From the Top
Happy Valentine's Day! Howzabout a little (violent) comic relief? From one of my favorite sites, cartoon episode Blind Date and a Valentine Smoochie. Enjoy!
Below is the beginning of a top-down, v-neck, fitted sweater with slightly-belled sleeves. I'm using Barbara Walker's Knitting from the Top as my guide; specifically, the Top-Down Vest and Inset Sleeves chapters.
It's fun, in a nail-biting sort of way! I'm a very slow knitter so every minute, every hour that I spend on knitting is precious and must be accounted for. BF helped me with all my measurements and I did a few gauge calculations, then cast on. I'm using Gedifra Modern Cotton, which may look familiar to some of you. This used to be the Eyelet Sweater of last year. Sad to say, but I wore the sweater all of 5 times. :-( The sleeves, being made purely of eyelet, stretched until it seemed like I was dragging them on the ground. So earlier this year I bit the bullet and frogged it. (This is the second sweater I frogged. I hope I strike gold with this third!)
I'd been wanting to experiment with top-down construction and this seemed to be the perfect opportunity. Also, because I wanted to purchase this pattern, and when I checked Knit Pixie this weekend they were out, so I resolved to make my own version. As it turns out, they're selling the pattern again, but I'm already on a roll here. So, let's see how this turns out. (Thanks Jillian for helping me out here!)
Late last week I received my yarn from Bea Ellis Knitwear for Eunny's Argyle Vest! I'm just waiting for my needles from Elann, and then I'll be off and running. Steeks, here I come! (By the way, Bea Ellis Knitwear is having a 20% off sale on Dale of Norway's Heilo, at just $4/ball. I ordered a color card as well. I just discovered the usefulness of color cards! Where've I been?)
is it to late for your Norg Kal?
I'm going to knit this: http://www.helloyarn.com/wecallthempirates.htm
in baby blue's :) haha! I am hoping it will be my first complete fair isle project, after the Olympics!
Looks great so far! are you going to be using set-in sleeves? That's going to be my next personal challenge so I'll be watching your progress
ah! color cards ;) i've been going a little crazy with them lately - they're also very useful for us spinners, to compare with the yarn we're trying to create and also to see how a yarn is constructed and all that. i want to start my argyle vest soon too - am ordering the color cards from bea ellis right now, thanks!
;)
good luck with the sweater! sounds like the kind of pattern I'm always trying to create for myself. i look forward to seeing how it goes :)
look at that color! wow! thought it looked familiar :)
I knew I recognized this yarn! I think this incarnation will be beautiful and very wearable. Looks good so far ;)
I have yet to try a top down, but keep saying I want to try. I love your KoolAid rovings and your Bea Ellis hat ROCKS! I am so going to make one of those after seeing yours!!!!
Anytime, maam. It's good to know that my compulsive internet habits have been useful to someone!
I must say, I am impressed. There just isn't a technique that scares you! You go!
Hey, the new top looks cute! Hope it all works out well. Love your dyeing experiments. I recently had a run in with fake grape flavour and used the stuff to dye some yarn instead. It made the whole house stink of fake grape! YUCK!
Yikes, I thought the first reincarnation of the sweater was beautiful, but obviously if the sleeves just stretched, not such a good thing. I adore that color for you (heck, for me too!). I think it will be just gorgeous.