Getting Set Up for the Callum KAL

My group "Knitting for Babies" on Ravelry will begin the Callum KAL Monday July 2, 2012.

I will also post progress reports here on my Blog.  Keep in Touch.

MommaBearKnits and Designs for Babies and More.

Butterscotch is my Mentor

MommaBearKnits and Designs for Babies and Teddy Bears too.

MommaBear Continues to knit and design

Callum is available on line.  Starting July 2, 2012 I am going to work a Callum KAL with members of my group on Ravelry.  It is little bit complicated so I will work with knitters during the KAL to help and to answer questions.  Once you have knit it once, hopefully, you will do it again and again.  I love multidirectional no-sew knitting.

Now I am finishing a Basic Cardigan that I have been working on for a long time.  Finally decided to get it out there. It is a simple basic cardigan, worked from the top down.  It is in 6 sizes, newborn to 3 years.  The neckband is worked with short rows to raise the back of the neck.  It is basic, and will work well in any colour, varigated, or self patterning yarn.  Experienced knitters may be inclined to add some pattern to spruce it up, perhaps a panel pattern, stripes, or lace, who knows.

I just need one more picture and it will be posted.

Callum modelled Size 2

Butterscotch modelled the Newborn Size

Callum #12-012

Callum is ready to be up and running.  I will post it on Patternfish tomorrow morning.

I love Cables, Callum, No Sew Knitting, Multidirectional Knitting and Designing.  Callum is a very handsome young man.

Callum is Finished

We took photos of Callum wearing Callum yesterday afternoon.  I now have to finish the Front Page of the Pattern and send it off to Patternfish.  I am still waiting for the photos from his Mom's camera to make the final selection.  He is an Awesome boy.  He is 13 months old and is an active, confident young man.  He loves the outdoors and runs, climbs and keeps Mom and Dad very busy.

The picture above is the size 1 yr for the photo, it wouldn't fit him this fall when it starts to get colder.  He will enjoy wearing the sizes 2 yrs when he is out in the great outdoors this fall.  Right now it is a little large but he will grow.

I couldn't believe it, he stood up on a pile of wood and was completely balanced.  He is a very active little man.  This one below is a sample of my Basic Cardigan, that I will post on Patternfish soon too.

I am a man!!!

MommaBearKnits and enjoys it totally.

The Reason I Designed Callum

I have preferences and sometimes it is very complicated to meet all the criteria in one garment.  Callum met them all, big time.  First, I am a No Sew Knitter, I love Multi-Directional methods, I love Top Down, I love Cables, and most of all I have never been pleased with working a pullover neckband larger to make it comfortable for wee ones to have it pulled over their head; babies and toddlers sometimes panic when that happens; I do not like them to be buttoned up at the shoulder to make it easier to dress them; also I don’t want to always design cardigans to solve the neckband problem.  I think babies and toddlers deserve to dress in all styles like everybody else.

My first step to solve my concerns was the Neckband.  After all the neckband is the first step in Top Downs.  I began the neckband with a Provisional Cast On, the problem with that cast on method is that it is easy to knit, but complicated to write the written instructions.  When the neckband is completed both ends of the work are folded over and knit together, that eliminates the normal Cast On that is never stretchy enough.  Problem solved, this neckband is very stretchy and it fits comfortably around the neck when being worn.   

 Next, I had to work more than one cable pattern side by side, that meant that both patterns had to have compatible rows, the main one was a multiple of 16 rows and the side cables were a multiple of 4 rows.  That works because the 4 rows are worked 4 times while the main one is worked once.  Both patterns have to be either equal or a number of repeats of one to equal the other.

Then I had to design the Multidirectional panels.  Because this was going to be a long journey, I managed to work the Centre Back Panel and both the Shoulder Panels with the same number of stitches, that meant that all of them could be worked with the same pattern instructions. That cut down quite a bit of writing and confusion for the knitters who choose to knit Callum, hopefully many knitters will. I do try to make my patterns very detailed but with very clear instructions.  Next the front and back yoke panels were both worked from the same pattern instructions except for the set up rows.

Then working the body and the sleeves required the cable patterns to be adjusted to accommodate the “Worked in the Round” method. 

 I totally enjoyed designing this pattern as it met all my criteria and kept me busy for a long time, no problem, I am retired, after all. 

MommaBearKnits and Designs, in all directions of the compass and she refuses to sew up even one seam.  

Keep in touch ---- MBK