Sunday, 11 Mar 2007
Oh, sleeves. How they mock me! Everyone, I think, has their personal knitting Waterloo, and unfortunately mine appears to be sleeves. I now have not one or two but THREE sweaters awaiting sleevage. First the Argyle of Doom came along, and I avoided it because of a weird charting issue that led to super-long armholes. Then there was the Central Park Hoodie, which I almost finished, but chickened out on Sleeve #2. And now there is the Tailored Scallops Jacket - completely done, except for the sleeves, for which I cast on half-heartedly last night but abandoned in favor of casting on for ANOTHER SWEATER almost immediately. What is it with sleeves? Why do they suck so much? And is there a way out of the crazy sleeve doldrums that invariably attack me at the end of every project? (Yes, yes, I know - the flip answer is, make them all into vests! - but I’ve always been a hater of vests. Whose arms aren’t as cold as their chests?) If you have the secret, by all means please tell me - and you will have my undying gratitude when I finally have three three major projects finished at last.
To be fair, the yarn I’m using for Sweater #4 is nearly irresisitable - it’s this:
It’s RYC SilkWool DK, which I’m using to make this:
It’s the Lacy Waves cardigan from Lace Style - making the third project I plan to do from this book, which just might make it my most productive book purchase of all time (next to the Barbara Walker stitch dictionaries, which I think I open up and dream about every day.) While I normally abhor asymmetry, I’m breaking from my own restrictions to make this elegant little pullover. (Ha. Me? Elegant? Well, I’m about as elegant as a barnyard, but that’s OK - I can dream.) The yarn is a pleasure to touch and see, soft and with a tiny bit of sheen but not too much, and seemingly very pill-resistant. The fabric it makes is dense and plush, but it still seems to drape well. And the sleeves! The sleeves are at least 50% yarnover - so they’ll go quick! Quick and painless. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. …Is this a sickness, people? Tell me I’m not the only one with sleeve-a-phobia. Tell me I’m not the only one with four partially completed sweaters lying around the house. And please, tell me I’ll finish these suckers before it’s too warm to wear them. I’m hoping for a cool spring just to buy a little time.Good news on the Zoot report - he got a thumbs-up from the vet, he’s eating reasonably well, and acting all perky-like! He’s even making it up on the bed with just a chair there to jump on. I think we will be building him some cat steps - but in the meantime, he’s downright fiesty. He even sat under the kitchen table and howled until we gave him roast chicken last night. (Yes, of course he got as much as he wanted!) We can’t get rid of his tumors, but we can feel good about him seeming to feel good. It’s a load off my mind, to see him acting like his old self, tumors or no tumors.
March 11th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
vests make you feel warmer! hence all the northface vests and the like. you add some warmth in winter without the bulk. when your trunk is warm, you feel warmer. yup. sleeves are good. just do two at once so you are done “faster” it really does seem faster to me
YAY FOR AMY!!! We get Amy at Loopy! on my calendar. i’ll be there!
March 11th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Could you try knitting the sleeves first instead of the front and back? No help for your current sweaters I know but it might help in the future.
So glad to hear that your kitty is feeling better!
March 12th, 2007 at 1:12 am
Oh, excellent on the Zoot front! Happiness abounds :)
March 12th, 2007 at 1:13 am
As for the sleeves - I’m seconding the “knit sleeves first” suggestion. You’ll be so anxious to get to the stuff you like that the knitting will fly by. Really.
March 12th, 2007 at 3:04 am
Hooray Zooty! And that yarn is gorgeous. Was that part of the big haul?
March 12th, 2007 at 4:26 am
I’ve probably spent too much time staring at a computer screen, but that looks like a pullover to me?
March 12th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
whoops! yes! pullover! I’m so used to making cardigans that it confuzzles me to look at a pullover. Don’t worry, I won’t be cutting it down the middle.
And yes - Loopy is hosting Amy Singer on April 4! It’s going to be a riot. More on that later.
March 12th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
sounds like you should try knitting the sleeves first, if not just to get them out of the way;)
March 12th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
I’m glad that Zoot is feeling better. We had a cat that had had tumors like that for the last three years of his life. The vet took to calling him “the cat that won’t die.”
I don’t have a problem with finishing sweaters, period. I have two that need seeming, and one that’s just got the sleeves done. And I’ve got the yarn to start three more. Maybe I’ll cast on for all of them tonight.
How’s the first sweater from lace style coming? i’m curious to see if any more eratta pops up before I launch into it. (and I’m dying to see it in the Iro.)
March 12th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
I love the look on the model’s face - not the look of someone who slaved over that thing herself.
March 13th, 2007 at 1:48 am
I hate sleeves too. Just a couple of weeks ago I turned a sweater into a vest.
March 14th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
I’d usually say make the sleeves first, but I find it way easier to adjust sleeves to compensate for any ‘knitting peculiarities’ in the front and back. If you get perfect gauge, though, there’s no harm in doing the sleeves first.
March 15th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
If you dislike knitting sleeves stay away from the set in or fitted style of sleeve!
The pullover in the picture looks like fitted sleeves to me. They are a stinker to get to fit smoothly. Raglan are the easiest to fit into the finished garment. I am of the “knit them and get them over” school of thought! The only other solution is to bribe your friends to knit them *smile*
March 17th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
OOh, I’m glad he’s hanging in there! I’ve just gone through and read some old posts- really enjoying your blog. Sweaters in general are what sleeves are for you!! Hang in there!
March 18th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
LOVE the “Lacy Waves” Cardigan–and you MUST finish the sleeves. It would be just sad to take a beautiful pattern and beautiful yarn and then leave it incomplete.
I’m so glad to hear that Zoot is feeling perkier. It’s nice to see them have some “springtime” after they’ve been ill.
March 19th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Just checking on the sleeve progress? How is it going? What about Zoot (and others?)
Love ya, Miss ya!
April
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:40 am
maybe double knit the sleeves? (there was a wonderful article on it in knitty a while back - applied to socks, but a tube is a tube right?) unless they’re really chart-y, it would at least half the job.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
I’m in love with this sweater too :) Can’t wait to see it!! And so glad to read that your zoot is having some good days!