Tudor Roses Knitalong

Tudor Roses KAL yahoo group

2007-09-30T10:32:00.000-05:00

We think that it would be easier for people to have the KAL in a yahoo group. It will allow more day to day chat and easier sharing of ideas and challenges.

The blog will still be used to post pictures and finished garments.

Come join us and tell us what is on your needles, what challenges you have encountered or what you are planning to get started on.

Tudor Roses KAL yahoo group

Click on the above link to join.

PS: The list is setup requiring owners approval to join.....this to avoid spam!

Hello from Houston, TX

2007-09-25T13:06:00.000-05:00

Hi,

I am having one heck of a time trying to find this book! My local library does not have. I found 2 on eBay but when the bidding hit $75+ I stopped. I really want to make the Eliz 1 sweater, plus woould like to see what else she has in the book. My KNOW group sent out an email to the members and no one has it either. So I am stuck as to where and when I can make this sweater. The ones I have seen on the blog are just beautiful and the colors are awesome. Anyway Ibest get to my introduction lol.
I'm Cheryl and I am a 100% service-connected disabled veteran, and so is my husband Michael we live in the Houston area of TX. Since I (we) no longer work I need to keep busy with all this free time I now have. We share a beautiful home with Sir Angus Seton and Rita our two small dogs. After a 20+ yr. hiatus I picked up knitting again and I am having the greatest time making gifts for others and family. I have taken classes to learn how to do lace knitting (small scarf), cables and also socks I learned how to make them on my own!! I have many projects on many needles to keep me busy and when I get bored with one I can work on another. I am looking to learn how to spin and hope to start classes in the fall. Presently I have the following projects OTN: Spa Sox ~ D. Bliss Cashmerino; Mystery Stole 3 ~ Zephyr Lace yarn in Mahogany w/Czech Glass Beads in Red Rainbow color (put on the shelf for now), Forest Canopy using 1-ply pure wool fingering yarn from Mirari Crafts an eBay store , from a new friend named Marie. It is a beautiful yarn and the colorway is rich shades of violet, pink and golden yellow.

I finished a shrug for my daughter’s 28th birthdaypresent; I used 3 balls of D. Bliss Stella in #9 Red, which is a silk, rayon and cotton yarn, just finished Forest Canopy Shoulder shawl in Vintage Silk Maiden & Louisa Harding’s Grace and anoaather shrug for a friend in Nashua's Cilantro the bodyy is aqua and the trim is bright white. Other projects on the needles: Bee Fields Shawl, I aim using 100% Merino lace weight from Yarn Tree House and the colorway is Bloom. This colorway reminds me of rainbow sherbet colors lol; 1 more Forest Canopy's; I also make one of a kind jewelry using sterling silver and semi-precious gemstone beads. I also make stitch markers using Sterling Silver and Swarovski Crystals and other types of beads. My DH is going to get the 2 different yarns for me for future projects and also the Honey Bee Stole pattern. Then there is the lacey baby cap that is about half way done. Well I better get moving time for some herbal tea and knitting. I look forward to making some new friends in this group. Have a nice evening all.

Cheryl (or my friends call me CW)

Mary Tudor question

2007-09-24T17:10:00.000-05:00

Does "Mary Tudor" have one button or more? In the supplies list, there is only one button, but in the finishing section you read about sewing buttonS. On the other hand, the photos seem to show one button.

What do you think? And how practical would a cardigan with a single button be?

Thanks!

Henry VIII finished

2007-09-17T17:10:00.000-05:00

Well I posted a picture of the body a long time ago... then finished "him" in August. "He" was at the Alaska State Fair for 10 days, although I forgot to take my camera and didn't get any pictures. If you want to find out more about him just view at my blog.
My husband is so pleased... I promised him Henry about 5 years ago, so it's been a long wait!

Pick up the Needles

2007-09-02T17:47:00.000-05:00

With the warm weather almost over and sight of colder days, I am ready to pickup the needles again. I have taken over the task of leading this group in hope that we can get many many more Tudors done.
I am not exactly sure what I am going to cast on next but the decision will be made soon enough. Tell us what you have on the needles. Have you run into a snag? Show us pictures, pictures and more pictures!
Come on everyone! tell us how your project is going.

Finished!!

2007-08-19T04:16:00.000-05:00

My Elizabeth I is finally done!

And I really like it a lot.

It´s so useful and fits excellent

so I´m already thinking of doing

one more in an different yarn ;)

Several people have came up to

me asked me where I bought it....

Don´t know if I should be flattered

or..... ;)

Anyone Interested in being Administrator?

2007-08-13T14:03:00.000-05:00

There seems to be ongoing interest in continuing this blog as a Knit-along, and I've gotten several new requests lately.
Since I finished knitting my Eliz I and haven't cast on yet, and have no immediate plans to do so for Jane Seymour, I've been very inactive here.

Would anyone else be interested in taking over as Admin and getting this blog KAL active again?

Margaret Tudor

2007-08-12T14:58:00.000-05:00

She is finally done. More photos and stats are posted in my blog.

Margaret Tudor was my third project from Tudor Roses. The next one would be Elizabeth I with camel Dunedin. I am now working on adjusting the pattern as I hear and read that it is large and its neck opening is too wide.

Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII

2007-06-26T01:04:00.000-05:00

I am new to posting on this blog but am so pleased to be a part of it. I "discovered" it in April, when I was doing a search for Henry VIII because I had just finished my Anne Boleyn cardigan and was about to begin knitting the Henry pull-over. I wanted to see how other knitter's sweaters had turned out. I had the yarn for a long time in my stash, but was a little intimidated by the idea of knitting a fair isle sweater, as I had never done one. It was so much fun, as soon as I finished the cardigan, I got started on the Henry pullover. I would love to do every sweater in Tudor Roses as they are all so lovely.

Now, I just need to get started on poor Henry's sleeves but it has been a little warm to have this big wad of wool on my lap!

Elizabeth I blues

2007-06-19T05:39:00.000-05:00

Here she is, almost finished! But... I am not happy with her. At all. I've been a slow finisher, it's taken almost a year, and a lot has happened. I think that my slow pregnant pace has affected my gauge, because the sweater is waaay too big! I cast on for size M, but this is more like a XXL... it works for a pregnant body, apart from the sleeves. Not very funny really, I've tried knitting a swatch and shrinking it in the washing machine, but that took away the pattern. I'll try one more time, and if that doesn't work then I will have to take the pieces apart, measure, zigzag on a sewing machine and Cut!

Ready, Set, Start whenever it suits.

2007-05-22T06:57:00.000-05:00

Member List updated 9/1/06
Annie - Eliz I
Brigitte, Eliz I, A.S.Hebridean 2 ply
Cate - Eliz I, Zephyr DK
Carrie K Eliz I, Rowan wool-cotton, Rich
Claire - Eliz I, Jaeger Matchmaker, mineral
Dianna - Eliz I
DeeAnn, Catherine Parr
Emily
Eva - Eliz I in Brown Sheep sport
Faye -
Geri - undecided
Heather - Eliz I Rowan wool-cotton, color=Gypsy
Heidi - Eliz I
Helen - Eliz I
Jessica - Katherine Howard
JoAnn - Anne of Cleves
Jewel Henry VIII
Jenny - Eliz I
Kate
Kim - Eliz I ,
Kristine
Laurel - Eliz I , Dunnedien
Liz - Katherine of Aragon, Jamiesons
MaryPat - Henry ?
Margo , Eliz I
Marina - Henry VIII
Marji - Eliz I, Rovings wool/silk (and soon Jane Seymour)
Mia - Eliz I, Visjögarn Blue
Miriam - Eliz I
Nic - Mary Tudor
Rebecca -
Sam - Henry VIII
Sharon - Elizabeth I
Sherry (bubbles)
Sherry -Katherine of Aragon
Sigrid (Garngamen) - Catherine Parr
Stephanie Catherine Parr or Eliz I
Susan - undecided
Terri - Henry VII
Terry - Eliz I, Lana Gatto "Feeling" Silk, Merino, Cashmere
Theresa Margaret Tudor ?/ Elizabeth of York
Wendi - Katherine of Aragon

The book is out of print, however there are a significant number of copies still available. Check Ebay, Jannette at Rare Yarns, or even your local library.

Links are on the sidebar for yarn sources. Alice Starmore has a site, Virtual Yarns, and has available as kits the yarns for
Henry VIII,
Anne of Cleves,
Catherine Parr,
Elizabeth I,
Margaret Tudor,
Henry VII, and a
cushion cover in the Henry VIII motif.
While not the only source, I know that Anne at SheEweKnits will also kit up the yarn for any of the patterns, using, I believe, Jamieson yarns.

Thanks to Sherry for making a button. Please feel free to take it and use it to link back here from your own blog.

disclaimer: Note: while as members we will endeavor to support each other as we knit through these incredible patterns, there will be NO sharing or posting of any copyrighted pattern material. Any post containing any charts, portions of charts, or written instructions will be removed.

Question on Liz 1!

2007-05-13T11:37:00.000-05:00

Hi, I am starting to get back on track with my Liz and I have a question for those of you who have finished or at least gone through the first leg. I know I have seen this question, but can't find the archive, so please bear with me if this is redundant. I am through chart B and C and am starting on C for the second time. Will the armholes start in the second repeat of chart C or the third repeat of chart C? That would really be row 67 and 68? I find this a little unclear, so any help would be very much appreciated! Thanks! Sharon

Katherine Kontinuing

2007-04-30T18:21:00.000-05:00

How is everyone else doing with the Tudor Roses project? I am still plugging along on Katherine of Aragon. I have knitted part of the sleeve steek. My motivation will probably increase when I begin the sleeves since the end will be in sight. I would love to get an update on the other projects.

By the way, isn't it depressing that Jamieson and Smith is reducing the number of colors it manufactures? I have been trying to figure out how this will effect my future projects.

Lorri
http://knitlink.blogspot.com

both panels finished

2007-04-26T12:17:00.000-05:00

So I just finished the second panel of my Elizabeth I. And here you can see what is a bad thing about waiting a long time completing your project... the two pieces are Totally Different in gauge. Arrgh... Well well, I have decided that blocking (or something) will help, and I am not going to worry about it yet. Maybe it will look as a front and a back...? On to the sleeves!

10 panels done

2007-04-14T20:44:00.000-05:00

Instead of posting exactly the same content here, I am posting a link here. I hope it is okay with you. I am done with 10 panels, finally!!

Greetings from WI

2007-03-31T15:32:00.001-05:00

Discovered this wonderful blog - Have the book Tudor Roses....wanted to join in the fun - thanks

Greetings from WI

2007-03-31T15:32:00.000-05:00

Discovered this wonderful blog - Have the book Tudor Roses....wanted to join in the fun - thanks

Margaret Tudor Update

2007-03-31T12:10:00.001-05:00

Finally assembled, just for the back, though. Close up below.

Nine more panels to go!

Hello

2007-03-29T21:53:00.001-05:00

Hello all,

I'm new here, excitedly awaiting my copy of Tudor Roses with my eye on Elizabeth for starters. Reviewing the blog archives and all the lovely photos. Very glad to be here.

Handled some hemptherapy (sp) in LYS today-- a very soft, earthy blue. Maybe too fine for me--I knit tight.

Candace

lots of new interest!

2007-03-29T20:13:00.000-05:00

as Marina reminded me recently, we are coming up on the One Year Anniversary of this KAL.

Amazing isn't it?

There has been some wonderful work here, and all of a sudden, recently, I've gotten requests to join. I just sent out 4 invites, and at least 2 before leaving on vacay two weeks ago.

I love seeing the progress.
Of those who've finished, does anyone plan on knitting another design?
Of those who've started, is anyone close to finishing that hasn't posted recently?

I'm so thrilled for Mia, who's expecting, (and still, amazingly enough, knitting along on Liz) ;)

My own update will come soon. Finishing up some sewing that I'm totally involved in right now, then will get back to my knitting.

Started all over again!

2007-03-19T12:41:00.000-05:00

So I´ve frogged the back
of Elizabeth I and change needles.
From 3 to 2,5mm and now the
gauge is right!
I´m soo happy, thought I´d
have to take some other yarn
and really didn´t want to.
I really like this soft cotton yarn!
I hope it´ll be alright now and
no more frogging ;)

Queen Catherine Parr is Done!

2007-03-18T07:05:00.000-05:00

I was on the finish line, and after intense knitting the last weeks, Queen Catherine Parr - A true Tudor Rose is finished. She is big (but so am I), and long (covers my behind), but fantastic. A great knit, and a very comfortable and nice sweater. Having posted most info (just a bit below) I must correct that the main green yarn was three-threaded and blend. And I added one extra one-thread of varigated yarn to fulfill the master knitters intention to use a sparkle of gold (coppar) in it, but I carried it along all the way. They mixed great, and at long bits it does not show. A fantastic knit, so rewarding to do, and colours turned out great.

A close-up of the neck in a bit sharper photo!It is just such a fantastic knit and pattern, and even if I consider my KAL "done" here, Im definitely going to do some more of her patterns, so what is the next project? That is the big question. Fair-isle is tempting. I will definitely stay on! I will miss the nice pattern, it flows so nice - and is easy to remember, and with some tricks moving one stitch is really a piece of cake. The bubbles took a long time to do, and I have done them a bit different than pattern (a bit bigger). Also I have reworked the pattern to circular, but this is great, it works easy either way, so I parted when the sleeve started. I just do not like doing two colour pattern from the back, much easier (and faster) doing them circular. More pictures and stories on my blog Garngamen (= yarnvulture). Your knitting friend, Sigrid from Sweden.

New here!

2007-03-13T16:03:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone!

I´m new to this group so I thought

I´d pop in and present my self.

My name is Margaretha and I

live in Sweden. 41 years old

and at the moment I study

to become a gardener.

I´ve started to knit Elizabeth I from

Tudor Roses and I´ve almost made

the back when I discovered that

it got to big. Sigh!

So now I´m frogging.....

I´ve choosen an swedish yarn,

a mix with cotton and acrylic

wich is soft and perfect for a

summer sweater.

I´ll start all over again with

some other needles and

hopefully it´ll turn out better ;)

I´m knitting on Aberlady too

but that´s on hold right now.

Here´s a picture of my Eliza

Queen Catherine Parr - Progress!

2007-03-03T08:19:00.000-06:00

Hi dear Knitting Tudor Roses KAL friends.

I have now worked 2 month on my Catherine Parr, and now I have both the sleeves to go. Im knitting on 3.5 mm needles. Yarn is Swedish Kempe with a one thread blend of Estonian (green) and the Coppar is 2 threads of one-threaded Färgkraft's Bronze and one two-threaded of Swedish spinnery Mojärv's yarn. It is a fantastic pattern, and Im doing the Large (+ some extra stiches), since Im a bit apple-shaped. I must say I have become a true admirer of Alice fantastic pattern during this knit, so Im already planning the next Tudor Rose. Some more pictures on my blog: Garngamen where I also post a lot more comments. /Sigrid from Sweden

Slow progress

2007-03-02T09:38:00.000-06:00

I have been awfully quiet here, and I am sorry about that! Through fall, I felt no desire to touch my blue Elizabeth I, but now as spring is approaching, I heard it calling my name :-)

So I just finished the first piece last night (hence bad flash-picture). I immediately cast on for the second, so that it wont take forever to continue.

The urge to make this sweater has somewhat diminished for me, since I'm Pregnant!!! Very unexpected- but still welcome, it's been a while since last time. My youngest will be 7 when the baby comes in August.

But it is still a fun knit, and I really hope and plan to stick with it this spring. The size seems to be right- or at least it will be in the future again. Hopefully.

My regular blog is in Swedish, and wouldn't switch to the new Blogger beta version. So if you want to visit, it is http://miastick.blogspot.com

See ya!

2007-02-24T14:50:00.000-06:00

Sarah wrote in the comment section of the initial post on this KAL:
I just ordered the Virtual Yarns Elizabeth I kit. It came today... but it's just yarn, no pattern. Is this right? I was going to join the KAL as soon as I had kit in hand, but obviously this is a bit of a holdup.

The pattern is supposed to come with the yarn in the kit, right?

Sorry Sarah, but No, you need the book. This one isn't the fault of AS. Quoted below directly from the VY site:

Many of our past designs have been inspired by the play of light on land, on water, or on objects both natural and man-made. Such effects are elusive and trying to capture them can be rather like trying to catch sunbeams. When designing our Hebridean colour range we sought to create shades that would glow and shimmer, and allow us to reproduce exactly what we saw in our mind’s eye. These past designs show that our quest succeeded. More will be addedsarah has left a new comment on your post "Ready, Set, Start whenever it suits.":

. Check to see if the original book is needed, or if the design has been republished in a full-colour patterncard.

Elizabeth I

The silhouette of this garment was designed to emphasise and enhance the female form - just like the gowns of the Elizabethan era. It has proved quietly popular among women with the figure to carry it off, and several have told me that they got married in it. The colour choice will greatly influence the mood. It looks fresh and breezy shown here in Strabhann. For a regal look worthy of The Virgin Queen, then choose Mara, Red Rattle or Erica. For a light an subtle effect, Driftwood, Spindrift or Fulmar would look particularly good. It is worked straight from the instructions in my book Tudor Roses, which is required to make the garment. AS

Check Ebay. There are also links on the sidebar for places where people have been able to obtain the book.
Last fall the going price for the book was typically $80

Sorry. I don't know if you already have joined the KAL, but I'll send you an email invite

OT: televison series The Tudors

2007-02-23T07:29:00.000-06:00

Recieved in the email, thought I'd pass it along.
If you follow the link, there is a YouTube clip that is visually beautiful, as well as pandering quite a bit to contemporary tastes for action and sex in film.

I found your Katherine of Aragon and I think you may be interested in the new tv show “The Tudors.” I’m reaching out to you on behalf of M80 & Showtime regarding this new show. Since you are interested in Katherine of Aragon, I thought that you might write a preview, post the banner, a video or info about the show on your ?
For your help or preview I’d be happy to offer you a prize pack from Showtime.

Please check out the images, video, icons, about the movie and more at:
http://assets.m80im.com/webmasters/thetudors/thetudors.html

Also, catch a clip of The Tudors here and after March 12th the entire first episode!
Password: Sneak Peek
http://www.sho.com/site/vip/home.do?source=m80

Please let me know if you’re interested.

Nikki
nikki@m80im.com

Katherine Off and Running

2007-01-20T10:25:00.000-06:00

I have finally received all of the right yarn for my Katherine of Aragon cardigan and have started knitting after a long wait. This pattern uses 5 charts so I made myself some stitch markers with letters corresponding to the chart letters. This has been very helpful although I have finished a full repeat of the charts and which chart I am using is much more obvious. This has been a fun knit so far and I would agree that the colors are quite engaging.

This cardigan is quite long which seems to be out of fashion at the moment. I am not sure if it would look right if I eliminated one repeat of the charts. The length of the cardigan seems to make it look elegant. Any thoughts on that issue?

Lorri
http://knitlink.blogspot.com

Katherine, rested.

2007-01-17T13:54:00.000-06:00

Here's my Katherine of Aragon. She's well rested from the holidays, since she hasn't been touched in 1 1/2 months. (You know, Marina finishes whole fair isle sweaters faster than I can finish a repeat!)
I love the sweater just the same, though, and hope to give her some more attention soon!
I do love the colors that AS chose for this sweater. I think they are mesmerizing still, no matter how long I've knit on them!

Hi All

2007-01-12T16:02:00.000-06:00

We are halfway through the first month of the new year and I was wondering about everyone's progress? My poor Elizabeth became victim of an accident, of the worst kind. She came into work with me, or tried, as I walked out of the garage and noted I felt a bit of a pull, looking back there she was trailing almost one full floor. While I did have my bag, she somehow managed to stay behind in the car. Now she was obviously upset as she was unraveled and a bit dirty, but alas..she has been cast back on...the really bad part was it was the back, yes the completed back sitting on a spare needle but not wanting to be separated from the front always present...so sad...I am very glad I took notes on changes I made as I was using the back as a guide for the front visually...
After the proper greiving time, I finished frogging rewound what was not damaged and moved on. So perhaps she will be the project I bring to Ireland with me next month. We are only going for a few days(had to cancel an earlier European anniversary trip due to issues beyond our control)and had to rebook tickets, so since we are going to Ireland for two weeks in June with children, DH thought the yarn shops should be checked out this trip..
Sorry for being so long winded...
I must say I am tempted to now name my van Henry due to the demise of Elizabeth

Margaret Tudor Update

2007-01-04T20:32:00.000-06:00

Congratulations, Sam (tychoish)! Cannot wait to see your Henry VIII photos.

I made some progress on my Margaret Tudor and here are some photos.

I am knitting the smallest size, basically, except for the body width, which is further narrowed by total of 12 stitches, 6 stitches at each side. I will need to lengthen the sleeves to compensate for the narrower shoulder width. Here is a close up, as much I could manage.

So far, I am quite content, but my hands are aching a bit. Need to take a break from this project before I ruin my hands. :)

Are there anyone here knitting Margaret Tudor as well?

Happy knitting!

2007-01-03T17:09:00.000-06:00

Finished Object: Henry VIII

Hello Friends!

I have to report that I have finished my Henry VIII, and I did make it in before the new year by a few hours. It's really a delightful sweater. I have some observations to share. Pictures will be forthcoming I hope.

I had to knit an additional half repeat of the pattern on the sleeves. This isn't the first time that I've had to lengthen the sleeves of a Starmore design, and I'm beginning to think that our fair designer didn't know very many people with long-average sized arms. No matter, it's an easy enough problem to fix.

Also, I have the feeling that this sweater is in need of a gusset at the underarm. I followed the pattern to the letter on this garment, and I feel that had I listened to my gut in a few places, I might be slightly more pleased with the shape. That'll learn me.

I also had to block it two times to get it to fit right, but now that It's been properly blocked. I'm feeling pretty good about it. This is a great sweater.

Additionally. Gloss, from Knit picks is an amazing yarn for sweaters, and the price can't be beat.

Cheers,
Sam (tychoish)

Swatching Katherine of Aragon

2006-12-30T15:05:00.000-06:00

Hello! I am a new member who will be joining the Katherine of Aragon knitters. I am planning to use Jamieson and Smith's 2-ply which finally arrived after approximately 2 months. I ordered it directly from Jamieson and Smith and they were making a new batch of FC55 which held my order up for awhile.

So after my lengthy wait, I immediately swatched the pattern only to discover that my heliotrope substitution is too bright. (Heliotrope is the third background color down, i.e. bright pink.) I have decided to try Jamieson's orchid instead so I am once more waiting for yarn before I begin. Since I am ordering within the country I am hoping for less of a wait.

Wish me a speedy delivery so that I can finally get started on my sweater!

Lorri
Http://knitlink.blogspot.com

Happy Holidays

2006-12-25T11:57:00.000-06:00

Happy, Safe Holidays to one and all....

Eliz I riding back over shoulders

2006-12-21T18:33:00.000-06:00

< snip >Hi
I finished Elizabeth I in Brown Sheep sport, color French Clay, a few weeks ago. But I don't like how it hangs. As I wear it, the front creeps up and the back sags down, until it looks like I've got an extra pair of boobs under my shoulder blades. Yuck!

I'm going to take the neckband off. But I can't decide whether to reknit the band picking up fewer stitches across the back than the front or take the back apart and remake the back so that it goes further up my neck which means reshaping the sleeves to accommodate the increased back.

Rats. Is anyone else having this problem or am I just a funny shaped human?

Eva

< snip >
< snip I wore Eliz I again yesterday to see if wearing it the other way round was better. What I noticed is, that as the day wears on, the neckline stretches and it's already pretty large. I'm going to reknit the neck using fewer stitches and then face it with ribbon. We'll see if that fixes it.

Eva

< snip >

I'm sorry Eva, I've been giving this problem some thought from a clothing construction point of view, but haven't responded here.
I'm trying to figure out why a garment would ride back. Usually if something rides up, it's because it's trying to find more room. But it makes no sense in terms of riding back over your shoulders.
Does the armhole fit ok? Do you have any pics of yourself in it? I'm not certain that just tightening a neckline will fix the problem - might, might not. If you have any pics it might help to see how it fits you.

Does anyone else have any ideas?

Mary Tudor

2006-12-20T18:33:00.000-06:00

This is my progress so far on Mary Tudor!
I've sadly neglected her in favor of dishcloths and wool socks lately, but I'm hoping to pay her enough attention to have her finished before the end of January.

2006-12-20T14:44:00.000-06:00

Check In: Henry.

Hello Friends!

I'm in the midst of my graduate school application process, so I haven't had an abundance of time to participate in this blog, or any other, for that matter. But I have had some time to do some knitting.

Having finished the body and the collar of my Sir Henry (my alternate universe Henry VII, in two colors) I've started on the first sleeve. I tend to knit the collar before the sleeves, because it's nice to see how it's going to turn out. I have to say that I'm not entirely pleased with the exact shaping of this neck, mostly because I trusted the pattern rather than the standard neck shaping that I borrowed from a the fisherman's sweaters book. I just felt that the shaping described in the book makes the neck a little too boxy, but I'll reserve judgement until after I block and sew down the hem.

I also found the directions for the patterns at the bottom of the sleeve to be somewhat confusing, but it's not a high visibility place, and I'm muddling through it.

Since I'm home for my semester break, I do plan on taking some pictures to share with you all, so stay tuned in the coming weeks.

As I'm in the end stages of this sweater project I've begun to look forward to my next project. I have some nice alpaca sport weight that I think is going to be a turkish pullover of some sort, and actually I expect to start playing around with several charts in the next few hours and days. I had thought that I was done with my venture into the Tudor Roses, but I think after the turkish alpaca pullover I'd like to do Katherine of Aragon in dark blue and light green. I'm not yet sure if I want to knit a pull over (without the tassels) or some sort of modified (shorter, etc) version of the cardigan....

So, there's that. I'll get back to you with pictures soon. I hope everyone survives the holidays in one piece.

Cheers,
Sam

Introducing myself

2006-12-20T12:34:00.000-06:00

Hi,

I just joined this group. Thanks, Marji!

I adore AS designs in Tudor Roses, all of them. I want to knit them all! I don't think I have any other knitting books which make me feel this way. Of course, it will take my lifetime at this pace to accomplish it. In any event, I might know a few people here. Hi, Jewel! Glad to see you here with your Henry VIII.

Down to business. I started knitting Margaret Tudor at least four years ago using Louet Gems Merino Opal in burgundy. I quickly abandoned the project as it hurt my fingers even with this softer yarn. I had to use smaller needles, 1.25 mm to be exact, and I felt they were digging into my fingertips. Somehow, I picked it up again a few weeks ago. This time, I must have developed some thick skin. I am not complaining any more! It is time to finish MT!! So far, I have three panels finished and 13 more to go. I am hoping my interest and enthusiasm won’t go away too quickly. After all, I want to knit Henry VIII next.

Happy knitting, everyone!
May

Eliz 1 progress

2006-12-19T14:51:00.000-06:00

Hi All,
I am one the Dalers also, Marji, man my hands hurt, LOL..anyways I have just about finished the back of Liz and will some pics in the next week or so..I am thinking of moving on to the sleeves next as I like to egt them out of the way. I am not sure she will be done by Jan20 as I am working on maybe 10 other things at the same time, but she she should be done shortly after that. Hope all TR knitters are doing well, getting ready for holidays and have bright lights to knit by.

Roll Call for update

2006-12-19T12:11:00.000-06:00

Just a shout out to all who’ve joined the Tudor Roses Knit along, asking everyone to pop in and let us know what your Tudor Roses project status is.

We’ve got some new folks just joining now, and I’m pretty sure that we’ve got some finished or about-to-be finished TR sweaters out there too.

I see quite a few from here who’ve begun knitting a TR project have signed on for the Dale Knit along scheduled to cast on January 20….Hoping that mine and maybe some other TR projects will be finished up by then.

Liz I - Take 2

2006-12-19T05:53:00.000-06:00

Elizabeth I is back on the needles. This incarnation is in Rowan Wool Cotton in a luscious creamy color. The good news is that the gauge is going to be right on for the project and I love the stitch definition I get with this yarn. I haven't yet made it to the cabling part of the design but I can tell from the border that this will be great. I'm stll contemplating the needle size - the edges are rolling quite a bit and I'm thinking going up a needle size could solve that. Sadly, the Hempathy will go back in the stash and wait for a more apropos project for it. I really did like working with this yarn much more than I thought I would.

New Member Intro

2006-12-16T08:26:00.000-06:00

Hi! I'm Tina in Houston and I just cast on for Elizabeth I a few days ago. I'm using Elsebeth Lavold's Hempathy yarn in a nice green (I really wanted the blue but I didn't have enough). The yarn knits up very well and is pretty much on target as far as gauge, but I am obviously bigger around than I had thought as when I laid it out and measured it I realized that I would have no ease at all. Off to the frog pond! Now the dilemna is whether to try making a larger size or find a different yarn! It looks like a lot of you are enamored with Liz I so what yarn are you using and is there a preferred yarn?

I already frogged a few inches before I decided I had better get a photo first.

Eliz 1 again

2006-12-10T13:44:00.000-06:00

Are there really 5 decreases but only 4 increases as far as darts go? Also when starting the center panel the instructions say work 56(3rd size) next 3 are for center then work 56. Well seeing as there are only and correctly 113 sts where do they get the additional 2? I am plugging along and working it as it comes up I am hoping these are typos...excet I do not see a fifth increase no matter how many times I read it so will go with the 4. As a sewer also I know the darts are not necessarily always mirror imaged.

Elizabeth 1 Progress

2006-12-06T17:45:00.000-06:00

I will edit later and add a pic as I have to update a few blogs, but this is the Eliz in Gypsy Rowan Wool Cotton. I am loving this yarn and this pattern and even better I love my knit pick needle (matches my yarn :) ) and my beautiful stitch markers! I told my son my sweater was wearing jewelry. I moved the darts toward center by 4 sts (of course immediately confused myself and only subtracted 4 from center group instead of 8) and it seems to be working out. I posted somewhere else all this fine needle knitting has created a hole in my left thumb....oh my kingdom for a callus.
OOK back to post pics, look at how cool that needle color is...

from another planet

2006-12-03T09:32:00.000-06:00

Hi all
I've been a particularly bad absent hostess lately.
No excuse, but I've been involved since Oct 4 knitting a Vittadini lace cardigan as a commissioned project. Done now except for the miles of ruffle edging, then I hope to get back to my Liz.

Cheryl, you may find it helpful to go back through some of the archived posts here regarding shaping on Liz.
Especially check this out re darts
http://tudorroses.blogspot.com/2006/08/shaping-on-liz.html

Sam, you're in St Louis aren't you? aren't you a student at SLU or WashU?
I'd love to see your Henry and maybe even get a pic of it to post here.

A note on my ability to count and the interminable sleeves, which BTW are NOT done.
I'm just finishing up sleeve number 2 when I realized that I counted the dart decrease rows wrong on sleeve number 1. I think that sleeve no 1 needs to be ripped out, as it is very obvious, in solid white, that they don't match. ARGH!

Elizabeth 1 question

2006-12-03T09:08:00.000-06:00

Hello All,
I am into the shaping darts and am wondering if the sizing is particularly generous on the lower edge. I am to gauge but it seem too big....is it really that much of a peplum effect? It doesn't appear to be so in pics. I will post an update by midweek, or a pic of a frogged item

Starting Tonight :)

2006-11-29T16:06:00.000-06:00

OK I am at the starting gate, have to remember all my other WIPs and try to split my time accordingly. OOh boy!!

2006-11-28T19:54:00.000-06:00

Hey Sam here, with Henry VIII progress

I'm actually calling this one Mr. Henry, or Sir Henry on the account of my color change. Anyway.

So I know I posted a few days ago that I was bordering on insane after 15-20 rows and the how the huge repeat was too much for me.

Well, here's an update. I've reached (and passed) the magical 33 row mark. I had been telling myself that if I got to this point and I still wasn't having fun, I'd stop and do something else. I figured that if I wasn't having fun, I might as well not put myself through this. I thankfully proved myself wrong.

I'm having a blast with this pattern. It's fun, and it makes my brain work just hard enough. I haven't started leaving my pattern at home (not to fear, I have a scanned copy of it on my computer, because frightfully I'm more likely to have my computer with me than I am to be able to be able to keep the pattern copy with me). I'm keeping the pattern with me until I feel comfortable with the charts without the reference.

The surprising thing is that the half way point to underarms is row 48. I should be to the underarm steeks by the end of next week at this rate. Ultimatly this means I could be done with the sweater by new years. Wild!

Anyway, I hope other people are having fun. I should really get back to something useful like applying to graduate school (eek!)

Cheers,
sam

PS. I also blocked out, finally the jacket I made. It's the first color-work cardigan I've ever made and the most most successful cardigan I have to my name. Nevertheless, I'm not entirely pleased with the way the "button band" hangs. Does anyone have a tip that might shine some light on this quandary? Cheers-again!

This Is Difficult...

2006-11-27T15:15:00.000-06:00

OK, I came back from a trip to my box of Rowan for Elizabeth, today my Tudor Roses book came!!! Lordy....I have never seen the book up close and personal. I started a sweater for my husband while we were away, a pattern by Wendy at WendyKnits and I have been trying to be good completing old WIP and now I am grateful I am heading into a long work stretch and can't sit and just drool over this book. I am slowly collecting Campion yarn in whatever color I can get, and have decided I will not live long enough to knit all I want. Even prioritizing and avergaing a sweater every 5 weeks I would need to live to be 110. And that is if I never look at another site or book or VK magazine. Back to Tudor Roses, I have fallen in love with Katherine Howard. I will have to finish my affair with Eliz and then KH before even venturing a look around. Have I mentioned all the post its in my Celtic Knitting book by AS? OK, hopefully by the weekend I will have started Elizabeth and postedd pics. My computer savvy husband will hopefully show me how to colorize and link words by then.

2006-11-25T02:31:00.000-06:00

Hey, Sam here again.

I hope you all had a good thanksgiving!

I started my Henry VIII a week ago, and have thus far knit the ribbing, the pattern band at the bottom, and the first 12 rows of the pattern. Here's what I have to say for myself:

To be truthful, I'm not sure that I like the pattern. It's driving me kind of batty. I tend to prefer patterns that are easy to remember and rhythmic. Vertical pattern bands, generally don't annoy me, it's just a more complex rhythm, but these patterns are big enough that my brain has a hard time managing it.

Thankfully all of the patterns in this are mirrored top to bottom, I just have to slave through constant refrences to the chart untill row 33, after that, I'm scott free. I just have to pull myself that far, and hell, I'm almost half there.

I don't really have pictures of any of my recent work, I am not in present ownership of a camera I fear, or progress pictures for this sweater. It looks nifty.

The color (dark brown and golden brown) are different than I'm used to, but I think I like it. I like the change if nothing else. While my color choices are mostly asthetic, I did also choose a silk/wool blend from knit picks. I must say that the yarn is divine. There are merits to using shetland for projects like this, particularly given the long floats between color blocks, but other than that, the yarn is really really nice.

There isn't much else to say at this point, other than I guess a general question about if/how other people do with memorization of charts. Can you memorize them? Does your memory work better for some kinds of charts rather than others? Does this affect your enjoyment of said charts?

Cheers,
Sam

I am getting closer

2006-11-22T16:39:00.000-06:00

I took a 2 handed fairisle class this past saturday, finished the hat, and think I am now ready to start Katherine at the beginning of the year!!!
It came fairly easy to me, even the tension of the stranded technique looks quite nice. Just have a few projects that will go into january that I want to finish before starting.

I think I decided, now the waiting

2006-11-19T15:39:00.000-06:00

I believe I will follow some of the group and use Rowan Wool Cotton for my Elizabeth. I have decided on gypsy as a color. So exciting,...I have a trip planned in a few days and wish I had the yarn and book to get this project going. But alas, I will finish some others that have been waiting......so exciting....

New but looking forward to starting

2006-11-16T10:31:00.000-06:00

Hello all, I came upon this site in a round about way from Wendy Knits, however, I have been an avid knitter for most of my life, how done some professional knitting...
I have just recently procured a copy of Tudor Roses from Ebay and am anxiously awaiting its arrival. I believe I will make Elizabeth first and then right on to a Fair Isle...my second favorite knitting only to Aran. Am looking forward to posting my progress and sharing tips and hopefully finding assistance if necessary. "Spying" for the past week or so I have thoroughly enjoyed and admired everyone's work.

2006-11-11T12:35:00.000-06:00

Hello!

I'm Sam, and I'm an college student and avid knitter. I've forgotten how exactly I got involved in this Knit along (I have a tendency to not knit from patterns, so knit alongs are a rarity.) My thing, such as it is, is stranded color work and sweaters. No other kind of knitting has held my attention or interest like this ever. Much of the time I just design my own sweaters using books of charted designs, an Excel spreadsheet, and a few hours. I tend to use some sort of basic drop shouldered gansey-type pattern, which looks pretty good on me, I think being skinny and male is a good thing too.

When I joined, I was finishing up another Starmore sweater, the Faroe design from her Fisherman's Sweaters collection. I really like the two color-work sweaters in this book, and have made them both basically as they're written. I've actually made Faroe twice, the most recent time was a little different in a couple of places, but nothing that anyone would really notice. I changed the Norway a bit to "butch it up;" I wasn't terribly fond of the flowery bit in the ribbing or the horizontal pattern band at the bottom of the sweater.

I guess I should back up a little and say that, I spent a few weeks this summer just starting projects so that I'd have a number of projects on hand to work on during this semester (when I'm applying to graduate school) that I could just pick up without thinking about it. Faroe was the first of this kind of project. The second was a coat that I designed myself, knit in black and grey Patton's Classic Merino, using a Turkish color-work pattern that I got from the "Anatolian Stocking Knitting" pattern book. It's my first attempt at a cardigan in a long time and I hope to god it turns out, because I'm running out of a need for pullover jumpers. I've finished the sweater body, and the collar, and about 2/3s of the first sleeve; this leaves the cardigan band, and a sleeve and some change. The only real thing I have yet to figure out is what kind of closures I want to use.

But anyway, this isn't the Fisherman's Sweater's KAL or the Sam-Knitting Channel. Why is this Tudor Roses related?

Well, because the next sweater I knit is going to be the Henry VIII sweater from Tudor Roses that I signed up to this KAL to knit. My scheme is/was to knit it as a two color design. In part this is because I'm color blind and keeping lots of color changes under control is my idea of a nightmare. Also, probably as a corollary, I'm really drawn to strong contrasts and bold lines, so two-color is really the way to go. From an artistic point of view, I've been calling this a version of the "peasantry." Taking the idea that fashion proliferates down the social hierarchy, but in doing so it changes. I'm also doing this in earth tones to help this aesthetic goal out.

I chose KnitPicks Gloss, which fits my college student budget and fibersnobery. I think it will work out just great. I'm hoping to start some time during the thanksgiving break, but it might not happen till after December 10th (when the University of Chicago's application deadline is).

Thanks for reading this.

Cheers,
Sam

Progress Shot

2006-11-10T18:36:00.000-06:00

(Sorry for the fuzzy pic).

I'm loving this sweater. I think it's the inspiration of getting to change colors every few rows or something. My first try at fair isle has definitely gotten me hooked!

Tudor Milestones

2006-10-10T00:16:00.000-05:00

Thought you guys might be interested in these October Tudor Milestones:

1st of October 1553 Mary Tudor was crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey.

2nd October 1501, Katherine of Aragon arrives in England to marry Arthur the Prince of Wales.

9th of October 1514, Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII marries King Louis XII of France.

12th of October 1537, Jane Seymour gives birth to the future Edward VI.

24th of October 1537 Jane Seymour dies.

30th of October 1485, Henry Tudor is crowned.

I got my inspiration for this post from History Magazine but there is also a detailed Tudor Chronology here:

http://tudors.crispen.org/chronology/index.html

So - that's what the real Tudors were up to this month - how are the knitted "Tudors" coming along? Alas - mine is still a distant dream due to the fact that I STILL can't make up my mind which design to knit. I think I'm waiting to see how some of the other ones come out first! ;)

Tell Me I'm Reading this Wrong

2006-10-04T22:01:00.000-05:00

Tell me that Alice Starmore did not design Mary Tudor - complete with steeks - knit in the round - well, knit in the round on the rows that aren't PURLED. Isn't that the point of circular knitting? No purling rows? I'm supposed to purl in the round with multiple colors? Garter stitch? Kill. Me. Now.

** Edited to Add the next day: Oh. On further reflection, reading the text a wee bit more closely, not to mention searching the net for errata, it turns out that the border patterns, aka the hem aka Charts A and C are knit in garter stitch. In the round. Ten rows and 16 rows respectively. Gah. Is there any reason why these can't be knit flat and then joined once the real knitting in the round commences?

Thank you, Marina. Not a lie, but you could have told me it was just a few rows! I thought the whole - in the immortal spelling of Olde English - damme thing was going to be garter stitch! Thank goodness for Knit Knot's picture of her Mary Tudor. [fans self] Oh, my nerves.

I'd show you a picture of the four measly rows I managed to knit yesterday - all day yesterday - but I left my camera behind.

So. Guess what I started knitting? ;)

Oh for Crying out Loud,

2006-09-24T12:15:00.000-05:00

Memory is a funny thing - so funny that relying on it to remember a pattern repeat (or decrease repeat) is best not done.
Sleeve 1 - correct

Sleeve #2 - visiting the frog pond

Honestly, this is getting ridiculous.

Ann Boleyn

2006-09-09T07:53:00.000-05:00

Someone asked for pictures of my Ann Boleyn. Here they are. It is a little wrinkled from being folded in storage. It took me almost a year to complete the knitting.

I have the buttons but I still haven't sewn them on.

Nic

end of August sees completion of Front

2006-09-01T13:50:00.000-05:00

I think that I overcompensated and moved the darts too close together (you should be able to see between one of these camera angles)...but the close together ones are still preferable to me, in the front, when I hold it up to myself.
On to sleeve island.

Greetings

2006-08-30T14:11:00.000-05:00

I just joined. I hope this will give me the push I need to finish my Mary Tudor. I'm on line 24 of my second pattern set. About 40 rows before I start the steeks for the sleeves.

I decided to alter this pattern to make a pullover instead of a cardigan.

I also have kitted up: Katherine of Aragon, Elizabeth 1 and the one with all the buttons (the name of which escapes me).

I finished Anne Boleyn three years ago.

Mary Tudor progress -

Tudor Reading

2006-08-27T14:25:00.000-05:00

Someone, (Jewel maybe?) asked if I could re-list a bunch of the Tudor era books.
the post I originally wrote was from May 14, and shows several.
I've since read Legacy by Susan Kay again, and two of the Robin Maxwell books, and sent them on to Sherry. I'm currently listening to Elizabeth and Mary, Cousins, Rivals and Queens, by Jane Dunn. Thankfully I have a pretty solid background on the history of the two women, or I would be so twisted around in the timelines and people that I'd have given up long ago. I'm roughly 12 hours into a 20 hour audible book, and have taken a break from it again. If you know a lot about Tudor history I'd say its a well researched and well reasoned book. If you don't have the background already, I'd advise against reading this one unless you can get out the spreadsheet charts and timelines and take notes.
(Right now I'm listening to French Leutenants Woman by John Fowles. It's been a long time and I'm really liking it. I decided to read that as prelude to reading Time Travellers Wife again for knit the classics - I digress)
I also listened to Dissolution by CJ Sansome, which was about Cromwell disolving the monasteries in good old Henry VIII's time, and they set a murder mystery amid the monks in the monastery. Good read. I listened to that just before going to Stitches in Chicago a couple of weeks ago. I'm telling you, I'm listening to way more books than reading lately, since I can't read and knit at same time, but I love listening and knitting.
Carrie and Stephanie, you are our resident bibliophiles, help us out with some titles please?
oh, I have Carries book on the Dudley clan, the Uncrowned Kings, which I'm going to read then forward on to Stephanie.
I like Margaret George as a historical fictional biographer, and she 's done books on both Henry VIII and Mary, Queen of Scots.

Help! Anyone knitting size 3 of Eliz I

2006-08-27T11:13:00.000-05:00

Can you tell me at what row of chart C you started the neckline shaping? [ETA: Chart C is repeated multiple times, but I'm wondering what the number of the row you were at was, not how many rows of the chart you had completed total. Another way of putting it is how many rows above the "knot" at the top of the diamond motif did you do?]

I know I made a mistake in the center pattern WAY back--I lengthened the inner diamond by two rows. It's not noticable at all, so I'm not going to rip back 65 rows or so (or drop down the center pattern either; btdt for the last motif, but going back three motifs--ugh). But I want to make sure I'm in the right place for the largest size. The photo looks like it ends after row 53 of the chart, but it doesn't say which size is pictured, and, well, she doesn't look like she's my size, lol.

Marji? I'm sure you're done with the front. Fx that we're knitting the same size.

Edit: (response from Marji) Cate, I ended my center motif at the neckline on row 47 of the chart - which is well below what the picture is in the book, but is (the way I read the pattern) 2 rows above where they have you end knitting. I ended on this row because I wanted to close the top diamond. Has anyone else finished a front or back? Has anyone else knit up into a 5th motif? I just got almost 4 motifs - pics to follow)

The Colours of Katie

2006-08-23T10:19:00.000-05:00

So this is a very rough colour translation of the Jamieson translated colours for the Katherine of Aragon. OK, I am again advertising my colour obsession, but it is all in the name of the perfect cardigan...

The pinks in the background of this cardigan are the only thing I don't love about this overall pattern/colour scheme, and so, I am trying out some colour changes, and looking for some of that knitterly~bloggerly feedback. So step forward with your kind colour-ly opinions please...

So this was my first inclination to switch out the pinks for some blues...

and then I went back and looked again at some of the apricot-ish colours... changes the whole feel of the pattern pretty radically, huh...

I am thinking I am probably going to just need to order a couple of different combos, and do some test knitting... then of course, I went on to thinking about changing the Foreground pattern colours, but decided not to go there...

I lean more towards the blues than the apricots, just as a personal colour preference, but it's really hard to decide.

In addition, the photo of the modeled Katie in the Tudor Roses book, is a little false in its coloured-ness. When I discovered that the beginning of the pattern repeat were shades of green (Rosemary and Sea Green) and not deep blues (as they look in the photo) it completely changed my inner mind visual of this beauty. Colour can sure mess with your eyes...

Ok, so I am ready for all you experienced colour strand, fair isle and norwegian knitters to step up and let me know what you think of the so-far proposed colour changes. OR, other thoughts that I didn't think of?

Anne of Cleeves update

2006-08-22T19:41:00.000-05:00

Well everyone, I have decided to abandon Anne of Cleeves as it is currently. I was using the aran yarn called Bainin which is known as traditional aran and quite heavy. If any of you recall I could only make gauge on 3's. I was worried about this being a struggle & it has been & will continue to be. It really feels like pulling teeth. I LOVE the pattern & it was easy to get a rhythm going. So, the question is what yarn to use to start again? Some people have suggested Cascade 220. Does anyone have any suggestions? I really would like to start it again.

shaping on Liz

2006-08-22T11:51:00.000-05:00

For those who are doing Eliz I, check the placement of the darts. I will use this already knit piece for my back, as my shoulder blades are further apart than my bust darts need to be. I'm just starting on the front, and am going to change the dart placement so that they are closer together.

order more yarn?

2006-08-21T11:09:00.000-05:00

Last night I finished the first sk of yarn. I have 12 more pattern rows to do before the neck shaping, then a few rows on each side. I bought 4 sk of yarn. I'm thinking the sleeves are going to use as much as the front/back. If not, it will be very close. After I finish knitting all the pieces, there is still the yoke to do.
The pattern (which I did not have with me at the Market at Stitches when I bought the yarn), calls for 1700 yds. I have 1500 yds. I'm thinking I need to order another skein, because right now I think it's too close to call, and I really don't want to run out of yarn.

The Demise of Henry VIII

2006-08-20T20:35:00.000-05:00

I've debated all weekend how I was going to write this or even if I should. As you recall, my last post showed I was starting the sleeves on Hank. I checked my gauge when I started Hank about a year ago, however, for some unknown reason I didn't pay close attention to my gauge when I picked him up again. I have no clue where my common sense was let alone my brain. I was so captured by paying close attention to the charts and watching the design magically appear before me. The size of Hank probably would have fit Henry VIII himself. It was large. Humongous Hank.

Really upset with myself I put him aside (in a clear plastic box with a tight-fitting lid) and decided to think about what I should do. I had already cut the steeks and was picking up the sleeve stitches. I consulted my fellow knit buddies and decided I was going to frog Hank. After all, it's about the process and the end result, right? There was no way I could ever look at Hank again knowing he wasn't done correctly. I spent a lot of $ on the yarn and it was going to be done right!

The following day after work I decided my decision was the right one but I wasn't in the mood for frogging. I took Hank's charts and was going to put it in with the yarn and unfinished sweater. I should have immediately suspected something was wrong when I noticed the lid wasn't on. When I picked up the box it didn't take long for me to realize that Poppy, our male cat, had decided that the half-off lid was an invitation for him to use the box as a litter box. Hank was the recipient of Poppy's business and did it smell! Cat pee is one of the things that immediately makes me want to lose my lunch. I put Hank outside and sat in my chair and cried. And cried. And cried.

Again, my knit buddies were a source of support. This weekend I tried several techniques and products to try to get the smell out. It may be somewhat better, but it has felted in some places. I may continue to felt Hank all the way and use him for something - what, I don't know - or I may just throw him out. It's difficut to spend so much time and money on something and then have it end like this. I learned several things: check your gauge again and again and even if you think you're right-on-the-money - check your gauge again! Also, I learned that the projects I knit not only have a lot of money invested, but emotion as well. I am surprised how the demise of Hank affected me.

Next time you sit down to knit, do me a favor - check your gauge and protect your projects!

I wonder if Anne Boleyn was as slow as her woolen namesake? ;)

2006-08-19T17:20:00.000-05:00

I love this sweater, it is definitely going to be one of my favorites for a very long time. Can you see the dancing hounds in the first bar? And the falcons in the second? How fun is that! I think this is a highly overlooked design of Jade's and I'd love to see more. I have only found one other picture searching but it was in a vastly different colorway. Has anyone else seen others?

I also have to admit that I think I may have chosen a too large size. If I can make this determination prior to the sleeve and v-steeks I could just consider more stitches to be part of the center steek and adjust from there I suppose. I'm going to have to give this some thought.

You may be able to tell but I did a tiny bit of damp steaming to see if it was indeed going to lay flat and it blocks out beautifully. It was a good idea because my stress level decreased dramatically. I'm floating everything up to 8 stitches now but there are still those long runs of 16 etc that I can't escape weaving on. The serious challenge with this one is that there are many runs of 7-8-9 stitches with only a single stitch in between - not much of an anchor!

Progress

2006-08-18T09:40:00.000-05:00

techniques

2006-08-16T13:20:00.000-05:00

I'm starting a new post because I think a discussion of techniques is a good thing and worth it's own forum.
Cate asked what I did about short rows, and I believe it is Jenny having difficulty with lining up the center stitch, and Margo was struggling with that purl in the back of the stitch direction.
based on where I am now in the pattern I'm going to address each, and welcome all input if someone has a different/better interpretation.
re the purl in back of stitch, Margo, I think you started on the sleeve, and therefore maybe didn't have the benefit of Alice's clear instructions from the Front/back where she states that you do knit into back of each knit stitch and back of each purl stitch, every row. It twists the stitch and gives it a little definition, as well as tightens the dec or inc worked either side of the stitch.
re the knit 1 f, knit 1 b, pick up bar and knit in center. To create the center of the V, you increase 2 stitches in the center stitch, therefore ending up with 3 stitches where there was one. If you start in the center st, and knit each st in that same center st, then by definition, picking up that bar will put the st in the very center. It is also very tight, but do-able. I'm wondering Jenny if you knit 1 f then k 1 b in the next stitch and that is where you are wandering off center?

Cate, I have no idea if what I did was kosher, but in the short rows, I slipped the next st, not to be knit in that row off the needle, wrapped it, placed it back on the needle, then followed Alice' directions and turned the work,slipped the first st on the return row then worked to the other end, wrapped, turned slipped, then on the way back, picked up both the loop from the wrap, placed it on the needle nex to the stitch to be knit and knit them together - therefore eliminating much of the stairstep look. Kim, how did you do it?

Mia, I've read ahead and I think I understand the armscye shaping:
all sizes work through chart row 66.
size 1 and 2, begin armscye shaping on row 67 by binding off 6 (7) st beginning next 2 rows, then dec 1 st each end row 69, 70 , then dec 1 st each end row 73 for a total of 6 st dec, then dec 1 st each end every 4th row until 83 [87] st remain
size 3 work 67 and 68 in pattern, begin armscye shaping row 69, bind off 7 st beg of next 4 rows for a total of 14 st each side. 2 rows no shaping, then begin decreases as for first two sizes.

(did that clear things up or make the waters muddier?)

I am just loving this knit. Love the shaping, love my yarn, love the detail in the inset bodice panel. got to get back to it.

Jamieson's Shade Card is HERE

2006-08-16T11:02:00.000-05:00

And I can now choose colours for.... Katherine of Aragon, she is my final choice.

Now comes the colour angst... but in a good way.

I am a Blogger dunce... so can anyone tell me, how to update my info at the top of the blog site?

Thanks

Finally!

2006-08-15T14:14:00.000-05:00

cast on yesterday with yarn purchased at Stitches Midwest. It's a Polwarth wool and silk blend by Rovings, a small Canadian farm, (see my blog for source info on the yarn). And I am loving it.

the darting and shirtail shaping is exactly what we learned in Lily Chins class at Stitches. I'm so loving working this up.
I'm thinking that the Tiur will end up being something else, probably something with more than one color.

Another Liz!

2006-08-14T13:21:00.000-05:00

Hi,
My name is Jenny and I am new to the knitalong. I've chosen Elizabeth I in a red heathered Jo Sharp DK wool. I've already started to knit it but I'm pressed for time since I would like to wear this at a wedding in October and my 2 lovely children rarely give me time to knit throughout the day. So the only real time I have to knit is when my 2 tornadoes are tucked safetly into their beds at night.
I am up to the first row on Chart B and I seem to have run into a problem, or at least, what I think is a problem. I have my correct number of stitches (113) and the directions say that the stitch where you're supposed to K1B,K1, then knit the yarn that is located btwn them should be located over the center stitch of the previous row ( the one that was knitted on the WS ). Somehow I end up on the st after that center st. Am I doing something wrong? Or should I just trust in what the directions say and it will all work out?

Thanks for any help,
Jenny

Henry VIII update

2006-08-07T21:37:00.000-05:00

I have just posted a Henry VIII update on my blog. Please forgive me for not reposting the photos here but I really want to get back to working on it.

You can view my Hank update on my blog: www.jewelspurls.typepad.com

Thanks!
Jewel

Another Elizabeth 1

2006-08-07T08:02:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone - I'm finally about to start Elizabeth 1 - it has been sitting in my "potentials" pile for about a year.

I had already made an attempt at this pattern last year after being inspired by all the beautiful works in Alice Starmore's books. I was lucky enough to have access to them through the Guild Library and seeing the scary prices most of AS works fetch on eBay all I can say is 'thank God for libraries'.

I bought some Superfine Supersoft 5ply and swatched up a few samples to find the right needles. Unfortunately the ball I chose either had moth damage (scary) or was a bad run because the yarn kept breaking every few feet. That was enough to put me off and place poor old Liz aside until I found the KAL. I'm going to follow the example of Margo and start the sleeves first. That way I can practice the darts and shaping even though I hate doing sleeves - my addled brain loses track of the increases and I have to resort to safety pins as markers. My wip look like punk rockers.

I still haven't decided on the final needles - as you can see I have been playing with Pony Pearl Rosewood and Bryspun. My preference is Addis so I will have to purchase a 3.5 mm soon if I want to maintain the enthusiasm. There are just so many other patterns out there - all clamouring for attention.

Kate
http://bluemountainsknits.blogspot.com/

Hello!

2006-08-07T02:10:00.000-05:00

Hello, I'm new - just joined this knitalong. I've been dreaming of Elizabeth I for awhile now and finally found a lovely deep red merino (recycled from a huge ribbed pullover by Banana Republic. Yup, I'm one of those wacky yarn recyclers.) that knit to gauge beautifully and that I think will be lovely for this sweater.

I'm partway up a sleeve now. I like starting with sleeves 'cause if my gauge turns out to be off, I can think of the sleeve as a big swatch and a way to get acquainted with a pattern. And frog it without tears. That's the philosophy anyway.

I do have a question for you Elizabeth I knitters -- in the center stitch of the sleeve dart it says to work through the back loop on every row. So I'm working the back loop on knit rows AND purl rows, yes? That's what I'm doing, I just don't see much visual evidence of much difference from the rest of the sweater.

I look forward to seeing everyone's projects progress! What fun to have found you!

Margo
http://www.xanga.com/beanmama

Editing to add photo of my sleeve thus far!

Starting with Elizabeth I

2006-08-07T01:22:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,

yes I guess summer has been a lot about finishing UFO's for me, too. But I have started my Elizabeth I, and I love it! I love the knitting, the yarn, the color... I think this will be a great knit! I am a little confused right now about the raglan decreases though. As I read it, I am supposed to start decreasing after completing the first chart B. But then I find it a little unclear. Anyone else there too, who can help me?

August already

2006-08-04T11:13:00.000-05:00

I've just run through the blogs of all who have links here, (and updated the links on the member post) . Looks like nearly everyone here, including moi, is involved in finishing up WIP's / UFO's.
Must be some good finishing karma going around.
And lots of people are out of town - going out of town - just coming back from oot.
Nearly everyone has been suffering from this oppressive heat wave that's affected most of the northern hemisphere. Makes it really hard to knit with wool.

I am one of those heading out of town - I'm going to Stitches Midwest in Chicago next week, and will be meeting Kim there. When I get back I intend to be ready to rip out what I have done on my Eliz I and start over. [I have all of 4 rows done, and there is likely to be a big fat needle mark left in the yarn for sitting on that last row for well over 6 weeks, unattended.]
I'm also going to cast on for Jane Seymour. I availed myself of Anne's help when I talked to her about the availability of the book, and orderd the one remaining color I needed for Jane - and really think that I ought to have that on the needles while I can get the help and input of such a talented bunch of people here.

I'd like to encourage everyone who is making any progress on their Tudor Roses project to post, or if you're still in deciding stages, let us know that too.

Also, I want to welcome MaryPat, Eva, Margo and Brigitte to the KAL. please jump right in and let us know what you are knitting and post any pics if you have them.

Another book avail

2006-07-31T08:12:00.000-05:00

hi all,
First, I need to apologize for ignoring this blog and KAL for so long. I've been tidying up so that when I start this knit I can devote everything to it. And I've been doing a great job tidying too! Almost there. Don't know when I got this sense that I needed to clear my plate, but alas, I do have it and I'm getting there. I would like to thank everyone who has been posting progress, and to let those know who've joined recently that I will get back here ASAP to add you to the participant list.

Next up, I received an email from Cheryl that she has a book avail that she is willing to sell at a reasonable price. Her email is cherylbcaswell at hotmail dot com

Starmore's other books

2006-07-19T06:13:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,
I have decided I must have Starmore's book called The Scottish Collection, but of course it seems to be unavailable at any price (not that I am willing to pay $450 for the one on Amazon.com). In particular I am looking for the Mara pattern. Any suggestions or advice? I've already done a "rare" book search online. My next hope is a libary copy that I can at least look at. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Got waylaid on some other projects and only have an inch of border on Anne of Cleeves, but I'm getting back to her very soon!

Let loose the hounds!

2006-07-09T22:17:00.000-05:00

The lovely Anne Boleyn.

My version replaces the greenish border with a blue one. This pattern has many many long floats requiring weaving. This is a first for me and I am doing my best. I faced the fact that I may have to do some "surgery" to replace this part if it doesn't even out in blocking. I was very skeptical about the natural marls in the beginning but I think it's perfect now. This is the first pattern band, the hounds. The next band is a border then the falcons. We'll see how those go.

Trials and Tribulations of GAUGE!

2006-07-09T19:01:00.000-05:00

Gauge...mine is never even close!!! This drives me crazy when I'm swatching with aran wt. yarn (Anne of Cleeves) and the closest I can get is on a size 4 needle! I am barely hitting 5 stitches to the inch and need 21 stitches over 4 inches. This means I'll probably hit it on a 3!

How can Starmore do this sweater on a 7 and I'm on a 4 and that's if I knit intentionally tight, which I don't think is a good idea b/c eventually my natural rhythm will catch up w/ me.

Does anyone have any words of comfort? I just don't want to do this sweater on 3's!!!!! I haven't washed and blocked the swatch yet, so I'm praying that the size 5 swatch will miraculously change in the washer!

Darned Darts

2006-07-06T23:20:00.000-05:00

Well, I've taken Eliz I out of time out despite the fact that she requires algebra. Even though I do statistics for a living, I loathe algebra. There has been an excel spreadsheet, conversions to and fro; I have bent my mind to think in units of 10cm and converted to inches just to make sure. I now know where I stand with this thing, and it's not half bad. Problem is, because I'm using a DK-weight yarn and knitting the smallest size, the decreases for the darts are too severe, and the distance the sweater tapers is greater than it should be. I need to eliminate decreases to keep from binding around the waist. This is further complicated by the fact that while I am knitting at 25sts/10cm (instead of the pattern's 27sts/10cm) in terms of stitch gauge, my row gauge is right on at 40rows/10cm.For those not familiar with this pattern, the pattern has long darts in the front and back as well as waist shaping at the sides.

So, I'm trying to decide which decreases to eliminate to keep the slope of the waist shaping from being too great. I need to decrease about 4 fewer stitches, on both the front and the back, than the pattern calls for. It seems you decrease at the edges once (2 sts), then start the darts (4 sts decreased) and side decreases (2 sts decreased) every roughly 7 rows a total of 5 times. I'm thinking I should eliminate the fifth decrease in the dart, and just have a long section in the middle where the dart is straight (I would of course also eliminate the mirror increase up above). The alternatives would be to skip the first and last dart and just shorten the dart, but I worry about that since my row gauge hasn't changed, and I'll actually be looking to fudge a small bit to make it longer anyway. I could also skip the initial 2-stitch side decrease, but I worry that will make the first dart decrease too severe, plus it only gets me halfway to my goal.

Is this just too insanely detailed and picky to make any sense? Does anyone have any advice? I may just go with my gut and if I hate it, rip it out, but man, I'd love to avoid that. Thanks in advance, oh wise knitters...

My yarn is here!

2006-07-06T22:07:00.000-05:00

My yarn came in yesterday...the gold is for Anne of Cleeves which I will start swatching for. The other batch is for Mary Tudor which will have to wait a bit, but I have the yarn. The colors remind me a lot of Jewel's Henry VIII photo.

Jewel's Henry VIII Update

2006-07-04T15:55:00.000-05:00

Here is Hank, as of today. I'm about 1 1/2 to 2 inches up the arm steeks. The colors in the photo are a little washed out as in real life they are much deeper.

Availability of Tudor Roses book

2006-06-27T15:07:00.000-05:00

After JoAnn's comments regarding the availability of the Collection I contacted Anne at She Ewe Knits to clarify.
Unfortunately Tudor Roses is Out of Print, and the distributor is now out of copies to sell.
Anne apologizes for any inconvenience caused. What happened was, somewhat recently Anne was offered some to purchase, from the distributor, that they had left in stock. She didn't purchase at the time(or if she did it wasn't in any quantity), having no idea how low stocks were on that book, and she thought that the distributor would have more when she called.

alas, they didn't, and that book now goes the way of The Scottish Collection and Fair Isle and the rest. There are undoubtedly LYS's that still have it in stock, and Jannette at Rare Yarns obviously still has inventory, but other than that, I believe Ebay is the best source.

Meanwhile, I had a delightful conversation with Anne, and ended up ordering the Jamiesons yarn for the background color for my Jane Seymour, so that can get started too! Yippee.

Thank you!!

2006-06-27T04:11:00.000-05:00

Thank you all very much! I have some updates as well. I did call Anne at SheEweKnits. She was fantastic to work with and did match the Scottish Campion one-to-one for Mary Tudor. I also bought Bainin from her for Anne of Cleves...in the goldenrod (now called mustard) from the book. I'm very excited about these purchases (Canadian money too!)
Lastly, she told me that Tudor Roses is not out of print. She is able to get it at the regular price from her book distributors. I already had mine from ebay ($61). Oh well, I love it so much I don't care.
I will get Eliz I from Virtual Yarns then...sounds like the right yarn for the job. Thank you all again.
Just a plug for Anne: She is very knowledgable and patiently taught me all kinds of stuff about the Starmore saga on the phone as well as giving me some fair isle tips.

hoping for yarn updates

2006-06-23T20:25:00.000-05:00

Hello,
I have just joined the KAL and I'm deciding between Elizabeth I, Mary Tudor, and Anne of Cleeves. I'm going to base my decision on the most authentic yarn I can find. I have read all of your entries about what yarns you have found to work the best. I'm wondering if some of you can post some updates. How is the silky wool or the rowan wool cotton working for Elizabeth I? I am contemplating getting 2 kits from Virtual Yarns...any opinions on the yarn that is kitted for Anne of Cleeves and Elizabeth I? Lastly, any leads on where to get the Scottish Campion for Mary Tudor? For once in my life I have a few extra dollars for yarn and can't find it!
Thanks, I'll look forward to any info you are willing to provide.

Hello there!

2006-06-14T20:03:00.000-05:00

Wow, what a wonderful group of projects! Everyone's works in progress and yarn samples and swatches and chatter are great, glad I could join you :)

I'll actually be working on both Catherine Parr, which I am currently swatching for and having some technical difficulties I need to work out, and Anne Boleyn, which I am currently selecting colors for and will start as soon as I put buttons on my wip fair isle. The yarn for CP is a really deep blue with heathery blue-greens, reds and golds - doesn't look much like this picture at all! I scanned a swatch on my blog that does the color better justice.

Anyone have any advice on wonky left cross stitches? As you can see from the pile I have swatched close to a hundred yards on several different needles even using different techniques, and I still keep getting these wonky baggy stitches on the left crosses. Aren't they awful? I tried with and without cable needles, increasing tension, decreasing tension, holding onto that loop for dear life and crossing ever so very gently, etc. I am at a loss so I'm out seeking wisdom at the feet of the knitting sages. Or anyone else for that matter :)

DeeAnn
http://feelingtangerine.blogspot.com/

My Yarn Is Here!

2006-06-12T11:30:00.000-05:00

At last! (Rowan Wool Cotton in 911 called "Rich".)

I yanked the swatch off the needles, I was in such a frenzy to cast on and......then.....nothing. Whoops. Then it occurred to me to freeze the yarn, just in case. So I should be clear to cast on today, just as soon as I figure out what the German Twisted Cast On is that Stephanie so coyly mentioned on my blog.

Anyone?

I've gone through my Vogue Knitting book, a couple of Starmores, the Best of Rowan, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts (and Deborah Robson, I see) Knitting in the Old Way, Nancy Bush.......

Finally Decided.

2006-06-11T18:11:00.000-05:00

Thanks for asking after me. I've been meaning to post, but it took me until last night to finally make a decision.

Zephyr DK, slightly off-gauge, it is. I'm knitting the smallest size, which the wonders of algebra tell me will be just a bit bigger than the largest size (I'll fudge the waist shaping a bit). Fingers crossed.

You can see I haven't gotten very far.

There are gory details (truly, way too much detail) on my blog at http://mamacate.typepad.com/mamacate/2006/06/rumor_has_it_it.html#more

Thanks for asking, Marji.

Finally

2006-06-10T11:36:00.000-05:00

I have cast on.
Not enough to take pics of, but she is on the needles.
My new Rule of Ten sort of guarantees me progress at a rate of 10 rows/day...but also limits me to that until I get some of this other stuff finished. That's ok, soon I'll see progress.

wondering if Cate ever made a decision on yarn? Last I looked she was getting ready to dye. Cate, how goes it?

Elizabethan fashions repeating

2006-06-08T23:26:00.000-05:00

This is not really a fashion statement I expected to see copied in modern times! Click on the pics to see more of same.

Eliz i Progress

2006-06-05T14:20:00.000-05:00

I actually got around to posting some pics of Eliz's progress on my blog. I'm really enjoying the pattern and as always, love the Silky Wool.

Come on the rest of you, time to 'fess up and post progress pics.

(horrible) pics of Henry VIII

2006-06-05T12:16:00.000-05:00

Sorry but it just refuses to be photographed ... Tried it in the sun, shade and the Ott light and I'm afraid this is the best I could do :

Marina

Let's test your Elizabethan History

2006-06-02T22:27:00.000-05:00

Okay KAL'ers, it's time to test your knowledge of Elizabethan History. I'll admit, I got 8/10 and screwed up on two questions that I definitely should of known the answers to.

http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/History/Elizabethan-Times-91479.html

Remember - no cheating.

Castle fun

2006-06-01T14:02:00.000-05:00

Well, I've spent Way too Much Time, (boy was it fun though) researching castles on line looking for Marina's castles.
I found this great Link to a site about the castles Mary Queen of Scots occupied, although I don't think any of them are the castles pictured.
I'm also about halfway through re-reading Susan Kay's book Legacy, and can really recommend it. Last time I read it was around 1985. hmmmm....

As for knitting. Check out Claire's blog - she's made some progress on Eliz I and put up pics.
I on the other hand, haven't cast on yet - am frantically finishing other projects to (somewhat) clear the slate.

admin stuff:
The list in the first post I believe shows all the members, links to their websites if I have that info, and what they are making. If your info is wrong or incomplete please let me know, andI will continue to revise it.
Welcome too to all the new members, we're adding every day.

Since I'm not reading ...

2006-05-31T16:37:00.000-05:00

and I'm still waiting for my yarn, you get pictures! Hey, maybe I should make you guess the names of these two buildings.

Pictures 1 to 3 are of the same place in Scotland :

Picture 4 is of a place that can only be gotten to by boat :

And a clue ... The two places above have something to do with Mary, Queen of Scots, pictured here with Sir John and Kidlet #2 :

So, name those two buildings!

Joining in

2006-05-29T23:17:00.000-05:00

I've just discovered this KAL, and was graciously admitted to the fray.
I plan to Knit Elizabeth I (I adore this sweater, and have since the book came out). I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations for currently available yarns and/or yardage information for the orginal yarn? As tempting as it is, I'm unlikely to order from that charming British site. (That's a slippery slope I daren't step upon.)