Such a shame! It looks so pretty! There's no leaving it in and continuing without it?

I wasn't sure about the sparkles either back in the days when I was considering the Cardi Raye and bought the yarn for it. I decided to make it sans sparkle - that phildar shiny is cute though isn't it? Very similar to Rowan lurex shimmer although in prettier colours. I love that shade of Plaisance you chose..

i think the sparkles were what turned leigh off that other phildar sweater... or not the sparkles themselves but the knitting with that yarn...

No "sparkle shit" for you??? *teehee* Oh, man, I'm guessing I missed a bunch o laugh's last night!

Uh, me too, me too! I started a stripy Phildar sweater that had Sunset knitted into a few rows and it threw my gauge way off. I ended up with a sleeve that was 3 inches too long. I've seen the sweater knitted without the sparkles and I think I'm going to do the same.

Tease! You know how I love all things sparkly -- and as I began to read your entry I thought that perhaps you were coming around. Oh well, better luck next time. (P.S. - We're back!)

Good decision on the sparkle crap. No need to be frustrated while making such a pretty Cardi. I had no idea that sweater had sparkle stuff in it at all, it is so fun already I am sure it doesn't need it.

I thought the exact same thing when I started my Cardi Raye. "I don't like the way this looks." "I hate knitting with this yarn." "I'm not a girly, sparkle-y kind of girl." But I kept going, and I'm glad I did. The sparkle rows are much smaller than the rest and it's a nice little addition. I did try to hold the Sunset to the back on most of the stitches though, so the sparkle would only come up sometimes. That way it is less all-over sparkle-y and more random flashy.

So maybe work this one piece before deciding to rip? Good luck and if you really hate it, just disregard everything I just said and rip away. ;)

Maybe you need to give this one another go,and a little more time,before you decide to drop the glitter.It just might grow on you - there's a tiny little bit of glitz love in all of us ! ;-]

Oh Alison...So sorry you have to rip it out, but I understand about sparkles. They aren't really my thing either. I am excited to hear you are going to try the crochet flower pattern. Give me a holler if you need help...Keep up the Spring Flingin'

You're terrible Alison! These stripes so are perfect! I can't believe it's only a picture thing...
I guess you'll come up with something as great. But can you tell me the combo so that I can use it? Love it...

I've got my cardi-raye completed up to beginning the purplish stripes and am loving the sparkles. Yes, my gauge is a bit off, but I think a good steam will take care of that. I'll try to get a picture up on my blog to share with ya'll.

Hey Alison--thanks for your nice comment. The sparkly stuff has definitely changed my gauge for the parts that use it, so that the stripes avec sparkle are sort of raised in the fabric. I'm hoping that once I block the back, I'll see a difference in that at least. I have to say that almost every time I've switched colors so far (except between the turq and blue), I've looked askance at it and wondered if I should go on or go back . . . it's going to be interesting to see how it turns out in person.

That sparkle shit is scratchy, scratchy, scratchy to knit on its own, even when doubled. How about using it as a carry-along? I love how it looks like that.

P.S. If you decide to keep the sparkly stuff, I wouldn't steam it...I'd wet block. (And it holds up really well in the wash, by the way!)

Thanks for your thoughts on the sparkles, everyone. I really don't like them in person, especially at night in indoor lighting (when I do most of my knitting). So they're outta here! The sparkle yarn is being carried along with a mercerised cotton and it takes the softness of the cotton away and makes that part of the sweater stiff and scratchy. I do like the effect, but would prefer that it were done with a variegated cotton (like the Plaisance) rather than this other type of yarn.

So, any ideas what I can do with the sparkle yarn if I don't use it for this sweater? What sort of project could I like it in? I love the colors and wouldn't mind working with it, if the result was more to my liking. Hmmm....

I just finished a sparkly bag for a friend and she thought it was beautiful. If you like the color, but not the idea of being coated in it, then maybe a "fun" accessory is just the ticket.

(I just stopped by, and think the blog is lovely, and also--gorgeous stripes, sparkle or no.)