April 01, 2004
Welcome to the Audrey-A-Long
Wow. As I am writing here, I feel like I am wandering around a new house. It's a beautiful clear morning and sun is streaming in through the windows. A fresh breeze flutters the curtains. Everything smells clean and new and the walls are painted with all my favorite colors. The movers have been here, too, and it's a place filled with comfortable furniture. In the kitchen, my espresso machine is waiting for me and the cupboards and fridge are filled with goodies.
To make it complete, all my new house needs is to be filled with the happy voices of guests.
It is actually sort of hard for me to believe that the house building process just started exactly one month ago. I had just received my Calmer and was all ready to start Audrey. When I mentioned my new arrival and it's purpose, the subject of a knit-a-long popped up in my comments, and it seemed like a pretty good idea. In fact, it led me to Elisabeth and Morgan, who had already had the same idea and had a knit-a-long already in the planning for the start of April. And they were both kind enough to let me get in on the fun of hosting the project.
All of us wanted to do something to make this knit-along a little different. But initially, none of us were quite how to do it.
Then, on the very first day of March, I was doing my usual perusal of my favorite web blogs and I came across Becky talking about setting up a blog for a group of French knitters. How cool, I thought. Maybe people would enjoy blogging-a-long in addition to knitting-a-long. Certainly I have the webspace and the bandwidth to spare....
I posted a little comment to thank Becky for the inspiration. And then I got an email from her asking if I would like help setting up the blog.
How could I resist an offer like that?
Now, a month later, that idea has become reality and we're all ready to share our new home with anyone who wants to join us on a 50's Glam Adventure...
So, knitters, do you think you have what it takes to join the Audrey knitalong? What does it take, you ask, other than a few skeins of Rowan Calmer (or an appropriate substitute) to join this knit-a- long? Well, here goes!! It takes VISION, a sense of STYLE, and a DESIRE to put some feminine fifties glamour into your wardrobe!!
Visualize it!! Can you see yourself wearing this sweater? The ribbing in this sweater can either be a friend or foe depending on your figure, so it is important to visualize how your figure would look in it before you make a commitment to knitting it. Speaking as a woman with an hour glass figure, I think this sweater will show off my curves nicely. Best of all, the beautiful neckline will elongate my neck and frame upper body beautifully.
A sense of style!! Of course you have a sense of style!! You will be stylin’ around town in this sweater regardless of whether it is paired with slim slacks, jeans, or skirt. It’s a versatile sweater and can be dressed up or dressed down, depending on your mood!
A desire for fifties glamour!! Audrey Hepburn is the embodiment of fifties glamour and everyone needs a little fifties glamour in their wardrobe right, don’t you think? This sweater will make you feel not only feminine and glamorous, but also sassy enough to ride a Vespa! You know, sugar and spice and everything nice!! How much sugar and how much spice are completely up to you!!
Now, your knit-a-long hosts Theresa, Becky, Morgan, and Elisabeth thought that a special sweater such as Audrey called for a special knit-a-long. So, our sweet, yet sexy Audrey will have a blog all of her own!! At this blog, you will be free to carry on about the current state of your project, as well as share photographs of your progress!! Better still, throughout the life of the knit-a-long there will be challengers that knit-a-longers will be presented with. Knit-a-longers who accept the challenge and complete it will get a reward (Yes, a REWARD!!) -- we hope you’ll play along, but there’s no pressure to do anything other than enjoy knitting your sweater.
And we have a few special surprises planned for everyone!
(credit for the description goes to my fabulous co-hostess, Elisabeth!)
To anyone who contacted Elisabeth, Morgan or me, you should have an email describing the adventure about to begin. If you're interested, just reply to the email and I'll get you set up with an account and help you get started. (If you didn't get an email, just send one of us a friendly reminder!)
And there's always room for more people who want to have fun and knit this sweater! Just send an email to theresa AT keyboardbiologist DOT net (replace the AT and the DOT with their symbols to get a real email address), or any of the other hostesses, tell us who you are (and if you have a blog, send us the link) and we'll send get you the rules and get you hooked in!
Posted by Theresa at April 1, 2004 12:01 AM1) Rowan 35 - Check!
2) Calmer in glamourous RED - Check!
3) A fun place to share in an online knitting meetup - Check!
Thanks to Theresa, Morgan, Elisabeth, "Tiffany" and fellow knit-a-longers for a virtual place to meet and share, for enabling me with the yarn and for the knitting company. [And thanks to Leya for enabling me with Rowan 35!]
I am looking forward to knitting this sweater in such fine company. It's going to be the highlight of my spring! I feel like going off and renting a VESPA!
Let the fun begin :-)
Posted by: Becky at April 1, 2004 12:54 AMI would like to join the knitalong, but first off I have a question to you expertise knitters. Rowan Calmer is very expensive (over 10$ here in Europe) - and since I have unbelievable quantities of cotton yarn in my stash, I am thinking about a sostitution. Now the question: do you think that a stretch yarn is necessary? The sweater is anyway stretch because of the ribbing, isn't it? Please give me your suggestions.
Posted by: Marta at April 1, 2004 11:01 AMHoly guacamole! What a beautiful blog! I'm not going to join this knitalong but I'll be checking in on all of you. :)
Posted by: Jessica at April 1, 2004 01:24 PMOK, you people have me tempted. I already have another project lined up, but I also have a Reynold's cotton blend laying around in my stash that would probably be perfect for Audrey. HOW MANY THINGS CAN I WORK ON AT ONCE??
Posted by: Jackie at April 1, 2004 02:08 PMMarta -- I think a stretch yarn is helpful but not required. The ribbing will give you some natural elasticity. We're going to have a lot of discussions about yarn and so forth, so I vote that you join us and we'll all learn together!
Perhaps there are other voices that will have something to say on this issue, too!
Jackie -- you can never have too many fun projects! And if a yarn is perfect, how can you deny it it's opportunity to shine? That would be a terrible case of yarn abuse! We'd have to report you ;-)
Posted by: Theresa at April 1, 2004 02:45 PMSign me up darling, as I too would love to
sport my Audrey,
with scarf around my neck,
and Vespa in my future (maybe, well maybe not). Guess I will have to imagine the Vespa.
But I love this Audrey-a-long look! What a grand idea! Can't wait to get started.
Hope there's room for one more.
Posted by: froggy at April 4, 2004 10:24 AMHi, Emy from Beijing. Would love to join in this knitalong but could you advise the rules?
thanks
Emilyn
Hi, Emy. The rules are linked from the left column. Just click on "knitalong rules", above the Audrey button.
Theresa can get you set up to post here at the blog. Just send her an e-mail at the address mentioned in the entry above.
Posted by: Becky at April 9, 2004 01:43 AMClare here in Dublin. Would like to join the Audrey knitalong. Loved this pattern of all in the latest Rowan mag. Not sure what colour I like best. Am I too late. I will be visiting England next week and I'm hoping to buy my yarn.
Clare
I've finally managed to convince my hour glass figured sister that she needs a new sweater (i.e., "Am I female?"), so now I have to commence with Audrey, I hope there is room for me and I am not too late?
Posted by: Johanne at April 22, 2004 01:23 PMAfter reading this blog, I decided to try my hand at Audrey. The Calmer yarn is just the most luscious yarn I've ever used. I am not crazy about the way the decreases/increases look. Until there are enough stitches to make another rib, the pattern is very off. Is there really a big advantage to increasing/decreasing in the middle of a sweater instead of at the ends?
Joy
Posted by: Joy at April 23, 2004 02:09 PMAm VERY interested, but I look crap in raglans and was considering reworking this as a cap sleeve with portrait neckline. I am new to knitting and am curious as to a) is that possible and b) does that make it too different for me to join the knitalong?
Posted by: catherine at May 3, 2004 09:00 PMIs it too late for another Audrey fan to join in? And, I haven't been knitting that long, so could a somewhat beginner knit this beautiful sweater?? Thanks !! Carol
Posted by: carol at May 4, 2004 03:17 PMHi
I've already started knitting Audrey and only just saw that you have a knitalomg. I'd like to join if it's not too late. I'm knitting mine in a wool/alpaca blend mainly because this sweater is far too hot to wear during a Greek summer. The gauge is different to the one obtained with calner and so I've had to adjust the pattern a bit. This has resulted in a loy of knitting and ripping. I hope that this doesn't exclude me from the knitalong.
Regards, Chrisanthi
Count me in for the knitalong, too. I just picked up 8 skeins of Calmer in the hot pink shade. Haven't swatched yet as I am determined to finish at least one current WIP before I start another one!
Posted by: Sharon at May 8, 2004 10:53 AMFound a link to this project from Wendy's site and instantly wanted to knit this sweater. The completed projects are gorgeous! Question though - is the pattern available in anything but the Rowan magazine? I live in Vancouver (Canada) and haven't come across the Rowan magazines yet. Mind you, I haven't started looking but I was wondering if there was an on-line or mail order source for that pattern only.
Thanks.
Posted by: Lisa at May 11, 2004 10:21 AMDo you know if I could buy only the pattern for Audrey somewhere? If I buy the book it is very expensive to send it to me in Sweden. If I could have the pattern only a stamp vill be enough!!(+ the cost for the pattern of course..!)
//Regards Marianne
I`ve just ordered midnight blue from the Sale at Colourways, so over here in Holland there is going to be a blue Audrey!
love Karin
Hi,
I'm french and my name is Sylvie. I've just ordered the Rowan #35, I like so many patterns in it and especially Audrey! But before starting, I have to wait for the magazine to arrive and then choose some yarn! I've read your "welcome to Audrey a long" and found it wonderful! I've also read the posts and I'd like to say that you are a great group of knitters! So will you accept me with you if it's not too late and even if I don't start knitting right now?? It would be really wonderful!
Happy knitting, Sylvie from France
Too late to join the Audrey knit-along? I hope not. I finally got my Calmer (in Pool) and I'm planning on casting on this weekend. Haven't yet ordered my Vespa....
Thanks!
Posted by: beverlee burke at June 30, 2004 12:22 PMI'm very excited to be a part of this knitalong. Better late than never! I'm still trying to decide what color of calmer I would like to use.
Either...
Pool
Jewel
Drift
Any suggestions to help me decide?
Thanks
Hi,
I have just started Audrey in Pool. I just finished the front (or back). I am really enjoying it and it is going very fast. The increases took a little practice and ripping and reripping, but I finally got the hang of it.
Shelley
Posted by: Shelley at July 30, 2004 02:00 PMWell, I started Audrey on July 30, and I am moving very quickly. I have finished the back and front and am almost done with my first sleeve. I almost feel guilty that it is so fast, but I haven't worked on something that was so straightforward for a long time. When I am done, I will send a picture.
Posted by: Shelley at August 6, 2004 02:21 PM