theraineysisters knitting and so much more

February 20, 2007

From Susan — Now I Feel Totally Guilty

Filed under: Eris Cardigan — lv2knit @ 6:41 pm

Honest, she said I could start!!  I needed a stockinette project and I had to get past the collar to get to the stockinette portion!  I really wasn’t trying to leave Sally in my wake.   This has happened before (in both directions) so I should have known better…

I have made some progress on my Eris: I did rip out the body once and started over, but it is progressing okay now.  I did not like the way my short rows OR my increases were looking, so that’s why I started over.  I think I’m now doing Japanese short rows (or at least what I call Japanese short rows!).  And I am doing the “yarnover make ones” that I developed for Sunrise Circle.  I think it works better because the increased sts are only 2 sts apart — they pulled up the other sts too much and did not look very nice.  I’ll show a picture when I have a bit more progress.

I have been enduring “special computer training” the past two days.  We start promptly at 7 am for four days straight.  My friend, Susan, and I are taking it at the same time.  One day I’m face down and the next day she is.  Tomorrow we’ll probably BOTH be comatose.  It is really a grind.  I have not been able to knit much because I am so exhausted when I get home. 

RE: Eris — In response to Wendy: I would call this sweater advanced, because of the elaborate cabling, short rows and unusual construction.  I have read several blogs where they said they started this project, but not so many that finished!  That could be said of a lot of projects, but I do consider it a red flag.  Sally and I have decided not to be deterred by the success or lack thereof of others — we’re not scared off by extreme knitting, baby!!  Let ‘er roll! 😉

PS to Wendy O — I think Rogue seemed easier because its construction is more straight forward — at least until you get to the hood itself.  There are some interesting things going on there!  It was easier to get started so that’s why I ended up doing the Rogue for my Knitting Olympics Challenge last year (I finished it in 12 days — no cleaning, cooking or housework of any kind was goin’ on during the “Olympics,” let me tell you).  The hood has some fantastic cabling and if you are intimidated by grafting, you could do a 3-needle bind off. 

The instructions for Eris are 40 pages — though that includes both a pullover and cardigan version — and her charts are done in large print.  I am doing the short row shaping where the cable section attaches to the body and the directions are 5 pages long!  She is VERY detailed, to the point that it seems excessive.  To her credit, she says she is detailed to help avoid confusion.

7 Comments »

  1. Thanks for your comments, Susan. Thinking it through a bit, living (knitting) vicariously through you and Sally might be the smarter thing to do right now. Was the Rogue Hoodie as complex? It’s another beauty!

    Comment by Wendy O — February 20, 2007 @ 8:42 pm

  2. Ditto what Wendy typed(?)! The pattern is the size of a novel and I think I fell asleep trying to read it with understanding 😉 Just another pattern I was so eager to knit that fell by the wayside …

    Comment by Marina — February 20, 2007 @ 9:01 pm

  3. I am a big fan of Jenna’s designs. So when Eris came out, having knit 3 Rogues, I was excited.
    Looking at the 40 pages, I promptly put it away.

    Rogue was a cakewalk compared to this.

    Comment by Lorraine — February 21, 2007 @ 10:06 am

  4. I like the level of detail in the Rogue pattern. It’s probably how I’d write a pattern. (I’m a very detail-oriented former engineer!)

    Interesting that Eris is more complicated than Rogue. Rogue was different, and I learned a lot. As I’m still not quite finished, close though, I still have a bit more
    to learn.

    Now I’m really curious – I want to try Eris, but have two other things planned first. It was the first pattern I noticed on the girlfromauntie site, and liked the fact Eris
    was a zippered cardigan. Then I saw Rogue. I think, next to buying something (anything!) related to Clay Aiken, it was the fastest $12 I’ve ever spent!

    I’m looking forward to seeing both of you work through this pattern!!

    Comment by Nancy — February 21, 2007 @ 10:59 am

  5. Thanks for the tip on the Sunrise Circle. I will try those increases. I agree that taking that much yarn from adjacent stitches would be a bit much. I started the back last night. Can’t wait to really get into it.
    See you Thursday.

    Comment by Lynne — February 21, 2007 @ 3:42 pm

  6. I did Eris last summer and found it relatively easy, the elaborate charts help avoid any confusion. I did most of the knitting poolside and except for having to keep the pages from blowing around, it was a great knit. The best part was the next to no sewing.

    Comment by Joan — February 21, 2007 @ 8:03 pm

  7. HI Susan, Thanks for your comment about the weight of yarn I’m using (cashsoft baby dk) I had the same concern but knit a swatch anyway and got gauge. Do you think the lightness of the yarn will cause the garment to look funny? I started the collar and thought if it doesn’e measure correct the first attempt, I will abort and choose another yarn. If your experience and input will keep me from wasting my time please let me know. Thanks!

    Comment by Alison — February 22, 2007 @ 9:19 pm

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