I like to knit sweaters. Especially when it is cold and rainy out. I get cold easily and the rain just makes me want to run home and cast-on for thick cushy sweaters to keep out the chill.

This summer has been more drizzly and cold than usual (although there have been nice days too, especially yesterday, yay!) and over the last week or so I have put some time into a few unfinished sweater projects.

Mostly I have been working on this:

First Thermal Sleeve

This week I have a 4 day weekend and I’m hoping to make some real progress on my Zombie Sweater from this post. Sorry no picture but I have finished both sleeves, knit the body in the round to the armholes and completed the back the rest of the way. Left to do are the fronts from the armhole up and the button placket.

Working on these long hibernating projects definitely makes me long for something new and with all the magazines releasing their gorgeous fall designs I am over the moon choosing my projects for fall.

This year there are so many awesome patterns. I am so excited!!! I am loving everything!

Oh, you want to see all these pretty patterns for yourself all in one place complete with my commentary? Ok.

Vogue Knitting

Green Gable Hoodie by Mari Muinonen

I really liked this sweater when I first saw it on Ravelry and I even went so far as to designate yarn for it. However, I then decided that it would be too unflattering, specifically the thick cables up the arms. I just think they would be too bulky. I really like the rest of the sweater though so I am thinking of knitting it with only the cable on the back

Greenland by Robin Melanson

I like the little lacey details on this sweater. Also the great green that it is knit up in. If I were to knit this I would leave the diamond details on the body off and just do the little ruffles. I would also make it a little shorter and make it less wide at the bottom for a more subtle shape.

Old Penny by Veronik Avery

I love the rustic feeling of this sweater! I would add buttons for a closure and change the sleeves to set-in sleeves. I don’t like the way that raglans look on me because I have narrow shoulders and since this sweater is constructed in pieces anyways I don’t think it would be a big deal to do set-in style sleeves instead. I would like to find some nice rustic yarn for this.

Redwoods by Fiona Ellis

I think the zig-zag cables on this are adorable!  I would like to use an alpaca or an alpaca blend for this so that the cables would be more subtle and I think I might use a lighter weight yarn since it has a high neckline and I wouldn’t want it to be too warm. I probably won’t do the i-cord at the neck even though I think it is a neat idea and I like the way it mimics the shape of the cables, it would just be too fussy for me.

DROPS Design

Drops 109-1 Jumper with Hood

I really like this. There are actually a few cute hoodies on the Drops website but I like this one best. It is simple and it looks like it would be easy to wear. I am concerned that the hood looks a bit giant with the border but I could live with that. The body is knit in the round to the armholes and the hood border is knit in one piece with the rest of the sweater so the only seams you have to do are to set in the sleeves. Neat!

Drops 108-20 Jumper or Jacket

They offer a pattern for this to be a pullover or a cardigan! I think that is so neat. I really want to knit this and I think the gray color scheme keeps it from being too cutesy wootsy with the butterflies so I would stick to something similar. I would knit the cardigan style with long sleeves and I would definitely be adding a hood.

Interweave Knits

Estes Vest by Hana Jason

I can’t wait to make this. To me the whole magazine it worth it for the articles and this one pattern. I might make it a little longer but otherwise I think it will be pretty much the same. I’m thinking about using Lopi for this in some kind of blue-y color or I might just go for the recommended yarn in the color from the magazine (how boring!) because I lurv it.

Afterthought Darts Cardigan by Theresa Schabes

I really like the shape of this cardigan but I actually don’t like the darts so I would leave them out for sure. I do love the wide neck and the airiness of it though and I think it would be great for layering.

New Pea Coat by Teva Durham

I’m not so sure I’ll ever really get around to making this but I think it’s great and I love the big collar and the stitch pattern. I’ve never knit a coat and it seems like it would be quite the undertaking but this is really cute and I would love a wooly coat for winter.

Knitscene

Riding to Avalon by Connie Chang Chinchio

This sweater is perfect. I have been stalking the LYS to get the magazine as soon as possible. I’m thinking about knitting this in a dark green silky wool that I have 5 skeins of in my stash but I would have to get at least 1 maybe 2 more skeins. I think it is color 45 if you have any you want to destash let me know!

Himalayan Vest by Katie Himmelberg

I secretly love this. Except it’s not secret anymore because I just told you. My better judgement will probably win out and I will resist this design but I love that it is a knitted puffy vest and also puffy vests rock even if they do look terrible on me. At least they look equally terrible on everyone.

Twist Collective

Daniel by Kate Gilbert

I love the diagonal ribbing details on this! I also really like the asymmetrical opening and collar. I would like to feminize this sweater for myself by adding shaping and I might make the center panel a bit narrower. I think I would keep the saddle-shoulder shape but not do the ribbing down the sleeves.

Wisteria by Kate Gilbert

I think this sweater is beautiful. I love all the twisty cables. I don’t know what sort of yarn I would like for this (hopefully something from the stash…). I already bought the pattern but I am hoping to get some ideas for yarn subs from other people’s projects on Ravelry.

That’s it! Hooray for sweaters! I can’t wait to see what Knitty has for fall too! Fall sweaters are the best!

I am going to be busy this year. Bonus points for guessing which sweater I already cast-on for. No fair peeking on Ravelry!

by alligator on August 8, 2008