The Next Sweater

As soon as the big ol' Noro sweatshirt was finished I turned my attention to Pas de Valse. With the crochet around the edges finished (which took half a day) and the sweater blocked, it was time to start the sleeves. I tried Magic Loop, but the yarn was too soft, the cords too wiry and the process totally frustrating. This sweater has been a challenge for my post-surgery brain and some of the instructions strike fear into my heart…like Kitchenering the back neck.

I am a scaredy cat when it comes to Kitchener stitch. A sock toe I can do, but when it involves 50 stitches or more, Kitchenering stops me cold. Last week, while working on feeling grown up and trying to stop the lollygagging, I made a goal to finish the shoulder seams and Kitchener the collar. I am, in addition to being a scaredy cat, an accomplished knitter, and I need to act like one.

After referring to Susan's marvelous tutorial (and printing out a copy), I settle down to "just do it". Of course, there had to be a couple of false starts, but once the brain and rhythm kicked in, I was off and Kitchenering! Not only did I finish all 50 stitches without much trouble, I did the whole thing nearly perfectly! This doesn't mean I won't have trouble next time around, however.

So the sweater body and neck are finished and I'm trying to decide which way would be best to knit the sleeves….a 12" circular (which may drive me battier than the Magic Loop) or DPNs.

My dear friend Birdsong is having a contest. Her first grandchild was born recently and she feels like it was a life changing event.  In celebration she'd like to hear about any life changing event you'd like to share.  Her contest ends on November 6th so you have a full week.  Good luck!

Comments

[Mel]

As with anything else, I find that you develop a rhythm when you're kitchenering a long run of stitches - purlwise, purlwise, off, knitwise, knitwise, off. If you just give yourself into that rhythm without trying to overthink it, it goes quickly and smoothly and is soon done. I also don't worry at all about tension as I'm going along, because I'll invariably have to go back to the beginning and adjust everything anyway, and all fretting about it at the time would do is disturb the rhythm.

[Cookie]

I am so proud of you. I think it's totally mind over matter. If you think you can't do it, it'll never happen, but once you remember that you are good at this knitting thing, it's a snap.

[Joy]

Of course you can do it - great job ;) For sleeves, I'd be inclined to try 2 circulars which work quite nicely for me. YMMV of course.

[Kim]

Big girl knitting panties.......that made me laugh...LOL. You are almost there....I can't wait to see you smiling in it. :)

If it makes you feel any better I felt the same way doing a kitchner on something other than a sock. It was a wee bit intimidating but it came out nicely too. :)

xoxo

[Sarah]

Yay! You did it!

[Jennifer]

Sorry - I have to go for Magic Loop. Personally, I can't stand the 2 circs method and I am a Magic Loop junkie.

But can I just say that You're Amazing Margene! Nothing slows you down. Not even major heart surgery. Look at you cranking these sweaters out. I'm so happy to see you back to your normal routine.

[Anne]

Good for you - of COURSE you did it. :) You da bomb. That is going to be one gorgeous sweater when it's done!

[CaroleP (ohio]

Margene - wanted to let you know how "great" you look. Keep it up! DH went thru 5 by-passes at age 50 and 16 yrs later he's in better shape than before.
Thanks for the Kitchener info. Almost at the end of a sock and this time "I will do it!"
Love that sweater btw.

[vanessa]

kitchener queen!

[Birdsong]

Wonderful feeling of accomplishment:)

[kathleen]

wow. life has been crazy for you. so glad to read you are well. hugs!

[Romi]

Gorgeous color!!!

[Stephanie]

I love that sweater every time I click on the link in your posts, but for some reason I haven't taken the plunge. I guess I'll wait and hear what your final verdict is. Magic loop is generally my choice for sleeves done in the round, but if I had to choose between a 12" circular and dpns, I'd go with the dpns without hesitation. I hate 16" circulars - 12" would be just way too much.