Knitting sweaters with custom design

 On Sundays I received a newsletter from the yarn shop Harps and Thistles.  Judy almost has something of interest in her newsletter.  She has a feature called Ask Hank that often has a tip of interest to me.  This week a reader asked Hank about changing a neckline so it fits more closely and is higher.  Hank replied that he suggested using Elizabeth Zimmerman's system EPS (Elizabeth's Percentage System)

And then Hank suggested reading the following article:

https://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/FEATknitbynumbers.html?utm_source=Customers&utm_campaign=96f9035d1e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_04_05_02_38_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e25910db8b-96f9035d1e-508883713&mc_cid=96f9035d1e&mc_eid=178c0f918a

and the article in the newsletter ends with:

If you're not up for knitting an entire EPS sweater, then the pattern tells us that a close-ish fitting neckline is about 45% of the chest measurement. Find the total number of stitches around the chest, and figure 45% of those stitches. This is your target for the neckline. You can make adjustments to your pattern based on that number. This percentage can be translated into nearly any style of sweater where you want to change the neckline.

As You Wish: An unconceivable MKL byMary Annarella

I can not help it!  It is an addiction!  I wanted to wait …but then the colors I want might be gone….and you know how I feel about Miss Babs!  And I just finished the Snark O Meter.  All except putting the fringe on. And so I just pushed purchase…..the new Avon yarn in the colorway:  Prepare to Die

Mary Annarella (of The Knights Who Say Knit fame) is bringing us yet another fun and beautiful MKAL. 

So here is the story.  And it seems it is often my story ....that one thing happening in my life connects to another  thing in my life in a coincidental way.  I was reading the King Arthur trilogy written by Mary Stewart.  I started it at Christmas when I needed a book that was purely entertainment.  So I had knights and battles and Kings and Princesses and high adventure on my mind.

I finished my snark o meter and blocked it and began to think about my next knitting project.  Absolutely I would knit something that uses yarn from my stash!  And then I received the e-mail from Miss Babs about As you Wish. 

The designer of As You Wish, Mary Annarella,  had a MKAL recently called The Knights Who Say Knit.  Dar says that this is a reference to Monty Pythons Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975).

Mary Annarella  says this about the last MKAL:

The Mystery Knit-A-Long that is not dead yet!

I seek the finest and silliest knitters to join me in a this quest for the grail! You have proven yourself worthy--Will you join us? There will be coconuts! Unladen swallows! And you must bring us….a SHRUBBERY! 

And about this newest project she says:

This pattern (including the Prologue above...) is an homage to The Princess Bride, which was based on William Goldman’s book of the same title (which in turn was based on S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure). The film is a true classic

 How can I miss the opportunity to do the MKAL, read the book, and watch the movie again one more time?  TOO much fun!  Could not help myself!

I am writing again on Feb 21 as the first clue will drop tomorrow morning.  I am READY!   

I wound the balls over the weekend!  I have chosen the red as C1, the grey/blue as C2, the Gold as C3 and the Light grey as C4.

I can hardly wait!

I enthusiastically started this wrap....and after a few days decided I was not interested in continuing.  So this yarn should be around for another project.  Pretty colors!

The bias rectangular shawl

 Knit stars sent an e-mail today in which was embedded a video made by Ambah O’Brien.  It takes many years to figure out which items one is most likely to wear.  By chance I had begun to think that my own favorite style was a bias rectangular shawl  So I took a few screen shots of Ambah wearing her creation:

A hat that fits

 I receive the newsletter from the knitting shop in Cuyago Falls Ohio.  Cindy is the shop owner and the person who puts the newsletter together.  This week the bottom of the newsletter had a Ask Hank article that I found of great interest.  I often felt that I did not want to start a hat because I worried that the hat would not fit the person for whom I was knitting this hat for.  But here is the answer on how to knit a hat that will fit.