Sunday, September 16, 2007

slouch

I've been in a bit of a blogging slump lately. I credit it to my experiment with "professional" knitwear designing (read: doing the blasted magazine sweater, also known as the BMS, not to be confused with, although not unlike PMS). I've come to the conclusion that using my precious and limited crafting time to produce something under a strict deadline serves only to suck the joy out of knitting for me. I don't think I'll do it again. I have momentary fits of ambition, but they soon pass and I find myself to be, yet again, a sluggard.

I mentioned in my last post that I had started a sweater for PeeWee--Well, knitting this little item was just the thing to speed my recovery from the BMS. I give you The Swirly Sweater.


I don't know if you can see the swirly yoke terribly well, but trust me, it's there.

I loved knitting this seamless yoke sweater. It was a nice, quick knit and I'm revved up and ready to knit versions for my entire family. I think it would be particularly nice in handspun for my sweetie. Right now, I'm trying desperately (What was that I said about deadlines? Heh.) to knit one for myself before Yarn School which is in 11 days. Denial: it ain't just a river in Egypt...

Some details about The Swirly...

  • Yarn: Marble by James C. Brett in the color "Berries". It has a lovely marled subtle stripe, as you can see. It is 100% acrylic (gasp), but stay with me here--I'm teetering on the brink of Laundry Chaos as it is. If I were to start knitting anything besides machine washable items for my kids, I would probably plummet into the abyss.
  • Pattern: Seamless yoke sweater template from The Knitter's Handy book of Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd.
  • Modifications/Customizations: There are 6 rows of garter stitch on the hem and cuffs, then random purl rows in the mostly-stockinette body and sleeves (actually, the sleeves only have a few purl rows near the cuff). At the yoke, after 1 purl row, there are randomly spaced 2-stitch purl columns that shift over one stitch on every row, creating the swirls. As I neared the neck, some of the columns petered out and some reduced down to 1 stitch. If I were doing it again (oh wait, I am!) I would will regularly and more widely space the swirly columns and see if that results in a pattern that is easier to discern.

    The off-center one-button placket was necessary to accomodate PeeWee's gigantic melon. It was meant to be centered, but I counted the stitches wrong and it ended up where it is. Yes. It's a design feature. :}

I have more to say, but it will keep for the next post. Aw, I can't help myself; here's a preview: I went to the Great Basin Fiber Arts Fair with Kim this weekend--Wohoo! And my local newspaper got a press release from Jimmy Beans and decided that they'd better do a "local girl makes good" story on me and my knitting. [snicker] It was in today's--Sunday's--paper. I look like a complete dork who needs a makeover, more supportive undergarments, and better posture, but at least the yarn is beautiful...

8 comments:

Kim said...

It was a fantastic article and you looked great! I'm going to link to it from my blog too!!

Tola said...

yay!!!!

Joyce said...

Valerie...you are always beautiful and your children perfect. As far as the foundation garments go, I have a fondness for the new country western song with the catchy chorus of "free and easy down the road I go!"

The song also popped into my head when nakey 3 year old Carson escaped his mother's clutches the other day.

Keep knitting! Don't just suffer from insanity, enjoy every minute of it!

Love, from your sisty

Anonymous said...

It's been a banner week thus far, what with your fame in the paper, the marathon warriors, and Alicia in the Olympics. Woo Hoo! I can't even work for thinking about everyone and their creativity and passions and dreams and goals. I think you're beautiful and I loved the article.

Love, from your other admiring sisty

P.S. PeeWee is darling and I LOVE that sweater!

Anonymous said...

Swirly twirly yummy delicious oh and the grapes look good too. Are they from your vines? Okay someone send me the article about Valley and I'll send you the one about Alicia. I wonder if I can find Kim's blog and follow the link?

Lack of foundation is not always a charter trait! Your charter is impecable! Just don't take up jumproaping!

More Love from the other stisty

peaknits said...

The sweater is so sweet - looks great on PeeWee! I chuckled when you described the newpaper picture - I'm sure it was wonderful!!

Tola said...

Rita brought in her copy of the paper and the article is displayed at Yarn Today. Are you coming to Knit Night this week????

Kim said...

Oh if I could link to the article I would. The silly Herald journal makes you pay for anything that was in the paper, even if you want to read it the day after! I need to find a copy of it and scan it in and then post it in my blog!!! Your sister was fabulous!!! :D