Joining in with Kat and friends today to talk about knitting. First, a quick look at the Parallelogram Scarf … I know it’s getting longer, but those two balls don’t seem to be getting any smaller!
Honestly, though, I haven’t knit much on it, except in the evenings (watching Longmire), when it should be too dark to knit on the black cardigan. But this past weekend, I didn’t even set it aside for that.
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| Saturday evening |
Because Saturday afternoon, just as I was getting ready to start the short row shaping at the bottom of the body, I finally counted all the stitches. The fronts were good (I’d counted them periodically to be sure they matched and I hadn’t forgotten to make one of the “every six rows” increases along the front edge), but the back was not. Looking carefully – in the bright light of Starbucks – I found the problem. Way back – nearly 80 rows back – I’d worked a right lifted increase when I should’ve worked a left.
I ripped. and you can be sure I counted often as I reknit the body! Monday I finished the body and started the first sleeve. Now it just needs a second sleeve (and a good soak) and it’s done.
It’s really hard to photograph a black sweater, especially on rainy day, but if you look really carefully, you can see the pretty lines down the back – right lifted increases on the left side and left lifted increases on the right. just like Heidi designed it!
Now that I’m feeling really confident about finishing this piece, I’m wondering what else I could knit for our trip (we leave two weeks from Friday … that gives me ten days). I have about 900 yards of Maggiknits Linen that I’ve been thinking would be a cardigan, but maybe it should be a easy tank I could layer? Unfortunately, the “easy tank” I want to knit is this one (yep, another Heidi design) and my swatching so far hasn’t worked (gah, I even tried the yarn doubled … and even if the fabric hadn’t been stiff like canvas, I decided there was no way I could knit with six strands!) So now I’m contemplating a trip to my LYS to buy Kestrel, but not until I finish the black cardigan. I must say, a little yarn purchase might be just the push to make that second sleeve fly off my needles!
That said, I’d really like to use the yarn I have. If you have any suggestions for 900+ yards of yarn that knits nicely to 4-1/2 stitches per inch, please share them in the comments! (thanks in advance 😀)
Check out the comments in Kat’s post here to see what others are unraveling about today.
mere-et-filles 
Oh, Mary. 80 rows???? I'm so sorry. But it sure looks great now! I have no suggestions for your one-last-knit. I do, though, have every confidence that you'll find something Just Right. XO
Yikes! That's a ton of ripping… but, obviously, you are fast. I love Slope (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ss15–slope) but not sure it's the correct gauge that you need. I started to make it, but messed up…and wasn't using a yarn that really worked. It's a cute pattern though.
Yikes is right! 80 Rows… oh man, I would have not been too happy about that! I am also at a loss on a pattern suggestion. But, good luck!
Man, to rip and reknit all those rows in black yarn is dedication. The sweater is going to be lovely.
The outcome of all of that ripping and re-knitting (ouch!) is a sweater that is just beautiful, Mary! I'm afraid I'm not experienced enough to offer suggestions for the yarn, but I love the tank you are considering.
That's a lot of ripping back! Glad that you're on track again now and you'll be finished in no time.
Oh man! That sure is pretty, tho!Speaking of ripping… I have this incessant voice in my ear questioning my Parallelogram gauge/fabric and asking me if perhaps I shouldn't have gone down a needle size. When I have a minute, I'm going to soak & block a portion of what I've got and see… I am steeling myself for another re-do. It's cathartic, right? And, as MDK Kay always says, we LIKE to knit… RIGHT??? 🙂
hard core ripping all worth it!! the increases are gorgeous in your photo. Not only is black hard to photo but it's hard to knit!! I haven't knit with straight black in years. I wish I had a suggestion for your linen yarn…
I admire you! I may not have done that ripping! (Heck I may not have even noticed it!) You've got me nervous now…we're trimming our squares for the blanket with black. That's going to be a nightmare to seam!
Bionic Fingers! So glad you caught your mistook, even if it was 80 rows back. I admire you and so looking forward to seeing "the" sweater on you! Knit on! As for some new yarn…I think a trip to your LYS is definitely in order…looking forward to your find…Cheers~
You did what you had to do as you want a lovely error free sweater. Ripping is the sign of a true knitter. I'm so late in commenting I wouldn't be surprised if you hadn't found a pattern for your linen. I'm no help.
Oh goodness-that really stinks, but it's a lovely piece [as always]. Can't wait to see what you decide to use for the tank. I've had this in my favorites [must show restraint!]