the blue blog archives: ribby update

One sleeve down. Amazing the progress you can make when you give yourself permission to do something you really want to do. Doesn't it look narrow?! That ribbing is certainly doin' it's thang. But I'm not worried, 'cause I washed the part that I had already knit (the lower quarter of the sleeve) and the yarn softened up a lot, loosening the rib action as well. You can see that that lower section appears as wide as the middle, which actually has about 10 more stitches. I was worried at first that the sleeve might be tight, but the part that was washed drapes very nicely around my wrist and I expect that the whole cardigan will end up being very comfy.

I still have no idea if the yarn is going to last for the whole cardigan. The sleeve (up to the armhole where the yoke will begin) has taken just a smidge less than two skeins. Of thirteen. So that will be three skeins for each sleeve, but it's a raglan so I should need less on the body pieces above the yoke than usual. Right?

Ribby reckoning:
completed: one sleeve (to armhole begin)
skeins used: 1 9/10
skeins remaining: 11 1/10

posted by alison at 7:59 am | in ribby cardie

Comments

My bet is that you will be OK. Be careful on making the body too big....my Ribby was knit to a smaller gauge than the pattern, I didn't change the number of stitches, and it came out perfect. You are a slender person, and the ribbed part of the body pieces can really stretch out....

Posted by: claudia at July 18, 2003 7:08 AM

Unbelievable!! :)

Posted by: carolyn at July 18, 2003 8:16 AM

The ribbie cardi looks great... I have been itching to do this sweater for a while and I like seeing your progress. However, I feel for you fretting about the yarn, I think I do this with every sweater I make...although if I have a pattern in mind when i buy the yarn I usually buy 3 skeins extra... I have definitely learned my lesson :) I think you will be fine though, above the yoke goes very quickly for this type of sweater and doesn't use much yarn.

Posted by: gwen at July 18, 2003 9:56 AM

Wow! You work so quickly. That's neat-o. I know it's hard, but try not to worry about your yarn running out. At least, not enough so that it cuts into the enjoyment of this ribbie cardi. In any event, it will look great (all your projects do!) so keep that in mind while you knit away :-)

Posted by: Becky at July 19, 2003 2:19 AM

Alison: what kind of yarn are you using for the Ribby Cardi? If you DO end up running out, can you get more? If not, can you use another color somewhere in the project? Knowing the answers to this now will make you feel better, I bet! :)

Posted by: Jessica at July 19, 2003 8:10 AM

you could get a niddy noddy to unwind and measure off approx. how long 1 skein is...

Posted by: Leigh at July 19, 2003 9:38 AM

Hey Tank Girl ~ Add me in to the ChicKami knitalong. Liv and I *need* some cami's. You'll recognize the colors. What can I say? You're so darn inspirational. :)

Posted by: Kerstin at July 19, 2003 10:05 AM

I'm following your progress with interest...I've been thinking the cardie might be too slim-fitting for me to try, but as you are saying it loosens up with washing...

It seems to me you'll do okay with the remaining number of skeins (6 after the 2 sleeves, right?)...3 for the front, 3 for the back...or have you finished the back already?) (Blushing in case I missed that entry somewhere...

Posted by: Marg at July 19, 2003 2:08 PM

This is my very first garment I’m going to knit. So some of this stuff I am saying probably sounds pretty silly to you but I have to ask anyway and tell you about it. Without Alison’s help I would never have started in the first place I would have had to admire other peoples work and say I wish I could... I whish I could...
I’m about 3 in into my ChicKami Tank I use All season cotton. I changed to No 8 ndl’s 4stitches to the inch I cast on 170 stitches for 42inch seize. No 7 needles was a little to stiff for me. I hope that is OK.
Yesterday my sweet husband took me to the yarn shop that is about 40 miles away from our house. I went crazy buying yarn. On the way out my husband glanced at the two big bags I carried out asking me in unbelief is this all you need for knitting a little tank top. I told him yes I need all of this because if I change my mind about the color I’m going to use, I need all of this He just shook his head and mumbled something in his beard I didn’t understood. After a (long) while he said as long you have fun doing it. Isn’t he just a sweetheart.
Alison thanks again having lots of fun
Marga

Posted by: Marga at July 19, 2003 3:52 PM

Claudia, thanks for the tip. I'm just happy that it seemed to block out into something that looks like an adult sized garment! I'm not too worried that it'll be too big (yet). And Gwen, I'm happy to hear that you also think that above the yoke shouldn't take too much more. I'll be keeping the ribby reckoning going though. I love the suspense! You haven't missed anything, Marg, I've just done the one sleeve so far. I'm trying to pace myself so as to not get too far ahead of the other knit-alongers who are still focused on other projects.

Jessica, the yarn is old and I can't get anymore. Yardage is not given on the ball bands. I have however worked out some Plan B's for adding another color somewhere above the yoke if necessary (Bonne Marie's ribby pullover had a different color for the whole yoke!).

Thanks for your nice post, Marga. I'm so glad that I can help you out with your first garment! Your husband does sound like a sweetie. Yeah for all those significant others out there who support us in our knitting! I hope you enjoy your yarn and he enjoys the smile on your face when you finish your top. :)

Posted by: alison at July 19, 2003 5:43 PM

Oh, Leigh, I didn't realize that I could use a niddy noddy to measure the yarn. What exactly is a niddy noddy anyway? I love gadgets. Should I have one of these??

Posted by: alison at July 19, 2003 5:45 PM