Knititude

Sailboat Knitting: The Sequel

Last August during our annual sailboat trip I was working on Sorelle; this year, the as-yet-to-be-named top-down raglan pullover (Tilli Tomas Fil de la Mer) is still torturing me, although I have finally got the sleeve worked out, and hope to finish soon.   As you can see from the calm water and lack of sails (and the fact that I am letting $$ worth of yarn and hours of labor sit there untethered), there was very little wind the day I took this photo.

 I saw this gorgeous swift at the Nantucket Whaling Museum-- while at sea, whalers apparently spent their ample free time creating gifts for their womenfolk out of whalebone.  Note the carved fist that forms the base-- with wedding ring, no less!  (Was this a message to the wife to remember her marriage vows during her husband's long absences?!)

And below, a little fellow we met on the beach (no worries, he was returned safely to the water).

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.

Noon at the OK Corral

In between wasting truly staggering amounts of time futzing around on Ravelry, I've actually managed to partially write up the pattern for Sorelle...and to take a few modeled photos, which nicely demonstrate why it is generally not recommended to schedule photo shoots for high noon.  It's only owing to Photoshop that all of her details are not completely washed out.

The Four Sisters stitch pattern admittedly does not have as much of a starring role in this pattern as I had originally envisioned, with Bead Stitch instead filling in at neck and hem and cuffs; however, I think that more Four Sisters, on front or back or sides, would have been too much of a good thing.

I'd be interested on hearing opinions on the neckband:  too much lace?  Just enough?  Too wide?  (It seems to cover my bra straps with only very occasional adjustment.)  Try picturing this with just a simple narrow neckband as a point of comparison.

And her name is "Sorelle"*

E si chiama "Sorelle."

I apologize for the exposed bra strap, but then this is Sorelle ("sisters" in Italian) pre-neckband.  I wanted to see the fit after I had blocked the body and sleeves and then sewn the raglan seams. (Just ignore the roll of TP in the background, please!)

Scusatemi per l'esposta spallina del reggipetto, pero' ecco "Sorelle" prima il colletto.  Volevo vederla dopo ho bloccato il corpo e le maniche, ed ho cucito le cuciture "raglan."  (Trascurate la carta igienica nel sfondo, per piacere!) 

Here I've tried to show more of the Four Sisters detail on the sleeve. 

Qui ho provato farvedere piu del dettaglio "Quattro Sorelle" sulla manica.

*"Sorelle" has three syllables.