Monday, September 03, 2007

New beginnings

Summer's almost over, and I couldn't be happier. I love fall, and I always think of it as a time to start new things. I'm motivated to organize (got all my fiber and spinning equipment tucked away on a shelf in my closet), exercise (nothing better than a long fall ramble in the woods), and experiment (I'm planning on a big dye day later this week). And I started something new:


Nantucket Jacket by Norah Gaughan from Fall 2006 Interweave Knits. I'm using Knit Picks Swish Superwash in Copper. Can I pause for a moment here and sing the praises of Swish? I loooooove it! Soft, squishy, sproingy, beautiful stitch definition, superwash and cheap! It's so wonderful, and now they have it in DK weight, too, which I much prefer to worsted. I could seriously knit for the rest of my life in only Knit Picks yarns.
Anyway, check out the stitch definition:


The last time I knit seed stitch, it didn't look anything like this. It might be that I've improved somewhat, but I also think the wonderful bounce of the yarn helps tremendously. And this is pre-blocked! See that cable there? It's a 6-stitch p1,k1,p1 cable. The purls blend in to the background of reverse stockinette and the knit stitch is the only visible part of the cable. Very nice effect. Now, that cable there gave me a bit of a headache. I crossed it the wrong way on the very first crossing and continued to cross it the wrong way. I got past the fourth crossing before I spotted it. I wrestled with myself for a long moment, trying to convince the O/C part of myself that it didn't matter, who cared which way the cable went, no one will know but me. But then I thought about what might happen when I seamed it up. Maybe it wouldn't make a difference, but maybe it would. So I dropped those six stitches at least 24 rows and reknit them, crossing the correct way. Only I had to do it three times because I kept screwing it up. But look at it now--still unblocked, and it is almost identical to all the other cables. I tell you, I love Swish! After all that acrylic baby sweater knitting, it is such a relief to be knitting in wool again.
So that's what I've been up to this weekend, along with working. Oh, and I might be buying a loom later today or tomorrow.

4 comments:

Kathy Kathy Kathy said...

You know it makes me nervous when you talk about non-knitting enterprises. Don't forsake me! I simply cannot take up spinning or weaving.

errs said...

I love the copper color. It does look like a shiny new penny.

Elizabeth said...

Looking good there, fixed cable and all.

Of course, even though it's September, it's hot and humid and feels like Aug 3. But soon, it will be crisp and cool and perfect.

Linda said...

That jacket is looking great, I wish we had Knit Picks yarns here. I am sure they will come soon.