Friday, November 03, 2006

Autumn Seeds

I’ve finally gotten well underway with what was the Licorice Whip but is now, well, something else :) After the gauge debacle (and if you decide to try “Licorice Whip” be careful of the needle size and the gauge given - there’s something seriously weird about them) and the messed up stitch count, I simply retired the first effort and went to do some research.

I wound up at The Knitting Fool where there is a calculator for a top-down raglan sweater!  Since I already knew my gauge and needle size (both of which were comfortable and neither of which I wanted to change!), I simply plugged in the information requested and got back a pattern :) After adapting it a bit because I liked the collar style on the L.W., I began again :)

My stitch counts are accurate and, perhaps more importantly, consistent and I’m tickled with how things are working out so far :) For the collar I knit three rounds, purled one round, did a row of eyelets, purled one and knit 2 more rounds before beginning the body and sleeve increases.  I will probably use this on the cuffs as well, as I like the way it looks - but I won’t be using it for the bottom of the sweater.  In fact I’m not sure yet what I am going to do when I get there but, as that’s a while off yet, I’m not worrying about it either :)





I decided to use M1L and M1R increases because of all the things I tried, they seemed to be the least intrusive.

M1L - Lift running strand between needles with left needle from front to back.  Knit into the back of this loop.

M1R - Lift running strand between needles with left needle from back to front.  Knit into the front of this loop.

There are two plain knit stitches between the increases and I noticed them getting just a bit “loopy” (I assume) because of the tension of the increases.  Knitting these two stitches through the back loop seemed to solve that problem.  I reasonably pleased with how the increase lines look now :)

And I also decided that I would add a seed stitch panel to the back of the sweater as well as to the front and sleeves.  I like the way this is looking so far and am amused to know that the sweater will have no discernable front or back and so can be worn whichever way you happen to pick it up in the morning!  Now that’s an obliging garment :)





As you can see, if you’re familiar with “Licorice Whip”, little remains of the original pattern.  I won’t be including the waist shaping, I have changed the stitch counts as well as the stitch pattern and added a pattern panel to the back.  Therefore, I feel perfectly justified in calling this the Autumn Seeds Pullover.

I am leaving on a trip with dad tomorrow; we’re flying to Funchal in the Madeiras Islands off Portugal (via Paris and Lisbon) and sailing back to Ft. Lauderdale.  I am really looking forward to this trip and feel very lucky to have the opportunity.  So this will be my last post until I get back.  Barring anything untoward, I should be posting again on 11/15.

For those who are interested, Myria and Aarlene will be hosting Knitting Chatters next week so it will be scheduled as usual and, if it’s possible, I may even try to join in for a few minutes from the ship :)

I haven’t decided whether to take Autumn Seeds with me or not.  I have several smaller projects I wanted to work on but the sweater is coming along so nicely, I hate the idea of leaving it at home.  Oh well :) All will be decided later as I get things packed.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and a lovely mid-November week.  I will miss you all, as I always do, and will be delighted to see you all again on the 15th.  Take care, stay warm and enjoy life!

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1. you’ve developed such ease with seed stitch that i know you will enjoy making your pretty sweater- personally, i am honing my skills at both frogging and tinking because even though i’ve knitted and crocheted for about 500 years, i seem to have forgotten how to 1) read a pattern and 2) execute a stitch- i’m telling you i see dishcloths in my future!!
   do enjoy your wonderful trip- take care and know we’ll all miss you and be anxious to hear about your adventures when you return-

   stay happy-

   Posted by  on  11/03  at  02:16 PM
   Location : right here- waving at you...



2. Bon voyage!

   Posted by  on  11/03  at  03:39 PM
   Location : Louisiana



3. Have a lovely time on your cruise! It will be a bit warmer, right? I’m rallty enjoying watching you design and adapt your sweater pattern to suit! You’ll love the finished product cause you tamed your knitting.

   Posted by nat  on  11/03  at  05:40 PM
   Location :



4. Lovely sweater - very you!

   Bon voyage!

   Posted by Bron  on  11/03  at  11:37 PM
   Location :



5. Your modified pattern is looking great and I love your choice of colour.  Thanks for the tip on M1 L & R - I always get confused with those and end up looking them up somewhere.  It’s amazing how often books don’t mention when to knit through the back loop and when to knit through the front, yet it makes such a difference.

   Posted by Pamela  on  11/04  at  03:45 PM
   Location : UK

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