Posted: December 4th, 2008 | Author: admin | Filed under: cascade 220, projects: saddle-shoulder aran cardigan, sweaters, things i knit, yarn i use | Tags: aran sweaters, cables, cascade 220, elizabeth zimmerman, knits in progress, learning experiences, saddle-shoulder aran cardigan | No Comments »
So the sweater, shockingly, is finished. It’s off the blocking board, and the buttons are sewn on and look adorable, which is most pleasing. However, there won’t be any photos of me wearing it for while yet, as I have discovered some neckline issues. Well, really, it’s just the one neckline issue:
It is massive. Like, Flashdance massive – which is fine for a big, baggy Flashdance sweater, but not a sober, Britishy, cabley labour of love. This is entirely my own fault – the way I knit things, I need to understand spatially what my stitches are doing so that I can correct mistakes, and I didn’t really understand what was going on with the directions for the saddle. Instead, I trusted the advice of the internet, which was to “trust EZ,” which. . .look. Elizabeth Zimmerman was a brilliant knitter, but clearly the better option here would have been to knit the neckline off pattern after understanding what I was doing to my fabric. Alas, this sweater has become a learning experience.
For now, though, I am looking into shawl collars. Or possibly a hood. Those forgive most sins, and I love this sweater too much to not wear it.
Song of the Entry: Taylor Swift – Forever & Always
Posted: November 30th, 2008 | Author: admin | Filed under: cascade 220, projects: saddle-shoulder aran cardigan, sweaters, things i knit, yarn i use | Tags: aran sweaters, handknits, knits in progress, knitting, nakniswemo, saddle-shoulder aran cardigan, sweaters | No Comments »
Oh, yeah I did. That would be my sweater. My awesome, cabley NaKniSweMo sweater, DONE. I am doing rockstar hands, trust me. I steeked my sweater, which went off without a hitch, and then picked up several hundred stitches of button band (which was actually scarier – I’m notoriously impatient at picking up stitches) and knit and bound off and OMG, you guys. Sweater.
Of course, there are no buttons and it’s still blocking, so expect a proper “here is my finished knitted item” post in the near future, once I find time to go down to the yarn shop and find the Holy Grail of buttons. (Round, wooden-ish, about five or six stitches in diameter, two or four holes.) Until then, I’ll just be here, jumping up and down with excitement.
Song of the Entry: High School Musical – Breaking Free
Posted: November 29th, 2008 | Author: admin | Filed under: cascade 220, projects: saddle-shoulder aran cardigan, sweaters, things i knit, yarn i use | Tags: aran sweaters, handknits, hats, knits in progress, knitting, nakniswemo, practice steeks, saddle-shoulder aran cardigan, steeking | 1 Comment »
I’m going to let you guys in on a secret: I am not actually scared of cutting my steeks on this sweater. (For non-knitters: I set aside stitches on the sweater I knit like a pullover, and the plan is to stabilize them, then cut up the middle to turn it into a cardigan. This is an actual knitting technique.) In fact, I am totally the opposite of scared. I can’t WAIT. I want to cut all the steeks right now, because all I can think is “SURGERY? On my KNITTING? This is the BEST THING EVER.”
(. . .I am a med student, if that makes it less weird.)
However, I am also adult enough to realize that I should take a moment to make sure I’ve got it right before I run at my sweater with a pair of scissors. Which is why I crocheted (for stability) and cut (for fun!) this practice steek last night on my swatch hat. The big steek on my sweater is all crocheted and ready to go.
This is going to be fun.
Song of the Entry: Fall Out Boy – The Take Over, The Break’s Over
