Too Much
Alexa Ludeman our knits Antler Sweater, Beloved, Cartography, Christmas, Gather Hat, Gramps, kid knits, Tenderheart
Sometimes (*ahem* often) I am too much. I am a person filled with big ideas, and rarely the sense to assess the time reality of them. My determination, and my ability to stay up late into the night, usually sees me through, so I learn nothing and continue onwards. I know you all love me for this quality though, right?! It is this ‘too much’ that brought Tin Can Knits into being!
I set out this year to NOT make the kids a new sweaters in the fall. They are lucky enough to have suitable wardrobes to keep them warm, and their sweaters from last year either still fit, or enough have moved down the line, keeping everyone well sweatered. BUT… when Hunter requested a black sweater and I happened to have a sweater amount of Brooklyn Tweed Quarry in my office, it seemed reasonable to knit one sweater.
Hunter’s sweater
Since I had this black Quarry on hand, I had to make some modifications to the Antler pullover. My gauge was 3.5 sts per inch, so I knit the 2-4 year size in order to get a 29.75″ chest measurement (that leaves Hunter with a little room to grow). I then customized the lengths to suit Hunter. For more details, we have a tutorial that describes how to knit a garment at a different gauge. On this Antler pullover, I got carried away while cabling, so there is an extra Antler cable that makes the yoke a smidge deeper, but no one is complaining.
a picture begins to form…
Once Hunter’s sweater was done a picture started to form in my mind. Coordinated black sweaters (the other two were knit long ago) and perhaps… perhaps they needed hats to top it all off? You see how this happened right?
Bodhi is wearing the Gramps sweater I made for Jones a few years ago and Jones just barely fit into the Tenderheart sweater I made for him 2 years ago. Tenderheart will pass on to Bodhi next year, and Bodhi’s Gramps will pass on to cousin Ellis. The knits get a lot of love around here!!
I had JUST enough of the beautiful Rainbow Heirloom Sweater in ‘auld lang syne’ to make Jones a Gather hat. I couldn’t just let that magical colourway go to waste now could I? I whipped up a Beloved for Bodhi in Brooklyn Tweed Arbor in ‘firebrush’, an excellent bright red, I fear she will soon think herself too big for a bonnet!
For Hunter’s hat I went over the top. From my colourful stash of Arbor I pulled out the most festive colour scheme and away I went! I could knit the Cartography hat (and sweater for that matter) over and over and never get tired. I love the tiny patterns and the changing yarns. It brings me joy to knit it every time.
And so, this picture was created. They are dressed in warm woollies, made with all their mother’s love. Every gift will have this photo on top this year, but seeing these three, with big smiles, in knits I made them is a big gift to me.
December 23, 2019 @ 6:28 am
The Gather hat is gorgeous
December 20, 2019 @ 5:36 pm
You rock!
December 20, 2019 @ 8:15 am
very nice and warm
December 19, 2019 @ 7:02 pm
Beautiful handiwork, beautiful children compliment each other.
December 19, 2019 @ 5:17 pm
Lovely photo!! Thanks for posting!
December 19, 2019 @ 4:58 pm
Awesomeness! Beautiful clothing, and super beautiful children!
December 19, 2019 @ 12:36 pm
I would be interested in knowing how long it takes you to knit a child’s sweater. I’m a slow knitter, but trying to get faster… Also any tips you have at knitting faster (and therefore knitting more!) would be greatly appreciated.
December 20, 2019 @ 9:59 pm
I knit about 25 yards per hour in worsted weight yarn, but my technique isn’t particularly good for speed. I think it’s just all that practice! The tips I have heard are all to do with keeping your movements small and getting rid of any excess movements (an example of that is that I personally tap each stitch after completing it, it’s completely involuntary, but if you can get rid of movements like that it’ll make you faster)
December 19, 2019 @ 11:00 am
I grew up with hand knit sweaters and never saw my mom without her knitting. That is such a great photo of your children. It is a wonderful gift we have as knitters to show our love in such a physical way. Thank you for sharing your design talents with us.
December 19, 2019 @ 8:40 am
They are so cute in their coordinating outfits! Good job, mom!
December 19, 2019 @ 8:37 am
That is amazing….l….keep on …with your joy……deb
December 19, 2019 @ 8:26 am
I love this so much, and that antler in quarry is just gorgeous! Your kids are so lucky to have a mom who is ‘too much’ aka just right. 💖
Sara (sallyhp)
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December 19, 2019 @ 7:01 am
I love the black sweaters with the red/green hats. One of my favorite cardigans is a black,white and grey Icelandic sweater I knit two years ago. It looks good with all my colorful accessories! I am so encouraged by this to knit more “basics” with colorful accessories. Thank you too, for the hints to use different gauge yarns with good patterns like Antler.