Ah the joys of size 8 needles and stockinette:
Behold I give you the finished back and fronts of the Almost Everyday Cardigan. I’ve got to say, I’m really enjoying photographing this sweater. Today’s pictures, I think, accurately capture the color of the sweater, but oh my goodness is the carpet off. My carpet is brown. Not a bad crappy kind of brown, but a nice brown that can sometimes seem a little purple and hides stains fairly well. A good carpet, rendered some weird ashy gray by the camera. Funny how that works, huh?
Anyway, back to the cardi. The back and fronts, as I said, are finished and I pseudo tried it on last night by lacing some circulars through the shoulders and I think the fit is going to be spot on! In length and everything. (I’m saying I think because when it doesn’t work out I can rescind.) One side of the crewneck cast off is a little weird, maybe because I bound off knitwise on the purl side? I may rip that and redo it, but otherwise, it’s all good.
I have a couple questions for all you intrepid designers out there (Colleen, listen up!) I’ve been using Ann Budd’s templates as a guide for my sweater. For instance, she has it that you should cast on 80 st for the back if you’re getting 4 st/in and 100 st if you’re getting 5 st/in – I cast on 94 st. And 44 (+1 selvedge for picking up the button bands – how smart am I!?) for each front. It’s time for the sleeves. Ann says 40 for 4 st/in and 50 for 5 st/in increasing up to 80 and 100. She has this 40 st or 50 st start for the 40″, 42″ and 44″ sizes. (I’m making somewhere between the 40″ and 42″) They all increase up to the original cast on number for the back. So – my question (if you’re still following along because I’m so convoluted at explaining these knitty things) is should I cast on 42 st (so that my ribs match up) and increase up to 94 stitches, which is what I cast on for the back? I’m not really sure what the other options here would be – this seems to make the most sense. Thanks for any and all input on this.
Also, I should block it before I connect the shoulders, right? I’m thinking yes since it’s so stockinette rolly.
I’d love to cast on both sleeves at the same time and really crank this sucker out, but I’m afraid it would become a tangled mess because of the alternating skein plan. It’s worked so well with the body that I’d hate to stop now, and I think it would take twice the time to do two sleeves with four skeins since I’d be untangling more than I’d be knitting. Any input here would be great as well.
So, so far so good. I’m happy, today that is, with my knits.
Sorry if I offended anyone with the Guilt-Along KAL. You do know it’s all in jest, yes? I’m not one for guilt in my life. Goes back to when I was an existentialist. I try VERY HARD to make choices in my life that leave little room for regret and guilt. Lately I’ve had a taste of what guilt can feel like and it’s not very nice. It’s not pleasant when it has to do with the big things in your life, and there’s certainly no room for it in my fun time, i.e. knitting. I’m still encouraging you all to play along, tongues planted firmly in your cheeks!
PS – Like my new button?
I found the button via Creazativity. Thanks!
The thing that I see with all of those Ann Budd numbers is that they are all divisible (divisable?) by 4. So, when you divide for two halves, those two halves are also evenly divisible (divisable).
Sounds like you have already figured out the best way to go. It’s looking good and you’ll be wearing it soon! Do the sleeves one at a time. Four balls going at once will make one insane!
Since ribbing is pretty resilient, adding (or decreasing) by two stitches won’t change the fit much and should be just fine. And, as long as you’re happy with the resulting sleeve width just under the armhole, increasing to 94 stitches seems logical. You’ll just have to be sure to make similar adjustments to the decreases for the sleeve cap shaping when you get there.
Love the banned books button! When I was a “new” librarian I did a display of banned books. I made them look like they were in jail by putting them on a shelf and using black construction paper as bars. That display got lots of comments from library patrons – incredulous at the books that had been banned in different parts of the country.
just as an FYI, I found when I was doing a sweater from the same Ann Budd book that increasing the sleeves all the way up to the cast-on for the back left me with enormo-sleeves. Might be worth it to wrap the back around your arm and see if you really need a sleeve that large.
Well, behold: The great Cara has the same issues with cameras and colors as the rest of us poor lot. I’m lovin’ your stockinette success. Don’t have any guilt about the Guilt Along. hee.
Right off the bat, I’m going to put this out there: I’m not a huge fan of that Ann Budd book. She makes her sweaters rather baggy, and it shows on her models. If you want a little ease or you’re tall (which it appears that you are!), you’ll probably be fine. I think the sweater that you’re making is a good one for her book because its meant to be looser, but in general I’m not sure I’d use her patterns. You’ll find plenty of people that will disagree with me, however. I just thought I’d put my bias out there!
On to the sleeve. I’m guessing that you’re working at a gauge of 4.5 sts per inch from the other things that you’ve told us. This will give you a sleeve “cap” that is a bit over 20″, which sounds about right for your height as I’m guessing it to be.
But the real key is knowing whether the sleeve that you’re about to knit will fit nicely into the armhole that you’ve already created. Measure it and let us know! (Makes sense, right?!) :0