Knit-tastic!
August 8th, 2008 @ 5:59 pm by Mrs. Pomegranate
I’m a knitter. Yup, I’ll admit it - I love knitting baby booties as much as the next granny. Although, my patterns have not reached far beyond “long, straight things,” really only a smidgen past “socks”, which, I know are not particularly easy. Then again, they are much smaller and therefore, in my opinion, much harder to screw up!
Then why, might you ask, am I taking up yet another DIY wedding project that I myself will wear on our wedding day? No, not wedding socks or a wedding beanie - why, a wedding cardigan! As it gets quite cold out in the country from my experience, I figured I’d need something to take the chill off - even with it being the beginning of October in California (aka home of the rather long Indian Summer).
No, I’ve never knitted a sweater of any size in my life. Yes, I am crazy for thinking about doing it now - and especially in the expensive materials I would like to craft it in. I mean, it’s our wedding day - why not wear cashmere or alpaca!? Of course, it would still be only a fraction of what I would pay for in a store - but still, it’s quite the spendy project for a first-time-sweater-knitter.
The Ribbed Shrug by Pam Allen @ Interweave Press
Therefore, I’ve researched and found what I think will be a cheap, easy solution: Pam Allen’s Ribbed Shrug from Interweave Press. I could only find a small photo of the original magazine release, but I was able to find several other FO’s (that’s Finished Objects for you non-knitters out there) to share with you.
An ivory colored Ribbed Shrug.
Image via westieluvr on Flickr.
The very same Ribbed Shrug in a hand-dyed rose Silk/Mohair blend yarn.
Image via mybelle23 on Flickr.
It’s got a nice simple pattern with very few complicated increases or decreases, uses a relatively small amount of yarn (aka less $$), and has a nice stylish touch: the ruffles on the sleeves. I love how simple the lines are on this shrug - it will complement the clean lines of my gown, but also add a nice texture to my outfit.
The beginning of a Ribbed Shrug in a beautiful cream Sport Weight Yarn.
Image via Hedgehog Knits.
I plan to knit this in something a bit more formal, rather than the basic acrylic Patton yarn the pattern calls for, I’ll use a nice lofty mohair. I ran to my LYS (Local Yarn Shop) on my lunch to pick up 5 skeins of a soft white Sublime Kid Mohair. It’s sooooo soft and fluffy, with it’s blend of 60% Kid Mohair, 35% Nylon and 5% Cashmere. I think it will add a touch of romance to the ruffles on the sleeve - it should turn out a bit more like the shrug pictured below (the runner up pattern).
A frothy, yummy, concoction of a shrug in Blue Sky Alpacas Brushed Suri yarn.
Pattern and yarn available @ kpixie.
In changing out the Patons Katrina yarn for the lofty and delicate Sublime Kid Mohair Blend, I had to make a few adjustments to the pattern. For the curious knitters: The Mohair was a much smaller weight, but I kept it on the same 10.5’s and cast on the same 134 stitches. However, when it came time for the decreases that would create the ruffle, I k6tog for each k3tog. I’m totally digging how it’s turning out so far!
My shrug so far!
Are there any other knitters with wedding projects out there?
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32 Responses to “Knit-tastic!”
Two of my bridesmaids are knitters and are knitting shrugs for all five of them in blue.
I have to keep telling myself that I don’t have enough time for all of the wedding-related knitting projects I keep dreaming up! Aside from shawls for each of my bridesmaids/MOH, I’m knitting my own veil - in cobweb weight silk. For the uninitiated, that’s basically THREAD. Yes, I am insane. I’m ok with that. And FH wouldn’t have me any other way. 
I knit myself a stole for the walk between the ceremony & reception. It was perfect, and only took me a few hours to make!
I made socks for my dad to wear on the wedding day and a scarf as a gift for our officiant! But I bought my shrug, I just didn’t need th added pressure..but way to go!
I’m a knitter, but didn’t do anything for the wedding. Have you seen the knitted wedding? http://knitted-wedding.livejournal.com/ Pretty cool, huh?
Me me! I’m knitting a lace shrug in this gorgeous Eggplant shade of linen (are you on ravelry.com? It’s the Ribbed Lace Bolero if you are), and then I’m knitting my fiance some nice tweed socks for the wedding day. He’s very excited.
Another knitter-bee here. I must say, taking on a sweater for the wedding is ambitious. And it kind of terrifies me that you’re using the same size needles for a different yarn - keep in mind that in addition to modifying for width, you might also have to modify for length if the gauge is different. I hope it turns out beautiful.
how lovely! i like the shrug you’re making! i am not much of a knitter, though i tried my hand at it long ago.
I envy you and your knitting patience… I love those shrugs!
I’m a knitter, and there is a picture of an FO in my bio as well as a UFO. A friend of mine is finishing my Phiaro scarf for me because I got too tired of knitknitknitknitknit. (Look up Phiaro on Ravelry - it’s gorgeous, but mind-numbing.) I knit the ring pillow for our ceremony using a sampler quilt pattern and using bargain-cheap-clearance yarn.
i’ve asked my mom to knit my ringbearer pillow. but she thinks it would be better to crotche it…..i can crotche myself.
but we’ll see……i thought it would be a nice personal touch, but if push comes to shove i’ve grab a yard of nice fabric, cut out 2 squares, sew ‘em and call it a day!
My dress designer makes shrugs out of recycled cashmere! She’s doing one for me in our wedding colors. I can’t wait!
Very cute idea to do it yourself, if you’re skilled with a needle - I am not
I temporarily retired the knitting needles, and took up a massive crocheting project for my wedding. Due to some major miscommunication with my mother (for which I still have yet to forgive her!), I wound up crocheting, by hand, by myself, the yarmulkes for every single male guest at my wedding (95). The guests were all amazed, and in the photos they look great compared to the standard solid color satin yarmulkes from most weddings, but holy moly that was a MAJOR undertaking!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/julieulie/2745417008/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/julieulie/2744585875/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/julieulie/2745425740/
I didn’t knit anything for my wedding, but I surely was tempted! I’m too busy trying to catch up on all the babies that have shown up around me!
Ooo! I hadn’t thought to bring my knitting skillz to the table as far as the wedding was concerned, but now… You’ve inspired me, Miss Pom!
I am totally contemplating finding a way to knit the flowers for the bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres … but only if I can make it look not kitschy … DIY elegant=good, country craft fair=bad.
Go wedding knitters!!
i am amazed - wow! that’s one rockin’ shrug. sadly, i’m not a knitter, but am fascinated by the knitting lingo… i would love to k6tog for each k3tog. the best i’ve managed thus far has been terrifically uneven crotched scarves, so i’m sticking to paper crafts for the wedding.
I’m knitting a garter and my mother is knitting my veil. It will be a circular lace shawl that is pinned to my head. Thus, it will be both free (to me) and useful after the wedding!
Miss Pom, way to go! My knitting skills are lacking (I have a thousand scarves), so I totally admire your idea for a wedding project!
Karen above, great idea for a knitted garter!
My wedding project (assuming we have a ring boy) is a tiny knitted ring pillow. That should be super easy.
Ooh, it’s going to look gorgeous!
I am certainly going to crochet or knit something for my wedding! I saw somewhere little crochet wraps for candy favours and I thought they looked great!
I’m knitting a garter for my wedding from this Knitty pattern:
http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer08/KSPATTeloping.html
Someone on Ravelry knitted this GORGEOUS wedding dress that you can see on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21856672@N07/2154513966
oooh i love this shrug and your idea! good luck and keep us updated on your progress. i just learned how to knit this spring and have scarves and a hat under my belt. my next step was to learn socks and then sweaters, but this is so cute (and you say easy) that i might this for non-wedding related fun =) thanks for the great entry on knitting! glad to see so many here are knitters too =)
Oh Pom! That shrug is sooo me! Could I persuade you to open an Etsy shop and sell me one????
ohhh, i don’t knit but my sister does and she took on some projects for my wedding, including my shrug and felted flowers!! i loved them!
shrug: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51606431@N00/2519503527/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51606431@N00/2519528981/
flowers:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51606431@N00/2495399070/
Love the shrug, Miss Pom! I wonder if my mum would make me one… hmm… 
Yay for Knitter Bees!!!! Thank you all.
@Susan: I’ve seen that done before and the results are AMAZING! I’m impressed! I’d have no patience for that!
@Mr. Mango: TOTALLY. We can call it a MAN-shrug.
@Kate: LOVE the Phiaro scarf. It will be gorgeous!
@danathebride: Love the recycled cashmere idea! I’d love to see pictures.
@julieulie: Wow! Those are amazing! You must have the patience of a saint.
@Karen: I hadn’t even thought of a garter! That’s so cute Karen!
@griffen: Perhaps AFTER the wedding my dear! You are too cute. Knitting something like this is very simple and would be a GREAT first project if you wanted to try it.
@kristi: Those turned out ADORABLE!! Your sister is super talented.
@Miss Green Tea: For shiz, my dear! Perhaps after our wedding chaos is over we can turn into the old married ladies that we’ll be and start a knitting circle. I kid.
I’m a “knitter” with about the same experience as you and I’m bouncing around the idea of a lace shawl. We’ll see how that pans out. I’m loving the pattern you’re going with and can’t wait to see what the final product looks like with the much anticipated dress.
[...] Knit-tastic! by Miss Pomegranate [...]
Mrs. Pomegranate, Sacramento
Age and Occupation: 27, Technical Specialist
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Software Engineer
Engagement Date: August 23, 2007
Wedding Date: October, 2008
Blogging Since: June 5, 2008
Venue: R.H. Phillips Winery
About Me: Hi, I'm Miss Pomegranate and I'm a shopaholic. I have a weak spot for the chic cheap - especially anything I can re-create on the DIY. Shoes are my vice, music is my passion in life and technology is the medium by which I live and work. When I'm not scoping out a sale, I'm spending my quality time training for a marathon, playing Wii with my fiance and snuggling with my Silver Labrador and Teacup Panther - and oh yeah, planning my wedding!
I’m a crappy knitter. I always start something, and never finish it. I have like 32498205 “pot-holders” now.
Props to you! It’s pretty cool to make something you plan to wear on your wedding day!