theraineysisters knitting and so much more

I was asked a couple of questions about the construction of the Kauni Cardigan.  Here are the responses:

1) When you knit the garter stitch block trim, do you work it in the round and steek that portion of the sweater open, or do you work it back and forth (flat)?
I worked the garter stitch check in the round with a steek. 

2) The color transitions are mesmerizing. Did you consciously select combo B by picking where you started each of the skeins? You probably have to be careful when you join in a new skein? I imagine that your tension has to be pretty consistent to maintain the color combo.
The way I chose B was not very scientific, though I did not want to start with light colors.  I started from the outside of the two different skeins I had.  I did not want to pull from the center because the balls are very large and collapse on themselves as they get empty in the center.  I wound off a bunch from one skein – just enough to guarantee that the same color would not meet as I was knitting.  I had decided early on that I would not try to lose sleep over the color combinations — just let it evolve. 

The tension just takes care of itself — nothing special there. 

I wound each of my full Kauni skeins into two balls because the skeins are so big.  I will simply join to the end where I broke the yarn and it should continue in the color transition as established without a problem.  This yarn is 2-ply and very similar to Shetland wool so it splices incredibly easy.  I have come across a couple of knots and just spit splice it together.

I have been playing around with the Clowny Kauni Cardigan.  I started it several times as a matter of fact!  I had difficulty getting gauge and even ripped back after completing two full squares.  I started out on a US 5 (3.75mm) needle and finished the garter check with those needles — a little snug, but blockable.  Then I started the body using the same needle, and it looked sloppy.  Plus, I went up one size to a US 6 (4mm) to do the stranding so it would not “cinch in”.  That is the right thing to do, but the wrong needles.  So I ripped back to the garter check, and changed to US 4 (3.5mm) for the straight knitting and 5’s (3.75’s) for the stranding.  B-I-N-G-O!!  Much better looking and much nicer to knit.  Up to that point, I was not enjoying this project at all.  That has happened to me before — going down one needle size and making the project much more fun to knit (?).  It is amazing how that small difference made such a big difference to me. 

I put together a graphic showing the various color combinations of the Kauni Rainbow yarn.  It is not terribly scientific, nor is it 100% accurate for the colors, BUT it does show how the various combos will play out.  There are 5 sets of colored bars.  The left bar in each pair (separated by black) is the same.  The second bar starts in a different place on the color wheel.  You look at the combinations from the bottom up, as they would appear as you are knitting them.

In the above graphic, the colors are transforming from purple to red to orange, etc.  You can also knit the colors in the opposite direction — purple to blue to green — as shown below:

I am essentially doing combo B from the first graphic — why?  No particular reason — it just worked out that way.  As I looked at the other combos, I guess mine is as good as any, though it is a bit shocking to the eye to start a purple and orange sweater.  My daughter said she won’t be seen with me when I wear it!  It does look a bit clownish at the moment and I keep telling myself that I need to let it unfold and it will be beautiful.  I have looked at many other Kaunis on line and they all share the same color combinations, so I need to keep that in mind and appreciate the totality that is Kauni, not parse out every single color combination.

Here is what I have so far — this picture is quite true to color:

I really like the garter check border*.  The pattern calls for 1×1 rib, which I am not fond of.  If I had chosen ribbing, I would have opted for 2×2.  However, I think the garter check is very much in keeping with the “square” theme of the design.  As the knitting progresses, I am liking my Kauni more and more :).  I have done about 10 inches and looking at Color Bar “B” you can tell I’m about 2/3 of the way into the full color cycle.  BTW: My knitting does not look this smooth in person, but blocking may get it there ;).

*For those unfamiliar with this edging, using Colors A and B:
Row 1: k2(A), k2(B)
Row 2: p2(A), p2(B)
Row 3: k2(B), k2(A)
Row 4: p2(B), p2(A)

And I know you want to see the inside — admit it!

It’s funny.  I was hauling this around today and knitting on it, and people were fascinated by it.  Several people asked me about the yarn and the knitting method — both men and women alike.  I’ve been knitting for years, on all kinds of projects, but this one seems to have a quality about it that attracts and interests people. 

I have other projects to work on right now, but I am enjoying the simplicity of this pattern and watching it unfold.

I have not had much to post about this week because of my busy and ::cough:: exciting lifestyle, so this will be brief.

I have not forsaken Kauni — that said, then where is it?  I have been trying to capture and tame the elusive Gauge.  You all know that wily creature!  A squirmy lil dickens that hides in the shadows, peeks out ever so briefly, only to sink back into the darkness before you can make out its true nature.

I did cast on and then thought the sweater was going to be too small.  It looked like I was getting 30 sts/4″ which seemed ridiculous (that is true fair isle gauge, my friends).  I am knitting with heavier yarn on a size 5.  SO, I did as I was told by my lil knittin’ sister and knitted back and forth in stockinette st to check my gauge.  It is really more like 25 sts/4″.  The pattern says 24 sts/4″, while the ball band says 23 sts/4″.  The pattern appears to be inaccurate because all of the calculations given only work if the gauge is 23 sts/4″.  I had calculated my cast on using my original “gauge” of 26 sts/4″ — so I have too many sts.  Whew.  If you stayed awake through that boring bit, I applaud you or pity you!!  So now I am going to start over.  Pictures will be forthcoming if I can ever get the project started ;)!!

At the knitters guild meeting we heard about a fun opportunity from Three Kittens Yarn Shoppe:

Kruise with Karabella and 3 Kittens

Join us on Saturday, June 30th, for a trip on a Padelford riverboat along with Berta Karapetyan, yarn store owner, Karabella Yarns founder, and author of the new book “Runway Knits.”  The 3-hour boat trip will include a short lecture by Berta, a fashion show of garments from her new book, and lots of time to knit and enjoy stitching and visiting with other knitters.  This is a perfect opportunity to have an afternoon out with your knitting friends!  The boat will leave at 1 pm and return around 4 pm.  Cost is $30 for 3K Club members or $40 for non-members.  Come sail away with us!

My knitting group peeps and I are planning on going — what a fun summer blast!

Oh, my!  Lookie what came today!!!!  I am again BESIDE myself, but this time in a good way.  The Kauni fairy left me a box with six of the biggest, fattest skeins of yarn you have ever seen. 

The colors are spectacular — quite bright and sunny — and it appears that the weight of the yarn is slightly heavier than fair isle jumper weight yarn.  Next task: roll this puppy into a MEGABALL and start swatching.

And why is the timing so critical?  Remember when I said that this is the new “it” knitting project?  More prophetic words could not have been spoken.  The Yarn Harlot just started the Kauni Cardigan and posted about it on her blog!  I am so glad our order preceded THAT little announcement!  Whew!  Timing is everything…

 

That is the tapping of my toes as I wait impatiently for the post.  I am hoping that my next knitting project will soon arrive.  I am going to make the Kauni Cardigan, which is the new “it” project.  I did not mention “it” sooner because I did not want the hoarders to buy up all the yarn before I could get MINE ordered!!  Unfortunately, I mentioned this project to Amy Detjen and she promptly ordered and received her yarn ;).  She has already started!

So, what is the Kauni Cardigan??  It is a free pattern designed by Ruth Sorensen of Denmark that uses Kauni EQ yarn — a Rainbow colourway — to create a simple faux fair isle sweater using only two skeins of yarn.  The yarn does all of the heavy lifting. 

This is not the best picture, but you get the idea. 

Lisette Bilskov of the Yarn Store in Denmark carries the yarn and is very nice to work with.  Sally, Kim and I ordered our yarn together because the cost of shipping from Denmark is nearly equivalent to the cost of the yarn itself.  For approximately $50 worth of yarn, it costs $40 to ship.  It was only $180 for the yarn for three sweaters when shipped together.

This is the perfect mindless knitting project for soccer this summer.  For every ten rows of pattern, only 4 involve stranding, and the stranding is absolutely mindless.  I had planned on doing the Large Lace Collar Bohus, but could not get myself motivated to do the collar portion — it will now have to wait until fall.

So, I wait…tap, tap, tap 😉

PS — the link from Marina (see comments) had a swatch showing the gradual change in the colors: