Friday, February 8, 2008

Sometimes I Knit

Yes, sometimes I do knit. Despite testing and karate and music lessons and birthday parties and painting and volunteering and shopping and cooking and cleaning and laundry and pets and plants and "Moooommmmm! He took my (fill in the blank) and won't give it back!", I have been working on my CPH.

My love affair with Malabrigo shows no signs of cooling anytime soon, and I continue to get perfect gauge, much to my surprise. After some fiddling, the picture above shows the color pretty accurately. The back and the fronts are done, and I've almost finished the first sleeve. I've made the body about two inches longer than the pattern calls for (and now I'm thinking I should have made it longer still), but I am resisting the urge to lengthen the sleeves. I always, always make sleeves too long, no matter who the garment is for, but especially when it is for me. I have unusually long arms, and every shirt, sweater, or jacket I have ever bought has had sleeves that are too short. It drives me crazy. I hate pulling and tugging at my sleeves all day, trying hopelessly to make them cover my bony wrists. I am so determined not to make the sleeves on my sweaters too short that I invariably make them too long. And since I usually knit them from the cuff upward, it's not easy to change them once they're made. Even when I knit from the top down, they usually end up too long after blocking, since knits tend to grow in length. And because I'm never sure how much they'll grow, I err on the side of too long.

I generally add an inch to the sleeve length when I use a commercial pattern. But in this case, all the FO pictures I've seen of this show sleeves that are waaaay too long for the wearer. So I'm thinking I might do well to use the measurements given--which are the same as I usually use for my own designs.

I'm debating whether I want buttons or a zipper to close this one. I had decided on a zipper, until I remembered that I already have a dark green zippered cardi that I made last spring. So maybe I'll use buttons for this one. Maybe I'll make buttons for this one. I can picture something in swirly green and black.

I'm hoping to have this one finished before next weekend, when we will be driving to Lake Tahoe for "ski week." I don't know if the rest of the country shares this tradition, but around here, most schools close for the week of the Presidents' Day holiday, and everyone who can seems to hop in a car or on a plane and seek out snow. I suppose most of you don't have to travel to see it, but around here, it takes a little effort to find winter. Not only would I like to have this to wear, but I'd also like to start a new project for the car trip. I have my husband convinced that he really likes driving for 11 hours straight.

20 comments:

sophanne said...

If my experience is any indication, you've made a good call on the sleeves and the length. You are so sylph-like in body shape you could probably go with either buttons or a zipper. Buttons on mine would have looked ridiculous in a kind of Burl Ives as the snowman in Rudolph kind of way.

Tracy Purtscher said...

The CPH looks great! I haven't jumped on that bandwagon yet, but I'm sooooo tempted its such a good design. I'll make note of the sleeve length, I'm rather ape-ish myself.

I like your reasoning for going with the buttons and it does give you another excuse for playing with clay...that's a good thing! The only thing I could add regarding a zipper would be maybe a dual action zip-----one that goes up and down from both ends what the heck are those called?

Have great ski week, and no, a week off for President's Day is not the norm around here. We don't even get the day off and the snow is, oh about 18 inches deep right out my backdoor. :o)

Patty said...

Love the sweater. My mother always added 2" for any sweaters for all of us and I continue to do the same. I hate pulling on the sleeves in an attempt to bring them down too!

Have a great ski week. We just got back from ours - it was fantastic!

sheep#100 said...

It looks nice. I swapped some yarn for a copy of the magazine with the CPH inside. Now, if I would just finish the Rogue, I could start a CPH...

patrice said...

One of these days I'm going to have to actually see you knit -I'm envisioning beautiful green cabled fabric growing from your needles before my very eyes! - I've finished 12 little mitered squares in the same time it's taken you to knit 3/4 of a sweater!! But it would be better if I didn't see you because I would have to totally snatch that sweater off your back it is so great. Although that drive is ridiculously long, Tahoe will be great next week. Do you ski or snowboard? Or do you send the family on their way and take advantage of long hours in front of a cozy fire, needles in hand? We have HS baseball tryouts, so no ski vacation for us this year :(

Angelika said...

It looks great so far. I don't know what to tell you about the sleeves. Good luck with your timeline and have fun skiing.

Anonymous said...

Looking great! I love the color. I made my sleeves too long also and I have to fold them. Have a great time during Ski week. I wish I could spend some time in the snow:(

marit said...

It loks great! Love the colour! I also make my sleeves way longer than the pattern calls for- have never been able to find neither shirts nor trousers/jeans that are long enough without going to themens department-yuck, I hate that:-(
Have fun at Lake Tahoe! (I've actually been there, in Truckee, and in Squaw Valley, even driving around the lake. SOOO beautiful!)

Anonymous said...

Somedays I would be very happy to be removed from winter and have to go and search it out!

No ski week for us. When I am done with this baby making I am going to gear myself up and get back into it.

...Sarah said...

Seek and ye shall find as they say. Ironically I really don't ski (used to), and this year we have had a glut of snow.

I share you dislike of short sleeves (that supposed to be long). Also short waists bug me so I am loving your pattern modifications.

Lydee said...

We have winter-in our backyard- and I don't know how to ski!
I have images of my self in a little kids ski class trying to go down a bunny slope, knocking munchkins out of the way.....help!

The A.D.D. Knitter said...

I vote zipper! Love the Malabrigo as well...sooo soooft!

Khalila said...

I'm still kind of new to making sweaters and have also found that I have crazy long arms. I am doing my CPH all in one piece and have about 5 inches done. It's slow going because I have a couple of other projects going on but I'm definitely enjoying it. I think it might be too hot to wear it by the time I'm finished though. Oh well, maybe next winter.

Your's looks great! Your description of the yarn makes me want to go out and buy some so I too can have perfect gauge. :)

Theresa said...

Enjoy the snow! I'll be stuck in San Diego still, wishing I got to see some this year.

Kim said...

Gorgeous! You know I love the Malabrigo! Picture yourself in Tahoe relaxing in the lodge with a cup of cocoa while wearing your beautiful sweater.

Sarah said...

Mmmm, Malabrigo! That does look like a perfect hoodie for the snow.

Anonymous said...

When I was sewing I altered my sleeves in the middle - not the top or the bottom. The adjustment is usually made above the elbow. Why don't you trying adding stitches in the middle? For more information on this technique check any sewing book.

Haley said...

you are the most prolific knitter i know. your cph looks great.

Anonymous said...

I think President's Week sounds like a great idea. Too bad WI didn't adopt it when my kids were in school.

Bea said...

sigh..a cph in malabrigo, that is going to be so beautiful, and so soft to wear! i'm jealous!