stash diving and found.......drum roll please............some black Filatura di Crosa 127 print. If you are not familiar with this beautifully soft yarn, it has rather subtle self striping effect-lots of main colour, and short stripes of about 10 colours all mixed up together. And this is what I have so far......
Isn't it purty? Now- I have a few balls of the same yarn in burgundy, in red and in deep lilac-I could use one of the colours to accent the collar. What do you think? I do think I might match the colours in the stripey bits and use solids (maybe Mission Falls 1824 wool) to make the icord trim. I think that would set it off. Right? Right. I will have to play with the location of the sleeves, however. I am a bigger girl, and I hate clothes that don't fit. (I also believe that just because it fits does not mean one should wear it) I am familiar with design- I have designs on Knitty, in "Big Girl Knits", in "New Knits on the Block", and soon to have one in "No Sheep For You"(this is the tentative title- could change). But opinions are very welcome. Off I go to knit some more......

Welcome!

My name is Anny and I blog over at annypurls. I just happened to be checking out Elann's site just as the free pattern for the pinwheel sweater for women and children designed by Shelley Mackie was posted (I refreshed the page and there it was). It was a sign ;0)

Let's face it: the design is delightful. The construction is genius. The one size fits 0 to 4 year olds? Come-on! That's great wear factor for a recommended yarn investment of about $20 (though any worsted weight will do).

The child's version starts off as a hoodie sweater with rolled cuffs for a newborn and grows with the child into a wide-collared bolero by age 4. Just brilliant!

So naturally, there had to be a knit-along. Here goes nothing. Just leave a comment below or email me at annypurls {at} hotmail {dot} com if you want in (and I hope you do). I'll be knitting the child's version but you can knit the grown-up version if you prefer.

I'll be starting mine on July 10th as soon as my Knitting World Cup project is completed, but again, you can start sooner or later if you prefer. It's for fun people!!!

Hope you stick around ;0)