Friday, October 05, 2012


All well. I finished the st st part of the first sleeve of the mitered jacket – and determined that I had done so, somewhat short of the measurement given in the book, by trying it on. There’s something to be said for this top-down business.

And I’ve started the garter stitch panel which finishes things off. The provisional cast-on went smoothly enough on the second attempt, although I wonder whether I have done it quite right. But there are stitches there which can be reclaimed somehow-or-other for the final graft.

The first attempt was too loose. I proceeded for a few rows before deciding, no. When in doubt, take it out, is an invaluable general rule which applies to more than knitting.

So now I’m knitting along, attaching the garter stitch band to the sleeve stitch by stitch and realising there are things about the smallest details which I still don’t understand.


(The sleeve isn't bloused. The border will go all the way around, with both border and sleeve remaining flat.)

The book says to join the last border stitch to the next sleeve stitch with a k2tog tbl. What’s the difference, if any, between that and ssk? The book says to begin each row (at the back, at the sleeve edge, just after joining and turning around) with a slip 1 kwise. I noticed this after I had already done half-a-dozen slip 1’s pwise, and switched, and then switched back The purlwise slips produce the familiar chain effect, which I like and have retained. Slipping the stitch knitwise results in a sort of knot. The total effect would be tidy, and less of a feature than the chain.

You can perhaps even see how I have recently done two attachments with a slip 1 kwise, before reverting:


I ought to know more than I do about such things.

I’m going to have a complete skein of yarn left over, plus a substantial collection of little oddballs thanks to the moths. Watchcaps? I had a look at Ravelry this morning. The ones most to my taste are those with deep, deep ribbed turnovers, for keeping ears warm in serious situations.

Miscellany

I finished my trashy book, “Breed” – not really as good as “Rosemary’s Baby” after all, but very skilful – and found I had no idea where to turn next. One thing Kindle can't supply is the experience of wandering around a bookshop reading a page here and there.

So I am reading “Parade’s End”. We didn’t persevere with the television series, but I found, like you, Shandy, that having seen even the first episode got the characters and start-off situation straightened out for me. Now I’m getting used to the way Ford proceeds, and enjoying it a lot. But it's not for bedtime reading.

We saw a bit, a very little, of the presidential debate on the news last night. The president looked tired, and a lot older than he used to be. I am sure the function of every presidential organ is constantly monitored, so he couldn’t be ill. He must just be weary. It was a bit worrying, though. 

9 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:49 PM

    I have yet to enter the wilderness that is provisional cast on. I have several patterns that require it but I haven't attempted them. You would think after 50+ years of knitting, I would be less cowardly. Can you suggest an idiot proof guide?
    Liz Phillips

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  2. After watching the debate, my family -- a mishmash of ultra-liberal Democrats and moderate Republicans -- has agreed that Obama looks tired of the job. I'm guessing he'd be happy if could say, Thanks for the four years, but I'm out of here. He got more than he bargained for, but the way our party system is set up, I'm guessing it would be disastrous for a party to have a president bow out of an election.

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  3. Ruth in Ottawa2:01 PM

    I like the chain stitch effect on the cuff/sleeve join, too - I think you were right to keep going that way. Can't wait to see the finished article!

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  4. I think it must be more difficult to be president and campaign. Romney has no other job but running for office. The difference between ssk and k2tbl is in how the stitches lay (lie?) after you are done. Ssk is flatter and a bit closer to k2tog in appearance. The function is the same, they just look slightly different.

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  5. I am anxious to see the finished sweater. How did EZ figure out how to construct a sweater this way? It boggles my mind!

    And speaking of EZ, last night I cast on for her Brioche Watch Cap. It is great fun to knit, and I wondered why I hadn't tried one before. It might be one to consider doing with your leftover yarn (you could always hold the yarn doubled to get the right thickness).

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  6. I'm a fan of the Jacques Cousteau hat. DK, ribbed, a good turnover for warmth and free on Ravelry.

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  7. They're saying now that Obama didn't have enough time to acclimate to the higher elevation where Romney had several days to get used to it.

    The sweater is looking great! I agree with Mary Lou on ssk and k2tog tbl. With ssk you're turning the stitches individually and k2tog they're turned together so that it twists the stitches like a cable.

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  8. One nice thing about books on Amazon.com is that one can have samples sent to your device...thereby allowing one to read (usually a chapter or two) a few pages as one wanders through the virtual bookstore.

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  9. Anonymous10:33 PM

    I've been following the mitered cardigan quite closely as I may knit one, having received the book at the Rocky Mountain Men's Knitting Retreat. It appealed to me right away and it is nice that you got to "test knit" it as I always enjoy your comments on how various things knit up. Thanks so much for this. -- Joe-in Wyoming

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