January 30, 2009

THE VERY FIRST CARDI

.... that might almost work out.

So I'm doing this plain cardi but I've changed yarns completely. I dropped my needle size down 1cm but still couldn't reach gauge so after reading the pattern through I decided I would just recalculate the pattern taking into account that my gauge is 0.5cm/3 st longer and 1cm/6 st wider.
If my gauge had just been longer then you can easily substitute the pattern where is calls for knitting X rows to measure Xcm - ie you just knit to the Xcm keeping count of the rows so you make sure the other pieces fit. This and working the smallest size has worked for the front and back pieces - although admittedly the armpit is probably going to fall forward a little.
All this was great logic until I hit the sleeves and in particular the shaping of the shoulder to meet the back/front pieces. I am knitting both sleeves at once so I can copy identical "re-calculations". My problem now is that I'm likely to not decrease enough - ending with a long, round shoulder.
Readers I have no answers yet and whilst you may fear this will be a long WIP resulting in final frogging, even though I've got effectively 10cm to go - it shall be finished! Even if I can get to the point of pinning it to see how badly it fits - actually to be honest I already have another project lined up for the yarn from the DK Smoothie book!!
And not sure how many have been using DK Smoothie but I spent ages re-adjusting how I hold my yarn and needles as I kept getting this weird pattern - left side of stitch is a long, skinny line and the right side is normal - like half a heart or an odd rib?

Luckily Rae went down to Mascoes keen to try some DK Smoothie and found out this happens for a lot of knitters - something to do with how it's spun. Ah a taste of normality in my knitting!

2 comments:

Fresh Tea : said...

looking good miss may! i used smoothie dk for ella's puffie sleeved cardie, and really enjoyed knitting with it. i found it moved easier on metal needles over bamboo ones. looking forward to seeing a completed project on you!

Anonymous said...

I get that same y stitch shape with rowan yarns, and it is to do with the way it is spun.
The cardi is looking good - generally when I recalculate a pattern to my gauge I use a percentage system which is your gauge divided by their gauge for both width and length, then multiply all instructions by that percentage. Here I am explaining this and you've probably already done it...
look forward to seeing the completed item!