Saturday, April 07, 2012

Strawberry Shortie

My version
 

I've been obsessing about circular yokes lately. I found a pattern or two on Ravelry and decided now is the time to try one out. But the pattern I found was only for one size, way too small for me, so I had to figure out how to enlarge it and on my second try, I got the right formula. Then I had to adapt it to the smaller amount of yarn I wanted to use.  This is  Karabella Merino, and I had only six hundred yards. So the finished product would not have long sleeves and while I did knit it without the ribbed bottom, I frogged that because it was so short and unflattering. http://www.ravelry.com/projects/123zibberanne/simplest-sweater and http://www.ravelry.com/projects/blueyehti/grommet-eyelet-ridge-cardi-vest
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/briggs-street
Pinned Image Pinned Image
I feel the need to explain my motivations. Knitting, for me, is the challenge of figuring out the puzzle. I am not interested in duplicating the exact design, only  in finding out the gist of how it is done, since I know I am going to change it anyhow and then do variations from that point onward. That's the shortest explanation. I am leaving out the lying in bed imagining construction approaches, and alternate design tweeks.

So when I show you the finished product, what I am showing is that I got the rounded yoke, the just right sleeves and the 'fix' of the more flattering fitted ribbing.
Now I am able to design something from this point onward that I know will work.
The concept is pretty darn simple. Cast on a number of stitches and increase (M1) in equidistant sites, every six rows or so, about four times. Put the armholes on waste yarn and knit the body. I added a few underarm stitches and some extra increases for the bust. Also, I did short rows for the back neck, to raise it, as I like to do.

Some have commented that I am a fast knitter. Not so true. I am not fast, I just don't do a blasted thing but knit all day. I love sitting on the deck and knitting, and then inside when it gets dark, in front of the TV. Nothing else gets done til I conquer the latest challenge.
Really. Obsessive.



13 comments:

  1. That is beautiful!!!

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  2. Not only is the design flattering and the colour scrumptious, but your figure is looking fan-TAS-tic!! Boy oh boy, that diet is sure working! Well done! You must be doing some exercise to be shedding that fast? Let us into the secret, please

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  3. Ok, so you're obsessively f-a-s-t!! Love it and love the color.

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  4. Looking fab in pink there!

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  5. Looks great! I have not tried a top down sweater yet - am getting inspiration. BTW you should call that the Marilyn sweater ;-)

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  6. Anonymous8:27 AM

    The fit is amazing! Love the colour too and yes, you are fast, very fast.

    May I send you all the yarns I've collected over the past 30 or so years and you do my knitting for me?
    Thanks in advance...lol.

    You are 'obsessive' about knitting/completing a project, I am obsessive about collecting materials for projects...lol.

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  7. Beautiful!

    What do you do if you finish a sweater (or whatever) and find that you don't like it (for whatever reason)? I just finished a scarf (that took me weeks of knitting) and when I put it on I hated it! Disappointing to say the least! I decided that I'll put it away and save it for a gift. I don't think I'll ever try knitting a sweater now...chances are I would get it done and I would hate it!

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  8. OMG is that the yarn you just order from Little Knits? It is a wonderful color and fits so well. Great look.

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  9. You like to knit or you don't! And you love it, this design is beautiful and I like the colour as well. Enjoy Easter.

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  10. Fast or slow you are amazing. Stretch and I were discussing that quality has disappeared from clothing lately... yours looks like quality. Fit, and construction.

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  11. Schöne Farben und tolle Pullover,
    herzlichen Gruß
    margit

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  12. You've become really prolific at knitting! I'm thinking of trying my hand at crochet, something I last did about a million years ago. But at least it feels familiar to my brain, unlike knitting, which looks like learning Greek! Really beautiful sweater, and lovely on you, too.
    :-)

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Hello,
So nice of you to drop by. I love your comments, and if you would really like a reply, please email me at fibermania at g mail dot com