Tubey Knit-Along

Tubey!

2007-12-28T08:26:00.001-08:00

I don't know how I forgot to post this here, but I finished my Tubey back in March!

Cross-posted from my blog:

Tubey #2

The name is inaccurate because, while this is the second Tubey I started, it's the first one I finished.
Stats:
Yarn: Karabella Aurora 8 (sorry, I forget how many skeins)
Size: Small, and I probably should have gone with a medium, but even though it's very clingy, I still love it. I just block it a little wider when I'm going to wear it to work. (UPDATE 9/5/07: small turned out to be a good thing - I've lost a fair bit of weight since I made this, and Tubeys need to be form-fitting.)
Needles: Swallow casein dpns and Denise casein circulars (size 6 or 7)
Gauge: 20 st./4in. The row gauge changed considerably (13%) between the two needle types.

I changed the color combination twice AFTER I started knitting, which involved several froggings of most of the torso section, and a secret-ninja cut-and-graft on the elbows. (I must have knitted 2-2.5 times the surface area of the sweater in the process.)

This is also the first sweater I've made that has my husband's raving approval; in his words: "I'd buy this one for you in a store".

Like a lot of what I've knitted, this sweater is closely associated with certain points in time. I cast on the weekend I decided to quit my job (back in September), knitted most of the shrug section during the particularly stressful last few weeks of my time there, and then finished it in the month-long, at-home vacation I took to recover after I quit.

Lessons learned on this project:
- just because the colors look good in a heap doesn't mean they'll look good in stripes: stack the balls in the stripe order you have in mind to make sure the transitions don't look wierd
- a sweater that looks fitted on someone with a smaller bust-to-waist ratio will look clingy on me, even when we have the same bust measurements
- clingy can still be really flattering
- check your row gauge on BOTH needle types
- Aurora 8 stands up remarkably well to frogging, but doesn't like a lot of friction in the knitted fabric

Ok Here they are!

2006-05-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

Both dog and human tubeys were made with Filatura di Crosa's Zara merino using US8 needles. As you can see, Lola is very comfortable in her dog tubey.

Mine tends to bunch up on the sides---it seems like this could be fixed with better blocking. Any tips? This is my first human-sized sweater, and I don't have much blocking experience either.

Done--photos to come soon

2006-05-24T21:15:00.000-07:00

I finished my tubey over a month ago..since it's just boring black and doesn't look all that great on me, I decided to make a more colorful one for my dog, which I finished last week (it came out ok, but I feel like it needs some adjustments).
Anyway, I'm hoping that posting this now will motivate me to take photos and post them by this weekend.
So, coming soon........

Tubey in progress

2006-05-11T04:28:00.000-07:00

Work in progress. I seem to have got the idea (finally!) of how the 2 circs magic loop method works - and although it's a little bit slow, at least I don't feel like I'm trying to knit with a hedgehog. I am making some changes to the original pattern. The sleeves are being worked in the main 3x1 rib pattern (hope this should take care of the slightly flabby upper arm problem!) to about 3 inches below the elbow. I then plan to taper some of the ribs down to 1 stitch wide on the underarm side of the sleeve (so some decreasing to do), and will then change to 1x1 rib for the final part. I need to find out how to do tubular (sewn) cast-off, and this is an ideal project to try it on. (Fortunately, the Vogue Knitting encyclopaedia I picked up the other day seems to have some good diagrams for this). I also plan to use tubular cast-on (it's in Montse Stanley's book, cast on 1 k-wise, cast on 1 p-wise, repeat for number of stitches needed, and then work 2 rows in k1, yf, slip 1, yb) for the main body, and finish the bottom in 1 or 2 rows of 1x1 rib, and tubular cast off as for the sleeves. On the main body, I am going to use these lovely purple yarns from Texere, knitted in with the main yarn.

Tubey finished!

2006-04-26T10:06:00.000-07:00

Finished Tubey last night, after going with the Decrease Cast Off. I LOVE this jumper! It was a quick (can't remember when I started it, but about a month ago & I've done other things too in the meantime) pattern and FUN!

I haven't really got wonky shoulders, we just had trouble getting a pic taken cos the light was all weird. Tubey is also not good for keeping sore throats warm and covered up so she's gone back to sleep for when I'm feeling better.
Vital Statistics:
Pattern: Tubey, by Cassie Rovitti.
Size: XS.
Needles: 4mm (had to go down 2 sizes to get gauge).
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran - 7 balls black (shade 300), 1 ball each of mauve (601) and rust (007) and 1/2 a ball of green (502).
Still undecided about the bra issue with this jumper. Maybe strapless is the way to go? Or braless?!

Please can I have a star now for finishing it?!

Finished Tubey!

2006-04-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

Yay! Tubey is off the needles and turned out really cute. Pics to follow (eventually!)

Cast off for Tubey?

2006-04-25T05:06:00.000-07:00

Well, as you can see, I've nearly finished the body of Tubey. I LOVE this pattern, especially being able to try it on as I go! It's the first no-sewing up jumper I've made!
Anyway, I was wondering how other people had cast off their Tubeys? Did you just use a normal chain cast off or did you use something special to take into account the ribbing? I looked in my Handknitter's Handbook (Montse Stanley) and thought maybe the Decrease Cast off, which I've used for another ribbing cast off with success. Any thoughts?

My Tubey is done!

2006-04-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

I couldn't get a modelled pic because I couldn't manage to take a picture of myself while wearing it. ;) It looks pretty good, though!

Finally...

2006-04-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

after starting to think about it in December, I've started Tubey! The shrug part is finished and I love the stripes! I've just done the picking up stitches so just have the body ribbing to go now! I love this pattern so far.

I'm using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, the main colour is black, and the contrasts are mauve, red/orange and green.

Tubular!

2006-04-14T05:21:00.000-07:00

I did it! I made my very own sweater. My first sweater. Yay me!

Ok, granted, I made it just in time for the warm weather, but hey... I made it!

It was so easy and something nice to make when you did not want to "think" about your project. Knit 3, Purl 1 can be a nice thing. There is only one thing that I don't like, and that is that the part around the neck can be a little bit scratchy. I am sure I can deal with it, though.

Have I mentioned how excited I am that I did this?! Oh yea... and I made it only with yarn in my stash!

Pattern: Tubey from Knitty
Yarn: Cascade 220, Knit Picks Andean Silk, and Elann's Highland Wool

I love my Tubey!

2006-04-09T15:46:00.000-07:00

PurlyQueen again here!
This is destined to be one of my favourite items of clothing. I adore the fit, the cashmere/lambswool yarn and I feel like a 50s movie star in this.
This knitalong group has been invaluable. Firstly, because I noticed that a lot of people had problems with the sizing - so I made the smallest size and figured that I could either block it if it didn't fit or give it to my sister.
I am what you might call 'super curvy' - my dress size on top is a UK18 (US14) and the smallest size fits me beautifully without the ribbing stretching too much. Knitting with a very springy yarn helped as well. If I decided to make this in a less flexible fibre such as cotton or a linen blend, I would have gone for a bigger size.
Initially, the sleeve tube gaped too much, so I sewed up the sleeves using mattress stitch so that I would not have to expose my wobbly upper arms to the whole world. Once I was happy with the arms, I then picked up the stitches for the body. I have posted lots of other photos and Tubey thoughts on my blog.
Happy knitting!

Done and I Love It!

2006-04-04T22:35:00.000-07:00

I finished my Tubey, tried it on, immediately loved it, and kept loving it through two whole days of wear. That's a new thing for me. More details on my blog, but in the meantime...Yay!

I am a slug.

2006-04-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

I haven't started on Tubey number 2 yet - due to a grinding work schedule and being too sick to do much of anything this weekend besides oooze into the couch, watching "Wallace and Gromit" and struggling to breathe.

My pile of yarn seems to speak to me: "You could have let me go to a good home - now I'm stuck in this bag and I'm lonely. I hate you."

Oh, Tubey - hopefully I'll be able to start you soon.

Second thoughts on Tubey

2006-04-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

As the problem with my tubey primarily was that it was too big, I'm now considering felting it a little. Will I dare? To be continued...

Tubey as finished as it'll ever be

2006-03-31T05:41:00.000-08:00

I've finished my Tubey but am not happy with it at all. The shape of it just doesn't go with my body, probably I did it too large even though I used the measuring advice and did a size smaller than I usually do. More reasons to unravel the whole thing are found in my blog. There is another picture too.

Does knitting the whole thing and unravelling it again qualify for a gold star?

It's one hour from done...

2006-03-28T13:38:00.000-08:00

I'm posting here in order to shame myself into weaving in the ends and tightening up the neckline tonight. I finished the whole thing a week and a half ago, but haven't taken care of the ends or taken a picture of the completed garment. I want to figure out some way of stiffening up the neckline a little bit. You might not be able to see it in this picture, but the ribbing's rolling out a little bit.

I thought about the "Hello, ladies!" potential for the stripes, so I put that dark stripe in there so that it straddles the underwire area. I'm hoping for two things -- one, no undue attention drawn to the...um...nippular region and two, maybe the illusion that my ribcage is narrower than it actually is. We'll see if it works.

All done with the lifesaver roll tubey!

2006-03-28T11:38:00.000-08:00

I finally finished Tubey this past weekend. Actually, I finished the knitting last week, but procrastinated for a bit of time on weaving in the ends.

I made the smallest size (first time ever for that) and used the following colors/amounts of yarn:

Mission Falls 1824 Wool
6 balls Charcoal
under 2 balls Rhubarb
under 2 balls Basil
less than 1 ball each of Damson, Squash, and Lilac

I finished it just in time to wear it once, but I doubt I'll get to again before the weather warms up. It's a great project though -- I really enjoyed the ingenious construction.

More photos and commentary on my own blog post.

Too Boobey for Tubey!

2006-03-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

*Sigh*. I love this sweater - great pattern. However, a shrinking gauge and optical illusions make for *ahem* a voluptuous sweater, but not in a good way!

Details and pics over on my blog. Note: somewhat adult language is used!

Will definitely cast on for this sweater again!

Have a great weekend folks!

Would you hurry it up!?

2006-03-24T09:58:00.000-08:00

Dear Tubey,

I know you love me making you. I know you love to feel my hands as the yarn slips through them to knit you, but it's supposed to get chilly here this weekend and there's only about 2 inches left before I'm done knitting you, so could you please move it along??? It seems like these last 2 inches just don't want to be knit and I'm really looking forward to wearing you this weekend as the last cold front of the season moves in. I doubt it'll be cold in Miami again, and I'd like you to be the last sweater I wear while I still can!

Your loving knitter,
Lissette

Andean silk or Aurora 8?

2006-03-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

Hi all! Newbie - my first knit-a-long, and my first foray into blogging as well (seeing as i haven't even posted anything on mine yet, it's not really a foray...yet). I have been eyeing this sweater for a few months and even bought a stash of yarn for it - Andean Silk by knitpicks. I'm trying to determine the wisdom of this yarn choice, as I have knit two hats with it and it seems to lose some shape and get quite a halo. The halo I can deal with - "it's fuzzy on purpose! it's part of the design, duh"! - but if it stretches our permanently or looks like crap at the end of the day, then I may just try to ebay the stash or use it for something else. I'm so OCD, I have so much yarn, it's scary, esp. since I have been knitting only since December. Anyway, would love to hear some comments. I plan on starting this soon and make it a summer project that I don't need to rush on.

Gold Star for Karen!

2006-03-15T08:18:00.000-08:00

I finished my Tubey last week while visting my Mom in Anaheim. Thanks for all of the encouragement; I've really enjoyed this knit-along. I loved Carrie's sister's sweater so much, I decided that I wanted a purple Tubey. The only change to the pattern I made was in the sleeves, mine are fitted with a seed stich edging. Good luck, everyone!

Elann Peruvian Alpaca, Eggplant
8 skeins, size 6 needles

Purple Arms

2006-03-10T04:19:00.000-08:00

I have about 20 more rounds to go on the last sleeve for Tubey:

Here is the finished arm:

So far, I love this. LOVE it. Easy to do, which is great for me. The only pain is that I have this long... tube... to keep turning all of the time when I knit.

And after trying on both arms last night... I already knew this, but me and shrugs just don't go. Especially considering how well endowed I am!

(Cross posted from my blog)

Hooray for my Tubey!

2006-03-07T05:43:00.000-08:00

Here it is! My tubey in it's semi-knit glory! After ripping it out once already to get just the right size on the sleeve, it's coming along nicely now. I didn't get much knitting time in yesterday because I was trying to work on my website and this whole PHP thing is kicking my arse. I've never used it before and I'm trying to learn it, and it's just not working out the way I'd like it to, but I have a semi-knit Tubey and that makes me happy.

Here's what it looks like on my arm in it's semi knit state. It fits just the way I like it. I'm using the same colors as in knitty with the exception of the beige and wine colors that I have (wine isn't shown yet) because when I was buying the yarn brown and eggplant weren't available, so I got colors close to it or that I thought would look nice. I love the colors on it and how bright they are. I love how it's starting to fit me and I can't wait to finish it so that I can actually wear it, even though it'll probably be really hot seeing as I live in Miami and winter is all but over here, but who cares! I'll have a hand knit sweater!

Just Joined

2006-03-07T04:17:00.000-08:00

After seeing so many of these sweaters out there and loving them, I had to start one myself. I really wanted to get rid of some stash yarn, and this just seemed to be the best way.

I am using the following yarns, on size 7 needles:

MC - Dusky Lavendar #1742 (Elann Peruvian Highland Wool)
Dk Blue - Cascade 220 #9449
Lt Green - Cascade 220 #9460
Dk Green - Cascade 220 #9461
Cream - Knit Picks Andean Silk

I actually finished the first sleeve yesterday and am going to start the next today.

So far, I am loving this. Something that I don't really have to "think" about and can do pretty much anywhere.

Question - Did anyone else make the sleeves shorter than the directions? Mine would have been down to my fingertips otherwise.

2006-03-05T17:12:00.001-08:00

PurlyQueen here again!

At long last I have finally started on the body. So now I've swapped from knitting what seems like an endless knitted small stockinette tube to a wider ribbed one.
The orange thing on the sleeve is a lockable stitch marker to make sure the sleeve increases matched up properly.

And here's a close-up:

I had made the neck opening too big. So before I started picking up stitches for the body, I made the opening smaller by using mattress stitch on either side.

Lots of people have had issues with the body being too baggy. So I'm going for an ultra-snug fit and knitting the smallest size. Let's hope I don't end up looking like a knitted sausage.

hey y'all!

2006-03-03T15:45:00.000-08:00

I have been knitting like a fiend on my Tubey, even mentally slapping myself when I start to reach for yet another project to start.

Here's my progress thus far:

I'm using this color scheme:

Big geek that I am, I tried out a ton of different color designs in Photoshop, and this one was the best. I'm using Knitpicks Alpaca Silk. Does anyone know the best way to block this kind of yarn? I'm almost worried to wetblock it.

Everyone's tubeys are really inspiring for me to get off my butt and start knitting!

Another Olympic Tubey

2006-02-27T17:43:00.000-08:00

So I finished my Olympic Tubey just in the nick of time this weekend. Though I had a few setbacks along the way, I'm very happy with how this came out and will wear it often.

Let's see, a few details:

I used the yarn called for in the pattern (bought it 30 percent off at a Superbowl sale with a gift certificate -- it doesn't get much better than that), and although I haven't had a chance to see how it wears, I'm very happy with it for now.

I shortened the body by about 1.5 inches over what was called for. I also cast on 16 fewer stitches for the body tube than the pattern called for. If I were to do it over I wouldn't decrease the number of stitches but I'd knit the body with a smaller needle.

I think the cross-back measurement is the key to getting this sweater to fit you well. Too long or too short causes really big problems.

There are lots more details and a few more photos on my blog. Thanks for letting me be a part of this knitalong! I'm looking forward to seeing many more Tubeys here.

My shortie-tubey is finished!

2006-02-27T06:22:00.000-08:00

Yes yes yes! This is the result!
The yarn I got left will be a pair of matching wristwarmers I think... Or socktoes...hahaha...

Now I would love to have a black tubey, maybe with crocheted sleeves... hmm...

Olympic failure due to flu

2006-02-26T11:50:00.000-08:00

I got the flu real hard this week and didn't have the power to even think about knitting. I realized quickly that I wouldn't be able to finish my Tubey before the end of the Olympics, so I started prioritizing something for another KAL. Anyhow, this is as far as I've got until now. I'm not 100% sure about my colour selection, but orange is really in this spring, isn't it?

Five Flavor Lifesaver Roll Tubey

2006-02-26T07:31:00.000-08:00

I'm just now getting done with the first sleeve on my Tubey, so I've not made much progress in the last week, but I thought I'd post a quick photo of what my colors look like knitted up:

It actually looks a bit more muted than that photo -- I think the flash boosted the color a bit. My fifth color is a darker plum, so hopefully that will make me look a bit less like a fruit flavored concoction. :-)

Finished Tubey

2006-02-26T04:01:00.000-08:00

Few ends to sew in and then it's done. I'm fairly pleased with the finished item, though it's a bit baggier than I would have liked. probably because the yarn I used was lighter, so although the gauge was okay the fabric was looser than that in the original. I also had to model it in my strapless bra which I'm okay with wearing in the privacy of my own home but not at all confident about wearing in public! (it has a bad habit of finishing up around my waist!) LoL!

I think that all in all I'd have been better of knitting a smaller size (which comes as a bit of a surprise) and in a firmer fabric. Not sure how much I'm likely to wear this one.

Tubey Diary

2006-02-26T03:22:00.000-08:00

Hi, this is my tubey in progress.
Check my blogg for a tubey-diary.

So far I don´t know how to do with the sleeves, the yarn will decide it for me... ;0)
Right now I have 3 balls left (and the 2 used balls in the sleeves), totally 10 balls for my mediumsize. I knit with 4,5 needles and the yarn is Marks & Kattens "Higgins"; 45% cotton, 45% acryl 10% viscose-a tweedlooking yarn.

This is the first knit-along I ever been in and it´s really fun to see the same tubey in all different colors. Even I find it fun to knit the hole jumper, I use to crochet mostly and the knittingprojects often ending up as a UFO... Oh I better hurry, it´s time for Sweden to play for gold/silver in hockeyOS and me to knit! Knittingtime!

Klara/Kristallklara

Finished!

2006-02-25T07:05:00.000-08:00

I finished my Tubey, and although I had a few problems, it's turned out great.

The Wool-Ease has made a bulkier sweater that I'd originally envisioned, but it's warm and cuddly and goes great with jeans.

I'm going to have to crochet a border around the neckline, though. It's rolling under at the top and out at the front.

The problem that I had is that I've got a teeny tiny ribcage (32 inches) and really broad shoulders (when measuring for size, I'm the large - 24 inches armpit to armpit with my arms forward), so when starting the body, I had to drastically reduce the number of stitches that I picked up. Even then, I had to reduce even more just below the bust in order to make the body snug enough (I hate that potato sack look).

That looks cool, too - it's given the bust area a bit of shaping (although that may be why it's rolling outwards).

I'm starting tubey #2 now - I changed my mind about the yarn and am now using a brown alpaca, which is much thinner than the wool-ease and should make a much less bulky sweater.

I medaled in Tubey

2006-02-25T06:43:00.000-08:00

I finished faster than I expected, given that I changed from English to Continental and from mirror image to normal knitting just in time for the competition.

I made the small size but shortened it by more than TWO inches! I am a long-legged, short-bodied creature, I tell you. Like Kermit the Frog. How appropriate that I made a green sweater. I made the sleeves a little long just because I can never find sleeves long enough for me and dammit for once I don't want to see my wristbones.

I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and although it's nice and soft, boy it sure looks like it wants to pill already. Has anyone else had a problem with this?

I'm happy that I took the KO challenge because I've felt a little bad about my UFOs lately. Samus still languishes in my knitting basket and probably will for a while. I've moved on to a cotton sweater for my daughter and am working up some socks in some handspun. I completed this in 15 days without really losing any sleep or ignoring my family that bad. A miracle.

I've really enjoyed seeing everyone else's sweaters. For those of you who haven't finished, press on! You can do it.

Hurry Up, Sleeve!

2006-02-24T15:22:00.000-08:00

Dear Sleeve,

Sure, I know we've had our differences. You wanted to be twenty inches from join to wrist, and I stopped you at 17. Didn't I compromise with you and knit those extra three inches? Yes, I did. You wanted your stripes to match, not have five rows of blue on one end and eight on the other. I frogged eight inches of you so that I could make you perfect. So could you do me a favor and just finish yourself up while I play video games?

Thanks.

Suzanne

A gold medal for me, too.

2006-02-23T22:31:00.000-08:00

I made an entire sweater in 13 days, or about 61 hours of work.

Awesome.

Now on to my third and final Tubey, started a few days before the KO because I had nothing else to do and some unused yarn...

Yes, I'm crazy.

Almost completed tubey

2006-02-21T11:32:00.000-08:00

Never ever ever EVER make important decisions in knitting after 1:30am. Never ever. Here's the result if you do. I was sitting there, thinking wow, I've really done some serious knitting here (those ice dancing series are good for cranking out the knitting!) and was in bed, tired, and thinking I was ready to finish up this puppy. I held it up to my bod, squished it against me and thought "yup, that'll do". No measuring tape in sight (I would've had to get my tired butt out of bed and cross the room, so apparently that was out of the question.) I decide to NOT take 5 measly minutes and put it on waste yarn so I could try it on, no, not me, I don't need to do that.... Here's the result.... Good looking sweater, but showing a bit of belly flab. ooops. I'm gonna learn how to un-bindoff and add a couple of inches and then be done. I do love the look, though!

OK, apologies for the angle of the picture, like I said, it was 1 freaking 45 in the morning and my arms are only so long to take those pics. Didn't mean for my little boob to be the center point of the pic, oops. Anyway, I am LOVING this pattern, and my daughter wants a smaller matching version, so I've got to do some measuring and thinking!

Tubeyphobic?

2006-02-20T11:31:00.000-08:00

My name is Amy, and I am a Tubey-slacker.

I started Tubey.
I frogged Tubey.
I changed yarns for Tubey.
I frogged Tubey.

I am a Tubeyphobe.

Someday I will have a Tubey just like you.
Apparently, today is not the day.

Keep up the grand work everyone -
Your Tubeys look wonderful!

Day 10 and er, working on the bronze medal?

2006-02-19T23:56:00.000-08:00

I'm probably at "just-below-the-boobies" point, I'm guessing.

I'm pulling stuff out of my stash in order to make this, which means that um, certain colors are much shorter than others. And I now wish I'd made the first red row and the screaming orange row longer. I was intending to make this one a longer sweater than my first Tubey, but now I'm wondering if I'm going to make it. I may end up with a lot of 12-14 row blocks of color and a few 2-4 row blocks at the top and bottom or something. Ergh.

Day 9: Knitting Olympics - where's my gold medal?

2006-02-18T10:52:00.000-08:00

I finished up the knitting on Tubey last night and set it to block overnight. This morning I sewed the neckline up a bit so I could easily wear a bra. I think, though, that were I to make another Tubey, I would just leave the neckline alone.

The only real mod I included [aside from the neckline] was to switch from 3x1 ribbing to 3x2 ribbing for the bottom five inches. I've got wide hips and I wanted the bottom to be just a smidge wider to avoid having the sweater bunch at my hips.

I'm pleased with the way it turned out, and I'm amazed that it knit up in only nine days, start to finish! Yay Team Tubey!

Old News...

2006-02-17T15:46:00.000-08:00

So, I actually finished Tubey Thursday of last week, but life's been hectic, and so it's taken me a while to post a photo:

This is immediately post-washer AND dryer ;-) Overall I'm really happy with it. I think after the winter season, I may frog the body and reknit it a little bit smaller, 'cause after I've worn it for a bit, it stretches out ALOT and is VERY loose. But I still love my Tubey ;-)

However, here is my big beef: the dang Debbie Bliss yarn! see those pale green stripes? Those used to be pale yellow! Yes, the navy yarn was absolutely saturated with excess dye, you should've seen the rinse water! I've had yarn that bleeds before, but this was ridiculous. Actually I knew it was coming the way my hands would be stained really darn blue after each knitting session. Oh well. So, I think I've sworn off Debbie Bliss, yarn and patterns, 'cause what ticks me off the most is that I can't find an easy way to contact the company and complain. It would appear, from the website, they they don't really want to hear about consumers' experiences with their products. The only email address I could find on the site was for "The Club". So I think it's really arrogant when companies don't make it easy to give feedback, especially in this age.

Anyway, I still love my Tubey! Good thing I like pale green ;-)

PurlyQueen again!

2006-02-17T14:53:00.000-08:00

Hi there,

I'm still knitting my Tubey, but I have been temporarily distracted by a present that I making for my husband. Anyway, I have nearly finished the first sleeve. I would have posted a picture but I didn't think anyone would thank me for posting an image of a brown tube! I can't wait to get onto the body section, knitting what feels like miles of stockinette is getting rather tedious!
PurlyQueen

Day 7: Team Tubey - Mac's progress

2006-02-16T18:46:00.000-08:00

Things seems to be moving along well on Day 7 of Tubey for the Knitting Olympics. I think maybe another five inches to the bottom will see me finished! How exciting!

I have to hand it to Cassie - in the midst of fretting over my Winter weight gain, knitting a size medium sweater and having it fit perfectly is good for the ego.

Hi! Just joined the knitalong

2006-02-15T20:31:00.000-08:00

I started my Tubey on Sunday--just about 6 inches of the back so far. I'm using Filatura di Crosa's Zara in black, and I'm making it all black...not terribly exciting, I know.

Anyway, I have some concerns about how the stitches are going to look once I switch to the circular knitting part. The pink fabric pictured below is from another project where I used Zara and switched from straight knitting (top half) to circular knitting (bottom half). It is a pretty noticeable change in stitch definition.

So far, my tubey's stitches look like the top half.

Does anyone have any tips for making the circular part look consistent with what I have now? Anyone else have this problem? Any advice would be appreciated--Thanks!

Tubey Done!

2006-02-15T20:19:00.000-08:00

Hey there! Here's my finished (unblocked) Tubey -- made from super cheap Caron Simply Soft in Autumn Red(3 six ounce skeins). Sorry for the ugly brown track pants, but I figure you're looking at the sweater and not the britches ;-)

I made the second to the smallest size and wish I'd have made the smallest size, as the sweater's a little big (especially across the back shoulders). I still really like the way the sweater turned out and will probably wear it a lot. I was really worried about my bra straps showing but was afraid that I'd lose the affect of the beautiful neckline if I took up the sides too much so I just decided to wear a lacey camisole underneath instead. Things I'd do differently next time (in addition to making a smaller size) would be to go down at least one needle size (to a size 7) for the ribbing. I think this would give the body a little more structure. Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing if I was going to make another long sleeved version. I am however, seriously thinking about making a "spring" version of Tubey with elbow length sleeves (with the 3 X 1 ribbing at the bottom of the sleeves) in a light weight yarn such as Knit Picks Shine on size 4 needles. Yeah, it'll take a while on size 4's but I think the results will be worth it. The pattern would need to be modified to accommodate the smaller gauge, but this would be easy to do.

All in all, this was a quick and easy sweater to make. I can definitely see the benefit though of adding stripes to break up the monotony of the stockinette stitch sleeves and the 18" of ribbing on the body. Thanks Cassie for an awesome pattern!

My tubey is done!

2006-02-14T22:33:00.000-08:00

I'd post pictures, but hubby is sleeping at the moment, so it'll have to wait till tomorrow. But Tubey is looking gorgeous. She's blocked and ready to be worn for a romantic dinner and movie tomorrow! Thanks Cassie for a wonderful pattern.

2006-02-14T16:49:00.000-08:00

Here's my Tubey in progess! I'm about 8" past the join for sleevie #1, and I'm using Karabella Aurora 8 in #44, a beautiful shade of blue.

Due to rumors of this yarn expanding after wash, I washed my swatch like a good little girl and got gauge with a US7 from my Denise Interchangeables.

I've gotta say, I'm getting pretty bored with the plain stockinette! Especially now that I'm knitting in the round and all I'm doing is knitting. I can't wait to get started on the body :)

Thanks for taking a look! :) I'm enjoying seeing everyone elses progress.

Team Tubey - Day 4

2006-02-13T17:45:00.000-08:00

Things are going pretty well during Day 4 of the Knitting Olympics. Progress is swift and I'm starting to really like the color of the yarn.

Here's my concern: it seems as if the back is going to end up slightly longer than the front of sweater simply due to boobage. Has this been an issue for anyone?

Go Team Tubey!

I'm about 9/10 ths of the way done...

2006-02-13T10:26:00.000-08:00

Hurray! I'll get to wear my tubey tomorrow. I have a question, however. When I pick up stitches (not just for this pattern, but in general), the first join always turns out to be quite loose. Is there anyway to avoid this in the future, so that first join stitch won't be all loose and wonky looking? Thanks for you help!

Tubey Color Scheme

2006-02-13T09:26:00.000-08:00

I launched into my Tubey this weekend for the Knitting Olympics, and I'm having a great time with it so far. I have gotten through the stripes on one sleeve, and I'm very pleased with how the colors are looking. I'm not following the stripe size and order suggested in the original pattern; I'm kind of winging it instead. So far so good!

That main color is dark brown, not black. It shows up really dark on my monitor.

I had decided to do a tapered sleeve instead of a bell sleeve, but after finishing I decided I didn't care for the way that looked, so I'm gearing up for a frogging session tonight and sticking with the original pattern after all.

I hope to start on the body within a few days and knit like the wind!

Gold Stars!

2006-02-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

These were a lot of fun on the holiday gift knit-along, so I figured I'd add gold stars to the sidebar entries of those who have finished their Tubeys. If I missed yours, or gave you one by mistake, let me know. For future Tubeys, I'll add the star within a day or so of when you post pictures. Feel free to remind me if your star doesn't appear.

Day 3 of the KO.

2006-02-12T22:53:00.000-08:00

I have now managed to finish the back and one entire sleeve in 3 days of near-constant work! Hoorah! I'm just sad I have to go back to work now instead of putting in 9 hours a day on this.
The pins are to indicate where I was taking out stitches to make the arms tighter. It worked out surprisingly well, actually.

New Here!

2006-02-12T21:06:00.000-08:00

Hello fellow Tubers!!! Jeanie here from Texas and here's my Tubey so far. I started this just a few days ago and it's not quite as bad as I thought it would be. I'm using a super cheap acrylic yarn (Caron Simply Soft) in Autumn Red on size 8 needles. The gauge isn't spot on, but it's close enough for this top. I do think though that if I were to knit this again using the same yarn, I'd go down at least one needle size for the body.

I'm enjoying knitting this a lot, but can definitely see the advantage of making a striped Tubey as it would help break up the monotony of the endless ribbing. And while I would love to make another striped Tubey in another long sleeve worsted weight version, I have already decided that I will make a shorter sleeved (to the elbow) version with several (at least 3) inches of the same 3X1 ribbing at the bottom of each sleeve in a lighter weight yarn (Knit Picks Shine comes to mind) for spring. Size 4 needles? Yeah baby.

And just for grins, I timed myself to see how long it was taking me to knit a row of the 3 X 1 ribbing. I hate to admit it (it makes me sound like such a slow knitter) but it takes me about 8 minutes to do one row of ribbing (yeah, I'm an English knitter). It also takes 6 rows of ribbing to make one inch of Tubey, so that's about 48 minutes per inch. Multiply that by 18 inches and that's a lot of hours on ol' Tubey! Oh well, I figure I'm about halfway done with the body so I'm getting closer to the finish line!

I do have a question for those of you who have already finished your Tubey's.... are you able to wear a bra without the bra straps showing with this sweater or do you have to wear a strapless?

First post--just started Tubey

2006-02-12T16:38:00.000-08:00

Hi all--I joined this knitalong sometime last month, thinking I'd start Tubey before spring. Well, Saturday, after tearing my room apart and not finding the project I needed to work on, I decided the logical thing to do would be to cast one for a new project. (of course!) So I started Tubey.

When Mission Falls announced they were closing last year, I kind of panicked, and now they've announced they're not after all, and I have an incredible stockpile of their 1824 wool yarn. So that's what I'm using for this. Here are the colors I chose:

I might just look like a roll of lifesavers when this is done.

I swatched, and hit gauge exactly on size 8 needles, despite the fact the 1824 wool has a slightly different gauge on the label than what the pattern calls for. I got pretty far on this yesterday. Can't wait to get to the stripes, because photos of charcoal stockinette aren't terribly exciting. But anyway, this is what I have so far.

I took a pause today to finish up some other projects, so hopefully I'll have some more substantial updates later this week.

--Amy

A question about arm fitting.

2006-02-11T21:39:00.000-08:00

I've noticed that some of y'all have made the arms tighter/more form-fitting. How did you do that, exactly?

I am working on Rainbow Tubey for the KO, and am about to start one of the arms, and I want to make them tighter this go-round, but am not sure whether or not to decrease evenly, or what exactly.

Day 2: Knitting Olympics

2006-02-11T20:03:00.000-08:00

Well, Team Tubey-ites, how goes it on Day 2 of the Knitting Olympics? I think we picked just the right project -- with the miles of stockinette stitch needed to knit the shrug part, it's easy enough to knit and pay attention to figure skating and moguls competitions! Although, I admit that I'm a sucker for luge.

At the end of Day 2, I'm happy to report that I'm two-thirds of the way done with the shrug part. I just finished the first arm about 10 or 15 minutes ago. I'm guessing that I'll definitely finish the second arm by the end of tomorrow, and maybe even start the body. These are the benefits of having what is predicted to be a major snowstorm, I suppose. No one wants to leave the house, and everyone has panicked and cancelled all their events anyway! So, aside from doing a little driveway and sidewalk shovelling tomorrow, I've got nothing to do but knit!

Texas Tubey - FINISHED!!

2006-02-11T16:58:00.000-08:00

I just finished my Tubey!!! Woo hoo!!! I am so excited!! It is a perfect fit and it is just in time for the colder weather that is expected!!! I plan to wear it to Knitworking (SnB) tomorrow!!

It's funny. I was sitting on the couch last night thinking, “I knit about 5 rows of the body in an hour. There are 105 rows (120 when finished). I have spent 21 hours on the body alone so far. Wow!”An even bigger bonus, it is Mom's birthday! It's a shame that she isn't in town to see it!!

I'm in training, too

2006-02-09T14:35:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone. I'm gearing up for the Knitting Olympics. I'm using the Cashmerino (my largest yarn purcha$e in a long time) and I finished swatching today. I'm pretty close on stitches but my row count is long. I'll keep an eye on it. Right now I'm working on the provisional cast-on so I don't get hung up on that and ruin a promising start.

The kicker is that recently (okay, yesterday morning), I decided not only to try knitting continental instead of English, but I also switched directions. As a leftie, I've always knitting mirror-image to what is normal (right to left); now I'm going the same way as everyone else. And I plan to do Tubey continental, the normal way.

It's not as hard as it sounds because I've always carried my yarn in my left hand, it's just that I was knitting in the opposite direction before, and throwing instead of picking. At least tension is not a problem. Right now my speed is not so good, but I am getting faster every time I pick it up and I'm hoping that the 16-day challenge will turn me into a speedy continental knitter by the time it's all over.

Or maybe I'm just an idiot.

Hi Everybody

2006-02-09T10:52:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to join you. I just love the Tubey and hope to make one soon. I saw one done in a solid color recently (Carrioke's blog) and loved how it looked so I think that's what I'm going to do. I have a bunch of Knitpicks Merino Style that I had hoped to use for it but that's a DK yarn versus the cashmerino which is aran weight. YIKES! I'm not so good at fudging patterns so I will probably look for something else. I don't have enough to double it unless I use both my pink and my purple. Hmmm, maybe I will do stripes!

Anyway, for now, I'm going to keep looking at the results in here and work on finishing my other projects!

Thanks, Jess, for answering my invitation. I'm not sure how you might know me. I am definitely in the Clapotis KAL (recently finished my second one in L&L) and I also have a Cottonease Yahoo group. Good to be here!

Bonnie

In training

2006-02-09T09:59:00.000-08:00

I figured last night was as good a night as any to do my official 'training' for the Knitting Olympics - the gauge swatch.

I hate making gauge swatches.

I dragged my box of KnitPicks Yarn of the Andes in Blueberry over to the sofa and cast on with size 8 double points. I'm half a stitch off gauge in both the stockinette and 3x1 rib. I know I should probably be more concerned about that, but yet I am not. It's close enough. I guess I won't win the award for Most Anal Compulsive Olympic Knitter, eh?

This evening's 'training' will include actually reading the pattern. Nothing like waiting until the last minute!

I'm ready to go, and excited about casting on! By the way, who else doing the Tubey-a-long is knitting it for the Olympics? I'd like to know my teammates. Because misery loves company, yo.

Tubey love....

2006-02-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

I love this pattern! Love it! I'm done with the shrug and am now starting the body tube. I have a question for all. Is anyone doing decorative edging on the sleeves and bottom edge? I'm wanting to do a shell crochet around the cuffs. Will it look weird if I crochet around a knitted piece, or is this fairly common practice? Should I do a knitted edging instead? Thanks in advance for the advance. Oh, and I promise I'll get off my lazy duff and take some WIP pictures.

xo Lauren

blue tubey

2006-02-09T06:58:00.000-08:00

lord help me, i'm starting tubey. i'm feeling that this is going to take me forever! right now i only have about 15 min per day to knit, so it's going slowly. i'm knitting this version with cherry tree hill silken mohair on US 5s. wish me luck! i can't wait until i finish the shrug and have to struggle through all the math and the picking up of stitches. wish me luck.

Am I crazy?

2006-02-08T09:18:00.000-08:00

While waiting for the Knitting Olympics to start, I frogged the other (PITA) sweater I was working on...and have now tentatively started another Tubey. Not the one I'll do for the KO, mind you. But I need something to work on for a few days, and the yarn for my next knit-along hasn't come in yet, and I've got a nice stash of worsted on hand that I could perhaps make the original pattern with...

~ Advice needed ~

2006-02-08T07:47:00.000-08:00

Ok where you have to do a provisional cast on in the beginning of the back. I used a cable from my denise set instead of yarn to do this. When I went back and was ready to knit those stitches they are very lose. VERY lose. It looks like I am knitting with a needles sz 3 or 4 sz bigger than all the other rows. I am using a sz 8 needle so the cable shouldn't have been a problem at all since it is closest to a sz 5 needle. I have worked my way to the stripes on this sleeve and it is really noticeable that they are so lose in that one row. I don't know what to do to fix it. The only thing that I can think of is to duplicate stitch over it and pull that row together that way. Not that I really know how to do that either. Does anyone have any advice for me on this? Please?

42,564

2006-02-08T00:14:00.000-08:00

I'm plodding slowly along the back portion of the shrug. To engage my brain, I did some calculations to see how many stitches will be in my finished Tubey. The details are on my blog.

Finished tubey, at long last

2006-02-06T22:14:00.000-08:00

My tubey ended up too big for reasons that I'm sure are completely my fault. So I tossed her in the dryer, and it's a marked improvement. I went with a solid using the Luxury Aran Cashmere from AC Moore, but, as a few of my blog's wise commenters pointed out, the stripes probably add to the garment's shapeliness. But I wore this to work today, and no one said, "Um, did you make that?" Always a good sign!

Carrie
www.everywordsapurl.blogspot.com

Too Sexy For My Tubey

2006-02-05T22:59:00.000-08:00

I’m too sexy for my tubey, so sexy it hurts….. hehee

After many weeks of knitting like mad, the ultraly cool and sexy Tubey is finally done this weekend. here are my notes on the Tubey.

Let me start by saying that it was a very easy and fun pattern, I loved the way how the stripes come out. Next time I will use a different yarn perhaps a solid Tubey with no stripes

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease, main color: black, stripes: red, gray, camel, brown, teal
Needle Size: US 5

I made slight modifications, more info on my blog.

Shrug done!

2006-02-05T13:01:00.000-08:00

Here she is:

I'm very pleased with it so far. Next step: recalc how many stitches to pick up, based on my gauge and how far around I want it to be attached.

p.s. pardon the crappy tank top. It was a failed attempt at a printable iron-on transfer.

Butterfingers

2006-02-04T13:09:00.000-08:00

Last week I finished up the back/arms, today I spilled diet dr.pepper on them as I was about to start the bottom. So it's in the washer, and I'm really hoping it can be washed out.

Waiting on the yarn...

2006-02-03T07:57:00.000-08:00

Hi!

I can't wait to cast on for this. I actually decided to order a new yarn that I haven't worked with before (trying to branch out beyond Cascase 220, which is currently the BEST worsted wool ever, it needs competition). So I ordered Knitpicks Andean Silk. I can't wait for it to come in! I ordered 6 colors instead of 5, so I can figure out what looks best when it actually gets here. It was cheap- bucks for 11 skeins, and free shipping. And now I wait!

~ Part of a sleeve and a back ~

2006-02-03T06:01:00.000-08:00

So I have been working on my Tubey.
Wed morning this is what it looked like

And this morning I am finished with the stripes on the first sleeve still have to finish the sleeve but I will have some extra knitting time today and should be able to finish the sleeve.
I was hoping to have some pink in the stripes but they didn't have any when I ordered my yarn for this.
So far I am loving it.

Shruggy goodness

2006-02-02T18:52:00.000-08:00

Hi folks - really enjoying everyone's adventures in TubeyLand!

After two false starts (I'll detail all my pattern modifications once I'm done), I've almost completed one side of the shrug of Tubey. I'm using the Peruvian Alpaca from Elann, and I LOVE. THIS. YARN! So soft, so buttery, so even. Purrrrrrrrrrrr.

I also had a false start with the yarn, too! Details over on my blog...

Have a great weekend!

Another trip to the frog pond

2006-02-01T09:56:00.000-08:00

OK, so I have a beautiful shrug, love it, it fits, love it. I got a bit confused on the picking up stitches part. I think I had it backwards or something as about an inch into the body tube part I realized I'm knitting it inside out. Somehow I am knitting inside the circle and the body is showing up with 3 purls and 1 knit, which really DOES not look good. I'm gonna frog it, but not sure how to start the picking up so it doesn't happen again. Anyone else do this or am I the only stitch-challenged one so far? cripes. I'll post how it goes the 2nd time around.

When I first picked up stitches, the seam part was showing up on the outside of the shrug. I didn't think it was supposed to be that way, so I picked them up with purls to get the seam on the inside. Somehow that got me knitting along the inside of the tube. Who the heck knows what I did? Ah well. I'm off to frog city. At least I only had an inch into the body tube.

NOTE: Thanks for the comment, I also went to the LYS and said "WTH" (aka what the HECK--which doesn't offend as many people in public as my usual WTF's seem to do) is wrong with me? I didn't have the RIGHT SIDE facing me. I was picking up stitches from the inside to the outside instead of poking the needle from the right side to the wrong side. Much better now. I'm off to work and then reknit!

Tubey in the Frog Pond :-(

2006-01-31T20:44:00.000-08:00

Tubey Knit-Along

I had the back, one whole sleeve and an inch of the other, and 2 inches of the body done before I could try it on well enough to tell that it was too tight under the arms. I just frogged it and I'm catching my breath before I start again.

I think the problem is that I'm using an alpaca silk blend which isn't as elastic as wool. I'll go up a size for the shrug portion and it should be ok.

Frogging that much bites, but one thing I love about knitting is that you get do-overs. I'm just grateful I didn't finish both sleeves before checking the size carefully!

Cheers

Tubey Knit-Along: Welcome!

2006-01-31T20:36:00.000-08:00

Tubey Knit-Along: Welcome!

I started!

2006-01-30T19:51:00.000-08:00

I couldn't wait for the Debbie Bliss yarn to show up at the LYS, and I quickly got tired of knitting in Wool-Ease when I knew I was going to turn around and make it again in another yarn. I also happened to have a shawl that I was never going to wear in its current state. It was more like a blanket than a shawl. Four contrasting balls later, and here we are.

I haven't figured out what I want to do with the stripes yet. I know I'm going to have fewer than the original pattern, probably not as far down on the body of the sweater. It's taking me a long time to get across the back, because I want the knitting to be even. If I'm not exceptionally careful, I get pretty distinct rowing on flat knitting. The yarn's a cashmere/silk blend, so I'm not complaining about how long I have to have it running through my fingers. ;-)

another "one sleeve and a back" post

2006-01-30T12:49:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics, just shy of the first sleeve:

This is going pretty slowly because:
- my yarn is closer to DK weight
- I'm using the two circulars method (I find double points are much faster, but they tend to fall out in my bag, and I didn't have size 5 dpns anyway)
- I'm using a handpainted yarn, so I have to change balls every row.

It may be slow, but it is shaping up to be GORGEOUS. The sheen is fabulous, the colors melt nicely into each other (like a particularly blue/purplish black pearl - the photos never do the color justice) and the fabric is nicely springy at this gauge.

I'm hoping to finish up before the Knitting Olympics, since I'd like to wear it on my birthday (which happens to be the last day of the Olympics). At this rate, I'm not sure I can do it, but the body should go more quickly, since it's pure circular knitting. And I am so pleased that I don't have to do any real seaming. That is always my procrastination point.

More from Heather from Texas!

2006-01-30T09:05:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while! Knitting didn't happen until the weekend!! I got a couple more inches done on Tubey on Saturday! It was great! Ed was helping a friend move, so I got to sit on the couch and watch Wonder Woman (my fave superhero) with Shannon all afternoon!! Linda Carter is a goddess!! I love her!! I knit for about 3 hours, then I took a nap, and then I knit for another hour!! My hands were so tired! LoL

I also started MK Tubey II (Machine Knit Tubey II) on Sunday. It took me about 10 minutes to convert the pattern to the Bond, but I was knitting in no-time! I knit and seamed the sleeve portion last night. With it being knit on the machine, I have to make flat pieces and then seam them. I figure I will make two body pieces and then seam them as well. Not really Tubey, but it is based off that pattern! I will post pictures on my blog tomorrow (I hope!)

If any of you guys are Bond knitters, check out my comments on MK Tubey II and KnitPicks Wool of the Andes.

Team Tubey: Knit Olympics

2006-01-29T16:53:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to just discover this Tubey knit-a-long as I was searching for a Tubey team for the Knit Olympics. Yay!

I read that there was some interest in a team, so I volunteered to make an official button.

Feel free to use it, or not. I definitely won't be offended if someone else would like to take a crack at a better one!

I've been reading all sorts of stuff about how to determine sizing for Tubey. If anyone has suggestions or tips or cautionary tales, I'd love to hear about it.

I was thinking that I might use Elann Peruvian Wool for Tubey. It's a pretty shade of green and has been sitting in my stash for months. Of course, I'm toying with the idea of ordering a darker color of yarn for this - black or charcoal grey. No stripes for me.

About 1/2 a Tubey!

2006-01-28T17:29:00.000-08:00

I'm really loving how my colors are coming out...but the colors in the photo are a little washed out:

No, it's not going to be short-sleeved, but I wanted to do the chest stripes before I did the sleeve ones. And then someone just couldn't be left out of the action:

Finished my Tubey!

2006-01-27T20:56:00.000-08:00

Hooray, it's done!

Now on to planning the next one, eh?

Which reminds me- is anyone who's good at icons interested in making some kind of "Team Tubey" banner for the Knitting Olympics? It sounds to me like we need one!

Intro! :)

2006-01-26T19:33:00.000-08:00

hi, everyone! :)

I'm Manda, and I'm really excited to knit this sweater. I loved it from the moment I saw it, but I had to wait for yarn! Unfortunately, I'm forcing myself to wait a couple more weeks - I'm going to knit it for the Knitting Olympics. my main color is black, and I'm doing the stripes in shades of red and pink, with cream as the "light" color.

I can't wait to get started.

Speed Tubey, in more ways than one

2006-01-25T09:58:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is the rainbow sweater layout I was talking about doing as a "Speed Tubey", going on the samples and shades I've got left in my stash of worsted. Yeah, it's a crappy drawing, but you get the idea of what it should come out looking like, right? I've been asking people if they think it's a bad/ugly idea, but so far people like it. Go figure. Maybe they're just used to my interesting color sense or something.

As for how my current Tubey is going...

I've got about six inches left to go on it! Yay! My goal is to have it finished by January 30. Hopefully I will make that date.
I did discover when trying it on that I will have to take in the sides by about 2 inches. If I don't do that, I have major bra strap showing issues. I feel kind of sad about having to take it in, but it's better than having to dig up a strapless bra. Has anyone else run into that problem with the neckline?

2006-01-24T08:53:00.000-08:00

PurlyQueen here!
It's amazing how much you can do when you are off work with a cold! I cast on last night and so far I've completed about 13 inches for the back.

one sleeve and a back

2006-01-23T13:13:00.000-08:00

Here's my progress of Tubey, click the pic to see a closeup of the sleeve "stripes" patterning. (bad hair day, hence the neck-up shot) I'm using the Lorna's Laces Worsted Shepherd superwash and LOVE it! I can't wait to see how the body's stripes pattern out. I am so addicted to color pooling and self patterning yarns! You guys are doing some CUTE stuff with your tubeys!

All stashed up and ready to go!

2006-01-23T08:10:00.000-08:00

Yes - there is another Tubey KAL member in England!
My name is Ronke - aka PurlyQueen.
I've got my yarn ready - it's a chocolate brown lambswool and cashmere mix that I bought in France. I'm only going to use one colour - I'm not a horizontal stripes kind of girl!

About to start...

2006-01-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

I just checked the Frappr map - am I really the only KAL member outside North America? I'm sure I can't be - I've heard loads of people talking about making Tubey!

I've got my yarn, got the needles yesterday, am going to start a swatch once I'm back from a few days away for work this week!

Halfway there...

2006-01-21T22:13:00.000-08:00

Hi, I'm (yet another) Jennifer, and I just found out there was a knit-along, so I had to join.

Anyway, I'm doing my Tubey out of my worsted weight yarn stash with size 10 needles, figuring I can use up at least some of my orphan balls of yarn. It also helps that most of my colors are in the blue/purple range and go together well enough, and there's enough left for stripes in certain colors. Of course, this means I'm going to have more stripes than other people's, but that's all right. Makes it more interesting to work on. :)

I love how easily this knits up, even though I wish I'd made the arms a lot more close-fitting. I did decrease by about 9 stitches every inch after getting to the starting point of the stripes, but next time I am definitely making it smaller.

So far I've got the sleeves done and am a few inches down on the middle. This is so exciting!

I am thinking of doing another Tubey for the Knitting Olympics, maybe a "Speed Tubey" to see if I can finish it within sixteen days. The last sweater I did took four months, and this one is going surprisingly fast, so...it could work. But the real question is, will I have enough left in the yarn stash to do another one? Looking at the remaining stash, I might have to do a rainbow sweater, because I've got a lot of reds, oranges, yellows, and greens that haven't gone into this one. I wonder how clownish it would be, but it could be interesting too....

My Progress So Far!

2006-01-21T20:28:00.000-08:00

One of the sleeves is almost done! here's my progress.

2006-01-21T16:19:00.000-08:00

Greetings all! I'm Lauren and I'm currently waiting on my yarn to get here so I can get started! I ordered this in the colorway "Jasper." I'm looking forward to this knitting this little muffin <3

Here's my Tubey!

2006-01-20T10:43:00.000-08:00

I finally gave Tubey to my twin sister last night - and here's a picture of her modeling it! I used Elann's Peruvian Alpaca (8 balls), size 6 circs.This is the extra small. I'm really happy with the way it turned out, and I'm casting on for mine tonight. I just hope the one for me turns out well. Thanks, Cassie, for such a great pattern!

Carrie
carrieoke.net

Buttons anyone?

2006-01-20T08:59:00.000-08:00

I made a stab at creating a button for us... I've never made one before, so my feelings won't be hurt if you don't like them ;-)

With Border:

And Without:

Thought I'd be brave

2006-01-20T02:05:00.000-08:00

and post a picture of my Tubey. This was a while back, I've finished the sleeve and knitted and frogged part of the body.

Can't seem to get up the motivation to pick up all those stitches again (I used a crochet hook the last time and tho' I say it as shouldn't, it was a BEAUTIFUL neat pick up!).

Hoping posting this will insspire me to continue.

Sleeve modifications

2006-01-19T09:43:00.000-08:00

I'm doing it in Wool-ease - I'm finding it to be just fine softness-wise. I got about 10 inches into the first sleeve when I knew the sleeves would be too loose for my taste. I ripped it out back to 4 inches, then started decreasing 1 stitch every 3rd row. That takes me to about the elbow, from where I'm working straight (I'm not doing the belled sleeve).

Here she is!

2006-01-19T06:10:00.000-08:00

I'm about half-way through the back of the shrug. I'm using the Silk/Merino handpaint I bought from Over the Rainbow Yarns. The vendor calls it a worsted, and it did give me 5st/in on size 7s, but it was an airy and drapey fabric, so I'm doing this on size 5s at 5.75 st/in, which gives me a nice stretchy fabric.

Since it's a handpaint, there's some variation between the skeins (the green and pink is much more prominent in some of them), so I'm doing the swap skeins every two rows thing.

Oh, it's not so bad!

2006-01-18T20:51:00.000-08:00

My Wool-Ease seems to be okay so far (I'm about 3/4 of the way done with the sleeves - I had to set them aside for a bit to finish my "Dr. Seuss" Bags for Knit for the Cure, but now I'm back to Tubey).

Wool-Ease might need some fabric softener, but it's stretchy, warm, a nice color, and machine washable.

How can you not love it?

You can always do what I'm doing - knit two of Tubey! After all, one can never have too many of the Best Sweater Ever.

Hello everyone :)

2006-01-18T18:13:00.000-08:00

Since I'm over my budget for yarn (thanks to web and bo peep's sales lol), I decided what the hell I will knit the lovely Tubey in wool ease! I'm not exactly thrill with the way the back is looking and feeling, it stands up on it's own lol. I haven't made much of anything in wool ease wrosted weight, so I didn't know what to expect.

Should I continue on with it and block it after and hope for the best, perhaps that will soften it up and act nicely for me?

Or do you think I should hurry up and order my alpaca yarn online before my hubby gets home from the shop hahahah?

Tubey will be close fitting, so I do want a nice and soft yarn, has anyone knitted in wool ease yet? any feedback?

Oooh look what the mailman brought...

2006-01-18T13:19:00.000-08:00

Hah, finally received my yarn yesterday...darn that Holiday for making me wait another day. So I cast-on, and dug right in. Navy for the MC, and pale yellow, a dusty blue, and a green for stripes.

Not sure I like the green now that I've seen it in person, but it's only one ball, so I might drop by the LYS to see if I get one different color that I like better. Or, it's only gonna be a little narrow stripe anyway, so I might just leave it. I'm only planning on doing stripes around the chest, not most of the way down the body.

Texas Top Tubey Tube is DONE!

2006-01-18T07:49:00.000-08:00

I am finished with the top tube of my Tubey!! Yay!! My DBF was in class and I couldn't wait to get a picture taken, so I pulled out the dress dummy. It turned out nice!!

As soon as I got the picture taken, I started to cast on the bottom tube. Getting that right took a couple tries, but I got it done! Right now, I am only a two rounds into the bottom tube and I am hoping that it isn't going to be too small!

Hi from Texas!!

2006-01-17T08:01:00.000-08:00

I'm Heather and I am from Hurst, Texas which is right between Dallas & Fort Worth. I actually started Tubey about 2 weeks ago, although my yarn was chosen the day after Christmas.

I am using KnitPicks Wool of the Andes and so far it is working up great! The top color combination is the one I am working on now. The other combination is for my second Tubey.

All the past posts have been very helpful and given me some ideas. I really like the short sleeve idea.

It is so nice to finally find an English Tubey KAL. I am also on the Norwegian Tubey KAL, but I am the only English poster. Thanks for starting one that I can actually understand without running through a translator!!