I've surprised myself by casting on a project practically identical to one I just cast off. Fair trade: I'm making this one for a colleague who's sewing me a shirt.
Any new modifications?
Anticipation...
Yes!
1. Border knitted in the round to avoid a seam at the back of the neck.
2. Border two repeats (see photo above) instead of three (photo here), partly simply for the sake of variation but primarily to save yarn. Each of the 28 repeats grows from 16 to 24 stitches wide. I think it looks nice this way too, and there's no need to worry about running out of yarn - and a couple of centimetres shorter will hardly make a difference.
Now over to some questions and comments on my previous post.
Ron: I picked up stitches around the armohole with a dark strand and wrapped with dark strands to keep the wraps from showing too much. (After discovering light wraps stand out a lot more.) I believe Alba is a Gaelic word for Scotland. (Incidentally, it is also Latin for "white" which is hardly the first thing that comes to mind when you see Starmore's design!)
Ann: it's difficult to explain why I had to turn it upside down, but I'll give it a try! The pattern itself is symmetrical, in a way that if knitted in two colours only there wouldn't be a problem. The colour sequences are symmetrical in a different way, though: a particular colour would be at the beginning of a pattern shape instead of at the end, for example. (Perhaps it wouldn't show much, but I didn't want to risk it. And it was a challenge I liked.)
Knitgoddess: I ordered a kit from Virtual Yarns. The colours are not identical to the ones in the book (and I believe the yarn is slightly thicker too) but at least they're Alice Starmore's own choice. Where can I see your "Pacific" sweater? Ravelry?
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Sunday, 14 August 2011
"Alba" progress
First of all, thanks for all your birthday wishes and lovely comments on my previous post!
Back to work after my summer vacation I've had far less time to knit the past week, but have made progress with "Alba" that I thought I'd share.
The sleeves are modified in three ways:
1. Backand front sections shaped instead of straight from armhole to shoulder to avoid excess fabric under the arm.
2. Sleeve caps made using short rows (see earlier post) also to avoid excess fabric.
3. Pattern turned upside down for shapes and colour sequences to blend better where sleeve meets shoulder.
Now off to finish the second sleeve cap while I remember how to make it identical!
Back to work after my summer vacation I've had far less time to knit the past week, but have made progress with "Alba" that I thought I'd share.
The sleeves are modified in three ways:
1. Backand front sections shaped instead of straight from armhole to shoulder to avoid excess fabric under the arm.
2. Sleeve caps made using short rows (see earlier post) also to avoid excess fabric.
3. Pattern turned upside down for shapes and colour sequences to blend better where sleeve meets shoulder.
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| "Alba" shoulder |
Now off to finish the second sleeve cap while I remember how to make it identical!
Monday, 8 August 2011
Isager's Viften/The Fan finished
Seamed, blocked and handed over to Åsa. The size was right for her, and she was happy with the modified sleeve length! Turned inside out it looks like this.
I'm quite obsessed with Alice Starmore's "Alba", knitting like mad. (A phenomenon not particularly uncommon...) I've modified it by shaping the armholes to make it a little bit less too big (see earlier post) and will modifiy the neck too; I want it slightly deeper and narrower than the original design. How I wish the photo captured the colours! The gorgeous hints of different greens are lost, for example.
Today is the last day of my summer vacation, so I'd better make full knitting use of it. Actually, it's my birthday too: I'm going to treat myself to extra extra knitting time! How old? 38. Really good age - my best so far!
I'm quite obsessed with Alice Starmore's "Alba", knitting like mad. (A phenomenon not particularly uncommon...) I've modified it by shaping the armholes to make it a little bit less too big (see earlier post) and will modifiy the neck too; I want it slightly deeper and narrower than the original design. How I wish the photo captured the colours! The gorgeous hints of different greens are lost, for example.
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| Alice Starmore's "Alba" |
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Isager's Viften/The Fan
Only seaming, darning and blocking left - and handing over to recipient, of course!
Yarn: BC Lucca Fino Tweed, 300 grams.
Needles: 3½ mm (US 4).
Modifications in short:
If I make it a third time I will knit the border in the round to avoid a welt where the edges are seamed.
Yarn: BC Lucca Fino Tweed, 300 grams.
Needles: 3½ mm (US 4).
Modifications in short:
- back and front sections knitted together instead of separately
- slip stitches on right side (easier to see when to make them)
- increases and decreases on wrong side (less visible)
- type of border pattern decreases changed for a smoother look and feel
- there is a choice between short and long sleeves, but Åsa wanted medium length; I’ve made them 90 rows long between border and armhole with increases 6 times every 6 rows and 5 times every 8 rows
- border and back of neck grafted (Kitchener stitch) instead of three-needle bind-off to avoid a welt
- an extra stitch added at each side for selvedge, and I’ve slipped the first stitch every row with yarn in front and knitted the second one
If I make it a third time I will knit the border in the round to avoid a welt where the edges are seamed.
Monday, 1 August 2011
First sleeve done
There's a choice between short and long sleeves in the instructions; Åsa (who will get the cardigan) and I agree it would be nice with medium-length sleeves.
Here's my modified sleeve size if anyone's interested:
1. There are 90 rows from border to armholes.
2. Increases every 6 rows 6 times, then every 8 rows 5 times.
I've been adding to my collection of works in progress, starting Alice Starmore's "Alba" sweater. Stranded colourwork is really what I like best when it comes to techniques, especially knitting a pattern like this. You just can't beat her sense of colours - unfortunately, this photo does not do them justice.
I can't remember when I was this excited about a project last: it's a thrill seeing it take shape in my hands.
The only thing I can't understand is Alice Starmore's tension! I don't knit particularly loosely (don't think I've ever had to change needle sizes to get the gauge called for) but in this case I get 24 instead of 28 stitches per 10 cm (4 in) even though I use thinner needles, 3 mm instead of 3.25 (US 2½ instead of 3).
I could go down one more size but feel the sweater will be too stiff for my taste if I do. Instead, I'm following the directions for a size smaller than I want - and it will still be a bit too big!
Now, I love Alice Starmore's designs and would love to meet her and thank her in person for everything I've learnt and been inspired by - but judging from her tension I would hardly let her massage my shoulders ;-)
Here's my modified sleeve size if anyone's interested:
1. There are 90 rows from border to armholes.
2. Increases every 6 rows 6 times, then every 8 rows 5 times.
I've been adding to my collection of works in progress, starting Alice Starmore's "Alba" sweater. Stranded colourwork is really what I like best when it comes to techniques, especially knitting a pattern like this. You just can't beat her sense of colours - unfortunately, this photo does not do them justice. I can't remember when I was this excited about a project last: it's a thrill seeing it take shape in my hands.
The only thing I can't understand is Alice Starmore's tension! I don't knit particularly loosely (don't think I've ever had to change needle sizes to get the gauge called for) but in this case I get 24 instead of 28 stitches per 10 cm (4 in) even though I use thinner needles, 3 mm instead of 3.25 (US 2½ instead of 3).
I could go down one more size but feel the sweater will be too stiff for my taste if I do. Instead, I'm following the directions for a size smaller than I want - and it will still be a bit too big!
Now, I love Alice Starmore's designs and would love to meet her and thank her in person for everything I've learnt and been inspired by - but judging from her tension I would hardly let her massage my shoulders ;-)
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
"The Fan" construction
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| This is what it looks like folded into proper shape; makes me eager to start knitting the missing sleeves! |
The border is to be seamed and then attached to the back. I think I will graft the pieces (Kitchener stitch) instead of a three-needle bind-off to avoid a welt. For the same reason I will probably knit the border in the round if I make it again.
Monday, 25 July 2011
Frogging and knitting
My stitch itch returned last week and full force too! What better way to celebrate than to start yet another project?
There was a turning point when I decided to frog a project I felt I wouldn't be pleased with if I finished it and knitted a couple of swatches to check gauge for different kinds of patterns and needle sizes.
Suddenly I remembered I had ideas how to modify an intriguing cardigan design by Marianne Isager that I knitted two years ago, "The Fan" from Japanese-inspired Knits.
Modifications:
1. Different border pattern decreases for a smoother look and feel (attempt to illustrate in photo above).
2. Back and fronts knitted together instead of separately to avoid seaming. If I make it a third time I will knit the border in the round to avoid a seam at the back of the neck.
3. Casting on a lot more loosely for a more pronounced scalloped effect than in my first version. I also used the cable cast-on method instead of the long-tail method and added a row (knits knitted on the wrong side) for the edge to curl a bit more. This may also be seen in the photo above, at least if you know about it!
4. Adding a row between border and main sections. This entailed making slipped stitches on the right side (easier to see when to make them) and decreases on the wrong side (looks smoother from the right side) instead of vice versa.
5. Adding an extra stitch for a selvedge, starting each row by slipping the first stitch with the yarn in front.
What else to say about this project? The yarn is lovely Lucca Fino Tweed from BC, and I use 3½ mm needles (US 4).
There was a turning point when I decided to frog a project I felt I wouldn't be pleased with if I finished it and knitted a couple of swatches to check gauge for different kinds of patterns and needle sizes.
Suddenly I remembered I had ideas how to modify an intriguing cardigan design by Marianne Isager that I knitted two years ago, "The Fan" from Japanese-inspired Knits.
Modifications:
1. Different border pattern decreases for a smoother look and feel (attempt to illustrate in photo above).
2. Back and fronts knitted together instead of separately to avoid seaming. If I make it a third time I will knit the border in the round to avoid a seam at the back of the neck.
3. Casting on a lot more loosely for a more pronounced scalloped effect than in my first version. I also used the cable cast-on method instead of the long-tail method and added a row (knits knitted on the wrong side) for the edge to curl a bit more. This may also be seen in the photo above, at least if you know about it!
4. Adding a row between border and main sections. This entailed making slipped stitches on the right side (easier to see when to make them) and decreases on the wrong side (looks smoother from the right side) instead of vice versa.
5. Adding an extra stitch for a selvedge, starting each row by slipping the first stitch with the yarn in front.
What else to say about this project? The yarn is lovely Lucca Fino Tweed from BC, and I use 3½ mm needles (US 4).
Monday, 18 July 2011
Not knitting but rowing
As I haven't been knitting much lately (sic! at one point a whole week passed without a single stitch) there isn't much to write about my projects.
Instead, I could write a post about something a couple of people have asked me: how I manage to knit as much as I normally do.
1. Speed. I've become faster over the years.
2. Taking opportunities. I usually have a project with me so I can knit a few stitches while waiting for the bus or whatever. Fortunately, I don't mind knitting in public anymore - but it took many years, and I still try to find a corner to knit in.
3. I don't work full time. (It just feels like it!)
4. Not owning a car. I commute to work, which gives me a lot of knitting time each week. Most of the Estonian shawl was actually made on trains!
5. Multitasking. I think well while knitting and I usually plan things, write texts (letters, blog posts etc) mentally while knitting. Typing texts doesn't take much time once they're "knitted" into shape.
So, what have I been doing instead of knitting lately? Well, the most remarkable thing was finding some snow on 15 July during a trip to Härjedalen last week! This involved rowing across a lake, treading through mosquito-filled marshes and across barren hills before crossing the Norwegian border and walking some more. And then all the way back. Not much more than 12 kilometers (7½ miles) in all, but the hills were fairly steep and there wasn't much of a path.
Last, about the blog post title: here's a link to a poem I like, "Not waving but drowning" by Stevie Smith.
Instead, I could write a post about something a couple of people have asked me: how I manage to knit as much as I normally do.
1. Speed. I've become faster over the years.
2. Taking opportunities. I usually have a project with me so I can knit a few stitches while waiting for the bus or whatever. Fortunately, I don't mind knitting in public anymore - but it took many years, and I still try to find a corner to knit in.
3. I don't work full time. (It just feels like it!)
4. Not owning a car. I commute to work, which gives me a lot of knitting time each week. Most of the Estonian shawl was actually made on trains!
5. Multitasking. I think well while knitting and I usually plan things, write texts (letters, blog posts etc) mentally while knitting. Typing texts doesn't take much time once they're "knitted" into shape.
So, what have I been doing instead of knitting lately? Well, the most remarkable thing was finding some snow on 15 July during a trip to Härjedalen last week! This involved rowing across a lake, treading through mosquito-filled marshes and across barren hills before crossing the Norwegian border and walking some more. And then all the way back. Not much more than 12 kilometers (7½ miles) in all, but the hills were fairly steep and there wasn't much of a path.Last, about the blog post title: here's a link to a poem I like, "Not waving but drowning" by Stevie Smith.
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| Lake Bolmagen |
Saturday, 2 July 2011
Bits and pieces
Back in Sweden dreaming of Italy... It's a good thing it's possible to combine daydreaming and knitting!
I'm working with the sleeves for my twined sweater. My plan is to join the different parts to make a raglan.
In a comment on my previous post Annegret asked why I don't like knitting socks. Actually, I'm not quite sure, but probably it's because I like bigger projects with a lot more space for patterns.
Edited to add: after reading yarndude's comment (not to mention trying to explain in words) I searched for a video that shows how you hold the strands and found this video.
I'm working with the sleeves for my twined sweater. My plan is to join the different parts to make a raglan.
In a comment on my previous post Annegret asked why I don't like knitting socks. Actually, I'm not quite sure, but probably it's because I like bigger projects with a lot more space for patterns.
Edited to add: after reading yarndude's comment (not to mention trying to explain in words) I searched for a video that shows how you hold the strands and found this video.
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Asplund in Wonderland
First of all, thanks for comments on my previous post! Annie: the party did involve 18th century food. There was a buffet, and what I liked best was a dish consisting of green peas and crayfish. Kyle: it certainly was a lot of fun -hope you get an opportunity to try something similar - and it actually made it even more enjoyable that you didn't have to worry about making mistakes. It was all about having fun in a different setting. Especially dancing looked like so much fun I think I'll have to take a course and try to learn it.
Annegret: They did knit in those days, but not much has survived. Now my ambition is to try to knit something inspired by these stockings from a monument in a church in Italy, where I headed the day after the last day at work before the summer holidays. I don't like knitting socks, but this is a kind of challenge I think could be fun.
Fluffbuff: I don't know if societies like this are especially common here - but I'm fairly certain the Medieveal happenings are far more popular than the 18th century. And thanks for your advice about what to see and to in Emilia-Romagna!
During a day trip to Ravenna I came across a lovely yarn shop between various mosaics sites. There is nothing I could write about the mosaics that wouldn't be banal, so I'm simpy going to say that I left Ravenna with a mind full of beauty and with a shimmering hank of merino-silk-cashmere yarn in my bag.
That day I felt like Alice in Wonderland walking from one unbelievable site to another and another and so on plus stumbling across yarn that practically had a label "KNIT ME" attached to it.
Annegret: They did knit in those days, but not much has survived. Now my ambition is to try to knit something inspired by these stockings from a monument in a church in Italy, where I headed the day after the last day at work before the summer holidays. I don't like knitting socks, but this is a kind of challenge I think could be fun.
Fluffbuff: I don't know if societies like this are especially common here - but I'm fairly certain the Medieveal happenings are far more popular than the 18th century. And thanks for your advice about what to see and to in Emilia-Romagna!
During a day trip to Ravenna I came across a lovely yarn shop between various mosaics sites. There is nothing I could write about the mosaics that wouldn't be banal, so I'm simpy going to say that I left Ravenna with a mind full of beauty and with a shimmering hank of merino-silk-cashmere yarn in my bag.
That day I felt like Alice in Wonderland walking from one unbelievable site to another and another and so on plus stumbling across yarn that practically had a label "KNIT ME" attached to it.
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| Ponte di Tiberio, Rimini |
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Having fun without knitting
is actually possible! This is how you do it:
You make friends with some members of a group devoted to the late 18th century.
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| They invite you to a wonderful party in an astonishingly beautiful setting. |
 |
| They even lend you appropriate clothes. |
Next day you go to Drottingholm Palace Theatre to enjoy Così fan tutte.
On your way home fellow passengers on buses and subway seem to enjoy the sight of you.
 |
| But of course you manage to cram in some knitting during the weekend too. I've cut the "Moorish" steeks and done the shoulder joins with neck gussets, something I learnt from Alice Starmore's Fishermen's Sweaters. |
Thursday, 2 June 2011
More matching
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| More matching |
Thanks for lovely comments on my previous post! I'm so childish it makes me especially happy to read positive words about Siri Derkert: her art means so much to me I almost take praise for her personally!
WonderMike: yes, it would be wonderful living closer to you. But why don't you come up and see me some time? ;-)
Rod: ha ha - well, I actually gained 12 kilos (26½ pounds) but have lost half of it, not planning to lose any more.
Ann: thanks! Well, the difference in gauge makes quite a difference. I use 3 mm needles (US 2½) for both projects, but in this one I get 22 stitches/10 cm (4 in) and 37 in the twined project!
Edited to add: better photo of the print here. Thanks Annie for pointing it out!
Sunday, 29 May 2011
"Moorish" sweater
I'm on a short break from my twined knitting; it's a lot of fun but so time-consuming I needed to start something that's quicker to knit.
A few years ago I knitted a sweater based on a vest design by Kim Hargreaves, "Moor" in a A Yorkshire Fable, adding sleeves and changing the all-black cuffs. I was happy with it but it's too small - especially after I replaced smoking with eating!
Fortunately, I always had a tendency to make sweaters slightly too big, so I can still wear almost all my old sweaters.
The other week I discovered Norwegian Rauma Finull in beautiful shades of brown at my LYS and it dawned on me it was high time to make a new Moor sweater. There are more modifications (in terms of both pattern shapes and colour sequences) in this one, so I think I'll rename it Moorish.
I managed to knit a few inches yesterday in glorious knitting company: borntoknit, entill, katarina, wynja , anna and toveb. Thanks for a wonderful afternoon!
Just before meeting up with the other knitters I went to an opening of an exhibition at Moderna museet: a truly impressive, retrospective exhibition of my top favorite artist Siri Derkert. There were many things I hadn't seen before and many paintings and collages I've only seen reproduced in black and white. I was quite taken, just as strongly as when her art first overwhelmed me when I was a teenager and saw her portraits. A very good day, yesterday.
A few years ago I knitted a sweater based on a vest design by Kim Hargreaves, "Moor" in a A Yorkshire Fable, adding sleeves and changing the all-black cuffs. I was happy with it but it's too small - especially after I replaced smoking with eating!
Fortunately, I always had a tendency to make sweaters slightly too big, so I can still wear almost all my old sweaters.
 |
| "Moor" sweater knitted in 2006 |
I managed to knit a few inches yesterday in glorious knitting company: borntoknit, entill, katarina, wynja , anna and toveb. Thanks for a wonderful afternoon!
Just before meeting up with the other knitters I went to an opening of an exhibition at Moderna museet: a truly impressive, retrospective exhibition of my top favorite artist Siri Derkert. There were many things I hadn't seen before and many paintings and collages I've only seen reproduced in black and white. I was quite taken, just as strongly as when her art first overwhelmed me when I was a teenager and saw her portraits. A very good day, yesterday.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Twined sleeve in progress
Here are four photos of the sleeve to show the distribution of pattern shapes. The increases are on each side of a vertical band with "o" shapes, and my plan is to add more of the same shapes as the sleeve grows wider.
No more time to write - got to knit!
No more time to write - got to knit!
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Sleeve patterns
I'm happy with the cuffs, but as I was knitting the sleeve to the left I suddenly had another idea, a modification of the big central shape.
After knitting my new idea (actually a shape I tried and liked in my first twined sweater, visible in the background) and comparing the two sleeves I've decided to go for the version to the right.
After knitting my new idea (actually a shape I tried and liked in my first twined sweater, visible in the background) and comparing the two sleeves I've decided to go for the version to the right.
What makes me prefer it is the single focal point at the centre, the little "o" shape; the version to the left would have had four of them and looked more messy for want of a better word.
This is a good example of one way blogging has influenced my knitting. A couple of years ago I would simply have frogged and reknitted without documenting my choices in either words or photos, not even for myself - and to think that there are others who are interested in the process behind my knits! You, that is :) Thanks for following my knitting adventures! Having readers is inspiring in itself, you know.
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