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

Second Sample in the Works

I am now working on the sleeve of the second sample.  Hopefully that will be all the samples I need.  I did find some glitches in the written work, but working a different size and following the pattern very carefully helps.  Then I will try reading it quite a few times.  It is funny, when you calculate the numbers for all the sizes, glitches do show up, also there are typos.

Size 4 worked in Galway Highland Heathers Worsted Weight

MommaBearKnits all day long.

First Sample Finished

The first Sample is finished and is laying outside on a towel, getting dry.  I have already started a second sample in the largest size to check the pattern while knitting it and check that the size works also.

This one is a size 2 worked in Patons Canadiana Yarn.

I must admit that I did not devote all my knitting time to working out this pattern.  It requires concentration and sometime I just like to sit and knit out of my head, so I have completed 2 pair of socks and am almost finished the 3rd pair.  It is summer now so it is too hot for handknit socks but it will be cool again in the fall.  These ones are strictly stash busters.  They will all fit me, so I can keep my feet warm in the fall and winter, while I walk the RusterCruster in the snow, Yuk! did I say SNOW?

Now I must go and knit some more, following the pattern very carefully ------ Then you know what will happen, don't you?

MommaBearKnits around the clock, sitting in my chair, riding in the car, enjoying the outdoors, I still knit all the time. 

Progress Report:

I have finished writing the pattern, at least the first effort.  Now I have to double check everything, before I post the finished product.  I just finished the first sleeve, it is all written out, so I can now, work the second sleeve while checking the written work as well.  Then comes the checking, checking, checking and test knitting. I always do more than one sample in different sizes just to assure the numbers work for all sizes:

It's Name is "Callum"

"Callum"  is kind of complicated, but interesting,  as the cable patterns require lots of attention, but the result pleases me.   I make a great effort to write very detailed instructions,when that is finished the pattern will be posted on  Patternfish.

MommaBearKnits on into the night and all through the next day, every day.

Problem Fixed, Moving On

Yes, the cable error is corrected and it looks fine.  Whew!!!!!
Today, I wrote the Sleeve Instructions and have started knitting the first sleeve.  The good thing about sleeves, is that once you write one the other one is identical.

The Sleeves will have both Cables too.

The sleeves are worked in the Round with double pointed needles.  I am now ready to work them, it shouldn't take too long.  This sample is Size 2, but I will work at least one more of the sizes before I am finished with the Pattern.  It will be called "Callum" and the final sizes are going to be 1, 2, 3 & 4.  It won't necessarily be based on age, as children vary in weight and height so I will recommend that the measurements should be considered also.  When working the Body and the Sleeve lengths it is also possible to knit the Garment and Sleeves longer or shorter depending on height and arm length. That is another good thing about No Sew Knitting.

Until the next time, MommaBearKnits on into the night.

Problems Happen

I was checking the body section for measurements and just admiring it.  Then!!!!! I saw something that set me right off the wire, there was a mistake in one of the cables.  I cannot believe it, I photographed it many times and never saw it, but once it shows up I cannot ignore it, it jumps out at me and I cannot let it go.

Sooooooooo!!!

It was about half way up the body and it stood out big time.  I couldn't let it go, but I also didn't want to re-knit the body.  So I ripped back the cast off row and then I dropped the stitches that contained the cable section.  I ripped it back to the error and corrected it.  That is the first time I fixed that many rows in a cable.

Beginning the Correction

Finished the Correction, it looks good.

The problem for me is, that if I discover an error, every time I look at the garment, the error jumps out at me.  I am happy with the correction.  Errors happen to us all!!!!

Now moving on to the sleeves -------  MommaBearKnits and Designs for Babies and More.

Making Progress

The body and the bottom border is now complete.  The knitting and the writing is right up to date.  I am making progress, although the pattern will be slightly difficult, hopefully I will make sure it is well written and clear with the instructions.  As always, I will be here to help if you need me.

Next the sleeves --------


MommaBearKnits on into the future :)