I cut my knitting — planned and on purpose — cut my knitting. Even more horrifying? It was handspun yarn.
And you know what? It really wasn't that bad!
The Twist Pullover had been in my ravelry queue for the longest time. I put it on the list with every intention of making it, but then the yarn turned out a little thicker than it should have been and the yardage was a little short. There was a bigger problem, though.
From the first glance I'd decided I needed to make my twist shades of blue with dark at the bottom transitioning to light at the top. I bought the pattern, spun the yarn, and then realized the instructions had the front and back knit separately and seamed together.
Had I realized that before, I could have spun the yarn accordingly, one skein for the front and one for the back, each going through the color progression. As it was, I had the entire progression in one giant skein. Bummer.
Fast foward to this summer. I had two spins going, each with a project in mind. One was a gradient yarn for a tank top, the other, a multi-color yarn for the twist. Once both yarns were finished, I realized they were actually better suited to the other's project. I crochet the tank first with the multi-color yarn, and once again had a single color progression for a project that needed two. Time to think… and plan… and mull… and plan some more.
Eventually I settled on a plan to knit the body in the round and cut, or steek, the armholes to get the color play I was looking for. That left the sleeves. They were going to look a little off, because they would be made all from the light end of the yarn instead of transitioning with the body. So one would at least match the other, I knit them in the round in one piece, cutting them apart at the end.
I read a lot about the process beforehand, and was prepared for all sorts of angst and anxiety, but it was actually pretty anticlimactic. Two lines on either side of the planned cuts with the sewing machine kept things from unraveling as I sliced away. I did have to take a deep breath before the first snip, but after that… not huge deal. The pieces survived seaming, and I was actually able to wash and wear it and wash it again. I'm calling that a win!
Of course, as I was folding the sweater to put it away, I had a sudden vision of how I could make the twist as a gradient, with the sleeves matching the body, AND not have to cut anything. So… I'm going to make another one. Might as well; I really love wearing the one I just finished, and I don't think I will ever be satisfied until I make it the blue in which I initially envisioned it.
Hopefully, by some miracle, the yardage will work out. If it doesn't I may just skip the sleeves. In fact, I may end up taking the sleeves off the first one. I tried it on before sewing the sleeves in, and really liked it.
Omitting the sleeves would bring me back to steeking armholes, but it's nothing I haven't done before.
On a totally unrelated note, while my blog was languishing in neglect, I made a couple more patterns available for download. Releasing patterns was the original purpose of starting this, so here they are.
The first pattern is for crochet lace fingerless mitts, Wave Farewell. I designed these during a very stressful time of saying that last good-bye to a very special person. It's kind of sentimental to me, and I hope you like it too.
It is a lace pattern with increases, in pattern, so you do have to be a little brave. Also, I seem to remember there being a mistake in the written instructions, which I'm not sure if I ever fixed in the pdf file. The intent was there, but that doesn't necessarily mean follow through. Either way, there is also a chart, which I think is more user friendly anyway.
Nothing too fancy, and you can click here to download.
And you know what? It really wasn't that bad!
From the first glance I'd decided I needed to make my twist shades of blue with dark at the bottom transitioning to light at the top. I bought the pattern, spun the yarn, and then realized the instructions had the front and back knit separately and seamed together.
Had I realized that before, I could have spun the yarn accordingly, one skein for the front and one for the back, each going through the color progression. As it was, I had the entire progression in one giant skein. Bummer.
Fast foward to this summer. I had two spins going, each with a project in mind. One was a gradient yarn for a tank top, the other, a multi-color yarn for the twist. Once both yarns were finished, I realized they were actually better suited to the other's project. I crochet the tank first with the multi-color yarn, and once again had a single color progression for a project that needed two. Time to think… and plan… and mull… and plan some more.
Eventually I settled on a plan to knit the body in the round and cut, or steek, the armholes to get the color play I was looking for. That left the sleeves. They were going to look a little off, because they would be made all from the light end of the yarn instead of transitioning with the body. So one would at least match the other, I knit them in the round in one piece, cutting them apart at the end.
I read a lot about the process beforehand, and was prepared for all sorts of angst and anxiety, but it was actually pretty anticlimactic. Two lines on either side of the planned cuts with the sewing machine kept things from unraveling as I sliced away. I did have to take a deep breath before the first snip, but after that… not huge deal. The pieces survived seaming, and I was actually able to wash and wear it and wash it again. I'm calling that a win!Of course, as I was folding the sweater to put it away, I had a sudden vision of how I could make the twist as a gradient, with the sleeves matching the body, AND not have to cut anything. So… I'm going to make another one. Might as well; I really love wearing the one I just finished, and I don't think I will ever be satisfied until I make it the blue in which I initially envisioned it.
Hopefully, by some miracle, the yardage will work out. If it doesn't I may just skip the sleeves. In fact, I may end up taking the sleeves off the first one. I tried it on before sewing the sleeves in, and really liked it.
Omitting the sleeves would bring me back to steeking armholes, but it's nothing I haven't done before.
On a totally unrelated note, while my blog was languishing in neglect, I made a couple more patterns available for download. Releasing patterns was the original purpose of starting this, so here they are.
 |
| Click to download. |
It is a lace pattern with increases, in pattern, so you do have to be a little brave. Also, I seem to remember there being a mistake in the written instructions, which I'm not sure if I ever fixed in the pdf file. The intent was there, but that doesn't necessarily mean follow through. Either way, there is also a chart, which I think is more user friendly anyway.
Nothing too fancy, and you can click here to download.
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