Woowee! How fabulous does Tracy look in her Cerie?!
Tracy used the same yarn the pattern was designed in, Venezia Worsted by Cascade Yarns. She used a size US 10 needle instead of the recommended 9. While she did get gauge, she found that it grew it a bit.
To bind off, Tracy used Jeny’s Suprisingly Stretchy Bind Off to keep it loose around her hips. Instructions for this bind off are available here.
Her other tip is to be sure to wear a tank top underneath. Yes, those are some big, show-all armholes.
As a former newspaper gal and a freelance writer, I pride myself on my ability to meet a deadline. Thinking back through all my years of writing and even reminiscing about high school (!) I don’t think I missed one due date.
For whatever reason, my knitting doesn’t seem to follow the same rules as my writing. It probably has something to do with the fact that I view knitting as a peaceful, calming thing, which to me is inherently the opposite of a deadline.
I was not even close to done dutifully working on a baby blanket when its recipient arrived. I’d like to blame it on the fact that the sweet girl came a few weeks before her due date, but that day came and went while I was still working away, needles whispering late into the night.
So when I told myself I would finish Jordana’s Emmery by a speaking engagement in November I’d agreed to, I knew I was pushing it. Well, November came and went. Then December. (This, my friends, is why Christmas knitting isn’t in my near future.) And finally January.
Wheee! It’s my first sweater! And it only took me six months! To be fair I did have a few other projects I did in between, and my torso is obscenely long, so the body took some time. I am absolutely thrilled! It’s only been off my needles a few weeks, but I’ve worn it four times already!
Jordana told me that in every project I should learn one new thing. If you have to learn too many at once, she said, you can get overwhelmed and give up.
There were a few new things I picked up in this project, provisional cast ons (crochet method worked best for me) and how to try on a WIP (take the needles out and use waste string), but what I’m most proud of was tackling my fear of using DPNs. Not as scary as they look!
The Emmery really is a great sweater for someone who’s never made one before. It’s all stockinette and the shaping is really easy. Because it was so simple, I started to understand the construction of a garment in general. Super helpful.
Every time I put it on and take it off I’m sooo careful, as if it’s going to fall apart or something. It’s really taken some getting used to, this whole wearing-clothing-I’ve-made thing.
I’m definitely hooked, already deciding what my next JP knit is going to be. I’m thinking either Cerie or Cadence. I love Cerie’s look but I wouldn’t mind some long sleeves. Although by the time I’m done it’ll probably be summer!
In the meantime I need some advice from the JP community. I’ve started on some socks with the yarn I got from Desert Thread in Moab. I love them but I’m struggling with something. See if you can see it.
Arg! Laddering! I didn’t have this problem with the Emmery, I think because it was all knitting. As soon as I started purling it happened. When I worked on the sweater I would pull very hard on the first few stitches and it seemed to work. Not so much here.
Any advice on how to avoid this as I finish this sock and immediately cast on the next? I’m all ears!
With summer winding down and fall right around the corner I have officially begun to make the transition into the cooler months. I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely in love with this time of year. Something about the fall makes me want to hunker down with a good book, hot tea, and chocolate.
Kristen wearing her completed Landon pattern, looking beautiful.
I find it very exciting to bring out the pumpkin scented candles, boots, and chunky-knit sweaters. While some are simply pulling sweaters from our tucked-away winter wardrobes, others are making them! That happens to be the case with Kristen, from MMM…Yarn blog. She recently completed the Jordana Paige, Landon pattern and it turned out beautifully!
While I have just recently started on my knitting journey I have always had a strong admiration for those, such as Kristen, who find the time to create these amazing pieces and still manage to get the chores done.
Sleeve detail, Landon pattern.
Kristen really is my kind of gal, taking the initiative and making a few adjustments to the pattern to better suit her personality and lifestyle. Creating any kind of project is about just that, making it your own. For me, that can be the most fun part of the process.
I recently purchased flat chunks of Redwood tree from the flea market for one buck each and am currently in the midst of trying to figure out what I should do with these babies. The possibilities are seemingly endless but deciding where to begin is the tough part. One thing is for certain, they will surely be unique.
Do you have any beautiful creations planned for the coming months to keep you occupied on those cool fall nights?
Many knitters are mothers. (Happy belated mom’s day to all of you!) These are the most amazing knitters of all, if you ask me. Somehow they manage to squeeze these amazing creations out of the very little time they have in the day.
Our newest knitter featured here in JP’s Knitter Profiles is Kristi, and not only has she made beautiful things with her hands, she managed to get her son in the mix too. Read on to see what I mean.
JP: Happy spring! What’s your favorite season?
I love all 4 seasons but I think fall is one of my favorites. I love unpacking the sweaters (hand-knit or not), getting ready for the cool weather, and the smell of the leaves on the ground when you are raking.
JP: When do you enjoying knitting most?
I love knitting on the bus on my way to work because I can turn on a podcast or music and just zone out while I knit. I also like to turn on the TV and get hooked into a series and watch it while knitting on a cloudy day. However, with a 2 year old in the house, there is not as much time to do that as I’d like.
Knitting at 1.5 years old. Impressive!
JP: How did you find out about us?
I found out about Jordana’s bags in an advertisement or featured product add in Interweave way back in 2005 or 2006. My first bag was The Knitter’s Messenger Bag in pink & black. I think I have tried every bag once, except for the Bella. I just got an L.J. Kealms and I love my new bag.
JP: What was your reaction to the bags?
I was in love! I loved all of the useful pockets and how there was room for my purse stuff and my knitting. I also loved the pattern protector in the top of the bag. As I have acquired more of them, I have noticed that they are the bag that I get the most compliments on. I can carry a Coach bag, a purse from Kohls or Target, any of the other knitting bags out there, but when I carry a JP bag I get sooo many compliments.
JP: If you could eat or drink anything with no consequences, what would it be?
Non- alcoholic: White Chocolate Mocha, Alcoholic: Cosmopolitans
JP: What projects are you working on right now?
I have a few on the needles now- I have a Leaflet cardigan I am doing for the warmer months using Blue Sky Alpaca Worsted Cotton, and then I also have another Daybreak I am actively working on using Madeline Tosh Merino Light.
WIP: Daybreak
I have been on a shawl/ cardigan kick, but I think after this I’m going to continue working on my Color Affection shawl as it doesn’t have purling. I also just spun some yarn up and I am going to make ZuZu’s Petals with it. It’s a gorgeous mix of BFL and Silk in a gradient.
JP: What’s the one knitting project you’ve always wanted to try but just haven’t gotten around to or just a little intimidated by?
I would LOVE to make Dale of Norway sweater. However the amount of colorwork and the small gauge is really intimidating to me.
JP: How many JP bags or patterns have you bought/knit over the years?
I have purchased probably 4 bags, and I have knitted Cadence. I loved Cadence as I used the yarn that was called for and it is so nice and it’s a little sexy for a night out with my husband. My favorite bag is probably the Rio, but like I said, I just got the LJ Kaelms and I think I will like that one even more, especially now that I have an iPad & it can carry it easier.
Kristi in Cadence
JP: Do you have any favorite quotes or sayings?
“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” Reading that inspired me to get out of the job I had been doing for the past 7 years because it was something I was comfortable doing, and into a new, more challenging job that I am loving as I can be around people more.
JP: What kind of music gets you in the crafty mood?
Dave Matthews Band, even though my husband hates it.
JP: You mention you’re in love with you L.J. What’s so special about it?
Before I was carrying a purse plus a messenger bag. When I’d have to bring my laptop home for work, that meant either I couldn’t bring my knitting & iPad to work, or I had 3 bags on the way home on the bus. The L.J. simplifies things so much. Everything fits in my (heavy) bag without a problem.
In here I’ve got 2 knitting projects (one on each side), my iPad in the middle pocket, Respect the Spindle book, latest copy of Interweave Knits, checkbook, wallet, misc purse stuff (pens lipgloss, ect), notions, headphones, iPhone, keys, and most importantly, my son’s epi pens (which fit great in the side pockets so I can find them easily in an emergency).
Some days I’ll bring all of this to work, some days I won’t, but it is comforting to know it all fits and I won’t be the “bag lady” on the bus on the way home. This is BY FAR my favorite bag. The top stays shut, the bag doesn’t tip, the shoulder straps stay on my shoulders, and I love the material. I wish I would have purchased it sooner.
JP: Coffee or tea?
Coffee- with plenty of sugar
JP: How did you learn to knit?
I worked at Keepsake Quilting one summer in New Hampshire. While there I learned how to piece quilt tops together, but couldn’t bring all of the tools back to school with me. I really enjoyed being creative, so the women I worked with at Keepsake taught me how to knit as well.
They sent me back to college with 3 balls of Patons and a pattern for a hat (as Keepsake Quilting is owned by the same people as Patternworks is). Shortly after that, I discovered the book Stitch ‘N Bitch by Debbie Stoller, and being in college at the time, the book was just right. I then visited my first LYS shortly thereafter and was hooked ever since. I’ve been knitting for 8 years now.
And spinning too! Here's some of that BFL silk spun yarn. *drool*
JP: What was your first knitting project?
The first project that I actually kept was a “Ribbed for Her Pleasure” scarf from Stitch ‘N Bitch. It was just a basic ribbed scarf, knit out of Brown Sheep. I still have it. However the funniest story I have about knitting was a hat for my now husband.
I cast on, without doing a gauge swatch, and ended up knitting him a hat that could have easily been a ski mask because it was so big. Then, I ripped that out (again, didn’t check my gauge) and ended up with a hat so small it didn’t even fit me. The third hat, I decided to actually do a gauge swatch for (shocking, I know) and it fit perfectly. He still has it & wears it.
JP: It’s the zombie apocolypse. What’s your weapon of choice?
Sniper Rifle- can’t let them get too close.
JP: What’s one of the strangest things you’ve put in your JP bag?
Diaper rash cream & diapers for my son.
JP: What’s the last movie you really enjoyed, whether you were knitting or not?
I just saw the Hunger Games last weekend (and knit during it). I’ve read the series 3 times and I think they did a really great job with it.
JP: Do you have a favorite type of knitting project?
I am currently on a shawl/ shawlette/ cowl jag. I love how you can put them with so many outfits and get a different look. Plus it’s another use for all of my sock yarn stash.
JP: Do you prefer to knit alone or with friends?
If I am working on something that I can actually talk and work on, hands down I would rather knit with friends. I love having this in common with people and getting inspired by what they are working on.
JP: If time and money were no object, what would you be doing?
Knitting/spinning and traveling to all of the fiber festivals/ workshops I could possibly attend to meet more knitters.
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Thanks so much for sharing your stories and photos (particularly that cutie pie knitting)! You can connect with Kristi on Twitter or Ravelry. Kristi was kind enough to recommend some great yarn shops in Minneapolis. Thanks for that too!
If you’d like to be featured in our knitter’s profile, we’d love to hear from you! Email or leave your info in the comments and we’ll make it happen! Don’t worry, you don’t have to submit photos of yourself if you’re not into that (but we do want to see your knitting and your bags for sure).
One of my favorite things about designing knitwear is seeing how other people modify my patterns. I’ve got an entire category of my blog dedicated to it! So when Knitty gave me the heads-up on Stephannie’s modifications on Amused, I was excited to check it out.
Stephannie’s Amused looks fabulous in hand-painted Abundance by Briar Rose Fibers. Stephannie added 1.5 inches to the collar. Why wouldn’t one not want to use as much of that yarn as possible and make a statement with those reversible cables?
She finished the ribbed hem with a tubular/kitchener bind off to make it stretchy. When I read about this mod on her Ravelry page, I had to ask: “What’s this?” She has a taught me something new! Not familiar with it either? Watch a video of tubular bind off.
Life is all about learning new things, and that’s one of the reasons I’m growing to love knitting more and more. There are so many different techniques, projects and ideas!
I’m constantly learning from the myriad knitting blogs and magazines, but I think my favorite is from our Knitter’s Profiles. In our newest one, I heard a word I didn’t know and asked about it. When Jordana explained the technique, my heart dropped into my stomach; she laughed and said, “Your face!”
Read our newest profile with Lynne, and see if you can figure out what shocked me so much it made Jordana giggle. I’ll post it at the end of the blog.
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JP: How did you learn to knit?
My mom taught me how to knit sometime while I was in middle school. She used to knit things for us when we were little, and I’d tried crochet but never got past the 19 feet of chain stage.
JP: Do you have a favorite type of knitting project?
It’d probably have to be socks. I knit socks constantly. But, I have also knit umpteen hats and pairs of fair isle mittens, love lace and have a pretty decent selection of sweaters.
JP: What project are you working on right now?
What am I NOT working on right now? Hmmm. Currently on the needles and started are a lace shawl that’s been languishing for ages. I started it during the summer of 2010 right before a road trip to Winnepeg. It’s almost done, but because I’m getting close to the end and it’s a circular shawl, the rows take forever.
I also have two pairs of socks (a pair of footies and a full pair of socks), a double-stranded laceweight cardigan which will be my first steeking project, a lace scarf, yet another pair of fair isle mittens, a pair of fingering weight fingerless mitts, a sock yarn blanket and a pieced afghan that I haven’t touched in forever.
JP: Any knitting resolutions in 2012?
Nothing specific, but I do try to learn something new all the time with regards to my knitting. I like learning new skills and expanding my horizons. A couple of projects that I’m currently working on are ”firsts” for me (i.e., steeking and beading).
JP: When do you enjoying knitting most?
Anywhere and everywhere! The vast majority of my knitting is done on the couch in front of the tv (even if it’s not always on) but I also knit at work on my lunch and whenever else it gets quiet and I have a few minutes to myself.
JP: How did you find out about JP?
To be honest, I can’t remember. Maybe a knitting magazine? Most likely Interweave Knits. . . It was a looooong time ago.
I’m not a girlie girl by any stretch of the imagination, but I’m always on the lookout for the “perfect purse” and I was really excited to see the blend of functional purse that was geared towards knitters because by that time, I was already starting to cart my knitting around and it wasn’t always easy to make my purse work for knitting.
After using my teal LJ for a little over a year, I just switched back to my red Rio and remembered why I love that one so much. It is my absolute favorite and I’m seriously thinking that I need another one … In BLUE!
JP: If you could eat or drink anything with no consequences, what would it be?
Probably chocolate and Mountain Dew. I already enjoy both of them without regard for consequences, but I get headaches from both, so it’s a calculated risk. Alternatively, carbs in most any form.
JP: What’s the one knitting project you’ve always wanted to try?
There are some things I haven’t tried yet, like bobbles or intarsia. But those are mostly because I haven’t found a project that uses either one of them that I’ve fallen in love with and HAD to knit. I keep looking though, just so that I can say I’ve tried it. Oh, and entrelac. Haven’t tried that either. I’m not a fan of picking up stitches (it never looks right to me when I do it), so entrelac hasn’t found it’s way into my skill base yet.
JP: How many JP bags or patterns have you bought/knit over the years?
I currently own three JP bags (Rio, LJ and Bella) and have given away two others (a pink/black messenger and another Rio). And I’ve bought or downloaded most JP patterns, but so far have only knit a Landon (which I knit for the Rio giveaway contest 2-3 years ago) and have JUST finished Cerie. I also bought yarn for a Starsky a few months ago, just haven’t gotten to it yet (Christmas knitting strikes again!).
JP: What kind of music gets you in the crafty mood?
I don’t usually listen to music when I knit. I either have the TV on or enjoy a few minutes of quiet (which seems rare in my house sometimes). Occasionally I listen to knitting podcasts or mellow-ish music like Dido or Enya.
JP: Coffee or tea?
Neither. The aforementioned Mountain Dew. Or Pepsi.
JP: What’s your knitting inspiration?
I am a shameless copycat. When I’m struggling to figure out what to do with a skein of yarn, I troll Ravelry and see what else other people have done with the same colorway and when I find something I love, I tend to “steal” the idea.
I’ve got several projects like that in my queue and just finished a pair of socks that were spawned from the same process.
JP: What was your first knitting project? How did it go?
I’d rather not talk about it. . . A bad combination of pastel acrylic and adult sized booties. My mom had come up with her own design for these slipper things and of course all we had at the time was acrylic (this was mid 80′s) in pastel colors. I, of course, decided I needed to use various colors instead of just making them solid. I pitched them a million years ago.
JP: It’s the zombie apocolypse. What’s your weapon of choice?
I’d have to rig some sort of launcher for my seemingly endless supply of DPNs.
JP: What’s the last movie you really enjoyed, whether you were knitting or not?
The last thing I saw in theaters was the new Mission Impossible movie which was good. Didn’t slow down much. I see a lot of action movies, courtesy of my husband.
JP: What’s one of your favorite outdoor activities?
I love kayaking and camping, but don’t get a lot of opportunities to do either. We used to do a family camping trip every summer when I was growing up (us girls: my mom and sisters) and those are the basis of most of our best stories.
JP: Do you do any other sorts of crafty stuff?
Not really, no. I’d like to spin, but when I try I’m not very good at it. I’ve been knitting so many years that I don’t like starting over on the learning curve. I had a mini-spinning lesson a couple years ago and immediately went home and knit because I needed to do something I was GOOD at. I used to do cross-stitch and attempted scrapbooking briefly. Nothing else has stuck though. Knitting just takes up all of my free moments that I don’t make time for anything else.
JP: Knitting: alone or with friends?
I prefer to knit with friends because I have very little social interaction as it is. Nothing makes you feel good about yourself like taking your knitting projects to Knit Night and showing them off to ”oooohs” and “aaaaaahs.” But I am waaaaay more productive when I knit alone.
JP: If time and money were no object, what would you be doing?
Sitting at home knitting, of course! Or maybe taking a nap.
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Thanks so much Lynne! You are a brave woman for trying steeking! (That’s the technique that shocked me.) You can find Lynne with her countless sock projects on Ravelry.
If you’d like to be featured in our knitter’s profile, we’d love to hear from you! Email or leave your info in the comments and we’ll make it happen! Don’t worry, you don’t have to submit photos of yourself if you’re not into that (but we do want to see your knitting and your bags for sure).
Having style this time of year can be a challenge. Chilly weather and short days can create a general malaise when you go to your closet. It’s tempting to reach for the same turtleneck and jeans day after day. This is why the sweater dress is sheer genius.
Kristen led a Cadence KAL with Sarah called The Newbie and the Knitter this fall and she made her’s into a dress! Look at all the cute ways she’s styled it. Doesn’t it look cute and cozy all at once?
Jordana was thrilled when she saw this. “Cadence is the perfect sweater to make into a dress because it knits up so quickly.”
Kristen’s in love with her creation: “ I needed a cosy knitted dress in my hand-knitted wardrobe so Cadence by Jordana Paige, being top-down and thick gauge, was a really great opportunity to modify into a dress. And I am so happy with it! I have been wearing it for pretty much the whole week solid!”
You can read more about her work at her blog or over on Ravelry. Nice work Kristen! It makes me wanna grab some tea, curl up and knit.
There is so much that I love about Andrea‘s Cadence. First of all, that mustard yellow yarn (it’s Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted in Sunset)…gorgeous! Andrea is a gal who knows what colors and silhouettes look great on her. And, she takes the time to make sure her knitwear comes out right.
Whenever possible I design sweaters top down, the benefit being you can try the sweater on as you go and get a perfect fit. Really, there’s no excuse for a sweater you’ve made yourself not fitting right. It’s impossible for a designer to write a pattern for every body type and size. Think of a pattern as just a starting point, but certainly not a law that has to be followed to the stitch. It will take a little extra time and I guarantee some ripping, but when you cast off and put on a sweater that fits your body so perfectly, you’ll know it was worth it.
WHEN AND WHERE TO CHECK FIT
Using the measurements from the schematic, fit your sweater before you begin. You could even compare the schematic measurements to a sweater in your closet so you’ll know what the fit will be like.
Assuming you’re knitting top down, after a few inches, hold the sweater up to your back. Do the edges end at your shoulders or is it hanging off your shoulders? If it’s an oversized sweater, that’s okay, but a fitted sweater should not.
Before you join the front and back pieces, check the depth of the armhole. You’ll probably need to slide the stitches onto scrap yarn so you can properly fit the garment.
Are the girls getting properly covered? Try the sweater on a couple inches past the bust. Do you need to add short rows?
Before casting off check the length. Try the sweater on with the pants or skirt you intend to wear it with.
Check the sleeves. Are they way too wide or tight. Increase or decrease some stitches at the underarm as needed. Be sure to check the length too.
Andrea was great about following these test points. And, it was only her second sweater! After doing 4″ of the body she discovered she needed to add some short rows to the bust. For the sleeves she increased at the arm opening and then decreased before the elbow. You can read all her modifications on Ravelry.
One of Jordana’s favorite things is seeing how other people knit her patterns and modify them. She’ll often spend time on Ravelry looking at the finished work of others knitting her designs. One of my favorite things is to say the word delicious. I just love the way my mouth feels when I say it, and the fact that it describes delectable food? Well, there’s a bonus.
That’s why when Jordana found MediaPeruana’s version of her Delysia Camisole named Delicious, we were both equally stoked.
Jordana made a comment on her project, which resulted in a great blog post from Media Peruana. Her writing is entertaining, easy to read and funny, plus she is pretty excited about Jordana telling her that Delicious is pretty. Isn’t it? The color is lovely as well.
Jordana loves to see how others style her designs. If you have something you’d like to share, comment with the link to the photos or email us to let us know!
Cadence is Kenoshia’s first sweater. It was originally intended for her mom, but the bind off at the waist was too tight to be comfortable. Undefeated, she put the sweater on her little sister and turned it into a sweater dress. ADORABLE!!
