I’ve been knitting on and off for about 25 years. I’m a little messy at it and have been known to make a sweater and immediately unravel it, wash the yarn to unkink it, and put it away.
I finally found a sweater with directions I thought I could handle. It is knit from the top down, which is my favorite because I don’t have sew anything together! That’s where I’m really messy!
It starts at the neck, you put in markers to indicate sleeve and front/back and then as you knit you make increases. Sometimes for front and back of each marker and sometimes one or the other, and at the same time are adding stitches for something else. All before it’s joined in the round! I had to write out each round on a piece of paper to make sure I got it straight.
What I also love about knitting from the top down is I can accurately determine how long it is in body and arm length. I have the shortest torso and arms around.
It’s funny though, the closer I get to finishing a project the slower I go because I’m afraid it’s going to be crap!
I was really happy when I tried this on after binding off the sleeves and knitting the collar trim. The yarn was a little thick and scratchy but once I washed it (in the machine on hand wash), it really softened up and it stretched a little but measured up pretty good when I set it down to dry.
I’ve started another in a nice dark blue DK yarn that I have a bounty of. I had a sweater in the same yarn but it got a hole and I didn’t know how to mend it so, I threw it out!
I like knitting because it keeps me busy while watching tv.
Thoughts From The Passenger Seat 
This is beautiful! I love that autumnal color and I’m sure the dark blue will be lovely as well. I learned to knit as a child in the 60’s but have never made clothing and my skills are woefully inadequate. Just found a book that covers all the knitting stitches. You practice by making squares of each stitch then can join them into a blanket if you like. I think this will be a great winter project and maybe inspire me to my own sweater some day.
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Thank you! I love the color too and realized it is the color of the leaves on the trees around me.
I think that’s a great way to brush up on your knitting. I have a friend who is doing the same.
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