Thursday 13 September 2007

A sweater on the needles

For the first time, since I returned to the wonderful band who call themselves 'knitters', I have a sweater on the needles (or should it be 'needle' as it is a beloved addi bamboo circular?). I decided on 'top down' using 'Knittingfool.com' to produce a pattern. I wanted it to be a 'proper' winter sweater, in other words a cosy potential old friend for winter walks and watching rugby. I wanted a sweater that perhaps was more like a sweatshirt so I have a loose neckline knitted in alternate rows of knit and purl. It will have similar treatment for the bottom band & cuffs although they will be knitted on finer needles. It may have 'fake garter stitch' side panels like Jarad Flood's sweater in this falls 'Interweave knits'. It may grow cables but that might depend on how well the rugby world cup is progressing. If its too exciting it had better stay plain! I am totally in agreement with Sarah about the knitting creating a 'memory palace'. This is becoming my rugby world cup jumper -I hope England win! My prairie shawl, for example, is my 'Tiree' shawl (& jolly useful it is with these cool mornings & warmer days) and I may pop on my ' Les Contamines skiing socks' when I get changed! The yarn is, as I said in my previous post, Jaegar extra soft merino in an Aran weight. I am knitting it up on 5mm needles so despite 'all bits' been on the needles as I work down the yoke its growing quite quickly. I have ordered some more DK weight in this yarn for a Wool Pedlars shawl from 'Folk Shawls', whilst it is still around at bargain prices.
Mr J survived Ofsted! His quote "the most stressful 7 days in 27 years teaching". He has just returned from a five mile run & I think we are going across to the village pub for tea!

5 comments:

Peg-woolinmysoup said...

I like the sweater and I think you will enjoy the Wool Peddler's Shawl. I knit mine in Berroco Ultra Alpaca in a gorgeous shade of red. It is not a large shawl, but it is toasty warm!
Happy Knitting and enjoy your pub meal!

florencemary said...

Oooh, what a lovely colour for your sweater, Mrs J! And thanks for the link for Knittingfool. I hadn't come across it before...

Yes, I like to associate knits with times/places, eg I'm knitting a jumper (very like yours, in fact) at the moment, which makes me think of the Cumbrian fells, as I bought the yarn when I was there.

Terri said...

The jumper looks good so far! I really like to knit in the round top down, as I often leave knitted pieces for months before I get round to sewing them together *roll*
Nothing like running a few miles to clear the head:-)

Dipsy Doodle said...

Oh, this sweater is going to look ever so beautiful - what an awesome colourway! The top-down-version is just so great as you can try it on while you're knitting - I seriously wonder why I'm not doing all my sweaters top down? Anyways, I'm looking forward to seeing more of it - and I strongly agree about the memory thing too! Yay for England - fingers crossed that they'll win!

Joanne said...

That sweater looks so cuddly! I hope you'll get many years of pleasure out of it. All of a sudden our weather has changed and I can imagine a warmer sweater again...and it's so exciting!