Monday, December 18, 2006

Sweater progress and hat obsessions

I finally got the sweater worked down far enough to separate the front from the back and actually completed the front last night!  It didn’t take very long either and I expect to get the back finished tonight or tomorrow.  Of course then there are still the sleeves, but it is getting there!

I did go with the slit-side, tunic approach using seed stitch on the sides of the vent and across the bottom.  The back piece will be finished identically.

I did some back and forth in my head about the bind-off because I couldn’t decided whether to do it in pattern (seed stitch) or to go with something else.  I have had problems with seed stitch edges flipping up (or in) on me and I really didn’t want the bottom of my sweater doing that!  So I decided to experiment a little.  While working the front bottom flap (one selvage, 5 seed stitches on each side), I had slipped the first stitch of every row to get a nice-looking chain edge that wouldn’t require any further attention and I thought it might be nice to carry that “chain” across the bottom.  As it happened, it took seven rows of seed stitch to almost balance the width of the border (leaving me with the bind-off row to add just the skosh more length needed to balance the hem border with the sides perfectly!) which put me on a wrong side row.

I remember reading somewhere (don’t ask, I have no idea) that a purled bind-off was very attractive.  I gave it a go and lo and behold, I got a beautiful row of chains exactly like the chain selvage of the side border!

I had avoided a purled bind-off up until now because it seemed like it would be a pain in the butt to do.  However, during last night’s experiment it occurred to me that it might not be so tedious if the backwards knitting technique was employed.  So I gave it a try and it worked beautifully and easily.

I also decided to play with the hat-from-the-top-down concept that Ev over at Strings ‘n Things has been thinking about and experimenting with.  Chicken that I am, I started with a 4 stitch I cord and worked that to about 4 inches.  Then I increased in every stitch while transferring everything to 4 DPNs.  It gradually dawned on me that I should probably be increasing 8 stitches on the increase rounds and that the side I was looking at was the purl side - something I generally prefer to be on the inside of the hat :) So I changed directions and began increasing twice the number of stitches.

What I’ve got so far resembles a small, knitted pagoda, but I plan to keep going to see where this will end up.  Frankly, especially for children, you can knit almost any shape that will cover the head, put ribbing or a rolled edge on the bottom, and have a successful hat.  Oh, and that bit of pink yarn is there to remind me where needle 1 is :)

And since we’re obsessing speaking about hats…

I watched Disney’s Sleeping Beauty last night and found myself just fascinated with Prince Phillip’s cap - the one he’s wearing while riding through the forest prior to his first encounter with Aurora/Briar Rose.  It looks something like this (forgive the crappy drawing):

And in my head, I kept trying to unfold the brim to see what the hat looked like as a whole so I could maybe figure out how to knit it.  Myria’s mildly sarcastic comment was “Oh, that’s a shock” - LOL.  Please tell me mine isn’t the only head that does this?

Happy Monday, folks!

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1. Robbyn...you always make me smile. Only you would be fascinated with Prince Phillip’s cap
   I like the looks of the side of the sweater. Can’t wait to see it all finished.

   Posted by Maureen  on  12/18  at  05:27 PM
   Location :



2. the phrase ‘a small pagoda for the head’ will be forever stuck in my head now- thanks!!

   umm, could that hat brim be shaped like a teardrop perhaps? as i was reading your post, for a moment i thought you might be going to resolve the problem of how to knit a feather- an all new use for the fun fur and other yarns of dubious use we have hidden at the back of our stashes-

   sweater progress is impressive- can’t wait to see the finished garment- i *know* that backwards knitting is possible and your purled edging looks wonderful, but i honestly think i could probably knit with my toes more successfully than i could go backwards- old dogs/new tricks just isn’t me!!

   stay happy-

   Posted by  on  12/18  at  06:25 PM
   Location : thinking about decorating the christmas tree



3. Maureen - I’m glad my obsession makes you smile!  It amuses me no end, the things my mind picks up to play with.  It makes Myria roll her eyes :)

   Posted by Robbyn  on  12/18  at  08:24 PM
   Location : Undernath the cat :)



4. Barb - I do believe that “teardrop” is the right description.  I have been folding paper off and on all day to try and approximate the shape.  I’m getting closer :)

   A knitted feather?  Hmmm… Thanks - I needed something else to obsess about!  Heheh....

   Posted by Robbyn  on  12/18  at  08:29 PM
   Location : Undernath the cat :)



5. Of the two basic bind-offs, the purled bind-off is my fave. It makes the horizontal chains created by the bind-off point toward the back of your fabric and makes a much neater edge.

   Posted by Ryan  on  12/19  at  12:46 PM
   Location :



6. I love the idea of a small pagoda for the head. I can just see a gathering of children with pagoda heads.

   Posted by Opal  on  12/19  at  04:28 PM
   Location : Honolulu, Hawaii



7. Ryan - I don’t know if I would ever have tried it if I hadn’t been looking for something perfect for my first knitted sweater!  But, by gum, I’ll sure be using it again!  It rocks :)

   Posted by Robbyn  on  12/19  at  05:27 PM
   Location : Undernath the cat :)



8. Opal - LOL!  Well, that isn’t exactly what I had in mind, but what the heck!  Hats should be fun :)

   Posted by Robbyn  on  12/19  at  05:28 PM
   Location : Undernath the cat :)



9. The feather probably would have to be felted.  Fun project idea, though.

   Posted by  on  12/19  at  08:48 PM
   Location :



10. That is a very cool bind off edge.  *files it away in brain* Seriously, I might get to knit again someday…

    Posted by Colleen  on  12/19  at  09:51 PM
    Location : Oh my god - updating my blog!



11. Tamar - Funny you should mention that - I was thinking the same thing :)

    Posted by Robbyn  on  12/19  at  10:11 PM
    Location : Undernath the cat :)



12. Colleen - Good to hear from you girl - nice to see you up for air :)

    I have no doubt you’ll get back your needles one way or another - you’re too creative for them to lie idle for long!

    Posted by Robbyn  on  12/19  at  10:12 PM
    Location : Undernath the cat :)



13. You did a great job on your sweater and the bind off looks perfect.

    Yes, sorry, you’re on our own with Robin Hood’s hat, he he.

    Posted by Pamela  on  12/20  at  02:44 PM
    Location : UK



14. Pam - Robin Hood!  That’s it exactly - why couldn’t I remember that?  Thanks for reminding me :)

    Posted by Robbyn  on  12/20  at  07:37 PM
    Location : Undernath the cat :)

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