Miles to go
October 16th, 2006 by Wen
Miles and miles and miles to go…
As far as the knitting pixies are concerned, this plain V-neck sweater is for me. It’s known as the Boyfriend sweater only because I like to wear my boyfriend’s sweaters. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the BF lost his favorite sweater that was exactly the same color and style. I won’t mind, however, if he “borrows” it.
I’ve knit 14.5″ on the back so far. I’ll start the decreases in another inch. Whee!
The pattern? Well, slightly cobbled together from “The exception to the rule” pattern from The Yarn Girls’ Guide to Simple Knits and The Sweater Wizard V3 pattern software generator. The pattern in the book calls for size 9 needles, however I’m knitting this with size 7 needles for better drape with the Gedifra Airmix (I swatched in 7, 8, and 9- a slowknitter first. Thanks Harlot) I needed to rework the pattern for the smaller needle size. Hence the Sweater Wizard.
One thing about the Yarn Girls’ book: I bought this book when I was a fairly new knitter. The patterns in it are quite simple, yet classic designs and they are easy to read and produce. Now that I’ve been knitting a while longer I have a really big problem with this book.Several of the patterns call for fine yarns doubled and (in some cases) tripled.
I personally cannot stand doubling yarn to knit. It’s too easy to split the two strands, drop one strand while knitting the other, or just fall prey to some weird sort of knitting chicanery. Just thinking about knitting with three strands makes the vein in my forehead stand out in a frightening way. (Imagine all three yarns completely twisted around themselves by the time you get halfway through your cast-on row and you will understand my extreme prejudice on this subject.)
The above reasons aside, there is another thing that needs to be considered. Cost.
The yardage amount for the pattern I’m knitting in the largest size calls for 2200 yards (20 balls!) of yarn. The pattern calls for Grignasco Top Print. If you bought it at the Yarn Co. (the yarn shop that the authors of the book own) It would cost you $179 before shipping (or tax if you live in New York). That’s a pretty hefty sum for a sweater. Not to mention the $30 for the book. Am I the only one who thinks this is a sneaky way to sell new knitters a lot of yarn?
Ok. End of rant.
I’ve got another project on the needles:
made from Malabrigo #181
It’s looking a little like this:
Sorry for the extreme close up (we call that an ECU in my biz), but this is a present for someone who might be reading this.
And there is a project OFF the needles:
The Sea + Shells stole is frogged for two reasons- the aforementioned problem with row 5 AND my housekeeper decided that I really didn’t need to know exactly where I am in the pattern so she took the pattern off the magnetic chart keeper (with the magnets making my place) and put the pattern on my desk with all my other papers. I have no idea what row I was on, so start over.
I hope you are all liking the new look to slowknitter. I fixed all the blogger import bad-ness.
Oh, and Kristin? Lunch was delicious. Eh?
You will look stunning in your charcoal stockinette sweater.
The cables look fabulous. I didn’t know variegated yarns could look pretty in cables, but I guess malabrigo’s one of those yarns that could make a toilet paper cozy look classy.
Sorry about the beautiful helen’s laces. Will there be a ritual burning (the yarn, not the housekeeper)?
I’m glad you enjoyed lunch. I remembered the other thing I was going to post.
Oooh, that Malabrigo cabling is gorgeous! The subtle variegation works so well with the cables.