Knitting Complete

I managed to finish the knitting yesterday. Here are the pieces laid out together.

There's a long way to go before I have a finished jacket. I have the yarns for embroidery laid out in this photo.

Colors on the left are for duplicate stitch--in the same 3-ply yarn as the body of the work--to fill in the leaves. The colors on the right are a 2-ply, Finull, also from Rauma, and will be used for chain stitch to outline the scrolls and vines. It's going to be wonderful.

When the embroidery is done, I'll seam the pieces together, then add the neck and front edgings.

I'm really happy with how this is going. And I love the quiet time this knitting requires. This is not take to the track meet knitting--I'm working up a design for another jacket to serve that purpose!

 

Almost Ready For Embroidery

I've reached the sleeve cap on the second sleeve. Can't wait to block this and start the embroidery.

For knitting in the round, on smaller diameters I definitely prefer working with long dpns. I find the needles on circulars to be too small for my hands, causing cramps. Longer dpns are hard to find in the standard brands, so I picked up these. They are sets of 4, so I picked up two packs in two different lengths a while back, and get a lot of use out of them. Because they are not standard US size, I do have to check with a needle gauge to make sure they work with the other needles I'm using.

In the meantime, I'm swatching for a jacket in bulky yarn. I experimented with the corrugated rib yesterday--but I was at my son's track meet, and couldn't concentrate on choosing an approach to managing the yarn consistently. I was going to knit it flat, but the corrugated knitting really wants to be in the round, so I guess I'll be steeking! I'm not sure, yet, though. Steeking would add bulk to an already bulky yarn. Still, knit flat this broken rib pattern is 75% purl, and knit in the round it's 75% knit. I think I actually have made up my mind. This is going to be a big cozy jacket with a collar and pockets if I have enough yarn.

 

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Reviving the blog! Knitting Recap

 Reviving the Blog

It's been a long time! I guess the COVID-19 shutdown affected every little thing. 

If you're interested in seeing some of the things I've been working on, and some I've even finished, check out my Instagram

Right now, I'm working on the second sleeve of the "Fitted Jacket with Embroidery" from Norwegian Knitting Designs. There are some truly stunning versions of this sweater on Ravelry. I started this in January 2022 and set it aside for several months. I picked it up in late March and worked the first sleeve. And I have about three inches to go before the sleeve cap shaping. 

This is a big project. When the knitting is completely finished, then the embroidery begins. I'll be using several autumnal colors to give the sweater a warmer overall look. Right now I call it the ketchup and mustard sweater, but I think it will be stunning when complete.

Here's the thing: I have only once ever embroidered any piece of knitting. This will be an adventure!

How do I keep track of where I am when knitting? I use two essential tools: color coded stitch markers and highlighter tape. And I have to have a calm and fairly quiet knitting environment--I read the pattern one stitch at a time, after all--it takes a lot of concentration!

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