Sunday, 31 January 2010

"Monk" jacket: sleeve shaping


"Monk" jacket: sleeve
Originally uploaded by
Asplund

This is what the first sleeve looks like so far. As I couldn't make up my mind whether to make diagonal or vertical stripes, I simply went for both.

First I knitted a few rows where the lines slanted in the opposite way from the centre; thus, they formed a point downwards, which I intended to turn into a vertical line.

However, that just looked messy, so I tried this way instead and like it a lot better. I should have taken a photo before ripping out those rows for comparison – well, you'll just have to believe me this is the better version!

A method I first tried a few years ago is shaping the top of knitted-on sleeves by using short rows. It results in a more fitted and comfortable sweater than a regular drop-shoulder sweater – and you don't have to sew the sleeve in place. First time I tried it I wasn't bold enough to shape it very much, but at least I could see it was possible to knit a sleeve that way. Second time it turned out a lot better.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure where I got the idea from. Others must have thought of it too, but I can't remember ever reading about this method. I think it simply came from a desire to shape sleeves better but not having to sew them in place. Necessity is the mother of invention.

This project devours yarn, so I'm going to knit the sleeves before deciding about the hood. Perhaps there won't be enough yarn for it, but then I actually might skip it anyway and make some kind of collar instead. I think hooded jackets look nice, but I never really liked wearing them.

But can a hoodless version be called "Monk"? Perhaps "De-hooded Monk" or "De-monked jacket"? Other suggestions?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful progress and I concur with your decision. It is going to be so attractive. I think hoods are attractive as well, but even though I am bald I never use them. I do find myself pulling up a collar, though, for extra warmth. I often use short rows to shape a set in sleeve cap and it takes away all that worrisome work of sewing it in with ease.
Ron

Asplund said...

"Two souls, one thought" as a Swedish expression goes! Nice to know you do the same thing with sleeves.

I think the main reason I don't like hoods is that they make me feel sort of trapped (a special form of claustrophobia?) and I don't like having to turn my whole body instead of just my head to look around.

FadenStille said...

Nun wird es wohl nichts mit dem Auffrischen meines Englisch, wenn du auch Deutsch verstehst, dann bleiben deine Posts für mich die "challenge".
Leider kann ich dir nicht raten, ich stricke alle Pullover in Runden, da ich Nähte und das Zusammennähen nicht mag.
Deine Variante sieht toll, aber "compliquer" aus, das es so "simple" ist, sagen alle Könner...;-)))
Liebe Grüße Anett

Knitting-twitter said...

I love the outcome.. fantastic work.. ciao ciao Christa

Unknown said...

I love the idea of shaping the cap of a drop-shoulder sleeve. Like Ron mentioned, I've done short-rows to shape a fitted sleeve, so that it if fit into the carved-out shaping of the sleeve hole, but I never thought to do it on a straight-across sleeve-top (if this makes ANY sense).

Asplund said...

It makes perfect sense, Joe! You know, when I first thought of it I wondered why I hadn't before!

Anett: you're right, knitting is like any skill - not difficult once you know how to do it! (Which is why I think cooking - among many things - is difficult.) I love it that you write in German! Some words I had to look up but that's a bonus, learning new words!

Ciao, Christa!

Crafty Andy said...

The sweater is coming out nice

Lars said...

Asplund, maybe "de-frocked Monk" ;)
Bästa hälsningar.

Anett, ich stricke Pullis auch nur in dei Runde und mag auch nicht die zusammen zu nähen. Was Asplund Da tut aber sieht wundertoll aus.

Asplund said...

"De-frocked Monk" - brilliant! Thanks, Lars! Now off to Ravelry to rename it.

Barb said...

Wow, just perfection and artistry going on with that sweater. I love the sleeve cap shaping too. I never thought to do that with colorwork.