the blue blog archives: playing catch-up

I've been working hard on my latest t-shirt. First I had to catch up with my intermediate knitting students (whom I'm making the tee with) after my my mess-up last week. So I quickly knitted my way through the armholes, neck and shoulder shaping on the back.

I decided to try out Theresa's latest Knitty technique for neck shaping on the neck here to see if it would helpful in making a neater line for picking up stitches later, since that seems to be the thing people are having the most trouble with.

Sure looks nice. We'll see how it works when it comes time to add that contrast color on the neck.

After catching up, I then had to race ahead of my students so I could show them some of the techniques to come, like the intarsia. Woo hoo!

Any guesses as to what I'm putting on my tee? Would a close-up help? (Linda, no guessing now. I know you already know what it is!)

posted by alison at 10:01 am | in nbatty

Comments

Could it be an "a" for "alison"?

Posted by: Andrea at June 30, 2005 10:23 AM

I'm guessing a flower. Love the Gryffindor colors you've chosen!

Posted by: Ruth at June 30, 2005 10:24 AM

That does look nice, I ended up folding the edge over on the front to hide, but I'm always looking for ways to avoid stair steps. I think neck lines are so important to get looking neat, it can make or break the whole sweater.

Posted by: Cathy at June 30, 2005 10:28 AM

a flower!

Posted by: Kate at June 30, 2005 10:39 AM

I was going to say a flower, but up close it looks like something else is going on.. I have to second Andrea's guess that its an "a" for Alison.

Posted by: Diana at June 30, 2005 10:43 AM

I'm guessing initials! Love the color :)

Posted by: Dani at June 30, 2005 10:46 AM

The Red Sox red socks logo?? Looks like a couple of toes there.

Posted by: Kat at June 30, 2005 10:59 AM

looks like the bottom of the apple logo to me!

Posted by: vanessa at June 30, 2005 11:04 AM

I'm thinking it's the body of a sheep and you're going to duplicate stitch the legs?

I enjoy reading your blog and check it everyday. Thanks for the inspiration!

Posted by: Sandy at June 30, 2005 11:12 AM

lower case letter 'a'!

Posted by: Ellen at June 30, 2005 11:23 AM

I'm sure it's something lovely, but I can only see the profile of a butt. That says a lot about me ...

Posted by: The Feminist Mafia at June 30, 2005 11:44 AM

Casper the friendly ghost?

Posted by: Christie at June 30, 2005 11:45 AM

I'm going for the lower case "a" becasue of the burgandy stitches on the needle in the middle :-)

Posted by: Samantha at June 30, 2005 11:49 AM

That looks like an "a" to me. (I normally just read, not comment)

Posted by: Rebecca at June 30, 2005 12:02 PM

It looks sorta like a Hawaiian flower to me. Very pretty so far :)

Posted by: Vicki at June 30, 2005 12:13 PM

Two commas?

Posted by: Kathy at June 30, 2005 12:16 PM

(oops - meant quotation marks)

Posted by: Kathy at June 30, 2005 12:17 PM

You NEVER let your viewers down...always a new project or new technique to view. Now, if you could just:

1) move your class to Chicagoland, and

2) teach us how to be a speedy knitter w/even
stitches,

I'd be thrilled!!

Posted by: Leslie at June 30, 2005 12:19 PM

Lowercase letter A? A cartoon picture of Renee Zellweger?

Posted by: Illanna at June 30, 2005 12:28 PM

'a'

I've used that bind off technique on necks and curved armhole shaping for a while and have always been pleased with the results. Just make sure that stitch from the row below is not pulled super-tight or the curve will pull up rather than arc up easily.

Posted by: michelle at June 30, 2005 12:34 PM

I'd guess a flower. I love that color combo!

Posted by: Purly Whites at June 30, 2005 12:37 PM

looks like a lower-case 'a', but I'm just guessing based on other comments...either way, it looks very nice.

Posted by: michele at June 30, 2005 12:37 PM

The first thing I thought was something Harry POtter,a nd indeed, and "a" on your sweater would be quite Harry Potter.

Posted by: mascarasnake at June 30, 2005 12:51 PM

I'm curious about the yarn from your intrasia pattern being pulled to the front of your work.

Posted by: Teresa at June 30, 2005 1:29 PM

please please please make this NBAT long sleeve and then give us all the pattern... :-)

Posted by: D R E W at June 30, 2005 1:53 PM

... and please please - a kiddie sized NBaT, please...

Posted by: helene at June 30, 2005 2:12 PM

Hey Alison,

Are you finding people are using some creative substitutions for Calmer in the NBaT? I'd love to make one, but the price per ball of the Calmer is kissing my budget a bit right now - thought I'd check and see if you had folks making a sub?

Thanks!
Kristin

Posted by: Kristin at June 30, 2005 4:25 PM

Love these guesses! Some of them are really funny. :)

D R E W and Helene, you will get your wish!

Teresa, I'm just following the way I was taught to do intarsia. It's also the way described in the "intarsia bible", Intarsia: A Workshop for Hand and Machine Knitters. I think that having the ends hang in front makes it easier to get good tension on the first few stitches. Plus, all the ends in the back are live ends. That really helps me keep track of everything MUCH better.

Kristin, I put up some thoughts on yarn substitutions on my pattern page on my site. You might also check with Nona, who is running the knitalong, to see if she's heard of substitutes that others have really liked. Happy NBaT knitting!

Posted by: alison at June 30, 2005 7:24 PM

It's a tooth! I hope.

Posted by: Gina at June 30, 2005 7:28 PM

Hey Lady! A woman came to Webs today looking for a Calmer substitute...we had some Jo Sharp Desert Garden at a great price (2.60 a ball!) but it's aran weight so no dice...but get this--she's thinking of putting 'Zimmerman' onto her tee as a homage to the late great Elizabeth. She thought of putting just 'EZ' but feared people wouldn't get it, and that she'd have quite a few behind the back snickers.

Posted by: Cirilia at June 30, 2005 7:56 PM

Hey, mum's the word! ;)

Today I bought the black Calmer I'm going to use for the intarsia on my tee. Thanks to your demo on Tuesday, I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and get started on it! Intarsia, here I come....

Posted by: Linda at June 30, 2005 10:25 PM

lol - I'm guessing an "a" also...now people can say, "hey, baby...nice serifs..." ;-)

Posted by: Eklectika at July 1, 2005 12:22 AM

Hey Alison,
I like the neck shaping. And just to let you know, i am right now wearing my t-shirt and have gotten compliments from co-workers!! (Even with my imperfect neckline!)
shireen

Posted by: shireen at July 1, 2005 1:43 PM

I too vote for the Apple computer logo.

Posted by: mochacaremel at July 1, 2005 2:41 PM

It looks like an "a" to me, too.

Gosh, an Apple apple. There's an idea . . .

Posted by: Joan C at July 1, 2005 8:55 PM

is it a sock?

Posted by: minnie at July 6, 2005 11:49 PM