Much editing with a crochet hook took place while I designed on the fly. Designing on the odd numbered rows only as a general rule would make things easier and the knitting faster. This is 60 stitches wide - perhaps the real deal will be 48, which would makes it easier because there is less scope of horizontal movement. I'll keep practicing tonight, but may start the proper piece with a little more regular look.
I kept the width about the same, 57-stiches wide, because 48 was much too narrow. It's moving along quicker than the sample. I've not planned or calculated anything, but picked up a few techniques to create certain patterns. Pity I haven't counted so I can't replicate. I can't tell if this is better, or something I'll like, or irredeemably unattractive. I'm weighing the expected softness of the finished fabric against the visual interest when placing the ... cable switcheroos. (What's the right term anyway?) Even numbered B-side I like better. But with knitting, I'm not aiming to make both sides pretty.
V2 was such a disappointment I needed a few day's break.
a. I think of the knit-side as A-side, so I made one side mostly knit, intending it to be the 'good' side.
b. This is a scarf and I wanted to make it "pretty" ish, (it's Ben's, so not overloading on pretty, though,) with a comfortable touch. V3 is better than the previous two in both respects.
c. It's a scarf, meaning it's narrow and long. While switching designs often has been interesting, I run out of ideas quickly, so I'm elongating/diluting the trajectory/idea, so I last the distance; but,
d. fewer changes in each row make the knitting quicker, though with repeated do-overs the speed is obviously not a big issue.
Though I like this, I might start on V4. I undid about 20 rows and added 6 between the two versions; but mixing cabling and movement means I can't use regular numbers/progression, (I don't know how else to express this,) and I'm not crazy the left side of the curves when the chain moves. I'm happy with 56 stitches wide, however.
I knew I was on to something I like with V3, but I couldn't just copy it, so I tried this. But I still prefer V3, so now the question is, do I return to V3 or start V5?
No V5 picture. I knitted a couple of dozen rows last night, a cheap imitation of V3, hated it, and undid it immediately. I have started V6, which I hope will be an improved V3; my attention is on the curve as the cables start to move, rather than counting and repeating mathematically. Fingers and toes crossed.
The middle one-third so far took a heck of a long time, often knitting at night and unravelling quite a lot in the morning, then reworking that night, over several sittings. Then, as the main cable neared the right edge, I wasn't sure what to do next and for about a week I looked at it every night without knowing how to proceed. Last night I looked at it as an evening ritual and it appeared the next few cm was a no-brainer, so the last one-third was done in a couple of hours.
Am I right in assuming, because there's more cabling (??) happening on the right side and looser stitches on the left, the right edge is shorter, making the whole piece "lean" or approach fan-shaped? If that's the issue, I'm hoping to balance it later, to see if the piece will be more rectangular.
I've also unravelled all but sample V2, which still has visually interesting/useful bits. Sometimes the most simple, unassuming contrast can be the most stunning; I saw another possibility as I was taking these pics. I'm enjoying this project again after a week of no discernible progress and waning interest. :-D
I'm now approaching halfway point.
I find myself now calling this a "sampler". Some patterns are easy and effective, while others are surprisingly not even if I have to count and be vigilant. "Sampler" is in quotes because I am not keeping records so... I may or may not be able to recreate, but onward!
V3, A-side. Sitting Seventeen after another unravelling; I'm about the same place as the end of Sixteen, but behind Fifteen. And the bump about 10cm below, that's not a mistake but a loose stitch. Trust me when I say, I've looked at, scrutinized, and pulled in all directions gazillion times. B-side looks normal.
V3, A-side. Sittings 21-24 with one ball to go.
V3, A-side. Sitting
25 proceeded at break neck speed and I got through 1/3 of the last ball, and then decided I didn't like the look so I'm back where I was between 23 and 24. Ben was home after work, but I feel like Penelope.
It was an interesting attempt, though, and had I kept a record of stitches and numbers, it would have been worth saving a while longer. I might even attempt something like this with records. It was interesting to discover some visually attractive parts are stiff as a badly-washed sweater, while some lovely textures didn't look as appealing. I learned a little about proportion, in that one column of purling between cable ropes don't really show up, and often puckering shows/hides contrast of knitting vs purling in ways I didn't foresee, more so than in weaving. And I love making fat cables but columns of polite skinny ones are also handsome. (Also, I don't weave with regular skinny striped warps often enough.) Knitting can be used as a slow, deliberate design tool; I enjoyed the portability, spontaneity and changeability compared to weaving. Also, I prefer knitting with two and three strands of fine weaving yarns.
It's been... well it has been, and I'm moving on to making a smaller cowl. The big orange one was meant to go over my shoulder, and it does, but it leaves the neck area a little breezy, so the next will have a smaller circumference, and I've already commenced the sampling stage experimenting with widths of cables, and undoing them. :-D
That's pretty amazing Meg!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laura, I think. It's a pretty weird piece to tell you the truth. :-D But the idea of a sampler appeals to me, especially since we really don't need any more scarves nor beanies. I'm seriously considering hunkering down to learn how to make, say, a very simple vest.
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