Yes, I finally finished my Green Gable! I was stalled for the longest time trying to figure out what to do with the sleeves. They were WAY too big - I think a result of going up in size for my bust. But my arms are not really proportionally large compared to, um, "the girls".
So, over 4th of July, I pulled the long-ignored sweater and decided to just try doing a decrease round before adding the ribbing, to see what the effect would be. It did slim down the arms a bit without being tight or causing poofiness. But, I'd done a special sewing sort of bind-off, and I didn't have my technique books with me. So the sweater came home and waited some more.
Last weekend, I finally got out The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques and did it - it was the Kitchener bind-off for 1x1 ribbing. You put the knit stitches on one needle and the purl stitches on the other, and kitchener them together. It looks nice, but mostly I like it because it's stretchy. Only I had the stitches on a lifeline, and I didn't put them back on the needles. It was just as easy to just sew with the stitches on the lifeline!
My blocking "technique" for this was to wet it in the sink and then put it in the dryer with an old towel - first on medium, which dried it to damp, then again on low, which dried it perfectly. Gotta love Shine Sport!
I wore the sweater Monday to a new-to-me knitting group (hi, ladies!) and they instantly recognized it as a newly finished sweater and oohed and aahed - I totally blushed! After a day of wear it was a little bit stretched out, but hey - it'll come back together if I wet it and put it in the dryer again!
Project specs:
Pattern: Green Gable, size L (I think), 5 skeins
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport
Needles: Knit Picks Options, sizes 4 and 6
Modifications: I added some waist shaping, and made it shorter, to fit my own shortness. Also, the sleeves turned out pretty big so I decreased before doing the ribbing.
Cast on: Knitted.
Bind off: Sewn / Kitchener.
At first, I thought I'd have problems with rolling at the neck, but after I "blocked" it, and put it on, the neck didn't roll at all!
If I made this again, I'd consider making a smaller size and using short rows in the bust to make it bigger. I'm pretty sure that's the culprit for my large sleeves. And I might make it a bit longer - it's almost too short even for me!
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3 comments:
Oh this sweater looks terrific on you! I love the patterning at the yoke. And really ... you should now call the the Purple [or Blue] Gable. ;-)
Very pretty - I like!
Well done! The purple is a very good color for you! I think the sleeves turned out really well. Good idea to use the life-line instead of needles.
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