Look Ma, no pattern!

This is the cardigan I finished in May, except for the buttons. I just put them on, finally.
I did not use a pattern, but rather used my gauge swatch and my desired size to knit it. I didn't even write it down...but I do remember using

Greenwood Hill Farm Merino, color Pewter (bought at one of the sheep and wool fest a couple of years ago);
I used the 3 strand worsted, and the website tells me that that particular yarn has been replaced with a different ply.
Size 6 and 7 needles.
It's completely seamless, worked in one piece from the bottom up.
The yarn is a treat! So soft...itch free!

Just a straight and boxy everyday kind of cardigan. I picked up for the sleeves at the top and worked them in the round.

I did a 3-needle bind-off at the shoulders.

That's all! I sure am glad it's done.

Well, I supppose I ought to block it, too...but it's so comfy, I don't even want to take it off.

Creme Puff Jacket

Here are the pictures now of the jacket I designed and knitted this past week.
There is something going on with my camera--thank goodness I am meeting with my friend Laura tomorrow, who has a degree in photography. She'll be able to check it out.


The buttons are not the real ones that will be attached. These are still a work in progress, made by Pat Bull, one of the owners of Decadent Fibers, and needle felter and dyer extraordinaire. (And she didn't even pay me to say all that!). But when I arrived with the jacket today, we pinned them on to make believe.

Pattern and yarn -- called Creme Puff -- will be available at Stitches East and at the New York State sheep and wool fest, as well as online.

And we thank you for your support!

day nine

Still no news from knitty/Amy Singer.
By now, I just want to know, either way.

my gauge swatch lied!

As Emma is my witness, I am trying to just look at this as a bloggable moment.

My gauge swatch lied to me. I was supposed to have 2.25 sts/in on this cardi. Yesterday I made the entire back and because I am in such a hurry, I didn't bother to stop and measure. I kinda sorta measured, but not for real...and here I am, paying the price. As you can see, I am almost done with the right front today too, and I really needed to have it match the front, you know? So I did some real measuring (in several places) and what do you know, my gauge is off by a quarter inch. I am getting 2 inches per inch.

Some of you may think that this is not a big deal.

But it is.

I am writing this pattern up for publication, and everything has to be just right. No, it has to be perfect. Since I am on a deadline, ripping out is not an option. I simply cannot re-knit the whole thing. It is too durn hot today, and besides I cannot be swatching all over again to find the needle size I need to get the gauge I am specifying in my pattern. Besides, I like the fabric I am getting, so I am leaving well enough alone.

What I am doing instead is changing the size range. Ha! Being the author of a pattern entitles you to all kinds of liberties (freedoms? I am having another Vocab Moment). It also makes me wonder if a debbie bliss or a Norah Gaughan ever goes through this, but we are none the wiser because we don't get to see them go through the Process.

So off I go to change the size range in my pattern, in fact I am adding another size. It will now have 5 sizes ranging from a 36 to a 52, with 4 inch increments. Should cover a range of folks.

And as far as lying gauge swatches, I refer you to Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's book Knitting Rules, pg. 100, where you'll find her list of Eight Things to Know about Swatches.

Items one and eight: Swatches lie.

Well, I am glad I am in good company.

And yes, Emma wears a size 40.

glimpse

(Psst...here's a small glimpse of the sweater...don't tell...)

<<> Sorry guys!





Yes I burned the midnight oil, had to make 3 sleeves because the first one didn't fit, did not run out of yarn, handed it in one day later (with blessings of Decadent Fibers who commissioned the work in the first place), and when I put it together late last night had visions of the editor opening the box in her office, holding the sweater at arm's length and declaring it the most abominable finishing job ever.


I am glad this baby is delivered, and out of my hands for now. I'll be able to show you more details when the magazine comes out.

If they don't reject the sweater and final write-up of the design. I think I'll finally believe it when I see it in print.

no pressure, really

There is no knitting to report. It's not that I am not knitting, which I definitely am (a sock, of course, but who want to see a partial sock? You all know what it looks like.)

I am also doing a tremendous amount of knitting in my head. Yes I realize that this might prompt someone to look in the phone book under "psychiatry" and pick a number to call, for my own protection.

I am fine, I assure you. So fine in fact that I can't even write about it.

See, I had a design accepted at a major knitting magazine, but I don't have official permission to talk about the actual project. I guess I can tell you that I have to make a sweater out of sportweight yarn on size 4 needles, size 34, with "sleeves to the elbow". They want the pattern written up in 5 sizes, so I have been a swatching maniac and been feeding my gauge to the recently purchased software. Which has no idea how to calculate a sleeve that hits the elbow.

So I have hit the books and the needles, I am hazarding guesses, and am letting some of it marinate for a while, while I mull over my next step.
I want the pattern to be perfect first, before I make the sweater. Which is such a departure for me....all my knitting life I would cast on first, then figure out the rest.

The real fun part of it is that I get to use my own ideas about this sweater, which was submitted as a shell but got changed to a sweater with the above mentioned sleeve length...but no matter. I have all the knitting greats on my side. I know how to do this.

I know how to knit.

I have until the end of the month to get it all done.