Month: June 2007

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Vest homework

Vest homework

It’s back to the homework – all in stockinette stitch and no color. Certainly  a big change from rainbow Kauni.

After double checking my body measurements, swatch gauge and pattern, I decided to do some re-drafting. As you can see I didn’t finish filling in the details before starting to knit. I’ll finish it later.

Sorry for the bad photo but this pattern is hard to photograph. The lines are drawn with a .3 drafting pencil and the light on my porch was not so good.

We were told to start off  with a provisional cast-on using a crochet chain made from red nylon waste string that Jean provided. I then proceeded to knit to the waist line, decreasing five stitches on each side. Once I reached the waist I knit straight (no increases or decreases) to the bust. This vest should fit comfortably around my large hips but also accommodate my proportionally smaller bust.

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Kauni Cardigan

Kauni Cardigan

Thanks Ruth. It’s a fabulous pattern.

I finally got the buttonholes done!  Here a close up of the best one
. I did use the corrugated buttonhole from Sweaters from Camp but instead of using a cable cast on for the second part of the one row buttonhole, I used a chained cast on. The tough part about this buttonhole is keeping top and bottom sides neat. I kind of fudged that part. Notice that the buttonhole is all one color? It’s not your ordinary one row buttonhole.

I still think buttonholes are a pain.

finished button bandsI’m more pleased with the top and bottoms of the front bands. I used a crochet hook to chain stitch over the last stitch. They line up pretty well with the neck and bottom band but next time I might just try the technique that Margaret D. mentioned in the comments for my last post. Thanks Margaret.

Vanessa asked if the front and back of my raglan are the same. It’s all stockinette stitch. I would loved to have added cables on the front and/or sides but I only brought a swatch in stockinette stitch to class. That’s OK though, there’s so much to do in class that it’s probably a good to start simple.

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Buttonholes are a pain

extra stitch

I ripped out what little of the button band that was started last week. I wanted a fresh start and a chance to try a new technique that I found while flipping through one of my Japanese knitting textbook s(page 49 – Beginner’s book).

Instead of picking up the first stitch from a row, it shows how to cast on an extra stitch by looping the yarn around the needle and then continuing to pick up stitches along the edge as normal. Before ending the row another extra loop stitch is cast on as the last stitch.

After applying this technique my button band has 121 stitches instead of 119 as previously mentioned.

My class notes from the Winter Retreat mention that adding an extra stitch at the start and end of a button band will help keep the ends of the band from pulling in. My first attempt doesn’t look so great but once I sew in the ends I think it will look better. I’m also considering crocheting a chain stitch to the bottom of the last row so it looks more like the rest of the bottom edge.

Besides reworking the partial button band, I did make several false attempts at starting the buttonhole row. None looked right. After taking a break I think I’ve hit upon a workable solution after reading (and re-reading) Medrith Glover’s Buttonhole for corrugated ribbing in Sweaters from Camp. It’s based on that buttonhole but tweeked a bit. Once it’s perfected I’ll let you see it.

Homework

topdown

Here’s one of two homework projects for my next class – a top-down raglan pullover.

It’s so simple.

The number of cast-on stitches are based on the circumference of the head minus 10% – 20%. Knit increases every other row until the front and back equal the circumference of the torso. Next we’ll put the sleeve stitches on hold and join the front and back before knitting to the waist.

Notice the red thread at the top? A provisional cast-on was used. Later we’ll add ribbing from those provisional stitches.

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Non-stop knitting

Buttonhole_band I really wanted to wrap up work on this cardigan before the Nihon Vogue program started last weekend but kept running into trouble with the buttonholes.  My last and only encounter with buttonholes was much different. This 1×1 corrugated rib is much harder to work than garter stitch. My initial plan was to make the buttonholes that are three stitches long but that turned out too tight. Next I’ll try four stitches.

Nihon Vogue

After this weekend I’ve been converted from a one-project-at-a-time knitter  to a multiple project knitter. The MFA Nihon Vogue Certificate Program with Jean Wong started last weekend and within two days I had two new projects started. We started a top down raglan pullover (green) and drew a plan for a pullover vest (grey). The key to surviving the weekend (at least for me) was to stick with good old stockinette stitch thus avoiding headaches caused by needing to match repeats.

From here on out it will be a game of catch up. I need to finish the Kauni cardigan, the Angel Lace shawl and manage to get my homework done before next months class.