Thursday, October 19, 2006

Update on EZ Sweater

Here are some progress photos on Rob's Seamless Hybrid. I had some gauge issues, so I started a few different times, then I cast on for the sweater, and after getting about 10 rows in, read about a much cleaner technique for doing the hem on the sweater, so I ripped out and started again, but now I'm chugging along. The problem with knitting with my own handspun is my gauge was varying from between 4.5 sts/in to 5 sts/in. I first cast on 200, but that ended being way too big, then tried 180, that was still too big, then finally cast on 170. I pulled it off the needles after knitting a few rows to check the size, and I think this will work. I figured if it's slightly small circumference-wise, I can block it and the wool has enough stretch where it should give. I hope! Any thoughts on this? Besides my gauge and hem woes, I'm really happy with the way it's coming along and Rob was pretty stoked about it too, he's really excited about wearing it and is really hoping he can wear it this winter, I'm going to try my darndest to accomplish that. I love this wool, and I love it more and more as I knit with it. The bits of leaves from the sheep that I just spun into the yarn make it look a little tweedy in some spots, and there is this really pretty halo to the sweater. Something about knitting with my own handspun, while a daunting task, is very satisfying, and the fact that I'm knitting it for Rob, and that he really likes it, until this point, I've only made him hats, and one sweater that I just kind of made up as I went (it doesn't fit very well, I'm going to rip it out someday), I REALLY want to finish this for him. His b-day is coming up, as well as, he's going to be a daddy in about 7 weeks, and I'm sure being a new mommy will take over knitting time :) So, I'm knitting like a madwoman!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lookin good. See you guys at baby class.

Abigale said...

Beautiful knitting! As far as getting gauge with handspun goes.... that's tricky - I don't find that I have too many problems, just find a set of needles that gives me a fabric that I like, and knit. The first washing and blocking does wonders for a lot of inconsistencies that you might have - and part of the charm of handspun is the very nature of the unevenness... So I don't have many words of wisdom to "fix" it for you. Just try to remember, that it is what it is, and go with the flow.

Sorry I couldn't be more help - it's going to be absolutely gorgeous when it's done though, and you're so right - it is just so amazingly satisfying to knit with your own handspun.

Abi

Anonymous said...

Sweater looks great. I have plans for a hubby sweater of my own handspun. It's going to take awhile....

As for the baby coming, yeah it's going to throw things off. But whether you get a baby who is content to play and babble or one who wants to be entertained (or one who sleeps or one who doesn't), that will be up to the stars. I got the super playful, always-wanted-attention, never-slept one. She's 7 now and life looks like it may be returning to normal in just a few years.... :-)

Anonymous said...

It looks amazing! I really like the hem of that sweater, how is it knitted?

I agree with Abigale, gauge will differ somewhat, but the endresult won't really be affected. Blocking is a very effective weapon :)