Chevron Lace Cardigan

I always want to make Chevron Lace Cardigan, I saw so many beautiful Chevron Lace Cardigans online. Finally, I started this project about 2 weeks ago. I am very disappointed how it fits, esp the armpits. The Chevron pattern itself is gorgeous, I guess I just don't like Top Down Pattern. It is first time that I crochet Top Down Pattern for myself. It could be my body is OFF, so it doesn't work for me.

Here is the link for the pattern:

Chevron Lace Cardigan

4/6/10:

I want to crochet this for long time, for some reasons, I never start it. Hopefully, it wouldn’t take long to finish this cardigan. I plan not to crochet sleeves.

Used J hook for Row 1 and 2, then switched to Hook I. Because I heard a lot of people said the neck is kind of tight, so I chained it loosely and with larger hook.

Just finished Row 10 with one skein of yarn. This cardigan is easy and quick.

4/7/2010:

Working on the armpits areas, have really hard time. First, I started the YOKE at Row 14, then it is too tight, so I frogged it, and start YOKE at Row 15, and I didn’t break the yarn to do the chain, I just crochet Row 16 then stop at stitch 20 and chained 10. And it is still too tight, then I frogged again and changed to larger hook (Hook J). Again, it is still too tight. Now I am going to do is to add another row, so I will start YOKE at Row 17 and with hook J, hopeful it works this time, I am just so frustrated to keep frogging the piece.

4/11/2010:

Very frustrated with armpits, it seems no matter what I did, they still too tight. So now I chained 20 instead of 10 w/ hook J. It seems ok.

4/13/2010:

Half way through, not too happy with the armpits area, now it is a little too big.

4/18/2010:

Finished the body, only thing left is the edging!! So far I am not too happy how it fits! Very disappointed!

4/20/2010:

All Done!! I will take pics tomorrow.

I did one row of SC and 2 rows of DC for edging! Still not happy how it fits.

About the yarn:

I love it, it is very soft!! Just a little bit splitty.

Treasure at Thrift Store

I always like vintage style clothes, I love their unique and classy styles. Since now I start to crochet garment and teach myself to knit, I start to look for vintage crochet and knitting pattern books, magazine or booklets etc.

Last week, Jonathan and I went to a thrift store, I found 2 old "Vogue Knitting" magazine from 2000. But that thrift store doesn't have anything old. And this afternoon, I went to a thrift store across street from my work, I found a tons of vintage knitting and crochet pattern magazines and booklets. I was thrilled. I bought 9 magazines/booklet for about $5, they are from 70s to 80s. Not really old, but most of the patterns are very fashionable, and some of them are very old-fashioned, but still it is fun to read.

One of the booklet is teach you how to knit seamless raglans, it is my favorite, it teaches from 9 months to size 50. The booklet is published by Leisure Arts at 1979.

My second favorite is Patons Cotton Top Collection, because they have a lot of crochet patterns, and they are very cute and easy to crochet, this is the only one that have crochet patterns.

My third favorite is Reynolds Booklet, I always want a Open-collared Pullover sweater (the white one) like this, it is so classy and basic, it looks great with jeans!!


My forth favorite is Pingouin Magazine No.44, the whole magazine is all about children (for 2, 4 and 6 years old). But the patterns are very cute and stylish, of course, some of them are very outdated.

Also, I bought 6 skeins Unger Utopia Worsted Weight Yarns for $5.99, I just checked the price online, it is normally about $3.49 per skein. So it is a steal!
For more pics of the rest of the vintage patterns, pls go to my flickr page:
www.flickr.com/photos/namethatcandy

Today is like a Christmas to me, except the treasure I found in a thrift store, I also received my order from knitpicks.com and books from Crafters Choice Book Club. I bought a pair regular circular knitting needle, a pair interchangeable knitting needle and 3 skeins of sport weight yarns for the baby dress which I plan to knit after my Berroco Cardigan. I can't wait to try the new needles.

And the books I bought from Crafters Choice Book Club are: Custom Knits, Contemporary Crochet and Vintage Knitwear for Modern Knitters. I love the patterns in all the books, esp the Contemporary Crochet, it seems fairly easy and fast.