I have all kinds of socks and hats and scarves knit for Christmas-even a tree skirt! But I wanted to make a sweater. Between my classes and work, I don't have the time to design a sweater before the finger itch becomes unbearable. SO I started....something. It can be adapted into a sweater, or a cape, or a poncho, or...any number of things. I'll edit this post as I create it.
I grabbed some worsted weight yarn that I've had stashed for years and a size 7 needle. Any gauge works, don't you dare knit a gauge swatch! You will get your gauge from the knitted back of the Mystery Object. To begin the back of the Mindless Mystery....
Cable cast on 9 stitches.
Every Row: Slip 1, knit 2, yarn over, knit one, yarn over, knit one
After that start, either knit the rest of the row or purl up to the last stitch, then knit that stitch. I'm starting out in Stockinette Stitch, but don't feel bound to one or the other. Switch in the middle of a row if you get bored, give the thing some texture! Have fun! No rules!!
I'm going to keep going until I reach the point where my Mindless Mystery reaches my shoulder width, then measure my gauge and decide what to do next. Stay tuned! I'll offer ideas of where to go next with the pattern if you decide you want to make something other than what I decide to make.
Happy Stitching!
Elizabeth
FIRST EDIT!
To make a cape or poncho, carry on until you've reached the size you want the back to be, then bind off. The front will be in one piece if you want to make a poncho, and in 2 if you make a cape. I'm still playing with different necklines, because I want it to look cool as well as be pretty easy.
IF you want to make a sweater, at some point, measure your gauge. (this is where it ceases to be a true Mindless Knit, but it's still none too heavy on the brain cells) Mine is 20 sts=4" and 14 rows = 1.56". Plug your gauge and your measurements into
http://knittingfool.com/SweaterPatterns/TopDownRaglanPullover.aspx
Ignore most of the instructions, what you're looking for is how many stitches it is for your front/back and sleeves. Mine says: 102 stitches between markers for the Front/Back, and 86 stitches between markers for sleeves. This is true only for the entire sweater in the round. I will want to stop when I reach 43/102/43. But who wants to count that high? Instead, when I was just finishing with the Gray Yarn, before changing to Blue Yarn, I counted down 10 stitches from the end, placed a lockable stitch marker, then counted 10 stitches from the other end and placed a stitch marker. I counted between the markers: 46 stitches. Now, every time I feel like it, I move both markers out the same number of stitches (like, 10 at a time ish) until I reach 102 stitches between the markers. Then I only need to count the number of stitches for the sleeves.
Before you move on, also note down the number of stitches that the instructions suggest for the final cuff, and the number/frequency of decreases.
Mine suggests the cuff be 38 stitches around and to decrease every 7 rows/rounds. So the suggested beginning stitch number for the sleeves is 86+3(for under the arm). 89-38=51, so I will be decreasing 25 times if I go along with the pattern. Good to know.
One other thing you can choose to do! I'm beginning a double basketweave stitch pattern at this point because I want the sweater to cling. The way I'm doing it is to start the pattern at one of the stitch markers, and then stay in pattern until the last stitch. Then "read" the pattern going back and keep going until I reach the end. You can choose to do this with any knit/purl pattern that maintains stitch count.
Funfunfunfunfun...
I grabbed some worsted weight yarn that I've had stashed for years and a size 7 needle. Any gauge works, don't you dare knit a gauge swatch! You will get your gauge from the knitted back of the Mystery Object. To begin the back of the Mindless Mystery....
Cable cast on 9 stitches.
Every Row: Slip 1, knit 2, yarn over, knit one, yarn over, knit one
After that start, either knit the rest of the row or purl up to the last stitch, then knit that stitch. I'm starting out in Stockinette Stitch, but don't feel bound to one or the other. Switch in the middle of a row if you get bored, give the thing some texture! Have fun! No rules!!
I'm going to keep going until I reach the point where my Mindless Mystery reaches my shoulder width, then measure my gauge and decide what to do next. Stay tuned! I'll offer ideas of where to go next with the pattern if you decide you want to make something other than what I decide to make.
Happy Stitching!
Elizabeth
FIRST EDIT!
To make a cape or poncho, carry on until you've reached the size you want the back to be, then bind off. The front will be in one piece if you want to make a poncho, and in 2 if you make a cape. I'm still playing with different necklines, because I want it to look cool as well as be pretty easy.
IF you want to make a sweater, at some point, measure your gauge. (this is where it ceases to be a true Mindless Knit, but it's still none too heavy on the brain cells) Mine is 20 sts=4" and 14 rows = 1.56". Plug your gauge and your measurements into
http://knittingfool.com/SweaterPatterns/TopDownRaglanPullover.aspx
Ignore most of the instructions, what you're looking for is how many stitches it is for your front/back and sleeves. Mine says: 102 stitches between markers for the Front/Back, and 86 stitches between markers for sleeves. This is true only for the entire sweater in the round. I will want to stop when I reach 43/102/43. But who wants to count that high? Instead, when I was just finishing with the Gray Yarn, before changing to Blue Yarn, I counted down 10 stitches from the end, placed a lockable stitch marker, then counted 10 stitches from the other end and placed a stitch marker. I counted between the markers: 46 stitches. Now, every time I feel like it, I move both markers out the same number of stitches (like, 10 at a time ish) until I reach 102 stitches between the markers. Then I only need to count the number of stitches for the sleeves.
Before you move on, also note down the number of stitches that the instructions suggest for the final cuff, and the number/frequency of decreases.
Mine suggests the cuff be 38 stitches around and to decrease every 7 rows/rounds. So the suggested beginning stitch number for the sleeves is 86+3(for under the arm). 89-38=51, so I will be decreasing 25 times if I go along with the pattern. Good to know.
One other thing you can choose to do! I'm beginning a double basketweave stitch pattern at this point because I want the sweater to cling. The way I'm doing it is to start the pattern at one of the stitch markers, and then stay in pattern until the last stitch. Then "read" the pattern going back and keep going until I reach the end. You can choose to do this with any knit/purl pattern that maintains stitch count.
Funfunfunfunfun...
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