ChicKnits New Threads Friday
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Martha
Design: Stella Smith (Rowan #37)
Yarn: Filatura di Crosa *Zara*
Color: #1660 Chartruese
Gauge: 22sts/31 rows over 4″
Needles: #3 & #6
Type: Hand Knit
This color is ALIVE! I am so glad it is getting to be warmer here, because this tropical hue is almost too HAPPY for those nasty SADD days we are gonna leave behind AS OF NOW…
MODS:
1. Changed gauge from 28/38 to 22/31 – made it one inch longer so it’s pocket-top on me and adjusted as needed to fit my measurements.2. Forgot to follow pattern for hem bands and needed to use provisional cast-ons for all pieces to add correct hem later..
3. Blanked out pattern instructions for front edge, which included a knit-in button band – added and sewed on button band after fronts were done. This actually worked out well – I used much smaller needles to knit it and it doen’t pull as much as one knitted with the same size needles as the body would. WHEW!
4. Changed neckline from hard edge square, to slightly curved edge square. I have a seriously right-angled jawline and this softens the neckline towards my face without destroying the designs *look*.
5. Not a mod but: decided to use the multi-colored vintage buttons I was playing with early on with this cardi – they are really FUN! Might have to lose the yellow ones – their scalloped edges grab the buttonholes in a naughty way when buttoning…
…A special THANKS to Jessica over at Rose-Kim Knits for hosting the Martha KAL!!!
So cute! I have been wondering where you were with this as I too am a green lover and there it is, finished! I have wanted to knit this but the small gauge scared me — can you explain to me how you made that adjustment?
LOVE IT!! I am planning on knitting it in Koigu!
It looks great! That one’s on my list too. Maybe it needs to be bumped up closer to the top of the list…
Really flattering and the fit is perfect. You’ve really got this down to a science. I need to go back and re-read your sections on finding “my size”. Thanks for the inspiration.
Dang!!! That is awesome!!! Very cool color, love the buttons, love the neckline! One day I’ll be able to knit like that, until then I’ll just dream about yours…
Grrl, I love the buttons! Great fit, of course and a very cool, hot look!
Gorgeous sweater and I love the colored buttons. Fits you to a “T” too.
Very very pretty Martha! Thanks for sharing your mod notes with us!
Can you post a closeup of the neckline? I am making the same sweater (in a 6 st/in gaguge, not 7 st/in) and am planning to modify the neckline much as you did.
Also, would love to see the buttonbands up close too. I hadn’t considered changing them, but yours look great in the photo, so now I’m think about that too…
Really cute sweater — love the buttons! I, too, am making several adjustments to my Martha. I hope mine will turn out even close to how lovely your Martha is!
Oh, Bonne, it’s just fab. You’re amazing with the perfect BMB mods ~ what an inspiration! (I’m blocking my Ribby tomorrow, BTW)
Love your Martha – it looks so great on you! And the buttons make it even more fun.
Very, very nice!! I adore the multi-colored buttons. Good choice!!
It looks great. I think the mods you made make a lot of sense, thanks for sharing that with us. Hopefully, this will kick-start mine into behaving… or at least the knitter into knitting faster! :)
Pretty darn springy! It’s very pretty on you and glad you’re encouraging the deviation from pattern following. Deviation is good, great in your case.
That’s an awfully cute little sweater. Love the buttons!
Looks great. Nice to see one finished to get me inspired. I have everything I need to get started except the time…
Your Martha looks great. Love the Shrek green, the color is so you. The modifications you made definitely work and the sweater looks amazing. I love the buttons too!
It looks fabulous!
Great sweater. I am going to knit it also. You inspired me. And thanks for your notes on the Mods. They are so helpful to us knitters who are still trying to figure out fit and patterns.
Oh girl! It’s GREAT! And the multi-coloured buttons are wonderful.
Another masterpiece. Your work is inspiring! I just love the way you tweak a commercial pattern to fit your unique style. Keep the inspiration coming!!
Cute! Cute! Cute! And it is always instructive to read your mods notes, to remind me that the finished product should fit me, not the pattern :)
Great sweater, you’re just a sweater machine! And a very nice sweater machine at that.
gorgeous! love, love, love the buttons.
Thank you all VERY MUCH! This yarn is luscious – I’ve had it for a long time. I had the back piece knit for a sweater called *Fern* which was going nowhere. So I ripped and now it is @home with Martha :)
(p.s. I’m sooo disappointed that I can’t be tempted to make any more MStewart jokes)
(p.p.s.s. thanks for not mentioning my chunky bed head…)
Your Martha is gorgeous!! I’m a slow knitter and am working on the back. Could you explain the knit-in button band, so I can use it for mine. Again, I just love your sweater. Very inspiring.
I knitted the button band afterwards – just use the stitch count from the pattern. You can make it as wide or narrow as you want by adding or subtracting stitches. Then sew it on using mattress stitch…
Looks great – I love the buttons! I’m knitting Martha, too, although in a light blue – yours inspires me to get mine finished!
Oh, the yellow buttons have to stay! I usually leave my cardis closed and slip them on a la pullovers anyway; mainly becuase I’m incredibly lazy but it also saves wear and tear on the buttonholes.
I love the buttons you used for your Martha! Very springy indeed. Perfect fit too! My Martha is waiting in line (still no beads from Rowan) but I have the same idea about rounding the neckline (face too square also) and it’s great to see one already done so I have an idea of how it would turn out.
thank you so much for the vision!
I am working on the back right now and I cant wait to finish it, hoping that it looks as cute as yours.
Now to think about how I want to modify the neckline. Still learning about that stuff :)
Wow, seems like you just started it and you are done already. I looks great on you! I wanted to make this but couldn’t decide on a size. I’ve read that cotton sweaters should have little to no ease but I can’t make myself believe it. And at that guage, by the time I finished I would just be sick if it didn’t fit. The button popping fit on the models doesn’t help any either. I don’t know if that is how it should fit but it isn’t a good look for me. Yours, however, fits perfectly!