Friday, October 03, 2008

The Knitting


This is the second attempt at a new idea I'm playing with. I bought this lovely yarn at Miss Vicky's Yarn Cafe in Baraboo when all the Alt Knitting Campers decided to drop in on her. It's Di Vé Autunno, 100% Merino. A very soft single that I bet will pill like a demon, but will feel so nice along the way. I'm trying a few variations on the basic top-down raglan cardigan, but it means doing all the thinking up front. When you make a sweater from the bottom, you can usually just cast on and go. But this time I've got some fiddly short row shaping and a sloped raglan, with a somewhat wider-than-usual top of the sleeve section, and maybe a variation on the slope of the front raglan line. This is attempt #2, and I know I need at least one more. The good thing is that I learn something new on each attempt.

I think one of the main differences between knitting designers and knitters in general is that the designers are the ones who get an idea and keep trying until they get it right. The idea doesn't have to be complex or amazing. There's nothing wrong with being a knitter who doesn't design (there better not be: we depend on them to buy our patterns!). Some folks would rather not take something out and redo it five times, adjusting numbers and needle sizes a bit each time. And that's perfectly fine. Some of us, though, just can't help ourselves.


And this is a teaser photo. The project will be Knitcircus #5, released Feb 1 or so. You just have to wait.

8 comments:

Molly Bee said...

OOOO! I've seen that teaser up close! Can't wait to get my KnitCircus tonight. I hope the Ear hasn't run out. That merino is such a beautiful color. Reminds me of a lovely glass of wine (she mutters as she shambles off to find one...)

Helen said...

Yay! Glad to see the gray thing from KnitCamp worked out. I do like the lines of it.

Kathy Kathy Kathy said...

I remember the merino and the ziggety-zaggety sweatery thing from Knitting Camp.

Bezzie said...

Bah! So not fair when KC4 isn't even here yet!!

I think you summed up a knitting designer quite well. And thus I have no patience to design!

Kitty Mommy said...

Gorgeous yarn and I love the sketch you showed me too. I really look forward to seeing the finished product!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pattern! I wanted to buy some Di Vé Autunno, but was a little afraid of the pill factor... but it is a luscious yarn, and the colorways are so pretty. And frankly, it will feel so nice against the skin as to make up for a little pilliness. Gonna hafta go get some!

florencemary said...

You're totally right about the designer vs knitter thing, Elizabeth. I have no desire to fiddle and faff around with a design until it's right, so I'm definitely of the latter variety. I do think, as well, that's there's often an innate 'maths' element to this; people who have a numbers-bent seem to be designers, I reckon.

Anyway, sorry to have been a while catching up on your blog, and thanks for your comments on mine! Also off to check up on Knitcircus...

xxx

Archiknist said...

Did I ever remember to tell you that I took the 2 issue #3s you sent to the LYSes here (months ago now), and that they liked them? And I think it looks great!