Dollar and a Half Knit-Along

FINISHED

2008-02-19T14:05:00.001-08:00

Ok, I realized that no one has posted on this blog in an eternity, but I need closure people, so I am finally posting... that I have finished this sweater!!!! It only took about a year and $200, but I did it. In the Reynolds Soft Linen and everything. I made several mods, including shortening the body and sleeves, and working the 'solid' stripes in regular stockinette instead of reverse. But who cares about all that! All I care about is that its DONE!!!

Pattern-matching on sleeves?

2007-05-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Hey all,
I just finished my first sleeve (I started a sleeve as a "swatch") and I am really enjoying the pattern. I'm using Classic Silk by Classic Elite (50% cotton, 30% silk, 20% nylon) in a sort of brown-paper-bag colour. My gauge is not-quite-right, but my sleeve blocked well (no more Michelin man!) and to a size between the smallest and the next one up, which is the perfect size for me. :)
Last night I cast on the back, because I needed some mindlessness, and 2" of ribbing on almost 100 stitches is definitely mindless.

I've just been wondering if the stripes end up matching up at the shoulders? I mean, the sleeve cap is stripey, so is the body, do said stripes match up? I think they should.... I shortened the sleeves (only 2" of ribbing) but because I only took that out of the ribbing, not by eliminating any stripes, it should be okay. I think.

Frogging

2007-05-02T00:28:00.000-07:00

Well I knitted the back and one front, Then I started the cable front and wasn't happy with it - seemed too small so frogged and started again without the cable. Still not happy with it so threw it into my pile of UFO's. I've now decided that I should really restart and do the next size up as it's all just a bit small. I'm now feeling much happier since I made the decision even though it means a lot more work. I like the pattern and know it well now so hopefully it shouldn't take too long.

I'm really enjoying seeing all your photos and am very impressed with the finished cardigans I've seen.

Angie

Hello everybody!

2007-04-27T07:39:00.000-07:00

My name is Theresia and I´m new in this knitalong. But I already knit the back of my cardigan:

Update: The yarn I use is Phildar. It looks really nice but it´s not really fun to knit with....

Blocking

2007-04-24T20:49:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

I am just about finished my second sleeve and suppose that it would be wise if I would do some blocking before I put this cardigan together.

I have never blocked anything before so I was wondering if anyone had any tips for me before I attempt this.

Thanks.

starting over

2007-04-24T20:20:00.000-07:00

I frogged the back of the cardi this evening, for two reasons: I think it will be too small. Now that it had some length (I was almost to the armhole shaping), I could see that it was too small. Secondly, reading about the "michilin man" effect worried me. Umm....puffiness around me...I don't need that. I wanted to try out the "fix" of using a needle 2 sizes smaller on the rev st st portions. Let's see if it works.

Shoulder Shaping in Lace

2007-04-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

I would very much appreciate any help anyone can give me. I’ve just bound off the stitches for the armholes, and am ready to start decreasing in the lace pattern. Are you supposed to knit the first and last four stitches on the right side in stockinette, and then do the decreases on the wrong side? Or are the decreases supposed to happen on the right side? Also, do those four stitches include the selvedge edge stitch? I feel like this should be really obvious, but I just don't get it. Thanks!

Nearly halfway done

2007-04-21T04:23:00.000-07:00

I'm knitting mine in knitpicks Andean Silk (Merino/silk/alpaca) and it's so soft and lovely. I love the way it's coming out so far!

The two fronts I'm knitting together to make sure they're the same size,

And I love the pretty cable!

On the Money

2007-04-20T06:55:00.000-07:00

I only had time for a really quick photo this morning, but here's the finished product!

Pinkaboo Dollar

2007-04-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

My Dollar and a Half cardigan is done, and I'm quite happy with it. Although I've made a number of tops before, this was my first cardi. Even though I reduced the sleeve length by only doing 2" of ribbing instead of 4", they're still quite long - down to my knuckles like in the pattern photos. When I blocked the body of the sweater, I pulled it out more widthwise (reducing the overall length), which I wouldn't do with the sleeves because I wouldn't want them any wider than they are. So they ended up being about the same length as the pattern, when I'd planned on them being a bit shorter. But it's actually okay - I can wear them as is, or turn up the cuffs at the ribbing if I want them a more standard length. I actually like the sleeves both ways.

Sorry I don't have a photo of me wearing it yet - my photographer is out of town until late tonight, but hopefully I'll have one on my blog within a couple of days.

I even found some buttons that are a perfect match - almost exactly the same color pink, with a lighter pink swirl in them, so they really match the yarn's highlights and shadows. They're 3/4" instead of 1" as called for in the pattern, but the buttonholes didn't really seem large enough for 1" buttons anyway.

Pattern: "Dollar and a Half Cardigan" from Interweave Knits Spring 2007, designed by Véronik Avery

Size: 36-1/4"

Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in "Pinkaboo", 6 skeins (I had about 1.6 ounces left of the last skein.)

Needles: US 7

Modifications: Made two cable fronts, with the cables mirrored, and knitted only 2" of ribbing on the sleeve cuffs instead of 4". The sleeves stretched a lot, so I could probably have reduced the total length by 4" instead of only 2". Also, when I picked up the stitches for the neckband, I picked up about 2 stitches for every 3 rows, which ended up being the same stitch count as the pattern indicates to pick up for the smaller size. So I just followed the pattern for that size instead, and it worked out just right.

Tips: The increases and decreases in the lace were tricky, but it helped to realize that there should never be a YO right next to the first or last stitch in a row. I found it very useful to keep a list of what round the decreases should be on, and the number of stitches I should have after each decrease. When decreases for the lace fall on one of the PSSO rows, the easiest way to deal with it is to knit that row normally, and omit the last YO on the next row.

I Love It, Y'all

2007-04-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

Stats: Lion Brand CottonEase in Snow, 8 balls. Size 9 Denise needles. Mods: shortened sleeves by 4 inches, that's all. Took me six weeks to complete, after ripping out 2/3 of the back and reknitting.

There is a bit of the Michelin Man effect on the sleeves (plus they are WHITE) but it's not enough to keep me from wearing it. I probably would needle size down for the reverse stockinette sections if I made it again. Otherwise, it fits me very well. I made the 41" bust size, but it came out about 45" around, due to my gauge being off (this is what I wanted since I knew 41" was too small for me).

This is the first pattern I've ever knitted from Interweave (besides face cloths), so I feel like I've justified my sub for another year, and it's inspiring to look at besides.

I thought I would pass along a tip that my mother told me for basting in your sleeves. This is the first sweater I've knit with set-in sleeves in a long time, so I tried using a circular needle to baste the sleeve in. Here's a photo:

All you do is weave your circular through the sleeve and body loosely a few stitches away from the seam edge. Nothing to it. I used to use pins or safety pins and they were a real PITB. This is so fast and easy and my sleeve went in perfectly the first time.

Helpful Chart

2007-04-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hello All -

I'm a reasonably new knitter - only been doing it for about a year now, and this is my second sweater. So suffice it to say it is somewhat of a challege for me. As a way to help me keep track of the lace pattern and everything else, I made this chart. By just working down vertical rows and making little check marks you will follow the pattern. And it is great for keeping track of increases and decreases: I've just been marking "1st - 2 - 3 - 4, etc"

Anyway, I have this as a .pdf, but I am not sure how to post it. If anyone wants a copy of the chart, and can tell me how I can put the .pdf file on the blog, I'd be happy to. It makes sense in my mind... and I think it could be helpful to others.

lizking

Hello!

2007-04-16T23:18:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I just wanted to make a quick post to say hi, since I just started my sweater, and have been following this KAL for a while. I ordered my yarn before I left on a short vacation, and it was there when I got home Saturday! I've cast on for the back, and knit about 1.75 inches of the ribbing. I want to get to the lace pattern, I swear this ribbing is taking strangely long. I'm liking the yarn I picked too; since I don't like cotton I went with a wool yarn. I picked Wool of the Andes in Maple Syrup, and it's a nice warm reddish brown. A little itchy, but I've used Wool of the Andes before, and it tends to soften pretty well after a good soak in wool wash.

Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself! Well, I guess I didn't really introduce myself up there, just said hi, so real quick: My name is Shannon, I'm almost 20, I've been knitting for two years, and I can't imagine a time without knitting now. It is a huge part of my life, and it makes me very happy, especially to find more people who feel the same.

I'm a little slow.....

2007-04-16T20:48:00.000-07:00

I've been enjoying this pattern immensely but have had dozens of projects in the works so haven't had much time to devote to it. I dislike solids, as anyone who knows me will attest to, so I chose to make mine out of Araucania's Nature Wool which is a hand dyed semi-solid (duh! as you can see!). The orange is really deeper and richer than my camera portrays and I'm loving it. I have 4 people making this pattern at the shop and all of them are doing well, although I agree that there will be some puffiness in the reverse stockinette bands but I suspect that will reduce with wear. We have also implemented a number of variations as all of you have already discovered and it is fun to see how these variations are developing. I hope to get a lot more done this coming week and will post my progress. I am loving all the enthusiasm that everyone is posting on this KAL. Keep 'em coming!

Not Reverse Stockinette

2007-04-16T06:08:00.000-07:00

Hey All...

I know several people have wondered how this pattern would look if they did regular (instead of reverse) stockinette for the flat panels. Well check out this photo... Yes, I have to admit that it was an accident. I never intended to do it this way. But nevertheless, there it is, and I intend to keep it.

In other news, I have been using the needle-changing-to-avoid-bumps method to great affect. The thing is flat as a pancake, and I have not even blocked it yet!!!! (If anything, the LACE panels are slightly raised because of the larger needle size, I guess.)

I'm using the Soft Linen in brown called for in the pattern, available from my LYS, www.knitorious.com, in St. Louis, MO. Call Sandy, she'll ship.

So that's my story.

Lizking

2007-04-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

Finally DONE! Sleeves: one is striped, one is lace & cable. It actually fits quite well.

Something went right! :-)

Buck-Fifty's worth on the Dollar and a Half cardigan!

2007-04-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

I have completed the BACK, FRONTS, and SLEEVES (sleeves shown at left) All pieces been blocked, and the shoulders are seamed. I am just waiting for the sleeves to become bone dry. Phew. That said...I feel like a road-weary warrior. This sweater has been an indescribable pain...starting with that puckery/puffy/bulging thing that occurs within the rev st st "stripe". But I FOUND A REMEDY! You have to decrease your needle size by TWO SIZES when knitting the 12-row rev st st stripe...and you need to size down on the last row (12th row is a pattern row 7) of the "lace stripe"! If you do this, you will have virtually no pucker/puff/bulge issues!! FYI: For those of you who are "masters of blocking": this pucker/puff/bulge WILL NOT disappear even with your most agressive blocking techniques. A bit of rippling will remain.

I have a personal knitting website www.knittedartwork.com on which I have dedicated a full page to this nightmare of a pattern. Photos included. I have knit hundreds of cardigans and pullovers in my 36 years of knitting...and I will say, this was the most un-fun, annoying pattern I have ever had the displeasure of knitting. I have never frogged and re-knit any garment so many times! BUT, I was invested in it...TIME AND MONEY...and I was determined to get it right. Yes, I am a little OCD. I used a 50/50 angora-wool blend...CASCADE Cloud 9...$$$$$....so...I could not scrap the thing! Somedays, I just put it aside in defeat... and began again the next day. (I knit 8 hours per day, M-F...so for me to leave a project for a day is really putting it into "time out"!) Everyday I considered "divorcing" it! I also had to shorten the sleeves...grrr...so this also presented a "math challenge". also: one sleeve is the "stripes", the other sleeve is cable&lace like the Right Front. The "striped sleeves" are not as flattering on the arm as I had hoped, hence, the with the two sleeves being different like the two fronts...the WIDE LINE effect is broken up. The little gal in the model sweater would look great in a flour sack! Not yours truly.

Of course, as you all know, the model sweater (photo) places the lace & cable on the RIGHT FRONT...but the directions have it placed as a LEFT FRONT...so if you want your sweater to look like the model...you have to reverse the shapings. Grrr. I emailed Interweave Knits...they responded that corrections have now been made, and will be posted on the CORRECTIONS page on their website. Visit www.interweaveknits.com and click on BACK ISSUES>Corrections. The Corrections for Spring 2007 issue were not yet listed as of yesterday. Perhaps sooner than later? Keep checking back. I am curious to see if they address the BIGGER ISSUE of the puckering and bulging that occurs within the rev st st "stripe"! A fellow knitter is doing the sweater in the yarn recommended and shown on the model sweater...and she also had to use a smaller needle for the rev st st...TWO SIZES smaller just like me!
So, the bulge is not an issue that just ocurrs if a substitute yarn is used! (THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE is not supposed to be a knitting problem, is it?) We have a Knit-Along for this Buck-Fifty cardigan at the www.knittinghelp.com Forum, the "Dollar and a Half" is found in Knit-Alongs category. You might find it a little helpful, too. I found this Knit-Along in a Post that one of our KH Forum knitalong sisters made! Well, that is it for now. I will be posting new photos of my Buck-Fifty...after it is finally finished. (Buttonbands, buttons, side & sleeve seaming)

PS: I did a mock-seaming before blocking those sleeves: seamed the shoulders...and seamed in one sleeve and did a "try-on" for sleeve length, armhole "fit"...it looked pretty good! But, that said... If I could do it over....I wouldn't even start. I like a challenge...but this was a war.

I think the pattern was very poorly written, and the "mystery directions" were very unkind.
So much was left "up in the air"... So much is "unsaid"...surely the designer had to address pucker issues like the rest of us! Why didn't she say so?

I loved the "design"...but not enough to do it again. Would not recommend this pattern to anyone, newbie nor veteran knitter. I still "toy" with the idea of frogging the armhole shapings AGAIN...but then I regain my senses. :-) Leave well enough alone!

Well, by for now! Happy Knitting! Yeah, right.

Newbie!

2007-04-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I'm still waiting for my yarn to come in the mail, but I've been looking forward to knitting the $1.50 Cardigan ever since I first saw the picture in IK. I'm going to be using Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in the color Columbine Blossom (sort of a grey-blue-purple).

I've been reading what the rest of you have written, and I've already learned a lot. I'm sorry the sleeves are too long for so many people, but I'm excited to hear that because my arms are really long, and I usually have to add about 2" to any given sleeve pattern. Looks like I'll be okay on this one.

Also, is anyone working the body as one single piece rather than seperate fronts and back? It seems like it would be easier, since there would be far less seaming. That's what I'm planning on doing, and I just wondered if anyone had any thoughts.

Anyway, I'll post more once I've gotten started. I can't wait!

Coming up a stitch short...

2007-04-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

So I've run into a small problem. I'm working on the back, and (I swear this didn't happen during swatching) after I finish a complete lace section (that is, rows 1-6, 3-6, 3, 7) I purl a row, count, and come up with 98 stitches instead of 99. I fix it either in the purls or in the first purl row of the next lace section by not purling 2 together around the middle (p1, yo, p2tog).

Is anyone else having this problem, or is it just me?

Slow, Slow, Slow

2007-04-09T06:10:00.000-07:00

Here are the sleeves, 14" worth so far. I think I knit an extra repeat of the lace pattern right above the sleeves, but I'm pretending not to notice. I was in the car and didn't have the sweater back with me to double check how many rows it was supposed to be. I'm concerned about running out of yarn, and that the sleeves will be too long (as per the others' FOs), so these will be shortened quite a bit.

I think it was a bad idea to learn how to crochet in the middle of a big project like a sweater. I am usually a one-project-at-a-time kinda person, so I feel like I'm juggling. I plan to finish the sleeves this week and start the fronts. . .

back is done

2007-04-08T05:35:00.000-07:00

now the front will follow. i think i will knit the left one (without the cable) first because the increasing of the armholes worked fine and so i can follow the way i did it on the back.

2007-04-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

I finally finished the fronts of Dollar, but not without great angst. The decreases in the lace drove me crazy. I knit, unknit, reknit, and re-unknit until I was ready to scream. Numerous times I'd decrease a stitch, only to discover a few rows later that I now had 2 more stitches in that section than before the decrease.

Part of the trouble was that I was knitting both fronts at the same time. That worked great up until I started doing the decreases. Then it got really complicated trying to keep track of the increases on both sides of both pieces (and decreasing on the right side of one, and the wrong side of the other), plus keeping track of the cable pattern. I finally gave up and put one side on a stitch holder, and worked each side separately. That went much better. Unless you're a really good knitter, I'd highly recommend doing that, even if you want to knit both sides together up to where the decreases start.

One thing that finally clicked for me and made things easier was that when decreasing on row 3 or 5 of the lace pattern (the rows with the PSSO), the way to do it is to just follow the pattern for that row without any changes. Instead, you'll really make the decrease on the next row by omitting the last YO in the pattern. Veronik mentions that in her tutorial, but I really didn't "get" what she meant from reading her instructions. You will occasionally end up with 4 stockinette stitches together at the neck edge for a row or two, but it works out OK.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

2007-04-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

The Good:

$1.50 is knit, seamed, and almost finished. ALMOST made it for the Project Spectrum 2.0 gray deadline, even. And the body even fits--wonder of wonders.

The Bad:

Although $1.50 is knit, seamed, and almost finished, the sleeves are about 8 inches longer than they ought to be. (What is it with me and sleeves? I am cursed!) I suspected this would be the case when I was knitting them, but was trusting the recommended measurements of the pattern, which turned out to be completely untrustworthy. Should I frog them from the bottom (which I'm afraid will make them too "fat" but will keep me from having to reseam), or should I just take them out, back them up and shorten them from the top?

The Ugly:

Also, doesn't this

sortof remind you of this?

--Chef Messy

My $1.50

2007-04-05T05:47:00.000-07:00

I started my dollar and a half on March 8 and finished it March 30. I had to wait until Tuesday to go to Joann's for buttons. I had no idea I would finish it in time for Easter.

I used Knitpicks CotLin in Royal Plum. It blocked nicely but could probably use a little steaming too. My sleeves are long too but I think that's what was intended based on the photos in IK. I did both fronts the same. I like the asymmetrical look but I didn't know if it would stand the test of time and I didn't want to spend all this time knitting and not be able to wear it in a year;) I debated whether I wanted to do both fronts in the cable or the lace/ rev St st. As you can see I decided on the latter.

It was really fun to knit but I'm glad it's over. You can see more on my blog.

Not much farther

2007-04-04T22:55:00.000-07:00

I reknit the back. Cable time. Everyone's sweaters are looking good (and to those starting: I do highly recommend the 2x2 tubular cast-on. And remember that the fronts are switched in the photos.)

My, that's puckery.

starting the back!

2007-04-04T21:19:00.000-07:00

whoohoo me! started this at the harlot tonight!

so i'm scared of the reverse stockinette and need to make a decision soon about it... i really don't want a michelin man look and i don't want a super high maintenance sweater that needs to be uber blocked all the time... any one else?

Stalled

2007-04-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

Argh the cable front is killlling me.... Its such slow going.

Just a little pic to let you all know i'm still alive.

I'm doing the cable repeat every 20 rows instead of 16, to make up for my row gauge being out. I cant wait to finish this sucker!

(Oh, and the cable front is smaller, until i kinda stretch it out to how it would be blocked and then its ok :D)

swatching!

2007-04-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

hello all!

i'm swatching to start my cardi, i can't wait to start it! i haven't taken a pic yet but will shortly. i'm using debbie bliss cathay. i think i got gauge on size 6 needles. it's so hard though, i wish the gauge wasn't in the lace pattern. oh well.

how is everyone casting on? using the tubular cast on or just a regular cast on? the instructions i have for a tubular cast on are set up for a 1x1 rib, can you do a tubular cast on for a 2x2 rib? this is my first sweater for myself and i want it to look nice. thanks!

A-hah! Got the hang of the lace pattern

2007-03-31T21:52:00.000-07:00

I kept trying and trying, and finally figured out that I was leaving out the last yarn-over in Row 4, which totally messed me up for the next row. So between that and finally finding the earlier post about Row 7 (thank you for the tutorial, Hot Coals Only!), I'm in the groove. And after trying different needle sizes and types, I'm using size 6 of the new Addi Lace needles. First time I've tried them, and now I don't think I'd use anything else for lace patterns. Great needles for knitting or purling two together and psso. And they aren't as slippery as regular Addi's.

So I plan to finish the swatch tonight, then wet and dry it, and start on the sweater tomorrow.

getting gauge & kicking off

2007-03-31T10:17:00.000-07:00

hi all,

yesterday i started the back of this fabulous cardigan and can´t barely stop knitting - it´s such a fun!
i´m using 100%cotton-yarn (scarlett from ggh) in black (so it´s hard to take good pictures but i will do my best). my swatch was perfect and i really like the way the yarn looks like (it´s a little bit gleamy).
so have a great knitting time!
kiki

Finished!

2007-03-31T09:29:00.000-07:00

I've finished my sweater! I'm pretty happy with it overall, but my sleeves came out really long and big (I didn't do any mods to the sleeves.) Something to watch out for those of you knitting now! I loved the lace pattern, and I think I'm going to miss making this sweater! More on my blog!

Swatch/Lace Pattern Challenges

2007-03-31T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hi,

This will be my first sweater and, like Margaret, I've got questions about the swatch and lace pattern. I'm using the Reynolds yarn the pattern calls for. I'm doing the swatch in the lace pattern, and keep increasing the needle size to get the right gauge. I'm up to a 7 from the recommended 5! Is this unusual? I have to admit that up to now, I've only knitted scarves and hats, so never did a swatch first. So maybe I'm a tight knitter and didn't even know it.

The good thing about doing the swatch over and over again is that I get to practice the lace pattern, which I find to be very challenging. Trying to go from increase to decrease in each row, with some stitches going into the yarn overs in the previous row and others not. Whew! I can't get into a comfortable routine. And I keep either having one stitch too many or one too few in some rows. Is anyone else struggling with the lace pattern?

Thanks! And thanks for having this KAL.

The swatch

2007-03-31T06:33:00.000-07:00

Time to dive in~~~I finally got the KP Options needles that I want to use, and the Soft Linen is ready to go. Now for the swatch. How did you all do your swatching? I've never swatched in anything but stockinette, so doing the lace is a bit daunting. Do you cast on and immediately start the lace or what? It is so tempting to make a sleeve as my swatch, but rarely do I get the correct spi on my first swatch!

Dollar in Pink

2007-03-29T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I'm making my Dollar and a Half out of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in "Pinkaboo". I did a bunch of swatches and finally decided on US7 for the needles, and it seems to be working out about right.

I finished the back, and thought I'd block it before starting on the front pieces, just to make sure it would be in the ballpark.

I've also decided that I'm going to do both sides of the front with the cable pattern, instead of one cable and one stripes. I had a hard time with that decision - I like the asymmetrical look too, but I think I'll like it better with both fronts the same.

Finished Knitting

2007-03-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

WOOHOO! I have a $1.50 now! I finished all my knitting this morning and did the three needle bind off on the shoulders. I have just started the laborious process of sewing it all together. I'll post a photo with an update later.

Have officially started!

2007-03-27T20:28:00.000-07:00

Ok, I actually started last week and then added a bit last night, but tonight I just got a new camera so I have photos to share. (oops just one, so, photo)

Isn't it purty? I haven't been able to work on it as much as I'd like yet as I have two gift projects going. One is overdue and the other is due by the end of the month. So, whenever I get bored with those I supplement with the buck fifty and there is less guilt. :)

I'm really loving working with it so far. The yarn is very nice to work with and I haven't noticed it being splitty at all. And if it really does soften up once it's washed? Heaven!

Almost a Dollar

2007-03-22T17:21:00.000-07:00

I'm almost finished with the left front of my Dollar and a Half Cardigan and all I'll have left is the sleeves--WOOHOO!!

I'm using KnitPick's CotLin in Royal Plum. I love this yarn. It's soft and it's not splitty at all. I had a brief panic attack after I started the back and finished the first lace repeat. It was too small and I decided to frog and go up to the next size. I went to KP's website to order more yarn and it wasn't there! I finally called customer service and was told that even though it's not on the website anymore, you can still order it over the phone. I felt much better after my extra yarn arrived this week.

I don't like the way the shaping looks. It suddenly dawned on me last night that normally you ssk at the beginning of the row and k2tog at the end of the row. The pattern and Veronik's tutorial have you k2tog at the beginning of the row and ssk at the end of the row. I put a post out there to see if anybody else thought the pattern should be reversed but I didn't get a response, so off to the frog pond I went this morning.

I frogged a few rows of the right front and reknit it using ssk instead of k2tog. The good news is that it really doesn't look any different so I don't think I'll frog all the shaping. The bad news is that it really doesn't look any different so I'm still not happy with my shaping.

The more I look at it, the more I think it's the selvedge that I don't like and not the shaping. I hoping that when I sew it all together my issues will be resolved.

This KAL is great! I've been lurking here for a while and I love seeing what everyone else is doing.

Hi from Liverpool

2007-03-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks for inviting me to this KAL. I started the back on Tuesday 20th March. I am using Jaeger Luxury Tweed which is a 65% merino wool, 35% alpaca yarn. It's one of my favourite yarns ever but unfortunately is discontinued. This is the last I have in my stash and I've been waiting for something special to knit with it. The photo was taken in a rush but it should give you an idea of how I'm getting on.

Angie

Got my Yarn

2007-03-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

I got my yarn Monday night and almost immediately cast on. I've gotten through the ribbing on the back and will be moving on to the first lace pattern next. Yay!

The yarn (I decided just to wait for the Soft Linen, which is why I'm starting this so late) is wonderful. The brown is lovely with little red highlights shot through it.

I wish I had a picture to show off, but for now I am camera-less. I might bring it in to work and snag a pic that way, but only after a few repeats of lace are done...

I have to put it aside for a couple of days to at least start the socks for my eldest. I'm making him a pair of the BMP socks from Knitty for his birthday. I'm also going to be juggling finishing up Clapotis for my step-mother. My son remarked last night that I have an "awful lot of started projects". LOL

I think it's love

2007-03-21T05:15:00.000-07:00

Hi all! I'm so happy about this KAL, like a lot of people I knew I wanted to make the DnHC from the preview pictures. I finally decided to sub Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece for the Soft Linen and I was lucky enough to find it on sale at my LYS. I cast on last weekend and I can't decided what I love more the pattern or the yarn! I haven't had time to work on it this week, but I'm hoping to get the back finished by the end of the weekend.

It's great to see everyones variations and I can't wait to see the first finished one!
Happy Knitting!
Bobbi aka The Kelly Green Rogue

Losing Steam

2007-03-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

So, when my yarn came in, I sat down and knit up the back of the cardigan super quickly.

I'm knitting this in Rowan Calmer (color- Cork) on US 8 needles. I modified the pattern a teensy bit; I'm knitting the largest size because I'm between the two biggest, and I want a loose fitting cardigan. However, this size calls for knitting 19.75" before starting the armhole shaping, which would result in a cardigan reaching five inches below the bottom of my butt. How unflattering! So I started the shaping after 15", and I think I'll be much happier with this length.

I'm working on the sleeves now, so that I can save the fun of the fronts for later, but they're slow going. If I'm lucky, I'll get them done this week.

Megan
Woolly Interlude

The Back Again

2007-03-19T10:46:00.000-07:00

I'm back from my trip to the frog pond. I restarted the back, using a smaller size and it's coming out much better this time. I want the finished sweater to be around 45" and the lace section unstretched is about 22", so things are looking good now.

I'm using Lion Brand CottonEase and size 9 needles, FWIW. I definitely won't be wearing it this Spring, but I think I'll start having fun when I get the back finished and all gauge issues worked out.

Finally something to post!

2007-03-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

Hi all! I've been lurking here for a bit - love the way all the cardis are coming out! I took mine on vacation with me, and I've nearly finished the back. I'm using Cotton Fleece in New Age Teal, and I just love the yarn for this sweater.

The only problem that I've had so far was with the decreases. I've read the designer's tutorial on them about 50 times, and I just don't get it. It says to decrease 2 stitches in the pattern(one on each side), but then the instructions in the magazine say to take out one 3 stitch pattern repeat? For which side? And why, when it says 2 stitches? Fortunately, 2 of my decreases fell on stockinette rows, and then I fudged the last one (I decreased 2 stitches in pattern, and it seemed to work.)

I haven't seen anyone else having these issues, so I don't know if I'm just crazy, but I'm getting worried about the next decreases already! Am I over thinking this?

First post here!

2007-03-17T17:12:00.000-07:00

I'm so very happy that there is a KAL for this - I love looking at different WIPs & FOs of the same project.

I started mine awhile back, frogged it & restarted it this week. I decided to start with the sleeves, since those seem to be my downfall when making sweaters.
I'm using the (now) hard to find Cotlin from KntiPicks in Key Lime. I managed to order enough before it went away from the site - if anyone is wondering, KnitPicks is saying that they should have it back on the site at the end of the month. Anyway, I like the yarn a lot and I think this will be a favouirte sweater for myself.

I decided to do garter selvedge stitches instead of st - I find it looks a lot better. I'm also doing the increases in the rev st part of the pattern - it doesn't screw up the lace. I let you know how it works out when I complete the sleeves!

Glad to be here - I can't wait to see everyone's progress!
BabblingStacey

Help

2007-03-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I have been making good progress and am almost done the back. I just need confirmation on where I am measuring for the armholes.

When I am measuring for the armholes I measure straight up and down over the rows right? I don't actually measure at the edge at the slant of the sweater where I have been doing the decreases do I?

It has been a while since I have done a sweater and I want to make sure that after all this work I can at least get my arms through the sleeves!

Thanks!

Make Mine Solitaire

2007-03-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

After driving myself crazy and swatching about 4 different yarns for this sweater, I finally decided on Solitaire in charcoal by GGH.

I had about 14 skeins of it in the drawer purchased for an entirely different project. Let's just say that project never happened...

I still love the sweater pattern planned for said yarn, but it's only written for a small and medium and I'm scared of the maths it will take to adjust the pattern. So I avoided it for more than a year, wondering if this nice yarn would ever become something other than balls taking up space in a drawer.

Enter Dollar and a Half Cardigan and Solitaire has found a home.

Chance Kitty approves of the sweater's start

It took a few swatches of lace practice to get it right, but once I remembered that it's a multiple of three PLUS one -- all worked out well. Al's tutorial for row 7 was extremely helpful, as well.

Close up of lace

I'm this far along on the back. I got a little nervous after the first few rows because I was getting the Michelin Man effect, so I blocked it to make sure it would look OK. That's why the bottom is flatter than the rest. (That's if you can see that in this crappy photo... )

Almost up to sleeve shaping...Scary

I have to say, getting the correct gauge in lace was a bit beyond my knitting abilities. It's measuring to the width I want, so hopefully it won't be too big or too small. (Not that I've even done that before.)

After completing the first section each of stockinette and lace, I didn't like that the stockinette section was wider than the lace. So I've altered the pattern a bit: in the the first row of reverse stockinette (a purl row) I decrease a total of 3 stitches. In the first row of the lace section (the knit row), I add the 3 stitches back in. I'm hoping this won't bite me in the ass later, but the edges are more even this way.

Being home sick with the cold from hell for the last week has really moved this project along. And I totally agree with Chef Messy. By the time I get to the end of the stockinette section, I'm so ready for something a little more exciting. Then, by the time I get to the end of the lace section, I'm so sick of counting I can't wait for the simplicity of purl a row, knit a row.

Wish me luck. I'm about to start decreasing for the sleeves...

I gotten some cotton

2007-03-14T20:52:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody! I'm so excited to be knitting this cardigan with you guys. It is just so darn cute. Well, I went on a yarn hunt, and I found...

That is Cotton Fleece in Willow Leaf. I am really loving this color, perfect for this springy cardi. So I guess the next step is swatching (ugh) and then on to the knitting. Yay!

Kara

Hello there

2007-03-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

My name is Bex and i just stumbled across this KAL.

I'm knitting this cardigan in size 47 (yikes!) using Bendigo Mills Alpaca (im from Australia). So far i've used 1x200grm ball for the back - heres a pic of it blocking.

I found the alpaca really springy and made it quite lumpy until i blocked it - now its lush and soft and smooth! yay!

Quick Question...

2007-03-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

Ok, still awaiting the yarns arrival (and trying to finish SOMETHING in the meantime to avoid the guilt)...

Had a question though...has anyone else tried to use "regular" stockinette versus the reverse in the lace portion of the cardigan? I wonder if it would look odd or lie funny? I was considering swatching both to see which I liked better...

The Back in White Cotton Ease

2007-03-13T06:09:00.000-07:00

I'm making slow progress, but some progress on the back. I wanted to have this done by the end of March but I think it's going to be April at this rate. We are already having highs in the 70s here, so I'll wear it NEXT Spring. . .

Thanks to Stephanie for posting the link to the decreasing in lace pattern info. I will be studying that soon, since I'm only a few inches from the armhole decreases.

My analyst told me...

2007-03-12T16:37:00.000-07:00

that I should stop starting new WIPs and focus on my $1.50. But I didn't listen, so here's where I am, still:

halfway through the new back, and this time it'll fit!

Al

hot coals only

Veronik's tutorial

2007-03-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

I haven't cast on yet, but my Reynold's Soft Linen is waiting for me at Webs. I'll be taking the 2 hour drive up on Saturday to pick it up.

In the meantime, I found a step by step tutorial on Veronik Avery's blog for the lace strips of the Dollar and a half cardigan. I thought it might be helpful to those of you who have already started.

Here's the link.

I can't wait to participate for real.

Another newbie

2007-03-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

I haven't been able to start mine yet, but I have been given the word that my yarn order is in at the store and they will be shipping today (I should receive it by next Monday). WOOHOO!!! I was actually able to get my hands on the coveted Reynolds Soft Linen. I saw it on the Knitting Sunshine blog that Black Sheep Knitting had plenty, so I emailed them right away and though they didn't have the brown in stock (they have the rest of the colors though and they were thoughtful enough to send a picture of the color card) they ordered the amount I needed last week and it hit their store today!

Yes, I'm going to do the pattern in the exact color and type of yarn that is called for. I usually don't, but I wanted to try this yarn and the color is perfect.

So, I will posting more once I get the yarn.

I'm going to try the "knitting backwards" for the reverse stockinette portions, since I am no great fan of purling. :)

It's been fun watching all of the rest of you get going on yours...and I am SO thankful that someone else already tackled the lace and can show us the "how" of it.

Blargh

2007-03-10T22:40:00.000-08:00

Just got some bad news from Webs, my yarn order is going to be delayed. sigh. I purposely only ordered stuff that the site said was in stock, so it could be shipped posthaste. And, because I'm an international order (Canadian!) they're holding on to everything for three weeks until my other yarn arrives. Their website lies. But it's cheap, and I guess this ensures I'll finish up my other projects. :)

Speaking of being Canadian, I was thinking about exchange rates and calling this sweater something wacky. But then I realised: I (and other Canadians in this KAL) are the ones making the $1.50 Cardi, as Joni Mitchell is Canadian, and so presumably is the currency she was singing about. So you Americans out there are currently making a $1.28 Cardi, Australians a $1.64 Cardi, the British are making a 66p Cardi... I'll stop now. :)

Finally on my way

2007-03-10T21:08:00.000-08:00

Hi all. I am very glad I found you guys.
Thanks to the tutorial for the lace pattern I am now finally on my way. I am quite enjoying it and with my slow start I was worried that you guys would all be done and onto other projects before I got my swatch done.
Anybody done yet?

I finally got it

2007-03-10T13:49:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the photo tutorial, I am past the first lace section. Originally, I started a sleeve, but the sleeve directions don't tell you to do rows 1-6, then 3-6 2x of the lace pattern, and that is partially what was getting me confused. So, I frogged the whole thing and started on the back. I need to order more yarn, because I was only supposed to be "swatching", but now swatch=back. It's been slow going, back and forth between the pattern and my needles. I'm on my first reverse stockinette part. Luckily Cotton fleece has great yardage, so we'll see how far I get. Pics will be coming soon!

eek

2007-03-08T13:16:00.000-08:00

Hi, I'm Heather and I lurve this sweater.
I just ordered some Classic Elite Classic Silk in cinnamon for the sweater. I agonized over yarn choice for so long! (and we're not going to mention the other things that found their way into my cart. Credit card going in freezer now, bad knitter).

I'm looking forward to starting, so I guess I better finish up my current sweater. :)

96 Cents

2007-03-08T11:19:00.000-08:00

I am making steady progress on the Dollar and a Half Cardigan, which surprises me because I've been really busy. It's amazing how 20 minutes here, 20 minutes there adds up. I've got almost a dollar, hey hey hey hey.

Isn't it purdy?

But, oh, the counting! I followed some good advice to knit both fronts at the same time and then both sleeves at the same time, and I'm glad I did because it has kept my gauge constant and the decreases in the right places on both sides (and I'm optimistically assuming that the difference in width will go away with blocking, by the way). On the other hand, the fronts are not identical, so at this point I am trying to simultaneously keep track of all of these things:

How many rows have I knit on the cable pattern? Is it time to cable again yet?
How many rows until I switch from Reverse Stockinette back to the lace pattern on the other side?
How many neck decreases have I done?
How many sleve decreases have I done and how many do I still need to do?
And because the decreasing with the lace pattern is finicky, have I messed it up? Do I still have the right number of stitches on both needles (which are, of course, different numbers on both sides. Of course.)? What IS the right number of stitches? Oh my.

Thank goodness for post-it notes.

Anyway, I'm so happy to see that the Knit-Along is growing nicely with lots of new participants! It's good to hear what other people are doing with this sweater. So far, from this Knit-Along, I've learned that the Left and Right fronts are indeed flipped in the picture, which was causing me great confusion once I got to the sleeve decreases, as to that point I had been paying more attention to watching American Idol than reading the pattern (I do love that big crazy poofy-haired guy, I do). My solution to the problem is that my fronts will just be flipped. I think it's somewhat fitting for me to own a backwards sweater. (Well, hopefully it will fit, anyway.)

Also, make sure you check out Al's fantastic tutorial on row 7 of the lace pattern, which it is highly possible that I have been doing wrong all this time! Oh well. No going back now for me!

somewhat slow but hopefully steady

2007-03-08T08:59:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the blurry picture, but I just wanted to share my progress:

I have been enjoying the project so far, although clearly I'm not very far along. The lace is an interesting pattern, and very easy to get into the rhythm of. I do find the yarn (Reynolds Soft Linen) to be kind of roughly natural (very fine strands sometimes splice off, if that makes any sense), but it is made of 53% flax, so I suppose that makes some sense. That doesn't make it any less enjoyable to work with. Once you get used to the splitting it sometimes does.

I am using rather short straight needles (where the pattern calls for circulars), but except for that it's more difficult to see the pattern as it hangs, it's not been a problem for me thus far. I was just too eager to wait to get around to purchasing longer ones!

Anyway, thanks for letting me join in on the KAL! I look forward to learning from all of you as I work through this.
xo,
Arianna

Left & Right switched?

2007-03-07T23:44:00.000-08:00

OK, is it just me or are the photos flipped? In the photos the cable panel is on the model's right side, but in the instructions it's on the left. I e-mailed IK about this, after seriously looking from my right hand to my left hand to the photo about a million times just to be sure I wasn't going crazy. I'm knitting it to look like the photos, so I had to switch the placement of the decreases on the left (stripey) front that I'm knitting now.

Or am I JUST LOSING MY MIND? Could be.

Row 7 Tute

2007-03-07T11:13:00.000-08:00

Ok guys and gals, I put this together in case anyone out there is still stuck on Row 7. It's deceptively simple. I hope this is clear! Just click the photo to go to the tutorial on flickr.

Now let's just hope I'm doing it right! :)

Al

Have to rip :(

2007-03-06T22:51:00.000-08:00

Well, there I was braggin' about being done with the back and it turns out I need to rip it out and go up a size. My gauge is such with my replacement yarn that I need to knit the 41" size to get a 35" sweater. Oh well! Luckily I did figure this out before starting my first front, so I do have a teeny, tiny bit of headway into the correct size. I haven't done much knitting lately because of school and other junk, but I'm going to start focusing on this now that I've figured it out.

How's everyone else's coming along?

Al

Yarn Selection

2007-03-05T12:19:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I'm so glad there's a knitalong for this pattern, so that when I start, I'll be encouraged to finish ;)

I can't wait to dig into this pattern; it will be my first non-top-down-raglan sweater, and I'm pretty excited about that. I'm just waiting on my yarn to come in! I got a bunch of Rowan Calmer in Cork off of eBay, and it should be here in a couple of days. I subbed this yarn because I saw someone else mention it as a sub, I think on Knitter's Review, and I loved that idea. I'm hoping this will be the perfect cardigan for cool days (and my sometimes cold office).

You can read more about my knitting projects over at my blog, Woolly Interlude.

crap!

2007-03-03T22:24:00.000-08:00

Um Deb here,

The lace pattern is driving me bonkers! I started my sleeve...I mean, swatch, and I was cruising along, until it came to the last row of the lace pattern. Huh?? I am having a hard time picking that strand from the row below, and not making it all look like crap. I did my best, and ended up frogging it all back to the ribbing because it looked like crap!

Does anyone know the name to this lace pattern, so I maybe can find it in a reference book, or online? Worse case scenario, I can always sub for another lace pattern, right?

BTW...the cotton fleece seems like a good choice. It is still sproingy like wool, but it is a lightweight cotton feeling.

Intro

2007-03-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hello, I'm Mary and I'm signing up for the Knit Along, maybe prematurely, since I'm still working out what yarn to use.

I was thinking CottonEase, but I only chose it because I'm having a hard time getting my hands on any Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece.

I'm swatching the CottonEase right now, and if I don't like how it comes out, I might switch. I know that puts me way behind you guys, but I really want to make this sweater come out perfectly. Glad to find you guys!

ready to swatch

2007-03-02T20:38:00.000-08:00

I don't want to wait any longer for the Soft Linen yarn to become available, even though it sounds like I will really like the yarn. Instead, I'm going to swatch with Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. I'm thinking it will work out, or at least close enough that I can get away with it.

Back Almost Done (Hi)

2007-02-24T19:12:00.000-08:00

Hi, I'm Al.

here's where I am on my $1.50:

I'm using recycled yarn, 100% cotton. I made each lace and rev.st.st. section longer by a few rows to account for a difference in gauge, and I'm just about to start the shoulder shaping on the back. I stole the idea for this from Chef Messy, thanks for the idea! What my finished sweater will hopefully look like:

Also, I thought I'd make a button since I didn't see one here. Enjoy!

Al
hot coals only

19 Cents

2007-02-23T05:23:00.000-08:00

I have completed about 19 Cents worth of the Dollar and a Half Cardigan, and this is what it's looking like so far.

You know what I like about this pattern? It goes something like this...

Lace pattern...Wow neat! Lace pattern...Hey, this is kindof fun. Lace pattern...Meh, I'm getting sick of PSSO's and YO's. Lace pattern...Too slow, too slow, too much thinking!

Stockinette Stitch...Ah, that's better. Stockinette Stitch...Whee, look, I can knit with my eyes closed! Stockinette Stitch...Boring, boring, boring, boring. Stockinette Stitch...Maybe if I stab myself with a needle it will get more exciting.

Lace pattern...Wow neat!....

It's almost as good as that one time someone gave me a postcard with "Can you guess what is on the back of this card?" printed on both sides.

My one concern is that the stockinette sortof "bubbles" from the lace pattern. I've checked my gauge, and it seems to be holding steady for both patterns. Is anyone else knitting this? Is it doing the same thing? Is this something that will be fixed by blocking?

Welcome Knit-Alongers!

2007-02-16T05:51:00.000-08:00

This is a Knit-Along for Veronik Avery's Dollar and a Half Cardigan, which was featured in the Spring 2007 Issue of Interweave Knits.

If you want to join the fun, shoot me an email at ChefMessy-at-gmail-dot-com.