The Cheerful Knitter Returns

This knitting blog, and this knitter, have been on hiatus for retooling.

W.I.P. Update
I finished the lovely 2-tone rose and dark raspberry color-block sweater by knitting a folded-over collar with a center split. No need to center the cable pattern; I just had to make sure my stitch count when picking up the neckband stitches accommodated a full repeat of the same pattern I used on the hem and cuffs. The edges of the pattern were 2x2 ribbing so they wouldn't roll.

I knitted the collar back and forth on a circular needle so I could try it on and get an idea of how long to make it, which worked well, except that the nylon wire of my needle was very curly. I have since dipped all my circular needles in boiling water in order to relax them. I think this will greatly improve my opinion of circular needles. I have no idea why I didn't try this sooner, as I read this tip a very long time ago.

I haven't officially worn this sweater yet (trying on doesn't count) as I finished it just in time to put it away with other winter clothes, but I am looking forward to that first chilly fall morning to give it a whirl.

The deep violet yarn sees the light of day.
The deep violet yarn was at last next, and I am almost finished knitting a thick, intrepid cardigan with it. The sleeves and part of the body fabric are Irish moss stitch, a pattern I have never used before as I thought the constant switching from knit to purl and back again after every stitch would be maddeningly slow. I was right of course, but in this gauge I liked the results so much that it was worth it. It looks animated and affable, and I think it will be very warm. The moss stitch is broken up by a very impressive stripe of bold moss stitch diamonds on a background of stockinette stitch, separated from the rest of the fabric by a couple of 1x1 ribs. There is one thick stripe on each side of the front, and at the shoulders they meet 2 corresponding stripes on the back. Don't think that didn't take a lot of math.

There is 2x2 ribbing at the hem and cuffs, and I plan the same for the button bands. Picking up stitches for them will be my next step after I finish sewing on the second sleeve and do the side and sleeve seams. I have already tried it on (with pins) and the size seems right. Confidence is high.

A Low Stasher Unburdens Herself

I understand that there are many knitters who feel the need to have a lot of yarn on hand. These knitters build up their stashes of yarn with dedication and gusto. They buy yarn for their next knitting project. They buy yarn for future projects they are thinking of knitting. They buy yarn to keep the other yarn in the stash company. It seems that some knitters enjoy buying yarn as much as they enjoy knitting it.

I, however, cannot claim to be among their number. While I love buying yarn for a specific project, I don't like to buy yarn too far ahead of when I will actually be knitting it. Browsing through the aisles of my l.y.s., touching the skeins, combining colors, and calculating the cost of enough of a certain brand to make a sweater, are all activities I can engage in with no expenditure of cash or commitment. If I change my mind about what color I'd like to use, if I decide I'd prefer something in a different thickness, or if I happen to win the Irish Sweepstakes and can suddenly afford to knit exclusively with cashmere, I will have no encumbrances holding me back from my true destiny. The universe is full of surprises, and I prefer to allow for all possibilities.
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Did My Second Ugly Sweater Teach Me Anything?
The Yarn Girls' Guide to Simple Knits provided the pattern for my next sweater, although this time I had no objection to its name: "Trick or Treat." Refusing to take to heart the lessons my second ugly sweater tried so hard to teach me about using thick yarn, I used even thicker yarn and bigger needles for this project--size 11, with a gauge of 3 sts=1". Further disregarding even the pleasant lessons, the things I did right, I unaccountably chose black for the color. Not "Midnight Serenade" or "Raven's Feather" or "Ladybug Spots." Just black.

I felt that the set-in sleeves were one of the most successful aspects of my baroque sweater, and I was glad I could repeat this design feature on my next project. It would be knit in stockinette stitch, with 4x4 ribbing at the edges. Reading through the finishing instructions, I saw that they expected me to use a circular needle again for the neckband, but since there was a crewneck instead of a v-neck, it would be much easier this time for me to knit it on straights.
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W.I.P.

I gave myself a stern lecture about not allowing the quest for perfection to get in the way of excellence and learning something new, and started picking up the neckband stitches for my rose sweater. I'm stopping frequently to check for holes and to make sure it's even, but I'm almost at the back, which of course will be a breeze. Then I'll need to plan the positioning of the cable pattern, which I'm hoping will not be as tricky as I fear. If necessary, I'll work on my auxiliary knitting (a reversible cable scarf) for a while in order to build up my confidence.

Purls of Wisdom

From Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting: "The low stasher is a knitter who genuinely feels no need to stockpile wool in vast quantities...Many low stashers...find having a small or nonexistent stash spiritually lightening. Should you encounter a true low stasher, admire her greatly. You may never meet another one."

Tomorrow:

• My third ugly sweater: So thick! So quick!
• W.I.P.: Will I have finished picking up the neckband stitches?

Welcome!

I've been knitting sweaters for about 3 years now, and it's been a fascinating journey. Not only have I gained technical sweater-knitting skills, I have also learned to have more patience, persistence, and hope. If you are also a knitter, perhaps you are in one of the following "stages of knitting development":

• the only projects you have made are scarves


• you have only used garter or stockinette stitch


• you find sweater patterns intimidating as they seem to assume you have previous experience knitting sweaters


• you are reluctant to commit to knitting a sweater because it is such a long-term, high-risk project

I was in your shoes. I loved to knit and I love a challenge, but after months of making scarves with stripes and lace (which I attempted because I didn't know it was supposed to be difficult) and going on a brief jag of making stuffed stockinette stitch cats, I realized that I would never be satisfied until I learned to knit sweaters.

Knitting a sweater from start to finish was my knitting ideal. It was the epitome of knitting accomplishments, sure to bring me joy, warmth, and admiration.

I headed to the library and came home with half a dozen books of sweater patterns that were all much too difficult for me. Matching increases and decreases? Center neck bind-0ff? Mattress stitch? It was all gibberish to me. So I headed back to the library and found a few more elementary books, and I kept reading until it all began to make sense.

I've continued reading and re-reading knitting books, and I've kept knitting sweaters and learning the whole time. The rules I've followed are:

1. I never knit a sweater exactly as the pattern dictates. I haven't done this intentionally--I just always seem to need longer sleeves or a wider neck opening. Also, I've never used the recommended yarn. I make affordable substitutions.


2. I always completely finish making up my w.i.p before casting on for the next one. As tempting as it is to start a new project while the previous sweater is still in pieces in a plastic bag in the closet, I realized that I would learn more by completing and trying on each sweater before starting a new one. (There have been 2 excusable exceptions to this rule.) This rule does not, however, stop me from planning and making lists of all the stitch patterns, colors, and styles I want to use in future projects.

W.I.P.

My current w.i.p. is a beige wool sampler sweater displaying a variety of stitch patterns on the front and back and a simple pattern of purl dots on the sleeves. Both shoulders are sewn together, the neckband is complete, and the left sleeve is sewn to the shoulder. However, after trying it on at this stage, I observed that this sleeve is too long. (Sleeve length is always a tricky issue for me.) I plan to knit the right sleeve about an inch shorter, sew it to the right shoulder, and as long as this looks better, I'll remove the left sleeve, frog the sleeve cap and the extra rows, and re-knit it to match the right sleeve.

FELLOW KNITTERS AND NON-KNITTERS ALIKE--

• Join me as I review my past sweater knitting journey.
• Follow along on my future knitting adventures.
• Share your own knitting stories, reflections, tips, tricks, and questions.

  Accept challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.

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