Knitting Round Up

My favorite knitting project has had too little love lately. But I have grabbed a minute here and there to knit a few rows when I can. The end is near. Less than a half ball of yarn to go. I've used seven of the skeins purchased from Judy and they will make a very long stole. (The eighth ball will be used to make a lacy scarf.) This project has been more about the process than anything else I'm knitting now. The end will be bittersweet as I have enjoyed each and every stitch.  Chamomile is all about the project....finishing the sweater so I can wear it. The yarn isn't nice to knit, but the fabric turns out fine, which makes it worth knitting.  It will be a nice fall sweater.

This is the gauntlet that I'm knitting as a Give A Little prize. Ah, the joy of knitting with Koigu! There are few yarns as wonderful as this and stockinette is the perfect stitch to knit while visiting and when you are on the run. The socks of yesterday's post are on the back burner while I commune with Koigu.

Grayce (of Plain and Fancy Wool Co.) noticed I use bamboo DPN to knit socks (and gaunlet's, it seems, too) and she asked what I thought of knitting with two circulars instead.  Any technique that makes it easier for someone to knit socks gets a thumbs up from me.  But, I love the feel of my bamboo DP's and will stick with them.

Last night I had a few minutes before Stitch 'n Bitch...so I swatched.  Kim wasn't fond of her Black Water Abbey experience and I can see why.  The yarn is rustic and a little unyielding. There is no 'squooshiness' that you expect from wool. As Mary Beth stated, when she knit a sweater with BWA, there is no bloom when washed and blocked.  It is pretty much, what you see is what you get. The fabric created should make a very nice jacket sweater, however. As you look at Tuesday's post, the picture on the left is Brier from Rowan magazine #36. This yarn should work up nicely and result in a very classic jacket. The chestnut color, isn't usual for my wardrobe, but it is rich and warm.  There is one issue in which I need your opinion, however.  The back of the jacket has a seam down the center.  Two pieces are knit and then sewn together. The resulting seam creates a design feature which sounds attractive. I wonder if it will be comfortable.  Please let me know if you think it worth doing and, if not, then how many stitches should I drop to knit the back as one piece. The other swatch (gray) is of the Beaverslide yarn for Moonlight, from Rowan #34, which will also be in my future.

Speaking of Stitch 'n Bitch we had a visit from Colette!  It is always fun to put a face to the name and blog.  Thanks for coming by to knit with us, Colette!

Comments

[Cassie]

I don't know that I'd order BWA yarn based on just the color swatches and how they feel, or on what I've heard on blogs. But I did fall in love with a finished sweater of BWA in Lisa Lloyd's booth at the NH festival, and based on that I'd buy the yarn in a heartbeat. Not for next-to-the-skin, but it made a lovely cardigan that I'm sure would last forever.

[Kim]

Hanging Vines is going to be something! Even in it's unblocked stage you can see how incredible it is going to be. Judy's yarn is yummy stuff for sure!

I love the chestnut color of your BWA yarn, as I said, I will be interested to see what you think of knitting with it over the longterm. I keep getting tempted by the colorcard sitting on my desk and I do like the finished item........but remembering what a job the yarn did on my hands has kept me from ordering more.

[Beth]

If it won't be next to the skin and you think it'll be pretty, why not? On the other hand, that's a great big bunch of seaming you'll be adding to the finishing time. Maybe the question should be, "How much do you like to seam?"

[claudia]

I think my sister Silvia made this, but I don't remember if she did the seam. Feel free to ask her.

[susan]

Damn, I'm still bitter that I wasn't able to meet Colette.

[Teri]

Is "rustic" knitting-ese for "itchy"? :) Those gauntlets are going to be beautiful!

[Carole]

I'd leave the seam and do it the way the pattern says. But that's mostly because I'm not very adventurous when it comes to altering patterns.

[Liz]

I was eager to order some BWA, however, after receiving the color card I'm not going to. It's *very* itchy! It's all itch! It'd be a lovely jacket, I agree, but still to itchy for my taste. It's a shame, too... beautiful colors!

[Janine]

I've made two pullovers from BWA yarn, and they are wonderful but we always wear a turtleneck underneath. NOT a squooshy yarn, but it doesn't pill or look old before its time. Seaming? I'd avoid it, but that's a gratuitous opinion and not bogged down by anything as mundane as actually looking at the pattern you are discussing.

[Jody]

I absolutely love Beaverslide yarns. I knit Rogue with it last year with fabulous results. I'm very happy that you're giving them a shout out. :)

[Norma]

I loved that same Lisa Lloyd cardigan that Cassie is referring to. In fact, loved it so much that I bought the pattern and am having a hard time making a yarn sub, thinking I will have to relent and get the BWA for it after all. It's not for next-to-the-skin wear, though. But that's okay with me, because there is many the winter day when I need layers. I am not like many and don't seem to mind knitting something a little rougher...not all the time, but I guess my hands are tough. Like me. ;-D

[Angela]

A mattress stitch seam with a stockinette selvage won't add too much bulk and you'll barely be able to feel it - I say go for it - also, it's a lovely, flattering visual.

[Erin]

The color of the Hanging Vines looks stunning. I can't wait to see it finished. Really very lovely!

[Laura]

Hanging vines is so beautiful. I'm looking forward to seeing the FO. How do you keep from breaking your bamboo dpn's? I've hesitated buying them for sock knitting because I sometimes think I'm going to bend my aluminum ones... I know I'd snap right through a set of bamboo in no time.

[Judy H.]

I'd say the seam on the back shouldn't be too bad, but if you don't like it, it'd be easy to take it out. Since I haven't seen anyone answer your other question, if you do omit the seam, take two stitches out of the full back--one for each side that was to be seamed.

[Marcia]

First, a comment about BWA yarns...they are supposed to be "traditional" Irish yarns, and are produced over there, of course. They are kind of hard, but that makes the Aran patterns show up better. Definitely for outergarments! As for the seam, I am making a patchwork cloth jacket right now and noted that the pattern specifically cautioned against eliminating the back seam. The seam, in fabric, anyway, helps prevent the back from poking out...don't know if that is the intended purpose in a knitted garment, but I'm sure they wouldn't have one without a reason.

[Liz]

I love bamboo double points. That's all I use for my socks. (With one small exception out of necessity, hehe)

[tracey Solomon]

wow- I just get bored after the heel flaps----- how bout TOELESS socks??? Like gauntlets- for your feet??? Handknit pedi-sox???? ok- was hoping to be 7000!!!!

Running a "Diaper Bag Brigade" to help with Katrina--check my blog--and i'm getting a bit nutty!

[Rachel H]

With me, a novice sock knitter, the bamboo DPNs are more for safety reasons than anything else. They're shorter than my aluminium ones so I don't look quite as uncoordinated using them, and they don't slide out of my slide out of my work when I'm not looking.

[MJ]

The seam in the center back sounds like a nice design touch; I haven't seen any patterns doing that. If it's a matter of comfort when leaning back I'd omit it, but it seems like a nice idea. The chestnut color will grow on you, it's perfect for fall!

[Kim/Chef Messy]

I can't wait to start some "process" knitting again! Lately, I've been trying to finish up all of the UFOs still hanging around from the Startitis episode last spring, so it has been ALL about the products at my house!

[Heather]

Koigu is so beautiful. *drool*

[Laurie]

The seam depends on whether you are the princess of "The Princess and the Pea". Will you feel it each time you lean back in a chair? Two stitches less gets my vote.

I'm a bamboo dpn fan myself. Fewer clangs onto the floor during the process.

[Wanda]

As far as BWA yarns are concerned, they come in beautiful, stunning colors, but yes the yarn is scratchy. But as an outerwear garment, I believe it will hold up and be a long-lasting yarn. I have some in my stash that I'm using for Eris, so I think it will be okay.

[Michelle]

Love my bamboo dpn needles too!

[Debi]

I was gonna say, I think Claudia's sis Sylia made it with the seam and it was lovely! And I dont think it would be exceptionally uncomfortable!

I'm with you...I know how to knit socks on 1, 2 or magic loop circs but I find there is no "flow"...I love my DPN's and always will

I can't wait to see your beautiful hanging vines finished altho I too feel some sadness when a favorite project comes to an end...good thing there is always more yarn :)

[Birdsong]

I am betting that the back seam will add some stability to the design, and if the yarn is stretchy, keep it from sagging in back. It sounds like the yarn you are planning to use would be pretty stable on its own... definitely an outerwear-type yarn, although with all this input, one I am going to decide to pass up. You are getting me interested in moving along to a jacket.. that, and the definitely cold mornings we have been having.