Hi. It's June. It's been a long time. Guess what I've started knitting again?! I have done all of 2 inches of the body, but the point is I've picked it up again. It's come with me to several movies and it sits on the couch with me when I feel large, hot and lazy. I have no way of checking whether the waist shaping I'm putting in will work or not since I have no waist any longer.
Anyway, I just wanted to share that, late as it is, I'm finally joining the knit-along that I co-hosted. I will make this New Years Resolution yet!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Attached the sleeves...
and now I'm knitting the daunting 380 stitches for four inches. I hope it goes faster than the sleeves. This sweater has been a hard one to want to knit. Size three needles. Lots of stitches. Brown yarn. Around and around and around and around... you get the point. I can't wait to get to the color work. I'm also knitting two other cardigans and a pair of socks so at least I have something else when my brain fries from stockinette stitch overload.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Now for my progress...
So shortly after we (Amanda and I) conceived of this knit along, I... well, conceived. [If you want, you can read more here] For most of January and February, knitting made me nauseous. Most things made me nauseous during that time. So, I did nothing on it after swatching. Calculations for modifications were were far more than my foggy, first trimester brain could handle.
Until a couple of weeks ago. I cast on. Only. I have a provisional cast on without having even joined the round (I decided to forego the pictures- hope you're not disappointed). I've been concerned about the problems people have been having with sizing and steeking and I couldn't decide whether I wanted to add more stitches to steek, or whether I wanted to do it as written, leaving myself the option of just making the damn thing a pullover if I couldn't handle it any longer. Also, I realized there is no earthly way I could try on my sweater as I worked, since if it fits me now, I've made a big mistake. I planned to work based on my measurements from December, which might be a little more busty than my non-pregnant self, but will likely be just right for next winter and nursing.
So, that's where I am. I think now that Amanda has started over and there are a few of you also starting late, that maybe the group vibe (and the lack of nausea) will help me to finally get started on this sweater!
Until a couple of weeks ago. I cast on. Only. I have a provisional cast on without having even joined the round (I decided to forego the pictures- hope you're not disappointed). I've been concerned about the problems people have been having with sizing and steeking and I couldn't decide whether I wanted to add more stitches to steek, or whether I wanted to do it as written, leaving myself the option of just making the damn thing a pullover if I couldn't handle it any longer. Also, I realized there is no earthly way I could try on my sweater as I worked, since if it fits me now, I've made a big mistake. I planned to work based on my measurements from December, which might be a little more busty than my non-pregnant self, but will likely be just right for next winter and nursing.
So, that's where I am. I think now that Amanda has started over and there are a few of you also starting late, that maybe the group vibe (and the lack of nausea) will help me to finally get started on this sweater!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Enid, meet Elizabeth
So here's the latest on my Enid cardigan: after knitting the sweater body all the way up to the underarms, I think, hm, I should stretch this thing out on to a bunch of circular needles and check the fit.... Bad news: I've knit myself a potato sack. It's huge. HUGE! Like many of you, I have been endlessly frustrated with Véronik Avery's instructions for what should be a really really simple knit and I've made a decision.
Goodbye Véronik, hello Elizabeth.
What I love about the Enid cardigan is the colorwork around the yoke, and the slim, modern fit. What we seem to be getting with the original instructions is a baggy mess with a crappy looking loose collar. So, I'm starting over and following Elizabeth Zimmerman's "Kintting without Tears" percentages system this time - folks who have used this before have raved about the beautiful fit and I'm hoping to add myself to that list of fans. Using EZ's method, the sweater will be worked almost exactly the same as written in VA's instructions, but the numbers will be tailored to MY bod and will hopefully fit much better. I've started completely over from the bottom hem and even though I have the sleeves knit, I think I'll re-do them to keep with EZ's proportions and percentages. I'll be keeping the fabulous colorwork around the yoke from VA's pattern, but that's about it. I'll keep you posted on the new EZ Enid. I'm about to head over to the couch for an afternoon of lazy movie knitting. The sky has been rumbling and darkening all morning - it's the perfect day for it!
Goodbye Véronik, hello Elizabeth.
What I love about the Enid cardigan is the colorwork around the yoke, and the slim, modern fit. What we seem to be getting with the original instructions is a baggy mess with a crappy looking loose collar. So, I'm starting over and following Elizabeth Zimmerman's "Kintting without Tears" percentages system this time - folks who have used this before have raved about the beautiful fit and I'm hoping to add myself to that list of fans. Using EZ's method, the sweater will be worked almost exactly the same as written in VA's instructions, but the numbers will be tailored to MY bod and will hopefully fit much better. I've started completely over from the bottom hem and even though I have the sleeves knit, I think I'll re-do them to keep with EZ's proportions and percentages. I'll be keeping the fabulous colorwork around the yoke from VA's pattern, but that's about it. I'll keep you posted on the new EZ Enid. I'm about to head over to the couch for an afternoon of lazy movie knitting. The sky has been rumbling and darkening all morning - it's the perfect day for it!
Thursday, March 8, 2007
It's been so quiet around here.
Come on people! I'm dying here... how is everyone's cardigan (or for some, pullover) coming along? What's the progress looking like?
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Hesira's Finished Enid
Well, here she is. I have mixed feelings about this project. I learned so much through the process and gained a lot of confidence. I am interested in knitting more sweaters in the round, and trying steeking some more. However, I have a few disappointments as well.
If the whole point of steeking is to reduce the amount of seaming, the button band and buttonhole band negated that. What a pain! You can clearly see where the stockinette stitch overlaps the steeked edge on both sides of the button area. And speaking of buttons, I couldn't figure out how to place just 9 buttons. I had to use 10. The crochet edge is pretty when you put it on, but for me it's not really functional. It's difficult to tell just where the button HOLES are.
I was hoping the puckering would lay down after blocking, but it's still there. I swear I was carrying my floats loosely, but not loosely enough, apparently. Hopefully, with time, this will ease out.
As Lizz said, the only way to wear this sweater is completely buttoned (or zipped in her case) up. Sometimes I like to wear a cardi with just the top button fastened, but even that is impossible with this sweater.
I think there are places where the pattern is a little vague. Two examples: assuming the knitter knows what to do with the sleeve seams and there is no indication of exactly how many stitches the knitter should initially crochet across the button band. Strangely enough, it all works out in the end. It's comfortable to wear and fits better than expected. It looks really pretty
Would I ever make it again, or recommend it to someone? No way. Am I glad I made it? Absolutely. Things I'd do differently if I made it again:
No provisional cast on. I'd either let it roll or use some non-rolling stitch border.
More stitches in the steeking area. There was too little selvage for a beginner steeker like myself.
Different button holes.
Higher neckline.
That's it folks. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else's finished or in progress sweaters. I'm especially interested in those of you who decided to change the neck shaping. Good luck, everyone!
If the whole point of steeking is to reduce the amount of seaming, the button band and buttonhole band negated that. What a pain! You can clearly see where the stockinette stitch overlaps the steeked edge on both sides of the button area. And speaking of buttons, I couldn't figure out how to place just 9 buttons. I had to use 10. The crochet edge is pretty when you put it on, but for me it's not really functional. It's difficult to tell just where the button HOLES are.
I was hoping the puckering would lay down after blocking, but it's still there. I swear I was carrying my floats loosely, but not loosely enough, apparently. Hopefully, with time, this will ease out.
As Lizz said, the only way to wear this sweater is completely buttoned (or zipped in her case) up. Sometimes I like to wear a cardi with just the top button fastened, but even that is impossible with this sweater.
I think there are places where the pattern is a little vague. Two examples: assuming the knitter knows what to do with the sleeve seams and there is no indication of exactly how many stitches the knitter should initially crochet across the button band. Strangely enough, it all works out in the end. It's comfortable to wear and fits better than expected. It looks really pretty
Would I ever make it again, or recommend it to someone? No way. Am I glad I made it? Absolutely. Things I'd do differently if I made it again:
No provisional cast on. I'd either let it roll or use some non-rolling stitch border.
More stitches in the steeking area. There was too little selvage for a beginner steeker like myself.
Different button holes.
Higher neckline.
That's it folks. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else's finished or in progress sweaters. I'm especially interested in those of you who decided to change the neck shaping. Good luck, everyone!
Monday, February 19, 2007
Pre-Steeking
I'm just about ready to steek Enid. I've knit the whole thing, run a thread down the steeking column, and double reinforced either side of the column. Now I need to steam block the steeking area and get out the magnifying glasses and the sharp little scissors.
Here she is. You can see the steeking column represented by the light blue dotted line. You can also see a little of the contrasting hem on the bottom peeking out. After steeking, I attach the button band and the button hole band (yet to be knitted), sew on the buttons (yet to be bought), block that bad girl, and it's done!
I thought I'd show you a close up of the yoke with the colorwork. I'm still hoping for some flattening out of the puckering once it's blocked. I have a good feeling about it. I was a little worried about my colors, as I didn't use the Reynolds Whiskey. I thought the fuschia might be a little much, and I was worried the purling might look amateurish. I actually think the 2 things take care of each other, or rather the purling softens up the color transitions and gives some dimension to the yoke. Once again, I think the blocking will help make it look less messy.
Even though the pattern says to go ahead and cut the front, I'm waiting to steek until the button bands are ready to be put in place. It makes me nervous thinking about those cut edges sitting around waiting for me to finish the bands. Maybe by the end of this week, I'll have MY version of Enid to show.
HAPPY MARDI GRAS, YA'LL!
Here she is. You can see the steeking column represented by the light blue dotted line. You can also see a little of the contrasting hem on the bottom peeking out. After steeking, I attach the button band and the button hole band (yet to be knitted), sew on the buttons (yet to be bought), block that bad girl, and it's done!
I thought I'd show you a close up of the yoke with the colorwork. I'm still hoping for some flattening out of the puckering once it's blocked. I have a good feeling about it. I was a little worried about my colors, as I didn't use the Reynolds Whiskey. I thought the fuschia might be a little much, and I was worried the purling might look amateurish. I actually think the 2 things take care of each other, or rather the purling softens up the color transitions and gives some dimension to the yoke. Once again, I think the blocking will help make it look less messy.
Even though the pattern says to go ahead and cut the front, I'm waiting to steek until the button bands are ready to be put in place. It makes me nervous thinking about those cut edges sitting around waiting for me to finish the bands. Maybe by the end of this week, I'll have MY version of Enid to show.
HAPPY MARDI GRAS, YA'LL!
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