2012 March • The Knitting Vortex

Sleeve in a Day

Mar 302012

Deadlines really motivate me; I suspect I might achieve close to zero if I didn’t utilize them. The current challenge is to finish my second contiguous cardigan by saturday midnight. It’s worsted, yes – but still a whole garment.

I think there’s a good chance; I had to rip the first sleeve because it was too small, and I updated the sizing while knitting the second. Happily, sleeve in a day was achieved.

Next challenge is the front edging; last night I ripped the 2″ I had because I decided some short-rowing would be just the thing. So less than 48 hours for around 25 long 200+ stitch rows. I hope it comes out well.

Finally, Contiguous

WIPs 1 Response »

Mar 272012

My first cardi using the Contiguous method is finished, and I love some things about it, while I need to revise a few others.

I love: 1) the single, gently-ruffled cuff and front edge – just swishy enough; 2) the length – longish but not dragging, and because it’s open front, the fronts dip and drape nicely; 3) the yarn – Rowan RYC Cashsoft 4-ply – with merino/microfiber and cashmere, knit at a loose gauge; and 4) the way Contiguous lets you make a more refined dressmaker look, with the sleeve fit and easy construction of a raglan.

But there’s the thing; my fit in the upper body area needs some tweaking, since this sweater method grows a little bit differently than a raglan or a set-in sleeve. The shoulder is quite sloped due to the rapid increases, and the back neck is high. A very square-shouldered person might find a problem with that slope, but I think that making a point to knit the shoulder increases loosely, and block diligently, resulted in a good fit for me. The back neck issue is one I’m now implementing short rows to minimize; however, this style definitely doesn’t lend itself to a low back neckline. Funnelneck, turtleneck, higher collar – those are good.

I also found that with Contiguous, it’s easy to make the sleeve cap too full; a great thing for puff sleeves, but not quite what I was going for. My front cross chest is also too generous, and because the front grows outward to the sleeve, it’s possible to end up with fullness around the sleeve/body intersection, when one would typically like that more toward the center. To me, that means being hyper aware not to oversize the sleeve and upper body.

I also did run out of yarn, although just barely; I needed to borrow something close from stash to finish the last 1/3 of the bind off. Barely noticeable, I think. Especially since the BO turns to the inside, and this is near the bottom edge. Anyway, I need to remath the top and knit another one, maybe in slightly heavier weight yarn, but at the same gauge.

All in all, my takeaway is that the Contiguous method is another great alternative for seamless sweater construction. You can check out SusieM’s Contiguous Method on Ravelry.

I already have another worsted weight Contiguous cardi WIP, and plans for a pullover.

I selected this post to be featured on my blog page at Knitting Blogs.

Contiguous crisis?

WIPs Comments Off

Mar 092012

My contiguous sweater is moving right along, unfortunately to the point where it appears highly likely I will run short on yarn. I’ve already reduced the front ruffle to a single layer, mostly because two layers was bulky, and one will match the one sleeve cuff ruffle.

As you can see, the amount of yarn remaining is small (and frogged from the swatch), and meant to make 3-4 more 600-ish stitch rows. Not looking hopeful.

The cuff ruffle really came out nicely, so I’m committed to duplicating that on the front edge. Off to stalk other people’s Ravelry stash for RYC Cashsoft 4-ply in Weather.

Rhadamanthys

New Release, Patterns, Sweaters Comments Off

Mar 022012

Rhadamanthys was the wise mythological Greek king who judged the dead and ruled the Fortunate Isles, where those heroes who had thrice been received into the Elysian Fields resided. Celebrate three blessings with this easy, sideways-knit sweater; it is knit in one piece with no seaming, requires no finishing, and is worked all in garter stitch. Three turning points in the short row shaping delineate body, yoke and collar, creating a shapely fit around the shoulders and upper torso. The garter stitch and extended front panels make it suitable for many shapes and sizes, and the fit may easily be further customized in length or circumference.

Construction: Rhadamanthys is cast on at the left front edge, and worked sideways around the body to the right front. Except for the full-row front panels, it is knit entirely in short rows using the wrap & turn method; there is no need to pick up the wraps and knit them together with the wrapped stitch when you encounter them on the following row, as the wraps will disappear into the texture of the garter stitch fabric.

Techniques & Skills Used: knit, short rows; this pattern includes a link to my short row tutorials.

Size: 27 (29.5, 31.75, 34.25, 36.5, 39, 41.5, 43.75, 46.25, 48.5, 51)” bust, with fronts overlapped. This boxy cardigan has shaping only at the yoke; for a good fit, choose a finished size based on upper bust measurement, or with no ease/some negative ease at the bust; sample shown in third size, worn with 3” negative ease.

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (100% merino wool; 420 yards/ 384m/100g), shown in Composition Book Grey; 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4) skeins, or 750 (800, 900, 975, 1075, 1150, 1250, 1325, 1450, 1550, 1625) yards of fingering weight yarn.

Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle; Stitch markers (2, optional); Stitch holder; Yarn needle.

Gauge: 20 st and 40 rows/4” in garter stitch, after gentle blocking.

See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or to purchase the pattern.