Clever Crafty Foxy

After reading through Jacqueline Fee’s “The Sweater Workshop,” I decided it was time to take the plunge and actually knit a sweater. Sometimes I feel like such a beginner in this craft, but more on that later. Because I wanted to tackle a few “firsts” with this first sweater, it’s also the first cable work and the first dyeing that I’ve ever done – and the first sweater of my own design! It’s also marks the first ball I’ve ever wound with a swift and ball-winder. I love winding balls from hanks.

There’s only one cable up the front. Simple, elegant. There’s a hem at the bottom of the body, and the sleeves will have very long ribbing and then plain stockinette up to the underarm. The construction is raglan sleeves knit in the round, so it’s miles of stockinette stitch. I’ve heard some people speak out against the stockinette stitch sweater. They say it’s boring. I’m not bothered by it. I guess this is my visiting with friends or watching EastEnders project. Besides, the repetitive motion of the knit stitch feels so good.

The yarn is KnitPicks Bare Merino Wool yarn in a DK weight. DK = more stockinette! I like the yarn. It’s soft, and once it’s wound into a center-pull ball, it’s unwinds very nicely, down to the last inch. It splits a little, but let’s blame that on my penchant for looking away from my knitting while working. Still haven’t mastered that, although it’s getting better. Reading while knitting is pretty exhilarating for a multi-tasking chickie like me.

My first swatch was on size 5 needles, and the fabric was just too stiff. The second swatch, on sixes, has a nice drape and the cable still has good definition. Here are some photos that take you from the arrival of the yarn, up to the knitting progress as of today:

Bare superwash and Jaquard dyes from KnitPicks.com.

Winding up the first ball.

All wound up.

And away we go!

Much progress.

Remember the Pie Are Square shawl? Well, I’ve gone beyond the final row of yarn-over increases, beyond the edge of the galaxy into no-knitters-land. It just wasn’t big enough. I think the needles I’m using are too small. At any rate, I still have a skein+ of yarn left, so I decided to add an extra row of yarn-overs beyond what EZ’s pattern calls for. At this point, there are more that 500 stitches on my needles. Ok, I’m feeling good. I may not have enough yarn to make a pretty lace border in the same colorway as the main yarn of the shawl, but I can find a color to contrast/coordinate and it will look great, I’m sure. But wait. What’s that?

Lordie. I'm too green to know what to do about this!

A DROPPED STITCH! 13 ridges back!!! Ok. Let’s breathe in. I can drop down, pick up the stitch and bring it back up to the working row. Problem is: the yarn-overs. They will be off. It’s a yarn over, knit one across the row, with an all knit row after that. Where’s that extra stitch going to go? Do I K2tog somewhere? Will anyone notice? I will! Do I un-knit the last knit row, then yarn over, K1 row, then pick up the dropped stitch so my pattern stays even? Guh. I discovered the dropped stitch about a month ago and I just haven’t been able to face it since. If you have any ideas, please leave a comment and let me know what to do. EEEE!

Now for a note on the needles I’m using. I started on regular Addi Turbo circular needles, but now that I’m beyond the edge of the universe with this shawl. I had to get longer circs, so I ran off to my LYS and discovered: Addi Turbo … for LACE! These needles are awesome! A little bit pointier than regular Addis, with just a little grip, so you have a handle on your yarn. I love them. Once I’m over this yarn over hump, I’ll be knitting like mad on this shawl. Heck, I’m going to get me more lace weight yarn just so’s I can use these needles. Now I wish I had enough yarn to turn this shawl into a dang cloak! Mmmm. I’m digging the Addi Turbos for lace.