It's personal

I feel a little guilty that the, oh, five or six people who have been waiting for the pattern for the Chinese Lace pullover are *sigh* still waiting.  The lack of an external deadline (the new Knitty and Magknits should be up within the next week or so!) is probably a factor, but the main problem is that Chinese Lace really turned into something I wanted to make for myself, and it's not a one- or two-day affair, like a hat, and after one or two projects that just didn't fit quite right, I'm not willing to let the poor thing languish in my closet after spending hours working on it.

I think I have it at the proper length now, and I'm about halfway up my...fourth sleeve.  I do not have four arms, and in any case, none of the sleeves match; the first (rejected!) was all lace, the second (ditto!) had a belled lace cuff, then transitioned into stockinette, and the third is just a little too tight.  I loathe the feel of a snug sleeve, and usually think they don't look so hot either (and baggy sleeves don't do anyone any favors in the flattery department, but that's not the issue here).  When I calculated the sleeve circumference, I didn't take into account that it is mostly ribbing, which is really kind of hard to calculate gauge for--when measuring, do you leave it relaxed?  Stretch it?  How much?  I think it should probably depend on how the ribbing will behave when worn:  cotton is heavier and less resilient than wool, and ribbing around an elbow will be subject to much more movement than around a neck.  Anyway, I realized that if measured slightly stretched, the ribbing can have more ease than the same piece in stockinette, because it does tend to contract on the body, even if it was stretched while blocked.

Pictures next post--I swear.

Comments

[Cathy]

I love Chinese lace pattern, have been since I saw it in B. Walker's Treasury. I can't wait to see your perfected sweater.

[Valerie]

I think for looks alone the all lace sleeve lloks the best. It is a beautiful sweater, great job!

[Diane D.]

I came over here from Magknits. Your fingerless gloves are beautiful, and I can't wait to see how the Chinese Lace pullover turns out!

[Julia]

I was going to congratulate you on your wonderful Magknits pattern, and then I got totally distracted by the Chinese Lace pattern. It is fabulous. You can add my name to the queue of knitters anxiously awaiting its arrival.

[Emily]

I love that chinese lace pattern too-- lovely sweater. Cant wait to see how it turns out... I vote for the lace cuff instead of the all lace sleeve. My pointy elbows always wreck all lace sleeves.

[Emily]

Oh yeah, and congrats on the cool magKnits pattern! Thats really what I intended to write in the first place....

[Kristen]

Congratulations on having another lovely pattern published!

[Cathy]

I too was going to comment on the magknits pattern (very nice), but fell in love with the chinese lace. I'll be very interested to see the finished product.

Cathy

[Teri]

I'm another knitter eagerly waiting for your Chinese Lace pattern. I've been wondering if you use software for help in designing and/or modifying existing patterns. If so, what program do you use? Do you like it?