moonfrog –

So if it takes a minimum of two weeks to finish a couple socks, how long does it take to make a sweater?  Add to that the starts that have no finishes and it is really quite a long time! Regardless, I am working on a sweater, well, two sweaters, actually.  I’ll start with the non-finishers . . . .

First came a vest in Noro Kureyon. I think it just didn’t suit me and I was frustrated with the rowing-out (uneven tension between rows.)

So it was frogged.

Then I cast on for a vest with a big cable running down the middle, using some chunky-weight alpaca.  I worked on this one for quite a while, working on it when I went to Stitches West in February, but again got frustrated with the rowing-out and decided it would be too heavy anyway.

Frogged again.  I’ll try this pattern in a lighter yarn later.

I spent a little time after this practicing my tension. I tried switching back to English-style knitting for the purl rows.  I tried cinching up the stitches. I also made some small swatches to make sure whether it was the knits or the purls that were looser. The purl swatch came out bigger. I can’t say the practice improved my knitting — mostly provided awareness, but I cast on another sweater anyway.

Hey, Teach! has a back and the first front is just started. I’m sticking with this one so far. Too far to turn back now!

I’m using Queensland Kathmandu Aran in a tweedy beige.  The yarn is a blend of wool, silk, and cashmere, but feels like a very soft cotton. It is slightly thick and thin with some slubs.

The textured yarn will cover some rowing-out, but I am also purling English style (throwing) and knitting Continental (picking.) I did go back to Continental purling on the last few rows of the shoulder. It is just so much faster and easier for me! I didn’t notice any rowing-out, but the texture of the yarn could easily hide it. For the stockinette portion of the front that I started yesterday, I am back to throwing the purls. I’m glad the rows are shorter now, because I really don’t like throwing, but I may get used to it eventually.

It took some time to figure out how to “work in pattern” while decreasing and shaping. It’s coming along fairly well, though. It’s a new challenge for me.  Lest you think that I am powering along at top speed on this — it was started April 13th. That makes it going on two months now. One more month would make me a happy Finisher. Heck, finishing it any time this year would make me happy!

I’m also still working on my Nordic Sock Sweater that will be coming up on its one-year birthday the same day that Hey, Teach is two months old.  Hmmmm.  I think it’s time to work on speeding up the sweater knitting like I did with the sock knitting. Get in and get it done! Naw, that’s not my style. I’ll just keep plugging along at my own pace. I’m still in my comfort zone as far as works-in-progress, so there’s no need to push it. I really would like to start wearing one of these sweaters, though. I do think there’s hope.