the blue blog archives: unfinished business

I've picked up the baby geek sweater again finally! The intended recipient is approaching six months now and since he's a big boy, I've got to get this sweater done now!

I'm finally ready to start the final piece - that crazy swirly front. It starts from the center with little triangles in each color and then increasingly larger triangles picked up and knitted off of those.

The tiny center pieces, all the picking up stitches and weaving in ends, uh, not fun. But the larger it gets, the better it's going. I can do it! And I'm hoping that baby sweater class at the store will help me keep me motivated. If only wee one will wait until I finish this little knitting commitment!

posted by alison at 11:09 am | in baby geek

Comments

That's such an interesting pattern! I wouldn't have nociced that the pattern was made with little triangles from the picture. It's such a simple idea, yet it sounds like such a pain to knit... Keep up the great work!

Posted by: C at February 9, 2007 11:28 AM

The further you go, the larger the pieces, the fewer ends. Take care!

Posted by: Sonya at February 9, 2007 11:40 AM

Very clever construction! I've been doing a fair bit of intarsia myself lately, and the ends are indeed a pain. But really, how much time does it take to weave them all in? I try to keep in mind that the commitment is not so great in the grand scheme of things.

Posted by: Ruth at February 9, 2007 11:45 AM

I was looking at that pattern the other day. Since I have never done intarsia before do you think it would be an ok first project to try? I consider myself an intermediate knitter :o)

Posted by: Stacey at February 9, 2007 12:05 PM

That does look tricky, but fun once it's done!

Posted by: Jennifer at February 9, 2007 12:09 PM

Ruth and Stacey, it's not actually intarsia. It's really just like doing a log cabin blanket - you cast on in one color and work the triangle (or rectangle in a log cabin blanket) in garter stitch, and bind off. Then you pick up stitches along one edge in another color, knit next triangle in garter stitch, bind off, etc. There's never more than one color at a time.

Posted by: alison at February 9, 2007 12:24 PM

I always like to do a few ends at a time. Usually when i've been knitting too long and my fingers are getting sore i stop and do ends for a while before putting it down.

Posted by: Sarah at February 9, 2007 1:24 PM

That sweater is adorable! I just love Teva Durham's designs -- they're so clever.

Posted by: Sarah at February 9, 2007 1:41 PM

I love this pattern and have had it on my list for a while now. It is great to watch someone knit it up. Teva Durham is so creative.

Posted by: Tanya at February 9, 2007 3:20 PM

I hope you can finish in time!! I love that sweater... Oh so cute

Posted by: Allie at February 9, 2007 4:57 PM

Hey - that's a pretty cool trick. It's looks complicated, but worthwhile. I can hardly wait to see the finished product.

Posted by: Jennifer at February 9, 2007 5:17 PM

That really is an impressive piece of knitting engineering, isn't it? I can't wait to see it done. I'm sure the wee one will cooperate! Hope the Braxton-Hicks have calmed down.

Posted by: Lynn at February 9, 2007 9:54 PM

Wow - look at how tidy your work is. The shaping is so clear. I am definitely not good enough at picking up stitches to make such a thing - my Log Cabin bathmat was crooked for goodness sake!
Very impressive.

Posted by: Miss Scarlett at February 10, 2007 1:49 AM

FAB colors!!! love em. are you going to make the hat so big and flopy also?

Posted by: Orli at February 10, 2007 2:21 AM

Looks Great! You can do it!

Posted by: carrie at February 10, 2007 8:31 AM

I love the colours. What yarn are you using?

Posted by: Amelia at February 10, 2007 8:33 AM

Alison, you always have such interesting knit projects going! Thanks for explaining how the spiral works in the sweater-I love tricky knits!
Hope you're feeling well!

Posted by: Katie O at February 10, 2007 2:45 PM

Holy Cow! I love that swirl on the front of the sweater!

Posted by: Gina B. at February 10, 2007 9:49 PM

Alison, I knitted that sweater for my daughter in pinks! It is one of her favorites. I had some issues with the sizing. You can check it out on the Nov. 7 post on my blog where I discussed my modifications. It is a great sweater nonetheless and she has almost worn it out!

Posted by: susan b anderson at February 11, 2007 7:38 AM

Congratulations on having your book published!!! Wow! So, how will lys get access to it? Will it be distributed via the usual knitting book distributors? Will you do knit shop book signings? So exciting!

Posted by: Mariarose at February 11, 2007 1:55 PM

Hi Alison! I love your blog! And I love that knitting is such a part of your family. I know the blanket for S will be wonderful. Congratuations on your book too! Very exciting! I can't wait to get it and start on something as I'm a huge HP fan. I have never done a knit a long but I want to make your HP kal the first. And an early congratulations of the birth of your daughter. I too have 2 boys(one is 4, the other is 2) and a baby girl (9 months). Get ready for some really wonderful family times. All the best from the West Coast of Canada! Katina

Posted by: Katina at February 11, 2007 6:52 PM

Oh I can't wait to see the finished product! I love that sweater, but don't have anyone to knit it for. I look forward to hearing how it goes.

Posted by: silverarrowknits at February 12, 2007 12:57 AM

This is going to look so lovely! Very tricky though, but definitely worth the work!

Posted by: Dipsy D. at February 12, 2007 2:20 AM

Oh, that sweater is so cute. I love it! The baby's room looks great, too. I love all of the booties hanging up there.

Posted by: Janelle at February 12, 2007 1:51 PM