one down - one more to go

My husband's hoody is finished and I am really proud about how it turned out.

Now it's on to my hoody.

The plan was layed-out months ago, on my visit to Germany.

Step one, buttons:

The PhildarWolle store near my mother's home always has great buttons and I found the perfect 'red' set.   picture of the 6 red buttons

Step two, shoes:

Yes, please don't laugh. The right shoes did come next. I saw them in the window of our new Adams Ave. shoe store and knew they were 'it'. The perfect pair.

Step three, finish the previous project:

I am glad it is done and extremely excited to be able to do the next step.

Step four, yarn shopping:

My husband agreed to go with me. I am not sure if he actually regretted that decision because it took me 4 yarn stores and almost 100 miles until I found the perfect yarn.

Seta Tweed, raspberry color from Lang Yarns. It is made out of 75% silk and 25% cotton. Super light, 100 meters only weigh 25 grams. Half the normal weight. Super soft, as you can imagine.

Step five, designing the look:

What will the finished hoody look like? I did not know but I was certain that I have not found the right pattern and it was up to my creative side to let loose and create it.

As you can see it will be a "kimono - style" hoody. All the edges will be straight. That will enhance the straight cable pattern. The front diamond design will continue on to build the edge of the hood. I think this will work.

Step six, knit a trial section to determine gauge:

I did try different diamond sizes and settled on the smaller, 8 stitches inside. The gauge with needles size 3,75 (German) size 5 US. turned out to be 19 stitches and 30 rows.

Step seven, size the finished garment:

It was time to measure how wide I wanted (needed) the finished hoody to be to fit me. I pulled out my measuring tape and measured hip ( 46 ) and bust ( 46 ) inches. Remembering that the garment will be straight, so it has to fit both wide areas comfortably. 50 inches all the way around will generate a loose fitting jacket. So that was that.

Step eight, calculate the cast on stitches:

Here, as always, I wrote out the pattern number of stitches to be sure the idea in my mind translated correctly. The first section to knit will be the right front. Considering 50 inches all the way around will require one quarter, or 12.5 inches for one front panel. Because I will also add a small button band later I had to make the cast on number for only 12 inches. from the gauge 19 stitches on 4 inches = 4.75 stitches per inch, which calculates to 57 (4.75 times 12) stitches for 12 inches.

Step nine, write out the pattern

from left to right: 1 edge stitch, 2 knit, 5 snake pattern, 3 knit, 5 snake, 3 knit, 5 snake, 3 knit, 5 snake, 3 knit, 5 snake, 2 knit, 14 diamond, 2 knit, 1 edge stitch = 59  Perfect. Lets GO!

Step ten, knit the right front panel

I think it turned out just like I knew it would, it is light and soft and 'very red'.

Step eleven, knit the left front panel

Here I had to let my creative side interject a little. Even though I knew what to do, my inner voice said: "Wait a minute, think this through"! the other side will have to have the designs go the other way. The diamonds are crossing over opposite and the snake pattern is starting by going into the opposite direction as well. So even the starting ribbon section needed to go the opposite way. Thank you Intuition, I could not do it without you!

I promise that this time I will write down the pattern. I have already approached my husband with the task of designing the Yarn-Stube logo for the page I will need to generate a professional looking pattern. Free or for sale on ravelry - I am not so sure yet.