WIP Week - Monday - The Bad Beginning
I love Kate’s idea of turning this week into work in progress week, so I’m ripping her off and sharing a different wip every day this week. Seems a little less overwhelming than trying to share everything excitedly at once. Want to join in?
Anyway, here’s today’s wip. (So jealous of my mum’s dressing table mirror.) This got off to a rather shaky start, I stayed up late one night last week sitting in bed plugging numbers into excel. Lately I’ve been trying to start off by working out multiple sizes rather than completing something and then grading the sizes, this is partly because I hate grading sizes and figure I’m less likely to procrastinate from pattern writing if it’s already begun and partly so that I can hopefully avoid situations where something only works out for particular sizes. So I was doing calculations for 13 different sizes for a top-down compound raglan a la Maggie Righetti and for some reason decided it would be better to knit it from the bottom up. Bleary eyed as I was, the only reason I was up late doing maths was so that I could start this and so I cast on. Casting on almost 200 sts with fingering weight yarn on circular needs while sleepy is a recipe for disaster. Knitting this many rounds before realising the whole thing is irreversibly twisted is just plain stupid.
And so I cast on again, and I knit and I knit and I ripped and re-knit and then charted out overly complex ways to incorporate the shaping into the lace pattern.
And then I decided that the pattern would be much better if I knit it from the top down. As in if I’d just gone with my original plan. Doh! The major reasons for this decision were to do with making a better pattern rather than a better garment, the garment would probably have worked ok either way but this way I think the instructions will be clearer and the sizing easier to tweak. I did wonder a couple of times if the bad beginning was my knitting’s way of trying to tell me something. Silly? Well when I finally started again from the top down I had no problems at all.
I love this stitch pattern, especially for the fact that the right and wrong sides both look good. Parts of the inside will be visible anyway but I may even take to wearing it reverse side out.
The false start does mean I get to show you just how well the ribbing joins the lace, pretty.
The yarn is Rowan 4 ply soft in shade 319. It’s a gorgeous soft teal that my crappy pictures aren’t doing any favours too. I bought it at my lys’s summer sale, and since it was on sale and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it I bought the whole bag (of 10 balls). When I took these photos I still had this much of the 2nd ball left (not counting what I used for the false start which will be ripped out at some point).
It looks like I’m going to have enough leftovers for matching knee socks, or even another jumper. Overly precious though it might be I’m quite fond of the matching knee socks idea.
And since I thought that after all of these progress shots you might like more of an idea of what I’m making I did this funny little sketch.
So what are you working on this week?
Posted: August 6th, 2007 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 18
Comments
Comment from Jessica
Time: August 7, 2007, 12:25 am
AH! I was wondering why there was a picture of the upper part and then a picture of the bottom part, when I saw it on Flickr. I really like it a LOOOT!!!!
Comment from Libby
Time: August 7, 2007, 12:45 am
I really love the sketch and the lace pattern! I’m sorry it gave you such trouble but I’m glad there will be a pattern! Can’t wait to see it finished!
~Libby
Comment from ellebee
Time: August 7, 2007, 2:52 am
Hi! First time commenting, I’m usually a lurker… I love this WIP! It might be my favorite of yours. Can’t wait to see the finished product!
Comment from Lien
Time: August 7, 2007, 3:04 am
I’ve done the twisted knit in the round thing before. Such a pain!! Especially when there are heaps of stitches. What I do now is knit a few rowss (about 3-4) and then join. Later when I finish, I just have to seam up a couple of stitches.
Love the colour and the lace pattern!! I’m working on the Feminine Puff Sleeved Cardigan from Fitted Knits - and ignoring all my other WIPs!!
Comment from emily
Time: August 7, 2007, 3:30 am
sounds like quite a trial but it’s looking like a promising sweater. I await further progress eagerly, and admire your stamina : )
Comment from Gudrun
Time: August 7, 2007, 4:16 am
Funnily enough I had a really similar experience this week with a design I’m making for a knitter/designer/blogger/yarn making girl called Gryphon. Also in a fine kind of yarn 212 stitches cast on…then after a few rows realizing the twist….ripped out…started again then noticed a loose lot of stitches from my first few rounds…ripped out again..think I have it sorted!
Love the look of your design…you pick great colours!
Comment from janine
Time: August 7, 2007, 8:37 am
I know just what you mean about that yarn! I used the same colourway when designing my I love Gansey socks for the six sock KAL - a lot of people in the group commented on how great the design looked in grey?!!
I have just come out of a doldrum patch and now have several things (too many ) on the needles.
I’m test knitting a sock, designing a sock, designing a cardi in Collinette Parisienne, knitting a second Sizzle, have two other tanks lined up oh, and have you seen Lemonade from the August Magknits? - that just went on to the list too - so many projects so little time :-)
Comment from kathryn
Time: August 7, 2007, 8:46 am
ah great minds :)
at your suggestion i got some babmoo soft and started this on my trip to queensferry last week …
http://bp0.blogger.com/_BahoTDfjjSU/RrW5KekMbKI/AAAAAAAAAJY/jQ4YIw81SOk/s1600-h/queensferry+1.jpg
have a good day
Comment from Katherine
Time: August 7, 2007, 9:42 am
This is looking good!
I’m working on an Aran baby hpodie from a Debbie Bliss book, it’s ok, I bought the yarn a few years ago and it’s a bit too acrylic-y for my liking but more practical for babies. Plus knitting this is using it up. I’m also working on some socks using a 2 needle pattern my Secret Pal sent me.
Comment from Donna
Time: August 7, 2007, 12:21 pm
That looks lovely. I’m working on the Fabulous Lace Inset Cardigan from sweaterbabe.com in lipstick red!!
Comment from sarah
Time: August 7, 2007, 1:22 pm
Looks lovely so far. It’s fascinating getting a window onto your designing process, thank you for sharing these stages.
Personally a never ending man sock is the main project for the week in the hope that it may become an ending man sock.
Comment from geertje
Time: August 7, 2007, 1:35 pm
that’s such a lovely lace pattern!! (as always :)
i’m real curious about the fo, i can’t imagine what the hood will be like (it is a hood, in your sketch, isn’t it?), will you knit it in the lace pattern as well?
as i’m a bit stressed out lately (dissertation!), i’ve cast all my wips apart and am now knitting a garter st scarf ;)). perfect, mindless, zen knitting (in noro, though, so it will make a nice birthday gift for someone when i’m finished)
Comment from Jenna
Time: August 7, 2007, 2:14 pm
There must be something in the air!
http://knitsnwovens.blogspot.com/2007/08/new-projects.html
As someone who is in the middle of some major baby cardigan surgery to change the buttonholes (don’t tell me it’s easier to rip back, I’ve done that 3 times already to get the neckline to be what it wanted to be!!), I’m starting to understand the battle of wits that goes on between designer and yarn… so far the yarn is winning ;).
Comment from Juno
Time: August 7, 2007, 3:19 pm
I am so charmed by the way the ribbing tapers into the pattern, I can’t even stand it.
Comment from Eva
Time: August 7, 2007, 6:28 pm
I’m with Juno — that ribbing transition is brilliant.
I
Comment from kate
Time: August 7, 2007, 8:36 pm
oh. i’m glad you liked my idea! I realized I have a lot going on and haven’t shared much, so it seemed like a good plan for the week, and goo dmotivation to be a better more consistent blogger.
I really love this sweater pattern, and 4ply soft, so I can’t wait to see it finished!
Comment from Kristin
Time: August 8, 2007, 12:33 am
Beautiful! I can’t wait to see it once it’s finished. I absolutely love the collar.
Comment from Eva
Time: August 9, 2007, 1:06 pm
After reading this post I now finally decided to answer your WIP question and post some of mine on my blog, too. If you feel like it, come have a look. This sweater looks great! I had to rip one the fronts of my WIP cardie several times, too, though it’s not by far as complicated as yours and I’m following a pattern … Well, let’s see how it’ll turn out. I hope that one day I’ll also be able to construct my own designs!
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