Monday, May 5, 2014

Sweater, Day 5

...and nothing but more issues to report with that "30-day sweater challenge" workbook...

The problem now is that the rate of increases on both the sweater body and the sleeves needs to change in order to achieve the correct number of stitches, finally. If I just continue with the "standard rate of increases" (2 stitches on each sleeve and the front and back, every other row), then I will end up with waaaaay too many stitches on both the sleeves and the body by the time I've done the appropriate length on my raglans. The workbook has nothing to say about this situation. I'm sure it's common. Blech.

Ms. Walker, on the other hand, has very specific advice on this. She tells you to knit for 4" (until the little cape, draped over your shoulders, touches the points of your shoulders), and then to reassess your increase rates on both sleeves and body. She tells you how to calculate the right increase rate. Yay! I'm going with her! If you want even more explicit instructions, check out this pattern from Heidi Kirrmaier. It's free!

As for progress, I'm knitting non-stop during my commute and in the evenings, and am certainly not managing to keep the pace dictated by the Challenge. I've reached the bottom of the "V" for my v-necked pullover, but I'm probably only 2/3 of the way towards finishing the raglan increases. So I figure I am already 2-3 days behind.

What the heck are they knitting with???

2 comments:

  1. Good luck with the sweater. Just dropping by to say thanks for all the extremely useful sock tips...my second ever pair of socks, now 2/3 finished, incorporates many of your suggestions, and fit really well. So, thanks heaps!

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  2. The one thing I've realized in my (limited) sewing and knitting life is that designers are designing for a body, not necessarily your body. So, if your shoulders are narrower than their fit model's the raglan is gonna droop on you. Unless you're doing something special with the design, keep increasing until it feels right, then section off the sleeve stitches and keep going. No matter what you'll end up with a garment, are you sure you don't want a poncho?

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