smocking
I’m still in love with the fabric that the Rowan Bamboo Soft makes, even if the splitting is a total pain in the arse. But it feels like a much loved, well worn t-shirt. Except maybe softer and silkier, and heavier of course. I’m making a round-yoked cardigan with not a bit of shaping in the body. Sounds like a recipe for a boxy unflattering disaster but the yarn is so drapey and the weight makes it hang so well that I think it’s going to work.
A few days ago I showed you pictures of the puffy hem, and while I loved how it looked I wasn’t sure it would look right in the garment. As the giant rectangle of stocking stitch grew the weight has made it hang perfectly flat, there is no longer any puffiness at all.
Unless this yarn wears horribly I think I might be a little in love with it. Which is just as well, because I have some more of it.
Spot the purple cable? My knitpicks options arrived, with no postal or customs issues, so if everyone else in this trial had a similar experience it looks like they might start shipping to the UK. I love them, although they have been unscrewing occasionally after a lot of use even though I tighten them with the little wire thingy. Hasn’t caused any problems yet though and it’s only happened a couple of times. Luckily they can’t totally unscrew before the yarn catches on the join and alerts me to the problem. And I do knit a lot so I can forgive this. Obviously there have already been a gazillion reviews of these, so lets just say I’m happy with them and having fun with the way the extra tips make handy-dandy cable needles and the cords and end caps make ‘try-as-you-go’ simple. I wonder how long it’s going to be before I’m emailing one of my US blog friends looking for extra tips, I got some extra cords in the lengths I use most.
The sleeves are just provisionally cast on at the moment for a few reasons. Firstly I have never made a round yoked anything so I wasn’t sure how much yarn the yoke would use up, a lot it turns out, and how much would be left over for the sleeves. Aside from that practical issue, I bought ten balls of this on sale so don’t have any more, I’m still undecided about how long to make the sleeves or what style. One of the, many, many, things I’m considering is whether to cuff the sleeves with I-cord or hems. This will depend on the sleeve style, but crucially I-cord would be easier as a bind off, while the hems would be easier as the beginning (no sewing). Although it has just occured to me that I might be one of the only knitters who would rather graft 264 sts than whip stitch hems up. Of course if that was what I did the pattern would work the sleeves before joining the yoke. By provisionally casting on the sleeves I’ve got the option to knit them in either direction. You might have noticed this already, but I generally design things as I go and I really think I need to finish the body of this cardigan before I’ll know what the sleeves should be like. Hopefully then I’ll just know or at the very least be able to make a decision. At the moment it is looking like the amount of yarn I have left will make some of the decisions for me anyway.
Living with my family has some perks, other than the pretty furniture to drape knits over and the stocked fridge, my brother made these amazing wee chocolate souffles for dessert last night. There were even leftovers and I’m already thinking of what they’ll be like chilled and mousse-like. He got the recipe here. It filled 6 large ramekins.
Thank you so very, very much to everyone who has bought Briar Rose, or blogged about the pattern or queued it on Ravelry or shown your love for the design in any way at all. Your support means so much to me. I know that some of you have been concerned about how flattering the puffy shoulders will be, especially if you already have wide shoulders. The yarn you choose will make a big difference to how puffy the top of the sleeves are - look at the difference between my pink and green versions. They both have the same number of stitches at the top of the sleeve but the drape of the yarn makes a big difference to the appearance. If however, you want to get rid of the puffiness completely I’ll be putting up a tutorial on how to modify the sleeves soon. In the meantime, if you want to get started on the pattern the body up to the underarms won’t be affected by the mod. I’m sure that there are some people out there who get the same ‘must-start-now’ urge as I do.
One reason I started designing was because I kept getting that urge late at night when all the shops were closed and I had to find yarn in my, very limited, stash. Finding yarn was hard enough, let alone matching yarn and pattern. I started off making a lot of free-form hats. Luckily I had some rather crustyish friends at that point, who were very happy to wear my odd creations. Still haven’t got much stash really, although more than I’ve ever had before. I have lots of random small amounts of yarn, but realistically I have enough to actually make 4 sweaters and maybe 4 smaller tops. Seeing as I mostly make such things this is really the stash that matters. I have a feeling that the desire to be able to satisfy that ‘must-make-now’ urge at any moment is the motivation behind the huge stashes some of you have collected (you know exactly who you are!). Personally, aside from the cash involved, I think I’d find that a little overwhelming. I’m certainly planning on using most of this yarn before I buy more. I’m actually finding, despite my earlier experience of the ‘must-make-now-only-have-this-yarn-I’ll-design-a-hat’ thing I really prefer to buy things with some idea of what I’ll make. All of the sweater/top yarn is matched to a project at the moment. Seems like a way to balance the guilt of having lots of unused yarn potential designs and satisfying the urge to start right now, when right now is almost always when the shops are closed, any shop that does next day delivery on orders placed late in the afternoon is magical. How do you approach this sort of balancing act, or is it even something that matters to you? Of course this question is really for anyone who makes anything, not just the knitters. Although I fear that if I ever did have non-knitting readers I’ve lost them by now with all my technical gibberish. If you’re reading and not a knitter (or someone who knows me outside of the internet) come say hello.
Enjoy the remainder of your weekend, my dears.
Posted: July 8th, 2007 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 25
Comments
Comment from lauren
Time: July 8, 2007, 1:06 pm
I LOVE the start of this sweater - I cannot wait to see how the sleeves and finishing turn out. The yarn color and weight and yoke: yum!
Comment from SoKnitpicky
Time: July 8, 2007, 2:01 pm
A sister who knits? A brother who makes chocolate yummies? What a talented family! I love how this top is turning out and really want to try smocking!
Comment from Sarah
Time: July 8, 2007, 2:18 pm
This new creation looks fabulous too - the stitch on the yoke makes me want to knit it right now! I have that urge all the time. My stash is small as I’ve only been knitting about 6 months but growing as I can’t resist sale bargains - I try and buy things with projects in mind but then find I change my mind before I get there anyway…
Comment from Lin
Time: July 8, 2007, 4:26 pm
Ysolda, thank you so much for noting the puffy shoulder comments. I would love to knit Briar Rose but it was the wide shoulder issue that put me off! The chocolate souffle looks divine…
Comment from kathryn
Time: July 8, 2007, 6:12 pm
ooh these are your best photos yet i think - and is that a cloud bolero lurking in the on the bedpost ? i’m sold on the bamboo, i’ll definitely be giving it a try and the smocking is really beautiful.
Comment from Gudrun
Time: July 8, 2007, 7:32 pm
This is a gorgeous looking cardi and I love the look of the colour and yarn. I’m like you and tend to do a lot of design as I go which is why I love working in the round where possible so you have options/choices along the way..not to mention trying the thing on to see if it’s working! I’d have to agree with you on preferring to graft stitches than whipstitch (another reason I work in the round where poss so I can avoid too much seaming)!
Do you plan to make knitting even more a part of your life now that Uni is over for you?
Anyway, admiring what you’re doing!
Comment from liz
Time: July 8, 2007, 8:46 pm
I’ve had to tighten my belt recently so I always fight the ‘must make urge’ by forcing myself to continue with one of the three projects I already have on the go. And even if I wasn’t watching the pennies, it would be greedy to keep starting and never finishing, wouldn’t it?
I’ve always dismissed smocking as something for old ladies, but I’m rapidly changing my mind…
Comment from Laura
Time: July 8, 2007, 8:51 pm
Oooh, liking your smocked cardigan! I accidentally bought some bamboo in Paris in June with the intention of making a top of some sort, but without a pattern I’ve been a little stuck. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished result and hopefully buying the pattern once it’s done!
Comment from Heather
Time: July 8, 2007, 10:48 pm
Looking at that smocking makes me want to knit it right NOW! Excuse me while I wipe the drool off the keyboard. Guess I’ll have to settle for lace socks instead.
Comment from juno
Time: July 8, 2007, 11:06 pm
Goodness that’s pretty.
And I am planning an resupply of KP Options tips this week - if you want me to throw some in for you, let me know what sizes…..
Comment from geertje
Time: July 8, 2007, 11:46 pm
i love the stitch pattern on the yoke!! do you make those pretty stitch patterns up yourself, or where do you get them from?
although i’ve only been knitting for a year or so, i have loads of stash. most of it used to be my mum’s, though, who was gonna throw it away (i like to think of it as precious ‘vintage yarn’, even though most of it is er….acrylic…). as i’ll have to move back to the netherlands in two months, i’m now desperately trying to use all of it.
Comment from Eva
Time: July 9, 2007, 12:07 am
I almost always try to have a project in mind for yarn I buy, even if that changes. The exception is usually a yarn that I adore and happens to be on sale, or something like that.
That said, lately I’ve accumulated quite a bit of yarn in varying quantities that I have no immediate intention for. This is a great irritation to my ever-patient boyfriend. Luckily, he has his own stash of video games and their accompanying consoles. ;-)
Comment from Caitlin
Time: July 9, 2007, 3:39 am
I’m totally with you on the stash thing… my entire “stash” is made up of leftovers from finished projects, yarn for things I plan to make in the immediate future, and yarn I bought for projects that I ended up frogging/not making because the yarn and pattern didn’t work together. And I feel guilty having even that sitting around not being knitted. I’m currently working at an LYS, so being there several days a week mostly fulfills my “must knit now” urge. But I’m pretty patient about waiting to cast on for something, whether it’s waiting until the next morning when the store opens, or waiting for yarn to come by mail.
I love the new top, and I also love the bamboo soft. And also, I’m madly in love with Briar Rose.
Comment from Sarah
Time: July 9, 2007, 4:44 am
I love how this new design is working up. I’m looking forward to the pattern very much. Congrats on having so much of a new sweater done after just finishing a great pattern, which I love by the way, and will be starting on soon.
Comment from yvonnep
Time: July 9, 2007, 6:55 am
I love this smocked cardigan. Funny thing is that long long ago in school we learned to smock instead of knitting socks. And that was very modern. Maybe you do not have much stash but… I calculated how much the BR would cost me in Noro and fainted…so you have probably a very valuable stash. :-)
Comment from webbo
Time: July 9, 2007, 10:58 am
I’m facing up to the need to purge my stash. I don’t have a lot, but having it around is starting to make me feel sad. That cadigan is making me want to stash bamboo though - the smocking works wonderfully with the yarn.
Comment from lupinbunny
Time: July 9, 2007, 12:06 pm
dang that yarn shows off the smocking stitch nicely! I’m thinking I might have to suck it up (the cost, that is) and explore the joys of bamboo.
Comment from pinsandneedles
Time: July 9, 2007, 3:21 pm
Oh, that smock looks so nice. I try to destash as much as I can, but I have this compulsive need to look for more yarn. I need to spend endless nights making creative designs with what I have, like what you do. Thanks for sharing your must-knit-now urge.
Comment from Anna
Time: July 9, 2007, 6:55 pm
Love this! Can’t wait for the pattern!
Comment from Violetsrose
Time: July 10, 2007, 1:18 pm
I am always having that “must knit now” urge - lucky I have vast amounts of stash - mostly inherited from my mother - I never get rid of it as I “might need it in the future” - I just can’t bring myself to get rib of good yarn - doesn’t stop me buying more though - I tend to only buy full price retial yarn if I definitely have a project in mind - but bargain yarn can’t be left behind even if I have no idea what I’m going o do with it!
I love the colour of this smocked top - its really gorgeous!
Comment from Janice
Time: July 10, 2007, 3:32 pm
when i started knitting, i used to buy one ball of yarn here and there — which i found out later on in the game was pretty useless. now i don’t buy yarn unless it’s for a project, and i have only one thing on the needles at once. as for the random single balls of yarn, i’ve been making a lot of hats and bandanas.
good work on the top! i hope you release the pattern soon!
Comment from Leah
Time: July 12, 2007, 11:31 pm
I love the little details! They make knitting so worthwhile! Beautiful work!
Comment from dana
Time: July 14, 2007, 10:57 pm
love this sweater — please provide a pattern at some point.
Comment from Jenna
Time: July 21, 2007, 2:47 pm
For me, the necessity of stash isn’t so much for the “must knit it now” (although that sometimes happens!), but for the thrill of creative design. The “this bit goes well with that bit” or the endless swatches trying to match the dream in my head… I try hard not to buy any more and work through what I have, but the smaller the stash, the less I can do with it!!
Sigh. One day we’ll have room for my creativity ;).
Comment from Aurelija
Time: September 26, 2007, 10:21 pm
Gorgeous! I’m also in love with bamboo. How did you get the knitpicks needles? I live in Denmark, so I guess I have no chance…
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