Angelarae Knits

The Verdict

I have to say, knitting has taught me and continues to teach me a lot about myself.  For example, I have a bad habit of wanting to rush through projects and skip steps that maybe I shouldn't skip, like, say, blocking...sorta like I did yesterday when I knit that swatch and complained about my left twist.  Y'all, as always, are fabulous and had some very good suggestions to improve this pattern, for example, one of you said, "Did you wash and block the swatch?  That can make a  difference..." Why...no. That would be way too sensible and thorough.  I am neither.  However, I decided that the best thing I could do to show my appreciation for y'all and maybe actually learn something, would be to try all the excellent suggestions put forward. (Del really didn't have a suggestion, but she was cheering me on anyway-smart gal) So, sit back and marvel at the wonder that is my knitting...

Swatch #1

The hateful, unwashed and unblocked thing I showed you yesterday, knit in acrylic worsted (because why take the trouble to knit in gauge??)on size 5 needles. Brilliant.

Swatch #2

Knit to gauge this time, (for you, Deb)on Rowan felted tweed(color: that mauvy looking shade) and size 5 needles.  This is clearly an improvement over the first attempt.  I employed Ann and Elizabeth's suggestion of knitting the left twist as originally written, but purling through the back of the left twist stitches on the way back.  Much better, I think. The left leaning stitches actually seem to lay on top of the knitting just as the right leaning ones do.  Thanks Ann and Elizabeth!

Swatch #3

Also knit in RFT and on size 5 needles.  Here, I employed Dave's suggestion, knit the left twist by knitting the 2nd stitch on the left needle through the back loop and then knitting first and second stitches together through back loops.  This is closest to the result that I wanted.  Thanks, Dave:)

I now know how to knit a right and left twist in my sleep.  I can knit the Printed Silk Cardigan or the January sweater or anything else with these stitches and feel very confident about doing so, thanks to all of you!  You're the Best:)

So I learned a few things.  I learned it is best to swatch stitch patterns before you try to knit them in a garment and it is important to knit the swatches at gauge in order to learn anything about what you will be knitting.  It is also advisable to wash and block the swatch so that you can see how the yarn will behave when knit up in said pattern(s). I also now know that very pointy needles are helpful when knitting a twisted stitch pattern, as the dull bamboo ones I used for this little adventure, made me have to struggle with the yarn and stitches, and that is no fun. 

As for the Printed Silk, I might knit this.  I will have to decide whether it will look okay on a big busted girl like myself.  I have sort of resigned myself to knitting only one of the Spring '08 sweaters, so I will have to also consider the Auburn Camp and the Flutter Sleeve Cardigan.  Which one do you think would work best?

New Swatch

This swatch is a twisted stitch pattern from the Printed Silk Cardigan in Interweave Knit's Spring '08 issue.   It is a twisted stitch pattern with both right and left twist, very similar to Elizabeth Zimmermann's 'Fishtrap' stitch pattern from the Aran Sweater, sometimes called 'January Sweater' in her book, Knitter's Almanac.  The twisted stitches are fairly simple to execute as written in the Interweave pattern.  Still, I was not happy with the way that the Left Twist appeared after several rows of knitting.  While the right twist stitches lay nicely defined, slanting to the right, the left twist stitches resulted in an almost stairstep-like progression to the left.  Can you see the difference in the photo below?

The left twist is executed as follows: Knit the second st on left needle through the back loop but do not slip sts from left needle; knit the first st on left needle(through the front loop); slip both sts off needle.

I noticed that, while when the left twist is executed as written, the stitches do lean neatly to the left,  when they are purled on the way back across the row, as the pattern directs, the stitches fall back to their normal orientation, causing this stairstep effect.  So, I ripped back and executed the left twist by knitting both parts of the stitch through the back loops.  Alas, this did not improve the appearance of the left twist.  I went, therefore to EZ's Almanac to see if there was a difference in her writing of a left twist.  No difference. So I ripped again and knit the whole swatch, as written, and hope that you all can enlighten me as to whether or not there is a better or more correct way to knit this pattern. I am not willing to knit the Printed Silk Cardigan if I cannot make it look more finished than the above swatch. 

I have to say, the simplicity of yesterday's Rib Swatch, makes that project seem much more appealing at this point.

Wide Seeded Rib

I knit this swatch because I really liked the look of this pattern as it was used in the Auburn Camp Shirt from the Spring '08 issue of Interweave Knits.  Now that I see how simple it is, as well as versatile, I think it could very well be adapted to a variety of knitted items. The jury is still out as to whether or not I will attempt the Auburn Camp Shirt.  It is tempting, though. Very tempting.

*Yarn used here is Knit Picks 'Gloss' in 'Woodland Sage', with a size 5 straight needle.*