Tag Archives: Learn to Knit Love to Knit

I knitted a jumper!

As I mentioned in my post about making a bunch of baby cardigans, I’ve been back into knitting recently. I finished this jumper in about 3 months or so (which for me is quick, after the only other jumper I’ve finished took like 4 years!).

I don’t know why I chose a really hot, really sunny day to take these photos, but there we are.

The yarn was some cheap acrylic I’ve had in my stash for ages. You can still get it, though – it’s called Woolcraft New Fashion DK (in shade emerald). Half way through the project I got the fear that I wouldn’t have enough to finish – I had 3/4 balls – so I ordered more and then didn’t need it. Typical!

The pattern is the same one I used before, from Learn to Knit, Love to Knit. It’s just a basic raglan sleeved jumper. I like things where it says ‘knit in stocking stitch until it measures x’, where I don’t have to count rows. I made the size 10, having made the size 8 last time as I wasn’t sure if I was going to gift it to my now ex. It did end up significantly bigger than the other one – I can’t remember if I checked my gauge, oops.

I am going to send it to the ex so hopefully it won’t look as massive on him, though he is quite small (but still a but bigger than me). It was originally going to be a vintage pattern with loads of amazing cables on but, as previously mentioned, I don’t like knitting where you have to count – and counting rows is one thing, counting every stitch on every row is just not my bag! I don’t mind so much if it’s just a different stitch and I can get the hang of it but I am a simple knitter at heart.

I am a little sad to be giving this away, but I intend to carry on knitting so I’ll hopefully reach a point where I have enough jumpers, so giving one away is a good idea in the long run.

I’ve already got my next project cast on and started, so definitely expect more knitting projects in the future! Just slower than sewing projects obviously.

I knitted a hat!

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I knitted a thing!

I think this takes it to 2 finished projects in 5 years
🤣

I needed a new Winter hat for quite a while as I have one I was bought which a) isn’t very warm and b) I don’t especially love. I also have ear muffs for when it’s super cold – which is has been recently!

IMHO you can’t go wrong with a massive bobble on a knitted hat! It’s maybe a little big – I even already trimmed it down as it was really really massive!

This is the hat pattern from Learn To Knit, Love To Knit, which is also the book I used for my only complete jumper I’ve ever made! It’s in only one size and it turned out fine for me – and I guess you can fold it up more or less if your head is smaller or bigger than mine!

The fact that the hat is entirely ribbed also means there’s room for expansion/shrinking if required.

I used yarn from Lauren Aston design and I did kind of want coral yarn, to pick up that colour in my scarf, but I couldn’t find anything in that colour in the right weight so I went with my standard favourite mustard.

If you’re interested in knitting at the moment (which I weirdly am even though I notoriously get enthusiastic and then lose that enthusiasm approximately 10% into any project) you may know that it is very hard to buy supplies at the moment – I kind of love that people are turning to these kinds of hobbies in the lockdowns. It meant I couldn’t get a circular knitting needle which the pattern suggested, though, so I knitted it flat and sewed up the back seam – and you can’t really see it!

The last couple of weeks have been so cold I’m glad I can basically have only my eyes showing so the rest of me can be warm!

I definitely feel like I want to do more knitting and maybe super chunky wool and needles (meaning fast progress) is the way for my interest not to wane? I think I’ve been spoiled by how fact you can make something if you sew it that I maybe don’t have the patience for knitting any more? I really want to knit a huge blanket – especially a simple one as I wouldn’t necessarily have to concentrate on the pattern (which hurts my brain after a while). Are you knitting all the things during lockdown?

Book: Learn to Knit, Love to Knit

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I’ve had this book for quite a while – over a year I think. I was planning to write a review of it and post my first make from it in the same week, but I cast on a jumper in January (in black wool with gold sparkles, it’s amazing!) and it is nowhere near completion, so I thought I’d review the book anyway. And hopefully I’ll get my jumper finished for when it gets really cold!

Learn To Knit, Love To Knit, is a great book – I was drawn to it because there are several patterns in it that I like and will hopefully make one day. It’s written by Anna Wilkinson:

I love her jumper in this photo, but sadly it’s not one of the ones in the book!

She goes through everything you need to know if you’re a beginner knitter, like what tools you’ll need,

how to cast on,

how to knit and purl,

and how to cast off!

There are some other techniques in the book and she outlines how to do common stitches, like moss stitch.

Now to the patterns! I quite like these wrist warmers (which feature on the cover), though if I’m brutally honest, I’m not sure if I would really wear them. But I do like to roll up my sleeves, then my wrists get cold (especially when working on a computer), so maybe these are actually just the thing!

I like these bobble hats – they’re knitted on quite big needles (10mm) so I bet they knit up really quickly!

Learn-to-Knit,-Love-to-Knit-13

This is the jumper I am currently knitting – I’ve realised that I like simple knits, even though I am also drawn to patterns with lacey bits and cabling and stuff, they’re not really my style.

Speaking of cabling, though, these cardigans are quite cute!

I weirdly also really like this lace top – the wool used looks like the softest thing in the world, and I would imagine you don’t need loads of it so could probably use something nice and expensive.

I love, love, love this stripey jumper – it would be a great stash buster! I definitely have plans for one of these. I like the one with blue sleeves especially, but the colours used in both definitely work – how do people do that? I wouldn’t know where to start with picking complimentary colours!

This American-style cardigan that looks like a jacket is also cute – and I love the way they photos are styled.

I think what drew me to this book, aside from the great patterns, was the way the photos have been styled – it makes knitting your own clothes look stylish and not just something your granny would do! Do you have this book? Have you made anything from it? Or do you have suggestions of other great knitting books? Now the weather is getting colder, I feel like my knitting will take off again.