the blue blog archives: oh, I'm definitely making sleeves

For one, I'm usually chilly and don't wear tanks unless it's really hot, and then I don't want to wear my knitted tanks and sweat in them. Then there's the whole I spend my entire summer on the playground issue, and this fabulous silk/merino tank would be a little out of place on the playground. And lastly, I can much more easily fathom a $160 sweater than a $80 tank. Plus, what would I do with the other four balls?? Nope, it's getting sleeves and it's going to be fabulous!

But I do have another t-shirt sweater planned with some Debbie Bliss cotton angora I have in the stash. I have even less of that yarn than I did of the synchronicity, so I think I'll do 3/4 length sleeves. Maybe I'll work my way down to just a tank....

posted by alison at 8:04 am | in synchronicity

Comments

Oooh, its all drawing close now. One sleeve done and presumably the other on the needles..

Posted by: kerrie at April 6, 2006 8:19 AM

Well, there is that glisten cardi to finish and I promised myself I'd alternate working on the two, so I'm not quite there yet. Soon. Soon.

Posted by: alison at April 6, 2006 8:21 AM

You're absolutely right. It's going to be fabulous!!

Posted by: Samantha at April 6, 2006 8:33 AM

Oh, I'm so with you. While I do see the appeal, every so often, of a pretty knitted camisole, the knitted tank top is not my cup of tea. 3/4 length sleeves are the perfect summer compromise!

Posted by: Ashley at April 6, 2006 9:02 AM

I'm so glad you say that about the $80 tank vs. $160 sweater! I've been pondering that point all week, trying to decide if I should knit something for summer that seems expensive for what it would be, or knit something that I won't be able to wear until next fall. Neither seems a satisfactory option! At least I know I'm not the only one who thinks that way. =)

Posted by: Adrienne at April 6, 2006 9:16 AM

gorgeous!

Posted by: jess at April 6, 2006 9:17 AM

I have a formula for how I actually calculate (er, rationalize) the price of a garment that I knit. I take the total cost of the yarn and divide by 2. Half of that money goes into the "hobby maintenance" category, and half into wardrobe. I figure that everybody has a hobby, and hobbies cost money. A day at the golf course, scrapbooking supplies, whatever...all that costs money. So if I spent $80 on yarn for a sweater, I figure about $40 of that was hobby maintenance, and wow! $40 for the sweater! That's not so indulgent, is it? BTW, the color of this project has me mesmerized!

Posted by: Liz K. at April 6, 2006 9:41 AM

I love that color - it will be fabulous. :)

Posted by: Chris at April 6, 2006 9:54 AM

I love tanks but none of the patterns really do it for me... so I'm knitting an essential stripe (knit and tonic) in the short sleeve version, it's basically a nice form fitting t-shirt v-neck. I'm doing it in Rowan Calmer. Maybe one day I'll find a tank I can knit that looks good and fits nice.

Posted by: pixie at April 6, 2006 10:15 AM

It's a good move, the fabric will surely feel luscious against your skin when the weather starts to get chilly again. I should warn you, I had a bad, bad experience knitting with cotton angora....

Posted by: Jenna at April 6, 2006 11:06 AM

I can't wait to see it with sleeves--I'm sure it will look great. Hey, all of us urging you to keep it as a tank is just a testament to how fabu it looks!!

Posted by: Beverly at April 6, 2006 11:11 AM

I've been a lurker on your blog for a while -- love it -- and just have to de-lurk for a second to warn you about the cotton angora. It gets fuzzy. REALLY fuzzy -- it gets pilly and fluffy like nobody's business, and I still have lots of the fluffies plastered to the seat of my car from the couple of times I wore it while driving. Use it with caution.

Posted by: Sarah at April 6, 2006 12:02 PM

I hope we get to see the finished "you can't make me make it into a tank no matter what" sweater. I love the color.
Ok, since you rocked at helping me with my sock heel problem. By the way,I love that Dream Sock pattern. I want to know if you have a favorite tank pattern? I've been thinking about making one for a while, but haven't found a wholesome looking one yet. I think linen would be a good fiber to use. What do you think? Thanks.

Posted by: wendy at April 6, 2006 12:20 PM

OMG, Liz K is a GENIUS.

Plus, I am wearing a short-sleeved sweater (http://www.flickr.com/photos/crankyisgood/13731224/in/set-528303/) right now and my hands are chilly.

Posted by: Daphne at April 6, 2006 1:32 PM

That yarn looks fabulous - make long sleeves so you can revel in as much of it as possible. I have trouble wearing anything knitted in the summer, too, but it gets plenty warm down here in NC. We're much more about the t-shirts and shorts at the playground.

Posted by: Jenny at April 7, 2006 8:06 PM