The Sewing Place

The Emporia => A Good Yarn => Topic started by: Ploshkin on March 12, 2017, 15:03:33 PM

Title: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Ploshkin on March 12, 2017, 15:03:33 PM
Got the pattern, got the yarn, got the new interchangeable needles, done the tension swatch, am about to embark on Drops pattern http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/175-1-wind-down175-1 (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/175-1-wind-down175-1)
I picked something easy looking as knitting a sweater from the top down and in the round is a new venture for me but I like the idea of no sewing up and only a small number of stitches to cast on.  I'm using Drops Cotton Merino which is beautifully soft and machine washable.  It could work out ok or it could be a disaster.  I'll keep you posted.
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Ellabella on March 12, 2017, 15:16:17 PM
Link doesn't work Plosh, but it brought up a noce sheep pic which seemed appropriate.

BTW how is puddle lamb?
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Ploshkin on March 12, 2017, 16:18:19 PM
Oh, I didn't realise I  had been anywhere near Ravelry.
Here's another link I hope this one workshttp://www.garnstudio.com/pattern.php?id=7826&cid=19 (http://www.garnstudio.com/pattern.php?id=7826&cid=19)

Unfortunately and upsettingly, puddle lamb hasn't made it.  Not because of being hypothermic in a puddle but it became apparent that it had something wrong with it that probably caused it to wander off and end up in the puddle.  I'm keeping everything crossed for some triplets very, very soon so that I can give the ewe another lamb.
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Ellabella on March 12, 2017, 19:03:46 PM
I like that pattern, really fancy trying a top down sweater, once I've completed my latest socks..

Hoping for triplets for the bereft mum..
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Ploshkin on March 12, 2017, 19:29:29 PM
As I'm using cables I thought I ought to get to grips with magic loop .  I had a few false starts using different tutorials and ending up with a twisted mess but once I found some sensible instructions and got a few rows under my belt it was a piece of cake.
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Francesca on March 13, 2017, 08:11:24 AM
I love Magic Loop. Much much easier than several DPNs
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: b15erk on March 13, 2017, 09:16:06 AM
Lovely pattern!  Not sure about top down, I've only done a baby one, and it wasn't a success.

Magic Loop, I think I've tried, but it hasn't made much of an impression ;)

How's progress?  Lamb, and knitting....:)

Jessie
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Ellabella on March 13, 2017, 10:00:48 AM
Once you get your head round magic loop it's a doddle, you've just got to find the right tutorial that works for you.

I knit everything on cables now, but strangely can't part with my collection of needles most of which belonged to my Grandma who had the weirdest knitting style, her needles all curved as she clamped them under her arms. :wool:
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: b15erk on March 13, 2017, 10:06:31 AM
AhHa!  Just Googled Magic Loop, and yes I have tried it.  Not for me though, I'm a simple soul where knitting is concerned, and life is too short to fiddle about with a circular needle:)

Jessie
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Ploshkin on March 13, 2017, 11:32:08 AM
Quote
her needles all curved as she clamped them under her arms.

That was very much a traditional way to knit in some areas.  Many years ago I came across a very small but fascinating knitting museum in Yorkshire.  In there they had a collection of carved knitting sticks - they looked a bit like a wooden goose wing with a hole for the knitting needle in the front.  The knitter had the knitting stick under one arm with the needle sticking out of the end & then just used one hand to knit with which meant that the other hand was free to rock the baby's cradle or do other things.  Here (hopefully) is a link to some stuff about knitting sticks (https://katedaviesdesigns.com/2010/01/21/sticks/)
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Ellabella on March 13, 2017, 11:49:46 AM
What an interesting article, I'm going to reread when I have more time and check out some of the links.

Can you remember where the knitting museum was please Ploshkin?
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Ploshkin on March 13, 2017, 13:34:26 PM
Quote
Can you remember where the knitting museum was please Ploshkin?

Haven't got a clue - it was about 1982 & not much more than a tin shed so unlikely to still be there.
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: hernibs on March 21, 2017, 23:51:34 PM
Lovely sweater Ploshkin - best of luck with it.
Top down?  I'm with Jessie on this....Magic Loop?  Not for me either - I just could not be bothered learning any more new ways to do things which are second nature to me doing them my way, if you get my drift......grammar all over the place there!
Sorry the lamb didn't make it....hope you get the triplets to be able to pass it off with the lambless ewe....3 is too many for one ewe in any case.
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Ploshkin on March 25, 2017, 14:10:41 PM
Well I've done most of the yoke and happy so far with the way it is going.  My casting on is always rubbish, it is a bit tidier since I started using the thumb method but still not brilliant.  Magic loop is good but I've got some wobbly stitches down centre front and centre back where the loop comes.  I'm fairly confident that they will even up with blocking but how do you block something that has been knitted in the round?  I can also see the cast on edge of the neckband being pretty grubby by the time I get to the end as it is sitting in my lap all the time I'm knitting.  I'm not suggesting that I'm a particularly grubby person although I can do grub with the best, but it could be picking up traces of dye from my jeans etc.  I know some people have their knitting on a white cloth but I can't be doing with that.
Probably when I have finished I will give it a gentle hand wash which should sort out the wobbly stitch issue.
Anyway, here it is so far ....
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: hernibs on March 25, 2017, 14:28:06 PM
That looks good - the gentle hand wash will do the trick....you'll not see all the wobbly bits after that.
You are brave to start top down...I would be totally lost.
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Vegegrow on March 25, 2017, 21:13:12 PM
Haven't got a clue - it was about 1982 & not much more than a tin shed so unlikely to still be there.
Wondered if these might be of interest
http://kcguild.org.uk/sharing-knowledge/museums/
http://www.knittingtogether.org.uk/virtual-museum/
https://www.coldharbourmill.org.uk/
http://www.museumsintheyorkshiredales.co.uk/dent-knitters.html
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Ploshkin on June 12, 2017, 09:19:16 AM
Well, the sweater is still on the go.  I pick it up and do a couple of rounds every so often and I've completed the body at last.  It should go a lot quicker with the sleeves.  I like the fact that I can try it on and there will be no sewing up at the end.
Now, can anyone advise here.  The bottom of the edge is finished with a couple of rows of garter stitch (as are the neck and sleeves).  I just know that the bottom edge will curl up.  Any tips for preventing this.  The only thing I can think is to change to a size smaller needle so that it is,a little bit tighter than the stocking stitch  but I don't know.
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: hernibs on June 12, 2017, 10:05:20 AM
Ploshkin - yes the bottom edge will curl up and that is precisely what it is supposed to do!  If you don't like the look you could change to K1 P1 rib and smaller needles.  Does the neck edge curl up? (Editing to say that I see it does). That may look ok there. For me, a dyed in the wool traditionalist as far as knitting is concerned a 'proper' rib is the real McCoy.  It's 'elastic' and hard wearing.
I have been, like you, struggling on with a sweater I am knitting, it's 4 ply, it is the complimentary yarn I got from Designer Yarns when I politely complained about Debbie Bliss Fine Donegal.....I didn't have enough for a long sleeved sweater so bought some contrasting yarn and did the front in alternate stripes.  I find 4ply a tad slow to work with but, like you, I've been plodding on.  Watching tennis helped!  Back and front now complete and the 2 cuffs for the sleeves are knit all at once, have precisely 8 grams of contrast yarn for each sleeve as will put some contrast stripes just above the cuffs to use it up.
Anyhow P, yes, the edge will curl up and if you are ok with that go ahead....sounds like you aren't.  If you now change to ribbing it may not look quite as trendy....and will take more yarn of course.  Just my 2 cents...I'm an oldie.
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Maximum on June 12, 2017, 12:22:23 PM
I agree the bottom edge will roll up but it seems to be "the" look, these days. I have seen on RTW the cast off edge turned under and caught about 2 rows or so up, like a hem but I think those last few rows would need to be on smaller needles or decreased or the bottom will flare.
Those patterns fascinate me so I might be tempted to have a go at something small. My main stumbling block are the videos! In trying to watch the pattern formation I find myself mesmerised by the way they knit.
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Catllar on June 24, 2017, 13:58:36 PM
Looks good P. Is this Magic loop just knitting on a circular needle then? I like the look of the pattern but it's totally impossible to knit here at this time of the year, so that is my excuse and I'm sticking to it!  If you go with the two rows of garter stitch I wouldn't size down - you'll lose quite a bit of size and it'll make it tight.
Title: Re: Starting a Sweater
Post by: Ploshkin on June 24, 2017, 16:02:53 PM
The jury's still out on the bottom finish.  There are some increases in the sides of the body so it is slightly A shaped.  The good thing about knitting top down and in the round on a cable is that I can try it on whilst still on the needles.
I have got a very nice, stable crochet finish on an edge to edge cardigan that I knitted and I might try that after casting off the garter stitch to stop it curling.  I thought I would try a couple of samples of different things to see what they do.
At least, finishing off at the bottom, it is only a couple of rows to unpick and re knit if it's not right.