Linen Drape: May 2004 Archives

Wow - 17 Comments! Who knew I had so many readers? *blushes*

I enjoyed reading all the comments and the reasoning. I also showed it to a few coworkers and got their opinions as well. So, with their votes the tally is:

#1 - 5
#2 - 10
#3 - 3

I think poor #3 didn't do as well because of my poor swatching job. However, I'm going with the majority (and the way I was leaning) and doing the second swatch - the chevron-looking one.

I thought about Christy's idea about having the bottom half not be open. I think I'm going to do the first few inches flat - so it can have a bit of an opening there - and then do it in the round after that. I may still lace it up from the bottom. I'm not sure. But this way I have the option and I don't have to worry about dealing with keeping it all together while I'm wearing it.

I'm so glad I took my time with the Linen Drape and waited until the right project hit me! The swatches feel wonderful and I'm really looking forward to wearing this top!

Again, a big thank you to everyone who gave me their opinion.

Diet

GRRRRR!!!!!! I lost a whopping half pound this week. And I have no way of explaining it. I didn't cheat. At all. Not at the Stitch n Bitch with that yummy looking pizza. Not at my brother's party with the salsa and sangria. Not at the coffee house with those yummy biscotti. I've been totally on plan this week so I just don't get it. I'm not discouraged, but I sure am annoyed. If the weather is nice tomorrow I'm going to go for a bike ride to try and kick start my metabolism. That, plus the weekend of physical work on the house will hopefully get me back on track.

For those of you in the States, enjoy the 3 day weekend. And remember to put those flags out!

So I went home last night and swatched the Linen Drape like I promised. It was fun! I tried three different openwork patterns, and I'm still not sure which way I'd like to go.

They all have good points and bad points. And honestly, I'd like the top with any of the three swatches that I knit up. So, I'd like to hear your opinions.

The top I'm making is inspired by the tank on the right. It's from VK Summer 04. It's hard to tell, but the top portion is stockingnette with occasional purls sticking out to give it just a bit of texture. The bottom part (from below the bust) is made up of a meshy knit pattern. It's one of the three I swatched.

In case you're wondering, I'd lace up the top all the way from the bottom. I wouldn't wear it so it could flap open like the model is. At least, not this summer :)

Here are the swatches:

click to enlarge

The top one is the stockinette swatch with bits of purl stitches. I know it's hard to see it, but it's there. This is my gauge swatch.

The second swatch (we'll call it option 1) is the original meshy openwork that Vogue Knitting used. It's very pretty and makes up almost diamond-like holes. It is also the most open of the three. In terms of knitting it, it's also the hardests of the three. It has quite a few k2tog's which slow you down - particularly with Linen Drape. The wrong side row on this one is actually easier and quicker than the right side row.

The third swatch (we'll call it option 2) is a chevron pattern that I borrowed from a Rosie's pattern that they were giving away this weekend. I like the edge this one makes and if I use it I may even do a picot edge below it. The lefthand portion of it has 3 knit stitches. I would reduce this to 2 for the lace up part. Three just seems too thick and heavy for the design. It's the fastest to knit of the three swatches. I modified the center decrease to be a centered double decrease (learned this when doing that Domino top in March). It's easy and fast: slip 2 as if to k2tog, k1, psso (both, as once). The other cool thing about this pattern is it's a 2 row repeat, with wrong side rows being straight purls.

The bottom swatch (we'll call it option 3) is also pretty. It's from IK Summer 04, this top:

I didn't do this stitch pattern justice though. I should have cast on for three repeats as you need at least that many to get the full effect of the swooshes. It's a 4 row repeat, pretty straightforward. It also makes a slightly wavy bottom edge.

I am leaning toward one of the three right now, but I'm not going to tell you which. I'd love to hear your thoughts - including why you think I should go with a particular one.

Note: I did wash and dry all the swatches before their photo shoot. In particular, this helped swatch #2 considerably - evening out the knits between the yo's.

I've been putting alot of thought into my Drape Along project this week. Last night I knitted up a swatch and it was "OK". Not great - but OK. So I'm going to tweak some things and even try a different stitch pattern today. I think I'm close though and hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to post what I'm finally going to be doing with this yarn!

Cast On Methods

I pretty much always use a long tail cast on unless the pattern specifies a particular technique. I tried to use it for the beginning of Smooch - which starts out with that picot edge - but the edge was too stiff and heavy. I finally tried the thumb cast on and I liked it alot better.

I also used the thumb cast on for the ruffly beginning of cheesylove. Again, it seemed perfect for the design.

Added Later - Here's a link for the thumb cast on. It's called the single cast on.

Then, over the weekend, I was playing around with some sock yarn that I picked up at MDSW. I have a Fiber Trends sock pattern that I really like that's cuff-down. I was afraid of a too tight cast on so I looked around. Finally, my Twisted Sister sock book suggested that same thumb cast on for a very elastic edge. I tried it, and poof - VERY stretchy cuff. To the point where the ribbing almost looks ruffled when it's not stretched. It was very pretty. So, I think I'll be using that cast on from now on for cuff-down socks.

I'm curious though, was I the only one who was clueless about using that cast on for the cuffs of socks? I don't knit many socks so it's entirely possible. I figured I'd share it though just in case it's not totally common knowledge. Are there any other good cast ons for cuffs?

Tune in tomorrow for more than your fill of linen drape swatches. I hope to have a winner by then.

You may have noticed I joined the Linen Drape Along. Its official start date was May 1st. Like a good little knit-alonger I started working on my pattern Saturday morning before leaving for MSW. I charted out the beginning of the sweater, and did a schematic of the whole thing so I knew what I was working toward. Yay! One step down. I reviewed what I had drawn out, measured it against a few favorite sweaters, and felt pretty good that it was going to fit as I had wished.

Then, Sunday, I decided to cast on. I've really been looking forward to this one. I love the color - a nice, claret red. And the design - the first one of my own - was shaping up to be really special. I spent hours perusing online about pattern drafting, styles, and fit. I went through my own wardrobe and identified what I liked and didn't like about the sweaters I owned. And then I added in a few touches to make it really special.

So, armed with all those good feelings, I cast on my stitches and got to work. And here's where the problems began. As I knit each additional row I was surprised with how inelastic the fabric was. It felt kinda stiff - not drapey and flowy as I had imagined. And knitting it, well, it has a tendency to split. It feels more like knitting embroidery floss than knitting yarn. Seriously, this is the most finicky non-novelty yarn I've knit with.

Now, a couple months back I would have just plowed through it. Dealt with the splits by going slower, being more methodical. Telling myself to keep a good attitude and in the end it will be beautiful. But after the past few problems I've had with sweaters (the pink calmer top down, the domino ribbon) I decided to put it down and think about it some more.

And I'm glad I did.

After inspecting the fabric and looking closely at the design, I'm afraid the two are a bad match. I need something with more flow. More elasticity. Maybe even something more like a Cascade Fixation with some elastic in it.

So I put down my needles and cast on for one of my socks from the new yarn I got this weekend.

What will I do with the Linen Drape? I'm not sure. I think it needs simple, clean lines. No fussy decreases. No intricate lace. Ribbing? Only as a decorative accent.

Am I frustrated? Amazingly, no. I feel happy that I was able to realize the problem early on and correct it. Maybe even a little proud that I've really grown. I have far too little knitting time as it is. To spend any of that time on a garment that's sure to be frogged - now that's truly frustrating.