Time is just whizzing by! I had a great weekend, attending a 3-day natural dye workshop at Deep Color Studio--but I'll just leave all that for tomorrow's post because I made some other promises before the workshop that should be honored. (By way of explanation, this is the start of my busy work season, which will build in intensity until mid-October. I'm pretty stressed out these days, anticipating my move back to Seattle next month in the middle of it all. Plus, I have a long long history of writing letters in my head but never sending them. Why should my blog be any different?)
But we have the issue of sleeves and shoulder joins to divert us from such gnawing concerns! First, I was asked why on earth I would knit simple, plain sleeves up from the cuff rather than down from the armhole. Well, I had a few reasons for this construction on this child's sweater.
1. This little sweater was conceived as a teaching piece and I wanted to explore different ways to join sleeves to armholes.
2. Sometimes I like the texture that an I-cord or a 3-needle bind off to the outside gives.
2. I don't enjoy knitting down from the armhole in full-size sweaters. Although this makes a lovely smooth join, I don't like carting the entire sweater around and flopping it over while knitting. I also have difficulty keeping my tension in color pattern even toward the cuff. Of course, I could learn to do it, but life is short and I'm all about knitting pleasure. I like small pieces, I like flexibility. So unless there is a solid design reason to knit downwards, I don't. What is a solid design reason, you ask? Meg Swansen has designed a few sweaters that take advantage of the nearly equal stitch/row gauges in stranded knitting, so the sleeve appears to be a continuation of the yoke (her current Wool Gathering Cuff to Cuff sweater is a good example).
A related question was whether there was any reason you couldn't knit a pattern written for armhole down to a cuff up. Answer: I can't think of any! You have to be aware of how many stitches you are aiming for (but of course, you have to be aware of your stitch/row relationship when picking up in order to knit downwards).
So I'd like you readers to tell me your experiences, especially how you have learned to control your tension and handle the mass of fabric when knitting armhole downwards.
Today was a very special day for me:
I've got a lot to be grateful for.
congrats :-)
Posted by: vanessa | July 12, 2005 at 04:52 AM
When I knit sleeves down from the top, I've developed a rhythm of turning the sleeve that means I never have to move the sweater. Knit halfway around, then turn the sleeve one turn counterclockwise and knit the other half. Repeat. This means your sleeve never has more than one half twist in it, and you never have to move the body. Does that make sense? Knitting half way puts in a half twist; then you turn it so it has a half twist the other way, and knit the second half to take out that half twist.
Posted by: CarolineF | July 12, 2005 at 05:08 AM
Congratulations!!! That is awesome and I understand completely your gratitude. I have been lurking on your blog for awhile now - but it was neat this morning to see your medallion and realize we had other things besides knitting in common. I just celebrated 23 years in May. What a small world!
Posted by: Debbie D. | July 12, 2005 at 05:11 AM
Congratulations! That's a huge milestone.
Posted by: Cassie | July 12, 2005 at 06:15 AM
Hope your anniversary is a really excellent day.
I too write brilliant blog posts in my head all the time and never write them down. I have at least a week's worth of things I have planned right now-- but life gets in the way...
Posted by: Emily | July 12, 2005 at 10:41 AM
21? wow. that is a major milestone dear. Happy anniversary. I wish you 21 more.
I've been keeping up with reading, but barely commenting. Sorry about that. Glad to see your tutorials though. they keep my mind active.
Posted by: anj | July 12, 2005 at 11:51 AM
21 what? what medallion? Please enlighten.
Posted by: Mary B | July 12, 2005 at 12:12 PM
Congratulations!!!!
Posted by: Nathania | July 12, 2005 at 01:06 PM
Wow, 21. Good for you. Bravo!
Posted by: mamacate | July 12, 2005 at 06:50 PM
Congratulations! As someone who works with women who are struggling with the same issues - I have to say that's quite an inspiration.
Warmest wishes.
Posted by: Leslie - knitting therapist | July 12, 2005 at 09:25 PM
21! Woot!
Posted by: Rachael | July 13, 2005 at 04:19 AM
Hot damn! Congrats on your 21st! Hope you have a fantastic time at camp.
xxoo
Posted by: Lolly | July 13, 2005 at 04:45 PM
Hugs and congrats!!!
And, it's been so long since we've heard anything about any plans for any possible move back to the PNW . . . is it happening?
Posted by: Karen | July 13, 2005 at 07:48 PM
21. A beautiful sight, my dear. We have a couple of grateful holders of medallions in our family and I know what this means. Congratulations and on to 22. :o)
Posted by: Lisa S | July 19, 2005 at 09:11 PM