Friday, April 22
Still working on the sleeves
I've been trying to be good and keep working on this sweater, a little bit here and a little bit there. The sleeves are close to the same length so soon I can get started on the sleeve cap shaping. I find it in intimidating but hopefully I can make it work without too much ripping.
What I really want to do is start working on the hood of all things, but I really should sort out whether or not the neck edge where I left it will work. I'll repin the piece to my mannequin (purchased at a store closing -- it's dense foam under cloth and takes pins well) and see from there how it is doing.
Nice job on getting your cardi completed Holly!
What I really want to do is start working on the hood of all things, but I really should sort out whether or not the neck edge where I left it will work. I'll repin the piece to my mannequin (purchased at a store closing -- it's dense foam under cloth and takes pins well) and see from there how it is doing.
Nice job on getting your cardi completed Holly!
Thursday, April 21
so how do i really feel?
about the cardigan, that is...
if i were to do it over, i'd probably have used the pattern for inspiration and used a different one for the practical elements instead, or made my own, i suppose. i used the men's ribbed cardigan from last minute knitted gifts and well, hmm. the yoke was too small. it would have fit me fine, but, although i have broad shoulders, i am not built like a man. there was no way that yoke decreases every other row were going to fit SOP. no way at all. of course, i had to knit it and block it to find out for sure, but it did not work.
the yoke decreases need to happen on every third row to make this sweater work for a man. plain and simple.
then, there is the neck. it is kind of bulgy in front. SOP likes that, at least he says he does, because he can tuck his chin in it when it is cold, but it bothers me. i am not sure how i would have gotten rid of it, though. maybe i will post on KR and ask that. there are a lot of people there who really know their stuff.
so, the zipper. i used quilting pins to place the zipper first off and made sure it lined up. then i sewed it in by hand, using the first purl valley to hide the stitches. That is one nice thing about the pattern is that the zipper border is kpkp, so you have that valley right where you need it to mask the thread stitches.
the actual stitching:
perhaps it is because of adjusting the stitches to the varying widths of that purl valley, or perhaps it is because i am just out of practice with needle and thread, but the stitches on the back of the zipper are fairly uneven. sop, again, likes this, but i think i would like to get a book on finishing techniques to get some more ideas on zippers and making them look nice on both sides. another nice thing about this pattern is because the collar is sewn down inside after you sew in the zipper, you have no scratchy zipper against your face, just soft wool.
if i were to do it over, i'd probably have used the pattern for inspiration and used a different one for the practical elements instead, or made my own, i suppose. i used the men's ribbed cardigan from last minute knitted gifts and well, hmm. the yoke was too small. it would have fit me fine, but, although i have broad shoulders, i am not built like a man. there was no way that yoke decreases every other row were going to fit SOP. no way at all. of course, i had to knit it and block it to find out for sure, but it did not work.
the yoke decreases need to happen on every third row to make this sweater work for a man. plain and simple.
then, there is the neck. it is kind of bulgy in front. SOP likes that, at least he says he does, because he can tuck his chin in it when it is cold, but it bothers me. i am not sure how i would have gotten rid of it, though. maybe i will post on KR and ask that. there are a lot of people there who really know their stuff.
so, the zipper. i used quilting pins to place the zipper first off and made sure it lined up. then i sewed it in by hand, using the first purl valley to hide the stitches. That is one nice thing about the pattern is that the zipper border is kpkp, so you have that valley right where you need it to mask the thread stitches.
the actual stitching:
perhaps it is because of adjusting the stitches to the varying widths of that purl valley, or perhaps it is because i am just out of practice with needle and thread, but the stitches on the back of the zipper are fairly uneven. sop, again, likes this, but i think i would like to get a book on finishing techniques to get some more ideas on zippers and making them look nice on both sides. another nice thing about this pattern is because the collar is sewn down inside after you sew in the zipper, you have no scratchy zipper against your face, just soft wool.
Sunday, April 17
you are what?!
done! yes, i completed the zipper last week, but sadly only have mediocre pictures to share. i hope to sneak a few more pics at sop's house this week.
for now, here he is looking cool:
and here he is looking chilled:
more on my likes and dislikes of the pattern and some close-ups of my miserable stitching later this week.
for now, here he is looking cool:
and here he is looking chilled:
more on my likes and dislikes of the pattern and some close-ups of my miserable stitching later this week.
Thursday, April 14
12 1/2 inches of sleeve number 2
No photos but I am making some progress on the second sleeve. Soon I will have to venture into sleeve cap shaping (I'm so dreading that) and getting closer to the hood.
I finished a man's hat and started on a newborn hat to add a little filler. The other sweater for my nephew is coming along well.
Hopefully I will have something more interesting to report with photos very soon.
I finished a man's hat and started on a newborn hat to add a little filler. The other sweater for my nephew is coming along well.
Hopefully I will have something more interesting to report with photos very soon.
Monday, April 11
Ok, the picture is terrible, but it does show the progress that I've made. I'm roughly following the pattern from the Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, and this is the cabled yoke pattern.
For the part-to-be-affixed-to-zipper, I'm using a 2-stitch I-cord. My plan is to put in the zip by hand.
Apart from a couple of stupid planning mistakes I've made, I'm actually excited about this sweater. I'm still a little anxious for the actually zipper surgery, but I think the final product will be nice!
For the part-to-be-affixed-to-zipper, I'm using a 2-stitch I-cord. My plan is to put in the zip by hand.
Apart from a couple of stupid planning mistakes I've made, I'm actually excited about this sweater. I'm still a little anxious for the actually zipper surgery, but I think the final product will be nice!
Wednesday, April 6
Photos Posted
I finally pulled out the camera and took some shots to share of my work:
Sleeve progress
cuff detail
Sleeve progress
cuff detail
