Monday, April 13, 2009

Getting it together

Since finishing all that knitting for the Easter Show, I've been working steadily-ish away at the Autumn Rose Pullover. Actually, it's really the only thing I have on the needles right now that I wouldn't classify as a 'false start'. And I finally have gotten it together at the armhole.



Oh how I hated knitting those sleeves. I used two circs for one and magic loop for the other, I did a bit at a time on each one to help them wriggle on a bit faster. With the fair isle choppping and changing of the yarn colours, it felt like you no sooner hit your stride with the pattern when you had to either move the stitches on the needle, change needles or change colours again. It actually felt like it took longer to knit the two sleeves than it did the entire body to the armholes.

Anyhow, no need to dwell on the past, for they are finished, and now there's just the small matter of a few rows up to the neckline. Shame those rows have around 350 stitches on them. I am always amazed at how quickly a bottom up raglan goes once you get into the decreases. Decreasing by 8 stitches every couple of rows really brings the stitch count down fast, and psychological or not, it's a good feeling.

Another thing about raglans - I much prefer a bottom up raglan than top down. I think decreases look much better than increases, and I also find the top down raglans don't seem to fit well on larger sizes. I know the online knitting world seems to like them, but me, not so much.



So, onwards and upwards, as they say. I've got a massive batch of 100purewool 3 ply worsted yarn that I dyed in a sombre granite colour. It looks very much like the wool serge box pleat tunic I had as a school uniform, which I absolutely loved. After a fair amount of research, I have decided to make a Heroine Jacket from Twist Collective.



I need some releif from all that hard knitting so I am really looking forward to this, it seems relatively easy, and all that 'relaxing' stocking stitch. Even if it gets a bit boring, I can't see it taking that long. I shall re-visit these statements during the project, for I may live to regret them!

Which brings me to another thought - why do I even have a Ravelry queue?

8 comments:

ginevra said...

Autumn Rose is looking lovely - if it keeps looking that good I may be tempted to see if I can scrape together the wools for it...

I know what you mean about the Ravelry queue. Last I looked at it, I decided it was my way of bringing together all the similar things (Summer tops; V or U necks; jackets) I was considering ... plus all the cool must-make-one-day stuff I find.

Kinda a bookmarking service, I don't actually intend to make it all!

I've even got a placeholder pattern (Ogee Lace), anything after that is unsorted;)

Rose Red said...

My Rav queue is a bit more of a wishlist really - I don't even know how many things I've got in it, but know that it's more than I can ever make!

AR looks fab so far, well worth the effort. And I have to say, I do love a bit of stocking stitch - no need to think, or even look, half the time.

Bells said...

i have to say, having just made Something Blue, I'm inclined to agree with you on the top down issue. I'm going to make another one to see if I can improve on it, but for me, the result is not so satisfying. The fit is off in all sorts of ways.

Loving your AR. Gorgeous work.

I never use my Rav queue. It's there, I flick through it once in a while but it rarely features in my decision making processes!

Peta said...

I love your Autumn Rose, the colours are beautiful! I love the yarn you dyed too, will look gorgeous as that jacket.

Unknown said...

Don't be so hard on yourself. I am positive I saw Heroine in your queue...albeit it was only today! ;-)

Looking forward to seeing how it turns out. It is a cute jacket and looks super warm to boot.

2paw said...

Your jumper is just lovely and you haven't even needed to go on holiday to knit it!! Heroine is lovely, very WWII I think.

Unknown said...

Your Autumn Rose is soo pretty though with all that hard work going into it I can understand you wanting if finnished.

Joanne said...

Autumn Rose is stunning! I do think the Rav queues and favoriting is not really indicative of what folks are knitting. (I mean, if it was, half of everyone on the planet would be knitting my designs, and actually, well, that is so not the case!)

I always need both simple knitting and somethign more complex. Not every day is a "hard knitting" day!