Monday, December 17, 2007
Finally pictures
here is a nice close up
Monday, December 3, 2007
On to the colorwork!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Modeling the Bodice
I think the sweater came out beautifully. The unevenness of my colorwork went away in blocking, so that's awesome. I did that extra 1" in the bodice, and I almost think I could've done a little more! The only thing I'm concerned about is the fact that it seems to bulge a bit at the point where the ribbing ends and the colorwork begins. It did it pre-blocking as well, so I'm not sure what's up with that.
Can't wait to see everyone else's when they finish! :)
Friday, November 16, 2007
My Finished Bodice!
Just trying it on, I'm really glad I added the extra 1" to the bodice part before I began the steeks--I don't think it would've covered my chest fully otherwise.
Anyway, below is a picture of the unblocked sweater. I'll take a shot of me wearing it after I block it. :)
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Hiatus
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Sleeve Problem
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Fair Isle Progress!
I've been working steadily on my Mirepoix Bodice, and I finally have something to post about it! I have a little more than seven inches of the fair isle completed. I've established the neck and armhole steeks; they are about three inches long, and my shaping is almost done.
I'm still really happy with the color substitutions I made on this project. I had a difficult time getting an accurate picture of the colors (for one thing, the orange looks much more garish here than it does in person). I'm also really pleased with how the fair isle looks. I haven't done this technique before, and I was nervous about how it might look. I started off a little loose, but I've gotten a little better at regulating my tension, and now it looks really good.
The alpaca is also behaving better then I had thought it would. It's not sticking together like shetland or anything, but it is felting a little. I'm still going to sew my steeks before I cut, of course, but it gives me a little piece of mind knowing it will hold a bit on its own. I think it's at least as nice for fair isle as superwash wool.
I have to say, this is one of the most satisfying sweaters I've worked on in a while. I'm surprised at how much I like doing fair isle; I guess I can quit avoiding it now! It looks very pretty. I can't wait to get finished and wear it!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Steek Stall
So in the meantime, there won't be much progress on that front, which is a shame, because I really am anxious to see how it turns out. I just started on the sleeves, but there is not much to see yet. I suppose I took my time getting started on those because I knew I wasn't going to be sewing them in before November.
It's getting close to completion, and yet there are still a few more things to do, like the neckline, and weaving in tons of ends.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Started the Fair Isle Section!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Help Please....
ok ~ I was all set to make mine but now have a dilemna. I went to my LYS to p/u my yarn but it wasn't in yet. Then I was informed that the yarn I choose is too heavy. Then I realized that I hadn't ordered enough since the Takhi Cotton is 106yd a skein and I need 225 yd. Help!!
I really am not interested in the KnitPicks Telemark but that is comparable in cost. I don't have the funds for the Louet but I really want to make this lovely item. Any suggestions would be appreciated so that I can get started.
Thx ~ talk w/you later.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Started Mirepoix - Finally!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
My Established Steeks
I've completed all of the decreases, and since I'm a tight knitter and making the smallest size, I'm finding that I almost wish I had a smaller circ for this part--I'm having to push and pull my work over a lot since there are barely enough stitches for it to be workable on these needles. On the plus side, all the pulling on stitches is actually having the one side benefit of somehow evening out my tension!
I've completed about 4", so only 3 1/2" more to go! While I got stitch gauge, I'm finding that I didn't quite end up with row gauge, so that, combined with knittting an additional 1" before establishing the steeks to make sure I wound up with a true empire waist and not bisected boobs like Interweave's model, means that I'm ending up with more repeats of the pattern than I would otherwise.
I'm so close, and can't wait to finish this beautiful sweater! Below is a picture of my progress since establishing the steeks:
I cut my steeks!!
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Yahoo Group
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Aah drats!
Happy Knitting!
Dawn ;)
I'm zipping along
I saw one person is experimenting with color changes! Is anyone else switching colors around? I'm not brave enough for that, so I stuck with similar colors to the pattern. Although I did sub my yarn. So far I'm quite pleased with it. Can't wait to see pictures of everyone else's progress!!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
The Steek Mystique (Mistake)
I am now at the steeks, and had actually completed the steeks according to directions and then completed an additional 3 or 4 rows when I took a look at what I had done so far, and noticed this:
That would be a picture of the left armhole steek connected to the BO armhole by the last BO stitch. Since I'd never done steeks before, I made sure to follow the directions, and it said nothing about what to do with that last stitch (ie bind off also and start new). Even knowing nothing about steeks, I was pretty sure that this wasn't right.
I emailed another member of our KAL, Melissa, to see what she had done, as I saw on her blog that she was already past the steeks. She said she had the same problem, and had to rip back and do it over. I also decided to email the pattern author, Mary Jane, to see what she had to say about what had happened to my steek when created according to pattern and this is her reply:
"I think there is an omission in the pattern as another woman mentioned the same issue. You should bind off that last stitch, and then attach new yarn to begin the steek. You can save your work, by weaving in a longer piece on the body where it will be too short to cut, do you understand? go back 7-10 stitiches and follow along where the yarn goes, and then catch that naughty loop and weave it all in tight. Easier done than written about. It will all be in the seam anyway.In real shetland wool it wouldn't even be an issue because of it's natural felting properties. Does this help? I wish I could show you!
As an aside, I think that sometimes patterns are written or modified in an attempt to try and make them make more sense to a reader,(and to make the directions less wordy) when sometimes the knitter would actually, do it differently. I think I'd probably cast all of the armhole stitches at once, you know beginning in a previous round...but for clarity it was re-written???? or maybe I did that!"
At any rate, I am sort of glad to know that I am not the only one who made this mistake. I just wanted to post this info to ensure that no one else in our group does the same thing once they get this far. I will try to save my work using the technique Mary Jane mentioned, though if that doesn't work, at least it's only a few rows (and rows after the steeks are much shorter because of the BOs and decreases!).
Also, I just wanted to mention that I saw on Mary Jane's site that you shouldn't begin the steeks until the fair isle covers the bottom 1/2 to 2/3 of your breasts. You can try on as you go to determine this. For me, the 4" wasn't QUITE enough, so I kept going for another 1" or so.
Anyway, good luck, ladies! The KAL has now officially begun and I look forward to seeing everyone's work!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Yarn color mishap
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Auspicious Beginnings!
The yarn is a bit thinner than I had expected, but it's very fuzzy, so it fills in nicely. Hopefully this will keep the sweater from being too warm. I had to go up to size 4 needles to get gauge. I didn't have a pair of circular #4's, and I was already considering buying the Knit Picks interchangeable set, so I thought this would be a good time to go for it. But, before I could order them, my (very!) DB brought over my birthday present: a set of Knit Picks Options, along with some other really nifty knitting accessories!! What a keeper! I swatched right away and got gauge. Here is my progress so far:
The needles are fantastic, by the way. Anyone who likes addis and hasn't bought a set should definitely try them out. This yarn is a little splitty, but the nice sharp point has prevented any problems. I think this is going to be a really fun project! I'm so happy to have gotten started!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Beginning of Colorwork
Below you can see some of the progress I've made with the first part of the fair isle pattern. This is actually my second attempt, as I got to about row 11 and decided that the stitches were far too uneven and that I had used the wrong M1 increase to transition from ribbing to fair isle and couldn't live with the way the increases stuck out. Better to redo 12 rows than spend all that time and money on something I already knew I probably wouldn't wear as-is, right?
So, anyway, here is the picture. I don't think it's so bad considering how new I am to fair isle. The stitches are still a little bunched up in the shot, because that ribbing and the fact that it is still on the needles meant that the pattern didn't quite want to lie flat for my photo, as I didn't pin it.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Just saying Hello!
Friday, September 14, 2007
Cast On Now!
I love this pattern because I love knitting in the round. I will work on it tonight and this weekend and post a picture when I get past a couple rounds. My goal for this sweater is to finish it by the end of November so I can wear it all winter long.
One problem I am having is getting the 7 st/in. I get 6 st/in but I am afraid the knitted fabric will be too tight if I go down one more needle size considering I substituted the Louet yarn for KnitPicks Swish DK. What size needles are the Swish yarn knitters using?
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Swatch #2
Friday, August 31, 2007
Intro and Yarn Sub Idea
I wanted to let everyone know about an idea I had for yarn substitutions. It hasn't been released yet, but in the Elann Newsletter they showed a new line they will begin selling on Sept. 18. It is a sportweight 100% alpaca called Peruvian Pure Alpaca Fina. They have colors very similar to the Louet Gems shown in the magazine. You can look at the preview here (WARNING! .pdf).
I will be using oregano as the main color, with peridot, sepia, amber, smoky grape, sierra, and spiced wine for the other colors, but I think there are actually a few choices you could make there. They aren't an exact match (especially the amber and the smoky grape) but I think they are very close and the price is nice too! I was actually thinking of tea dying the amber, to see if I could tone down the yellow, but I guess i should probably order it and swatch first. :P
100% alpaca might be a bit too warm for some people, especially double stranded (actually, it might be too warm for me!) but I've got my yarn coming in at about $50, and that's just too nice to pass up. I hope this helps someone; I know what a pain color substitutions can be.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Swatching
I swatched with the Knit Picks Swish DK, and I got perfect gauge, but I'm not in love with the 'nutmeg' instead of 'mustard' substitute. I think all the other colors work great, but that one doesn't transition like the Gems colors do. I could substitute KP's 'pale lemon.' I'll let you know how THAT goes. Sigh.
These colors remind me of my mom's old Tupperware. LOL
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Fair Isle Article
Just thought I'd let you know that there is an article on fair isle technique in the newest Rowan magazine (#42). They cover holding the yarn with one hand and with both hands.
Have a great day!
Robin
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Bodice Beginnings
I started knitting the 2x2 ribbing on Friday. I've only got about 5" so far, but I'm enjoying the mindlessness of it, because I know I'll have to concentrate once I get to the fair isle part!
I look forward to seeing what everyone else is going to produce--especially if they were brave enough to attempt yarn/color substitutions!
Monday, August 20, 2007
Got my yarn too!
Here is what the KP Swish DK colors really look like (the KP site's colors aren't *quite* accurate). I think they're going to work perfectly! The only color that they didn't have a good match for was the mustard (I subbed nutmeg). I almost gave myself a migrane thinking about what to do about the color difference until I remembered to relax; It's just knitting.
Jenny
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Yarny Goodness
Buttons!
We've got a while before the KAL starts, but if anyone knows how/would like to make buttons, please feel free to do so. Just send 'em to me or Maryanne - our addresses are in the sidebar.
Thanks!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Nervous and Excited....
Okay, I'm on my way to purchase the magazine and to pick yarn....
Happy Knitting....
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
~ Intro ~
Monday, August 13, 2007
Steeking
There is a great article by Eunny Jang in the Winter 2006 Interweave Knits that walks through the various steeking methods, and I highly recommend checking it out! One thing I read in that article was that the steeks for superwash wool (like the recommended yarn) or other non-feltable fibers should be machine sewn for additional security. I don't remember if our pattern says this specifically, but I thought I'd point that out. I do think that if you don't have a sewing machine, a hand sewn or crocheted steek should be fine, provided you go over it a couple of times.
Ok, Let's talk yarn subs
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Welcome To The Mirepoix Knitalong!
Robin and I thought it would be fun to do a knitalong for this gorgeous sweater that just came out in the Fall 2007 Interweave Knits. We are looking at starting the KAL on October 1st, when the weather starts to cool a bit, and would love to have anybody who's interested join us in knitting this beautiful sweater. We're posting early so people have time to get their supplies and buy the magazine if they don't already have it. At this point there isn't a deadline as far as finishing the sweater and we can have the KAL continue as long as there is interest in it. Also, if you have already started the sweater and would like to post here, you are more than welcome to! Thanks for stopping by and we do hope you'll join us for a fun time chatting, knitting, and posting everyone's lovely FO's and WIP's! Stay tuned for updates.....
Happy Knitting,
Maryanne