Stickigt

Saturday afternoon on the balcony

I froze my a** off taking these pictures. This is how fun it gets wearing the jacket.

The Tartan review

I really appreciate other bloggers writing about their knitting experiences. Kind of reviewing their latest projects. So I should too.

About Tartan jacket:

It was great fun knitting something so fast. I had Rosedale to do as well and that was not a problem at all. I don’t have much knitting time, so the speed is totally depending on yarn, needles and gauge.

The pattern was all right, but since the colourwork demands a certain amount of stitches and a certain amount of rows, I’m not sure how the designer got all the sizes together. I made the size which should measure 105,5 cm at bust circumference and I had severe difficulties getting the very narrow sleeves to fit in the armholes. I had to reknit. The length of body and sleeves are the same for all sizes. Any objections and you’re left to your own designing skills.

The yarn: I am now a self-appointed fakir. Hell, the lopi it’s prickly – but I love it. I’m definitely having a go at the Sally Melville Einstein coat now. I bought two skeins too much of the red main colour and just as much of all the pattern colours. So I really have swatching possibilities... I am also thinking about a real Icelandic treat. This one.

So what did I learn from this project?

Sometimes it’s absolutely OK to give in to some whim inspired by a magazine.

I don’t have any other red clothes but I really fell for this jacket. I normally prefer knitting timeless outfits (if not for my son), but this time no.

The yarn was a new experience. The slip-stitch pattern as well. When I swatched I thought that I would never get the rhythm of it, but I did.

I also really learned to soak and block my swatches. The Plötulopi gets much softer after a wash. And felts a bit, which is really good for the loose ends on the back.

And is it hot? YES! It’s a jacket, for crying out loud.

Will I show pictures of me in it? Wait and see.

2005: no. 1

Please welcome the Icelandic Tartan jacket. It's finished. After quite a few modifications am I quite satisfied with the result. Haven't tried it on with two sleeves yet, it's still damp.

Saturday Evening Collar Event

I was unsure what to do with this wonderful amount of cloth floating all over back and shoulders of Tartan jacket. Saturday evening I had a super all-alone-knit-in in left sofa corner combining tv, wool, dark chocolate and cardamomscented coffee. First I ripped two-thirds of the collar, then I reknitted it with less yellow than before. Now it's half the size it used to be. I'm satisfied.

But I still have some problem solving to do. There's a thing about the sleeves as well. They don't fit. Just have a look on the upper picture and realize that I have some more ripping to do. Today I knitted most of the second sleeve and I'm making this one 4 stiches wider at the widest spot, which will make the darn thing fit better.

The last piece of Tartan

Tartan status: one sleeve left to knit. Made cuffs yesterday, small pieces but lots of intarsia work and yarn ends. The actual sleeve was the easiest to accomplish. Haven't ripped collar out yet. Not sure if I will, shall block first.

As I wrote in Swedish in an earlier post: I have found another kilt-pin-and-enormous-collar-jacket which I just have to knit: Diva from Hanne Falkenberg. That collar is even bigger and it looks great. Maybe I shouldn't worry about collar size at all.

Most huge collar ever

What I really really wonder about Teva Durhams design is the true meaning of the huge collar. This Dracula-style drape is actually bigger than my shoulders are wide. Hello there!

This picture is to show all the glory of it before I rip it out. Or half of it.

So this is what row gauge issues could do to you.

The Tartan collar

What I really really like about Teva Durhams design is the huge collar. Of course I had to knit that before I begin with the sleeves. So I brought the stuff along to this very nice knitting café organized by the new Swedish knitting organization: "Knit!".

Good idea. Eleven small balls of yarn, still 12 mm needles, no table space, no sofa space, complicated instructions (well: complicated for me). Result: maybe five rows in three hours.

I went for Rosedale instead.

Some more Tartan

Left front finished. Didn't do much knitting this week. Mind occupied elsewhere. Bought DVD Player for son. Had Colin Firth-orgy myself instead. Handsome handsome man. Favourite favourite author. Need to buy more BBC fiction. Bad for knitting though. But who cares?

KIP-season in Stockholm has started. Will I bring Rosedale or Tartan jacket this Saturday?

Most boring piece

One piece down, seven to go. When was the last time I knitted so fast? Can't remember. I realize I have the opportunity to finish this one before the winter is over. Hey ho.

Progress with Tartan jacket

Although had to struggle to get a hang of the combined slip-stitch intarsia technique (combined with super yarn choice), am now past the initial difficulties. Soon approaching armhole shaping. Mental note: should knit more often with 12 mm needles.