Update Time: Sweaters and Spinning
My Oblique has been done forever, but for various reasons I haven’t been able to post pictures yet. So! Pictures.
Pattern: Oblique, size medium (43″ chest). This pattern was very well-written and clever. Any problems I had were entirely my own fault.
Yarn: Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran Tweed (136 - Dark Brown), 14 skeins, discontinued.
Needles: Knit Picks Options US7
Now, you may remember that I did a lot of thinking about which size I would knit. I ended up going with a size larger than my actual measurements (partially because I didn’t believe that I would like the way a size “small” fit me), but I think I should have gone one smaller. Here’s what the sweater looked like when I put it on:
Comfy, yes. Attractive, no. I don’t know how well it comes through in the picture, but the waist shaping was very visible, so it looked like I was wearing a sweater made to fit someone larger than me well (which I guess I was). Now, here’s what I wanted it to look like:
How did I do it, you ask? No, I did not knit another sweater. I picked up five stitches at each side seam at the waist and knit icord ties!
It’s not very pretty from the back or the side, but it looks nice in the mirror.
Another reason to wish I had knit the smaller size: I ended up running out of yarn after all. Luckily I managed to find the last site on the internet that still had my color in stock, and bought another ball. It’s a different dye lot, but you can’t tell.
I’ll also note that, partially because of running-out-of-yarn concerns, the sleeves are shorter than the pattern specifies. I basically started the raglan shaping as soon as I finished the sleeve increases.
Of course, every time I finish a big project, I’m eager to start something new.
That’s beginning of a Tangled Yoke Cardigan, knit in Felted Tweed (Ginger). I got gauge on size 4 needles. I’m really excited for this - I hope I finish it before it gets too warm to wear it.
What is it with me and tweed lately? This is the fourth tweed project I’ve started in the past few months. I think it’s because plain yarn is too boring, and I tend to stay away from variegated yarns for things other than socks. Plus, tweed is just great.
At least I’m not spinning tweed - I’m spinning BFL! Or, at least, I was.
That’s about 145 grams. It’s spun from the fiber I got at Belfast Minimills on Prince Edward Island. I keep meaning to email them and ask if there’s anyway I can buy more of their fiber online - it’s so beautiful! So soft and perfectly prepared.
I mentioned earlier that this was for a pair of mittens from The Knitter’s Book of Yarn, but it turned out to be too heavy. Oh well. Some of it will still go to mittens or gloves of some kind, just not those. One reason it turned out too heavy: most of the second singles was spun last Friday afternoon in a marathon spinning session, which was very enjoyable, but not a great idea. But the end I was kind of tired and lazy, and end up with thicker and less-twisted singles. Plying the beginning of this was really frustrating because I could see the huge difference in thickness between the two plies, and it was very demoralizing. It got better after a while, though, and I don’t think it’s terribly evident in the finished yarn (which is, by the way, fantastically fluffy and soft).
Right after I complained that I could only ever do worsted draw, I went and spun all this using a shortish woolen draw. Take that, hands. I guess.
The semester is going well so far. Most of my classes seem really interesting (and the one that isn’t is easy).
Hope you’re enjoying the winter!