the blue blog archives: even more issues

Issue Five: I can't knit lace. Well, I probably could, but I wouldn't ever wear it. I keep thinking that I'd like to try something lacy (like this top from Vintage Knits) and then when it comes time to knit it, I wimp out. It's the idea of having to coordinate and wear something underneath that seems so weird. If I'm already wearing something else, what's the point of this other thing?? I'm just not a naked girl - I'd like my garments to make me feel dressed.

I came to this realization when swatching up some cool R2 paper yarn that Kerrie sent me. I love the feel of the yarn, but it knits up with large, loose stitches and these designs are pretty gosh darn naked. Any ideas what a non-naked girl can do with R2?

Issue Six: Here's a good one for a change. I'll admit it - I like to seam sweaters. No, I love to seam sweaters! I just can't get enough of those neat, even seams coming together. I've even done finishing work for other Knitsmiths (remember?). And I really do enjoy weaving in ends, as long as I can weave them into the seams. With maggie, ava and the phildar baby sweater all at the "finish" line, I realize that I'm really excited about it. Seaming - yay!

posted by alison at 8:50 am | in just blogging 04 , r2t2

Comments

Here here!!! I second these motions! Well maybe I'm not as crazy about seaming but I do enjoy it. What is the point of knitting any garment that it fitted and then trying to figure out what to put under it? The solution: Lacy Cardi.

Posted by: Amy at July 17, 2004 9:12 AM

Hey, can you seam up my sweater for me? I've put it off now for about 6 months. Sad, huh?

Posted by: Eilene at July 17, 2004 9:58 AM

I aspire toward your seaming attitude. My first sweater ever was a fair isle with drop shoulder sleeves, and the sleeve seams were so bulky that I didn't enjoy wearing it. I retreated from seaming, and decided that I would only make seamless sweaters. Many of the Knitsmiths don't appear to be as determined to dodge seaming (and in particular I suspected you enjoyed it), and so I have been working on my attitude. Evidence: the Silk Turino/Cotton Twist Colors thing I'm making for my sister. Here I am, on the brink of seaming . Should I take the plunge or clean the house?

Posted by: Suzanne at July 17, 2004 11:01 AM

I know whatcha mean. I'm not a skin flaunter myself, and the R2 book quite shocked me!
I love lace though, so my solution is a lacey cardi or a shawl. Maybe you could design a cardigan for your paper yarn?
I think you need a new hobby- spinning!

Posted by: Sarah Elizabeth at July 17, 2004 11:06 AM

How about a cool summer fall poncho. LAcy but not revealing. Or maybe the coolest shawl I have seen in awhile. Pattern 1000 by knit one crochet too. Calls for 300 yards for the largest. BTW, love that your boys got Thomas the Tank stuff for Bday. My ds loves thomas & has just about every piece thats been made.

Melissa

Posted by: Melissa at July 17, 2004 11:30 AM

I don't like weaving in ends, but I do enjoy seaming. It's neat to see a sweater come together. The designs from the R2 book are a bit odd- some of those tops look like they were attacked by wild dogs!

Cat

Posted by: Cat at July 17, 2004 12:13 PM

I like seaming too. And grafting toes on socks; I love to do that. Weird, because when I used to sew, I hated the finishing part...hems, buttons, etc.

Posted by: Lorette at July 17, 2004 12:47 PM

Umm...just a little crazy ;)!

Posted by: sharlyn at July 17, 2004 1:19 PM

No, I don't think you're crazy. Unless you start to knit a strait jacket. ;)

Posted by: Kerstin at July 17, 2004 3:25 PM

I'm with you on Issue 5. As far as seaming goes--dreaded it until I tried mattress rather than whipping the edges together and now its rather fun; kind of like crocheting seams or grafting. Do you like to do puzzles too?

Posted by: Melissa G at July 17, 2004 4:27 PM

Nah, we don't think you're crazy...

...much.:-D

I'm a little worried about the lace pullover too (not that I'll ever be done knitting it). I'm hoping a neutral-colored bra will be good enough, because I'm not about to put some ugly camisole under my pretty lacy sweater!

Posted by: Alexandra at July 17, 2004 5:17 PM

Nope, unlike everyone else, I think you are nuts. ;-) Just kidding, but I have to admit I am one of those who don't enjoy seaming. But now when I do it I will think, "Alison loves it, so can I!"

Posted by: Jenny at July 17, 2004 6:04 PM

You're not crazy - different, but not crazy! :-)

Posted by: melissa at July 17, 2004 6:04 PM

Ummmmm, wow, that R2 site is scary. I LOVE knitting lace! It is so much fun. I'm with you on the naked thing though. The all over lace tops can be pretty, but I've seen enough demi cup bras in knitting magazines to last me for a very long time. Honestly, what is UP with that?
Sweaters can look really nice with lace sleeves. I'm currently working on a lace scarf (my first scarf ever) that started out as a swatch for a shawl, and I just didn't want to stop. (Shh, don't tell the blog, they don't know yet)
As far as seaming goes, I enjoy it also. I'm not all that great at it yet, but I enjoy it. It is fun seeing them come together.

Posted by: LauraA at July 17, 2004 7:08 PM

Suzanne, I give you permission to put off the seaming and clean house. We can seam together at Knitsmiths! :)

Lorette, my knits do still hit a wall on the real finishing details (embroidery, buttons, etc.). I seam em up and then, when it gets real down and dirty sewing, I move on.

Kerstin, have you seen some of those R2 designs - not too far from a straight jacket!

Yes, Melissa, mattress stitch changed my life. ;0)

Alexandra, I know just what you mean. It's all bras and nipples in those magazines. And I'm just not up for buying coordinating camisoles for everything I knit! Plus if I've only got a camisole on, then it must be hot, so why do I need a lacy sweater??

Laura, I love the idea of a sweater with lacy sleeves. I have seen a couple of those in the mags and really liked them. A great compromise!

Posted by: alison at July 17, 2004 10:16 PM

I'm with you Alison, I really enjoy the sweater finishing altho it still leaves me with some feelings of trepidation as I begin! I love watching the finished product come together while I know that the new project is waiting eagerly in the wings (call ME crazy, I'm a 2 project girl, one pair of socks for grad school knitting and a bigger project that stays home)

Ok now for a few more *issues* for you....

Do you add a selvage stitch for making seaming easier? and...

Blocking? Before seaming, after seaming?

Inquiring minds want to know oh great knitting guru :)

Thanx for all you share Alison, your knitting is lovely and inpirational!

Posted by: Debi at July 18, 2004 12:48 AM

Ooh! Ooh! I second the motion for a discussion on adding selvages to the sides of sweaters!

Posted by: LauraA at July 18, 2004 6:17 PM

Okay, selvedges. I love mattress stitch, so I tend to make all my edges be in stockinette. Usually I'm knitting stockinette, but some patterns that have ribbing on the bottom sometimes call for purls for the first or last stitch. I just add a stitch so I can seam two knit stitches together. I also like to do my decreases one or two stitches in from the side so that they don't disrupt the nice line of v's to use for seaming.

I don't do a lot of blocking before seaming, because I'm too anxious to get to the seaming and try the thing on! I do block pieces that are very curly, have a pattern, or are a little uneven in places. I don't block every garment after seaming either - only if it doesn't look like it will drape or hang right. For example, I blocked Maggie, because she was a little small. I blocked out the ribbing and blocked the rest of the body a smidge bigger. It's a perfect fit now! (Caveat: Just like I'm a lazy swatcher, I am a pretty lazy blocker, so again, this is just me. I'm no role model here.)

Posted by: alison at July 18, 2004 9:50 PM