*another week of furious knitting later* and I’ve made an Icelandic hoodie for Tim, my birthday present to him. He chose the Grein design on p108 of Knitting with Icelandic Wool, the knitting book I bought while in Iceland, but wanted it to be a zip-up hoodie.
I guess I should have seen that coming; a hoodie is far more his thing, and since obviously you want them to want to wear it, I complied. It’s not hard to convert the jumper to a hoodie, but it’s a little bit more work and takes about one extra ball. The hoodie is still knitted in one piece like Sam’s jumper with two short grafted seams underneath each armhole. However, instead of knitting in the round I just split the front in two, continued knitting on for the hood, and afterwards neatened up the opening front edges with one row of single crochet. Finally I sewed in an open ended zip (Spotlight) by machine. Which means yes, unlike Sam’s jumper which was mostly a blissfully heavenly affair of mindless non-stop knitting, in this case I had to turn around and do purl rows as well. Not quite as quick and mindless as knitting in the round, something I find to be an enjoyably zen-like meditative exercise. I had to actually think about it, harrumph…
The book doesn’t have any adult sized hoodies that I could use the pattern for – and can I just say, what were they thinking?! – so in consultation with Craig’s Icelandic hoodie that we bought over there I knitted Tim’s the following way:
After finishing the yoke pattern and before knitting the neck hole ribbing, you have 72 st on the needle and wrong side facing…
change to 4.5mm needle, P one row, inc 1 st in centre of row (73 st)
(K1 P1) repeat until last st, K1
(P1 K1) repeat until last st, P1
rep last 2 rows once (4 rows of ribbing)
change to 6mm needle;
(P1 K1) twice, P1, K to last 5 st, (P1 K1) twice, P1
(P1 K1) twice, P1, P to last 5 st, (P1 K1) twice, P1
rep last 2 rows until work measures 35cm from last rib row
divide row in half, fold halves wrong sides together, and graft stitches together.
This gives you a plain stocking stitch hood with a wide moss stitch border.
I used Alafoss Lopi, in the colours, from left:
indigo (9959), light indigo (9958), light denim heather (0008), ecru heather (9972) and black heather (0005).
Actually, using that ecru heather, a leftover from Sam’s jumper, was a punt. The white-ish parts of this jumper were supposed to be ash heather, a pale grey, however I ended up having to use most of the that ball for Sam’s jumper. And since I ended up with more of the ecru heather leftover than I did of the ash heather, I used that, hoping that there might be enough to do the pattern in this jumper. The gods were smiling upon me, because there was, just enough!
Funny barely amusing story; the night I was getting close to the end of the ecru heather strip I stayed up til, like 12.30 or 1am or something crazy like that, knitting like a mad thing, because I just could not stand the suspense; would I have enough of the ecru heather, or would I not?? I HAD to know!!
The relief when I did was, er, palpable.
Yeah, my life is filled with gripping moments like that 😉
And now, well! I only finished the hoodie today and I’m actually dying to leap straight into a new knitting project, like, right now! start a rather special new design that I came across recently.
But my wrists are aching. 🙁
Maybe a little break is in order .
Eine wunderschöne Jacke! Die könnte ich mir auch gut für meinen Sohn vorstellen. Allerdings hätte ich Sorge, dass der Reißverschluss mit der Zeit Beulen wirft. Liebe Grüße, Claudia.
You must be a really experienced knitter to get this done in a week! I'm so impressed (with the finished product – I'm afraid all those knitting notes mean nothing to me!).
That's really beautiful!!! You can also knit in the round and steek the piece if you want to divide into two – with Icelandic wool you would probably not have any unraveling. Regardless, what a lovely gift!
yes, the book does tell you to do it that way too, but I just could not! The thought of taking the scissors and cutting right up the middle of a hand-knit, I just do not have that courage!!
Gorgeous sweater.
I, too, am freaked out about the thought of cutting into a handknit. But, I vow to try it soon. I gave away my heavy handknits when I left CO last time. Now, I need some more.
wow that is gorgeous. I am in awe of you knitters and your skills. And I had to laugh about the "gripping moment" after midnight. Oh, I know the feeling, the triumph of a sewing success that only matters to me…..love that feeling. You are almost tempting me to try knitting again. Colors are fantastic.
Your wrists must be hurting after all that! This is beautiful, I love the colors and the way they work together in the pattern. What fantastic souvenirs!
Lovely work! I find that when I am running out of yarn I start to knit faster – so silly!
Your productivity if simply mind boggling to me! Great hoodie for your son. It's so nice they will wear what you make them.
Lovely jacket. Thank God I'm not the only person who experiences "gripping moments" it has to be done, or I would lay awake wondering. I remember when Icelandic jumpers were the rage in the 80's, I still like them. they have a cosy appeal.
Love hoodies. Lookin cool Tim, good choice, this would cost $$$ if you bought it. Bow down to your mum.
Tim your hoodie looks amazing and your Mum has done an absolutely fantastic job in knitting this so quick and customising it to your wishes. Watch out for the pin and needles in the hands as well, this is what happens to me when I get too carried away with my knitting!
Oooh! Another wonderful colorway – I love the unique style so that each one of your sons gets just what he wants…they'll make a great group photo too!
What a wonderful knit! Now we need to pray for freezing weather 🙂 I think the colours are wonderful and your tinkering with the pattern is inspired. Fabulous!
Knitting so much that you have aching wrists is something that I have never experienced! I just completed my first cardigan (OK, it was like 3 weeks ago now), and still don't have photos!. This hoodie is just gorgeous, and something that I can only dream about completing (especially in so short a time!)
Wow, another impressive bit of Icelandic knitting. Once again, I am utterly in awe of your knitting skills.
Be sure to give your wrists some rest though. RSI-type issues can be really nasty.
What a fantastic hoodie – I love it. As you say, a challenge making it to the exacting specifications, but you did a wonderful job. And two jumpers in a row – and not long back with the yarn.
P.S. I can quite understand why you had to know….the sort of thing we sewers and knitters do, I suspect. Take care with the wrists.
Holy monkey hats, Carolyn! This is awesome- what a gift! You are one talented crafty lady 😀
Cool x I have just found that jeans pattern and am going to give them a go. Jo x
WOW! Impressive job …….and in so short a time! I hope your children appreciate your feat!
Another impressive knit. The colours are a fabulous combination. I laughed at your late night knitting adventure -I have had a few gripping moments like that myself 😉
Snap! My brother has a jumper very similar to that one. In shades of blue too. My sister went to Iceland um, *thinks* maybe 10 yrs ago now, and she bought Icelandic wool in shades of blue, and a pattern for the jumper very similar to that one, then sent it off to mum, here in Darwin, for her to knit for my brother in northern Italy.
So similar! Very kewl jumpers! I know what my mother would say. 'Great minds think alike' 🙂
Very funny about the late night knitting. The suspense! And some people reckon handicrafts are boring?
Love the colours! I am most impressed with how quickly you seem to churn them out!
Wow, it's beautiful! Such pretty colours. 🙂 And I can't get over how fast you can knit…
Wow, what an impressive knit! I love the design and colours you chose.. And you are a fast knitter!
I am such a handsome devil! Let’s not get stuck on the fact that my poses are so unnatural! 🙂