Knititude

Deflating the ol' ego

I hadn't heard from many knitters about errors in my patterns, and so I have to admit I was feeling rather smug about my proofreading and tech editing abilities.  As it turns out, what probably was happening was that many knitters purchased one of my patterns, and then after some period of time-- finding the right yarn, finishing up other projects, etc.-- actually started knitting from it!  Whatever the reason(s), in the last few months I've been notified of errata for the Dragon-Skin Wrap, Wyvern Wrap, Fern Fitted Shell, and now the Sorelle Pullover.

Ah well.  At least Interweave Knits has decided to add the Dragon-Skin Wrap to their patterns available for purchase (hope they fixed that chart before they republished it).

Errata for Sorelle Lace-Edged Pullover

If using Berroco Touché for this project, be aware that the sweater may grow in width after it is completed. The sample I knitted (over four years ago) for the pattern has increased in circumference by two inches, while another knitter reported to me that hers increased in circumference by 4-5 inches. In both cases swatches were made before knitting the sweater, and after wet blocking the gauge of the swatches appeared to be correct. 

For patterns purchased before 3/22/08: Under the heading "Raglan Decreases" for sleeves, the directions for the first RS row state, "...k to X* sts before end...," when they should state "...work to X sts before end," because the Four Sisters stitch pattern continues up to the top of the sleeve. 

Patterns purchased after 3/22/08 have been corrected.

*X = 4 or 5 sts depending on size worked and place in pattern.

Hiding in plain sight

When I started plotting Etrusca, I thought that I would hide the waist shaping decreases in the sections between two of the slip stitch columns, the ones closest to the sides, so that the adjacent slip stitch lines would curve in and then out at the waist.  But I didn't like the way this looked, with some lines curving in and others staying straight, so what I ended up doing was staggering the decreases, one in each garter stitch section (between the slip stitch lines), starting at the sides and moving toward the center, and then staggering the increases in the opposite direction, from the center out.

The resulting curves in the slip stitch lines are very subtle (but nice, I think), but I find it slightly problematic that the decreases and increases are not invisible-- not completely.  They show up in the photo as slight aberrations in the garter ridges.  To a bothersome degree?  Is it better to have the decreases (as in stockinette stitch) be plainly visible, rather than trying and failing to hide them completely?  I can't answer that question for all knitters...which is why I'm also including directions in the pattern for doing all decreases and increases in the side garter sections only. 

Nice day for a photo shoot

(More photos and pattern coming soon!)

A good omen indeed*

Well, I never again want to come this close to running out of yarn; as it was, I unraveled my gauge swatch, fished one foot-long strand out of the trash, re-sewed both side seams using different yarn so I could salvage those pieces-- and here is what remained (at left).  But it was worth it:  this golden yarn, Karabella Empire Silk, has been burning a hole in the pocket of my stash for months.  I must have bought it in late 2005 or early 2006, because I went looking for it after seeing Gabrielle Hamill's short sleeved top, worked in the same color, in the Spring/Summer 2005 issue of Vogue Knitting.  I could only find 5 skeins in this colorway--not quite enough for Ms. Hamill's pattern (of which photos can be found on Ravelry, but none in the color originally shown in the magazine).

I thought the combination of textures in the swatches I made for this top would be wonderful with this yarn; texture, sheen and color together reminded me of ancient gold jewelry, especially Etruscan pieces made with gold granulation, a technique in which tiny gold beads are fused to a gold surface.  Still, I was a little torn once I started, because the smooth surface of lots of stockinette really would have played up the sheen of the silk.  Plus, the garter stitch just seemed to gobble yardage; after getting halfway up the front, I gave up on the idea of a boat neck:  this top wanted to have a scooped neckline, front and back!  And sleeves?  Even tiny cap sleeves?  Forget it.

I persevered-- I just really liked the slip stitch columns against the garter, and I thought the slipped stitches would tie in perfectly with a simple narrow I-cord edge around the armholes and neck.  I picture wearing this top on a sultry summer evening, with a flowing skirt, or with white jeans...and gold jewelry, of course.  I think I'll name it "Etrusca," after the pre-Roman civilization that inspired it.

*My song didn't let me down.

Errata for Fern Fitted Shell

Optional short row bust shaping:  the directions instruct you to work two rows to pick up all wraps, which would leave a couple of holes on either side of the shaped area.  Instead, after wrapping 4 sts on each side (8 rows), work 1 rnd (you should be on the RS), picking up all wraps and knitting them tog with wrapped sts.  Rep entire short row section once for D cup and twice for DD cup.  Because you add a rnd for each set of short rows worked (when you pick up the wrapped sts), subtract 1 (2, 3) rnds for C (D, DD) cup from # of rnds in next section (after completion of short rows and before dividing for front and back).  

Patterns purchased after January 5th, 2010 include this correction as well as corrections below.  Patterns after March 11th, 2008 but before 1/5/10 include only the corrections listed below.

The first row of armhole shaping instructions is actually put under the heading "FRONT". The first sentence after "FRONT" should read "...k to 5 (NOT 3) sts before right side marker, ssk, SSE". Under "Armhole shaping" (subheading of "FRONT"), the number of times to repeat the two armhole shaping rows is INCORRECT for some sizes: please substitute the following: Rep these 2 rows 0 (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6) times. Same paragraph: number of rows to work even after armhole shaping is incorrect for some sizes: should be 8 (10, 8, 8, 6, 6, 4) rows.

Under BACK: After joining yarn to work RS, begin armhole shaping to correspond to Front immediately; do not knit one row first.

If you purchased this pattern before any or all of the above corrections were made, and would like a corrected copy, please email me at [email protected].

Superstitious, anyone?

I heard my song today!  (Meaning the song mentioned here.) 

Superstizioso?  Ho sentito la mia canzone-- la canzone cio che parlo qui.

On ITALIAN radio!  RAI/Radio Due, to be precise.  Not only would it be played (I'm guessing) extremely rarely on Italian radio, but I only listen to the radio consistently while I'm in the car.  This must be an especially powerful positive omen!  I know this is weird, but as soon as I heard the opening bars, a drab, dreary day seemed brighter.

Sulla radio italiana!  RAI/Radio Due, di essere preciso.  Non solo sarebbe suonata (sto indovinando) molto raramente sulla radio italiana, ma anche di solito ascolto la radio solamente quando sono in macchina.  Questo deve essere un buon augurio molto forte!  So che questo e' strano, ma appena che ascoltavo le sbarrette prime, un giorno tetro sembrava piu lucido.   

Garter go!

Garter stitch isn't normally my favorite, its intriguing characteristics* notwithstanding.  But I also prefer knitting to purling, so I started to think about designing a tank top using garter stitch, worked in pieces to take advantage of that nice Knit-Every-Row quality. 

What about garter stitch as a background to set off other stitches?  Nothing too complicated, or it might mess with the ease and speed of Knit-Every-Row.  Perhaps...a border of some coordinating stitch pattern, and then columns of slipped stitches to play off the garter's texture.

I came up with a few possibilities.  I swatched.  I want to use a discontinued yarn for this project (Karabella Empire Silk in an incredibly rich gold, shown in the lower left corner of the 2nd photo), so I came up with the idea of writing up the pattern for different gauges--and so I swatched a few other yarns just for gauge.  Clockwise from upper right:  Tilli Tomas Fil de la Mer, Berroco Touche', Classic Elite Premiere, the Empire Silk, and RYC Cashsoft DK.

*It doesn't curl.  It's reversible.  It can be worked with knit stitches only.  The row gauge is twice the stitch gauge, making things like mitered constructions and picking up stitches along the side edges quite simple.

Correction for Dragon-Skin Wrap

I notified Interweave Knits back in late January that there was an error in one of the charts for the Dragon-Skin Wrap for babies and toddlers, but the correction has not yet appeared on their corrections page.  So, if  you are making the smallest size (22" chest circumference) of the wrap, from the IK Holiday 2007 issue, in the "Left-Front Side Edge" chart, all "ML"s should be "MR"s.

Enlightenment where you least expect it.

Chiarimento dove si non lo aspetta.

I don't really enjoy going to the gym, but I do it anyway.  Not only for the obvious reasons, but because here in Italy, it's educational.  I can practice my Italian with my fellow exercisers and watch the very best of American television, dubbed and rebroadcast on Italian TV.  Unfortunately I can't listen to the dubbed dialogue because the audio is never loud enough, but at least I've become reacquainted with The Fall Guy, Dharma & Greg, the Happy Days gang, Hope & Faith, Jon & Ponch from CHiPs....

Veramente non mi piace andare alla palestra, pero' lo faccio.  Non solamente per le ragioni evidente, ma anche perche' qui in Italia, e' educativo.   Posso esercitare il mio italiano con i miei compagni di esercizio e guardare il proprio meglio  di televisione americana, doppiato e trasmesso ancora sulla TV italiana.  Purtroppo non posso ascoltare  il dialogo doppiato perche' l'audio non e' mai abbastanza forte, ma al minimo mi sono riconosciuto di The Fall Guy, Dharma & Greg, il gruppo di Happy Days, Hope & Faith, Jon & Ponch di ChiPs....

Well.  Stream-of-consciousness:  "Looks like the Happy Days gang has relocated en masse to the beach...I didn't know Fonzie could waterski!  He's not very good at it, though, and the leather jacket looks ridiculous with those baby blue...what are those, boxer shorts?!  Is that a...a shark?!  What kind of f&%#ing nonsense is that?!"  And then I realized I was watching the famous Jump the Shark episode!

Allora.  Corrente di coscienza:  "Mi sembra che il gruppo di Happy Days si abbia trasferito intero sulla spiaggia...non sapevo che Fonzie potrebbe praticare lo sci nautico!  Non e' molto bravo, pero', e la giacca di cuoio mi pare ridicolo con quella azzurra...che cos'e, biancheria intima?!  E quello, e' un...un squalo?!  Che cavolo e' questa sciocchezza?!"  E poi mi sono accorto che stavo guardando l'episodio famoso Jump the Shark!