Monday, January 31, 2005

um, silly marker question...

i'm working on the sleeves and was reading ahead in the pattern to the decrease round under "yoke.". this seems to call for the existence of four markers? i only count three as having been placed. this may seem obvious, but am i to assume i should have four markers, one at the beginning and end of each sleeve, or am i missing something?

i know this seems small, but i'm hoping to avoid any more frogging and, so, am paranoid!

theory on yarn shortages

so, of the people who have come up short on yarn, or needed more than the pattern called for, what size were you making? i made the S and needed about one-half to three-quarters of a skein more than what the pattern called for and in looking at Mari's post, she needed 1 and a half more, so i am wondering if the further you get from the model-size, the further off the yarn requirements are?

Sunday, January 30, 2005

Yay! I'm finished!

I finished my sweater! Yippee!!

Here's a photo (the weather was nice so we had to take photos at the beach)


This was a slightly traumatic sweater. I didn't post during my progress because I was frustrated with it. This was my first circular sweater and althought I loved knitting with the Cash Iroha, I didn't like the fact that knitting circular was cumbersome. Also, I ran out of yarn. I made the smallest size and I needed 9 1/2 skeins instead of the 8 called for in the pattern. I ordered 9, and luckily they had the same dye lot available for the final skein.

I knitted the body with Addi Turbo 7's, but I had to knit fairly tight to keep gauge. The sleeves I knitted with the Clover plastic 6 needles, so I knitted a bit loosely. I did like the way the hemming looked at the end. I think the sweater looks finished with it. Probably my favorite thing about this sweater is the color! Very pretty.

I had a hard time gauging how the sweater would look like in the end. Too big? Too short? Neckline too big? But, in the end, it came out very nice. I really like it.

I'll post a couple of more photos on my blog, so check it out!

Thank you Kelly for hosting the knitalong! To be honest, I'm not sure if I would have finished without it.

Friday, January 28, 2005

12" Circulars

Since 12" circulars can be a wee bit difficult to find, I thought I'd post some of the sources I came across:

Addi 12" from Pacific Wool & Fiber - $14.95
Addi 12" from Handknitting.com - $13.50
Clover plastic 12" (on eBay) - $4.45 - note, these are marked US8, but run small according to the seller, so I'm assuming US8 = US7-ish
Clover plastic 12" from Worldknit.com - this store also has 8.25" circulars! Same caveat applies re: size, I'm assuming.

Of course, you can use DPNs, but the circulars go faster. Plus, if you're making the legwarmer pattern, which I calls for US 8, you could probably get by with using the same needles, thereby getting at least one more project out of them. I went with the Clovers. Has anyone else tried them? Are they indeed about a US7? Any other needle experiences to share?

EDIT (1/29/05): I asked the eBay seller I bought the 12" Clovers from, and she says the size 8s also say "4.5mm" on the package, which would make them equivalent to a US7.

Thursday, January 27, 2005

Hello all!

Not to keep anyone in suspense, here's a little progress I've made on my sweater:



And note that I've made a picot edging on the bottom.



I really like picot.

The yarn? Jo Sharp Aran Tweed in a sort of oatmeal color. My gauge is running at 18 sts, so it may be a little wide, but I'm making the tightest size for me (37'"?), so I *think* that it will work. We'll see.

I'll update my blog ... sometime ... so come visit when you can!

Jenifer
http://knittingat5337.blogdrive.com

Friday, January 21, 2005

I Love My Body - Progress Photo

Howdy everyone! I've finished the body of my h-glass. I'm a shorty, so I cropped it by probably about an inch by putting 1 less row between every decrease and increase row.


hourglassprogress.JPG

Can't wait to see more completion and progress photos!


Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Finished!

I've finished the knitting on my Hourglass Sweater. I tried it on last night and it's a very good fit. I just have to sew down the facings and I'm done. Picture and further comments are on my blog if you want to take a look.

I really enjoyed knitting this and can definitely see myself knitting another one!

Mary

Saturday, January 15, 2005

Substitute Yarn

Has anyone tried this pattern in Peace Fleece? I am doing another sweater in it right now and I just love it. I wonder how the drape would be for this sweater. I have never used Cash Iroha so I don't know how they compare. What are some of you using in place of it?

LisaPrit
http://continueinkind.typepad.com

Thursday, January 13, 2005

making progress...

i am about 80 rows in ( or something like that; i am working on the last increase section of the body before dividing for the yoke) and i really like this yarn. yes, the surface is uneven, but the feel is wonderful and it is such a low-brain-drain knit that this is an ultra-relaxing project.
on my way...

Monday, January 10, 2005

How Accurate is Sizing?

Happy New Year, all! I'm getting started on my hourglass and am trying to settle on the size. Those who have completed the body, how true are the measurements in the pattern (i.e.33" across chest = XS, 37" = S, etc.) to the actual size?

My chest measures (a wee) 32.5", and I'm leaning to the S so's to avoid skintightness, but I don't want to swim in the darned thing either. I'm also worried that the larger size will produce a neckline that will fall off my shoulders all the time. Any thoughts?

Friday, January 07, 2005

Rippit!!!

Hello everyone!

I just got my yarn earlier in the week and have started this sweater three times... yep, three times. First, somehow, mysteriously, I twisted the stitches. I really thought I was paying attention. The second time I was so enamored with the way the Cash Iroha was just flowing through my fingers I started knitting looser... and looser. (I don't think looser is a word!) When I went to check my gauge, I was knitting 13 stitches to 4 inches. Yipes!

Hopefully the third time's the charm.

Sleeves?

I was just wondering if anyone was having problems with the sleeves. I am finished with the body, and got some shorter circs in the mail (not the 12", I couldn't find those anywhere, but I got 16", and was able to join just fine, so I figured they would be ok). My problem was this....when I reached almost the top of the sleeve (I had done the last increase and was just knitting even to reach the desired length), I tried it on and the thing was HUGE. It would have been fine if the sweater was in any way blousy, but I'm making the XS size (I'm not an XS person, but my boobs are XXXXXS, so I thought that size would fit me the best) and the sleeves were more like the XL (I could fit both arms into one sleeve). Has anyone made the sleeves? Any problems?

The other thing I don't get with the sleeves is why they are hourglass shaped as well. I was thinking of doing a small bell at the wrist area, but have it fitted most of the way up, since that is how the sweater fits. I am planning on designing a new sleeve, and just having the same number (hopefully) of stitches and bound off stitches at the top.

You can see pics of my dilemma at my blog- I would love to hear what the rest of you think.