Let me start out by saying that I have been working on the Kiri Shawl, but we are currently having issues and are trying to work out our differences. So, we’re taking some time apart. Mostly because I fucked up somewhere about two rows back and have too many stitches on the needle. It’s either that or I can’t count and really, it could go either way. So, the shawl is currently in time out. But to taunt it, I carry it with me everywhere. Ha! I’ll show you, shawl!
Ahem.
Anyway, I’ve been itching to start a sweater for awhile and I fell in love with the Central Park Hoodie so a few weeks back I ordered the back issue of Knit Scene. I oohed and ahhed over the cables and the construction and then I did nothing. Well, nothing related to knitting it, anyway. Last night, I finally decided to make some magic happened.
I even went so far as to swatch. I, uh, never bother with swatching. Now I know why. Here is my swatch:
Swatch of Doom
According to the pattern, (Which calls Tahki Donegal Tweed Yarn. Which I am not using.) the gauge for this sweater is 17 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches. I am substituting yarn because I have a lot of Suri Merino and bought is specifically to make a sweater. According to my personal swatch of doom, 17 stitches = 3.25 inches and 24 rows = 4 inches is what I get. This, of course, caused much whining and gnashing of teeth of biblical proportions.
Eh? What is this madness? You are both supposedly aran yarns! Obviously the Donegal Tweed is a fatter yarn. The pattern said aran yarn! I am using ARAN YARN! WHY DO YOU HATE ME??!!!??!?!?!?!?? AAAAAAAIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
However, once I moved past this lovely little tantrum meltdown incident, I realized that while my stitch gage was a little less than desirable, my row gage was still on. This means, in my mind, that I can knit the hoodie a size larger than I intended and all will be well. And that is what I am going to do. So there Swatch of Doom! I outsmarted you! Plus, I have WAY more yarn than I probably need. The pattern calls for 8 balls of the Donegal Tweed and I have something like 15 or so balls of the Suri Merino. Now granted there is 183 yards to the ball of the DT, and only 110 yds to the ball for the SM, but I think I’ve got enough. Don’t you?
Let’s do some math to make sure. 8 balls of DT at 183 yds a ball = 1,464 yards according to Mr. Calculator. 15 balls of SM at 110 yds a ball = 1,650 yds. I think I’m good. Sweet.
Oh, also? I’ve decided to knit the ribbing at the bottom and all the cables in this lovely red color, but the body (background?) of the hoodie will be in the dark gray. I have something like 5 balls of the red and 10 of the grey. I’m not exactly sure if this is going to have the desired effect I want or if it is going to look very doomed. Hopefully it will look like something I want to wear.
Sweater of Doom? Only time will tell.
I think the colors go well together. I hope it turns out like I think it will. B’s helpful suggestions? “Well, if you don’t like how it turns out, you can always turn it into balls of yarn.” While this may be true, it was not exactly the vote of confidence I was hoping to get. Thanks, babe.
ANYWAY, I started on the back last night and managed to get this far while watching Eureka on the DVR (Like Tivo, but not Tivo.).
I am not a fast knitter.
Tomorrow we’re heading to IKEA to buy anew bed! and mattress! and bedsides tables! And it’s a good long drive. I think I can knit this while we’re in the car. Hopefully there will be progress! and pictures! and not a lot of ripping back. That is my prayer to the Knitting Goddess. May she hear my plea. Amen.
And, now for something completed unrelated but totally solidifies the fact that I am maybe not mentally stable. I like to play with my food and also take pictures. Because what fun is it to play with your food if you do not document it?
This is Babybel Gouda, also known as
Pac Man
Miss Pac Man
Builder Bob
Devil Cheese
Cheese is more fun to eat when you play with it. This is a well-known and scientifically documented fact.
I think Devil Cheese looks more like Pippi Longstocking Cheese. Just saying.
Today I made it look like Plankton. From SpongeBob SquarePants.
I love that sweater. *adds to Ravelry queue*
You knit all of that while watching a one hour show?? I’d only get a cast-on done in that time. Then again, I just started this whole crazy knitting thing in late April. Maybe one day I’ll get faster…
I saw the devil cheese and imediately thought of the flying nun…and cried a little. This is why I love you.
you’re weird.
we’re probably going to be in gwinett tomorrow, seeing pirates of the carribean at the cheapie theater and eating hot dogs at costco – a combo also known as the $5 date. Since I just did a little splurge at Ikea a couple weeks ago, I don’t think I can convince Kev to go back – foo! Have fun with your Sporgen bed and Drugel mattress!
Ya know, I was going to ask if you’ve washed your swatch because wool blooms and that might affect your gauge, but you’ve already cast on. Go forth blindly, Brave Knitter! I’m sure it’ll all work out in the end. Ahem.
I bought BEAUTIFUL Brooks Farm Four Play for the Central Park Hoodie. And I swatched (which I don’t normally do) and the swatch and I did not agree on what “gauge” really means. So CPH and Brooks Farm are sitting in time out now. For a while. A long while.
Dude, I want that sweater. Interestingly, I apparently thought so last year when I got that issue of Knitscene, because that page is dog-eared in my copy already.
I’ll sit back and let you test the pattern, though. Aren’t I thoughtful?
You see? This is why I don’t check my gauge. Surprise is the spice of life!
BTW, I play with the babybel, too. Sometimes I eat the cheese, than try to reconstruct the wax encasement to appear as if there is still cheese inside.
I just finished making that sweater last week and love it. I would probably do a couple things differently but no biggie. The hardest part was deciding on buttons, which for you using 2 colors might be even more difficult.
My only swatch suggestion might be that you should make your swatch bigger. For sweaters I like to knit a gauge swatch that’s twice the number of stitches on the suggested gauge. I know it seems like a pain, but it gives your stitches more play and you get a better sense of what your actual gauge is.