25 cents worth of a sweater

I did the only sensible thing to do when one faces a knitting rut. I started something new.

Actually, I started two new things, but I'll tell you about the second one tomorrow. The first new thing I had actually started last month, with a swatch. I had intended to work on the Dollar and a Half Cardigan (Ravelry link) while working my way through the BBC adaptations of George Eliot novels (which I bought as a boxed set for a song) last month, but that didn't happen. The swatch hung out on the front table for most of March. It occurred to me last week that, although the lace pattern in the sweater is not as intricate as I may have been looking for when I went on my hunt for lace patterns, it would probably be satisfying enough and, as a bonus, because it stripes with reverse stockinette, it won't get boring.

So I started on a sleeve last Wednesday or Thursday, and now it's done. Wanna see?

I decided to work the ribbing for only 2 inches instead of 4, so I could get to the lace part quicker. The lace is really fun to work, and fairly easy to memorize, though I have been double checking--it's worked with selvedge stitches, and I have a tendency to forget that they're there.

I also decided not to make the sleeves as long as the pattern designates. For my size, I was supposed to make the sleeve 21.25" before starting the cap shaping. Measuring this fabric is tricky, because the reverse stockinette stitch stripes bunch up, so I basically had to pseudo-block the sleeve each time I wanted an accurate measurement. And from that I could tell that this baby is going to block way the hell out, so that in order to get a final measurement of 21.25" I only needed to work to 19.5"...but I worked up to 20" anyway, just so I could start the shaping after I'd finished with the last row of the reverse stockinette stripe.

I hit the bind off in the middle of the lace pattern, which required another slight modification. The stitch count changes from row to row, and the last row I worked before I was supposed to bind off was one that decreases the total number of stitches. So I wound up working one extra row of the pattern in order to bring the total back to wear it belonged before I bound off. This means I have yarn overs in my bind off, but I think it will be OK.

Here's a close up of the lace:

Complete with cat hair, as usual.

Going to start on the back soon. I think I'm going to be really happy with this sweater.

Comments

[Sarah]

This sweater is going to rock, especially in red. I was delighted to recognize this design on a coworker (knit by her mother), and seeing a real live version really made me want to knit one of my own. I love your sleeve!

[Veronique]

Wow, that was a quick sleeve! This is going to be a good Spring cardi :)

[Rachael]

HA! I thought the cat hair was on my computer screen.

[heather]

hey! i just (this afternoon) finished the second front, along with the back. this pattern really does sail along - must cast on sleeve tonight.