Showing posts with label robin hood jacket. Show all posts
Showing posts with label robin hood jacket. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Robin Hood Jacket

About a year ago I cast on the Robin Hood Jacket from Zoe Mellor's Adorable Knits for Tots.  I knit this pattern a few years ago for a friend's new baby and really enjoyed it.  I always knew I wanted one for Lil' Hoot but thought I'd make it in a larger toddler size so (hopefully) she can wear it longer.

What I didn't like about the pattern is that all the pieces are knit separately and then seamed together.  I thought I'd just go ahead and knit the fronts along with the back and leave arm holes when I got to that point.  Good idea, in theory.  It turns out I didn't leave a big enough space for the arm holes, so when I realized I couldn't fix it, I did what every frustrated knitter does...I shoved it in the closet for awhile until finally ripping it all out to start over.  By that time it was well into fall and there was no way I was going to get it finished.

So this Spring when the first trimester exhaustion peaked and all I could do at night was sit and watch tv, I cast on for a new RHJ in a much larger size.  I decided, in my tired state, I should follow the pattern to the letter.  It worked out much better...except...despite being on gauge and knitting a larger size, the sleeves seem to be a bit tight, somewhat remarkable considering my skinny child.  Blocking works wonders though and her sweater is all set for fall...almost...

As you can see, it still needs buttons.  It's not for lack of trying though, I just haven't found the right buttons yet.  I hereby publicly declare to find them, buy them and get them sewn on before fall (if it ever comes).

Robin Hood Jacket Back
Robin Hood Jacket Front

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Robin Hood Jacket

While on our mini-vacation to visit friends and family in Iowa I made sure we stopped at my favorite local yarn shop (LYS), Crazy Girl Yarn Shop in Coralville, IA. I am late to start Lil Hoot's fall/spring sweater so I wanted to take advantage of our drive time to start knitting. A couple years back I knitted the Robin Hood Jacket (from Adorable Knits for Tots by Zoe Mellor) for a friend's baby and knew that I wanted that sweater for my own kiddo, so that's what I'm working on now.

I chose Cascade Superwash 220 rather than the cotton yarn I used previously. I wanted something with more structure to it, the cotton knit up quite limp, but I still wanted it to be washable and, of course, soft. After wearing a sweater of my own knit from the Superwash, I decided it was the right yarn for this project. So far, I'm really digging the color and the yarn. Based on my last knit of this sweater as well as some swatching, I found that I had to go way down on the needle size or I end up with a rather large sweater. I also chose not to knit each piece separately, and I'm contemplating knitting the sleeves in the round too. There was just way too much seaming in the original pattern.

I'm about 2/3 of the way done...or so I choose to believe.
Don't look too closely or you will notice some mistakes within the cables. When last I knit this pattern I kept meticulous notes...not this time. For one thing, it's impossible to keep a paper and pencil at the ready for marking without Lil Hoot stealing it. For another, it's impossible to just keep the pattern out without her stealing it. So I memorized the pattern as best I could and just took off knitting. It felt good to click the needles again, there's something so soothing for me in the repetition of the stitches.