Have you ever started knitting something even if you suspected, deep down within your bones, that it was a doomed project? Sometimes the siren call of something unexpected and interesting is impossible to resist even if you know it might will end badly. The Spiral Pullover designed a few years ago by Norah Gaughan is, I fear, such a project.
It looked so seductively fun to knit. You start with 8 stitches, knit a spiral, and the entire sweater then grows magically out of it. I know, I know — even just describing it I realize it sounds suspiciously like a Chia Pet or a package of Sea Monkeys. But I digress.
The original pattern called for a raw silk yarn called Mandalay. But I don’t like knitting with raw silk so I substituted. I used Jaeger’s Extra Fine Merino Aran in a lovely, rich colour called Wineberry. It’s a beautiful yarn and I love how it knits up (poor little skeins — to wait your whole life to be knitted up into a *whispers quietly* mistake).
One of the first questions that needs to be answered as I dissect the “progress” of this project is: What was I thinking in knitting a size large? I may complain that I’m no longer the cute little thing I was in college, but I’m not a size large. The size large is 46″ around and 28+ inches long. I’ve got a 34″ bust and I’m not even 5’5″. There was a better size: the S/M. But I bypassed that with its ample seven inches of ease and 24″ length. Why? I don’t know. It’s a mystery for the ages.
I knitted for a little while — made the spiral. It’s hard to describe, really, how you construct this sweater. The knitting changes direction through increases and decreases and it’s just one of those things that could work beautifully. Or not.
I googled, looking to see and be inspired by other knitters’ success stories.
I found one lonely blog entry about it — someone who had started it. I emailed her to find out how it had all turned out. I could practically hear the ringing of evil laughter — mwha ha ha ha ha ha — through my cable modem. Her response included such phrases as “godawful mess,” “twisted heap,” and “unwearable.” My reaction to that was: [audio:what.mp3]
So I plowed on. And then, as is my wont when I get bored or distracted by some new pretty, I threw it in a corner of my yarn room. I resurrected it (and I use the term loosely) the other day. I had only about 30 rows to finish the entire body of the sweater. So I figured out where I was (it’s a pattern that gives instructions for each row; I had quite carefully made sure I never marked where I was) and then finished it so I could bring it to Minnesota tomorrow and give Susan a good laugh.
Here are some photos. First, the entire thing (except for the sleeves). The spiral will be in the right hand corner of the front and extend to the back.
Here is a close up of how the direction of the knitting changes so that you are able to shape the front neck and shoulders (no such luck on the back — the front is the easy shaping side).
Finally, to give you an idea of just how big this sweater is going to be on me if I ever do finish it, I’ve put it next to the U.S. Capitol building.
Yeah — a tad oversized.
I have one of those. 11 colors and intarsia blocks of Greek crosses. 52″ around and I’m 5’1″ and normally wear a 35″ sweater. Granted, I did start it in the early 90s when things were huge and before I really understood how to fit a sweater to my actual body, but the nice lady in the knitting shop who told me to knit a “medium” (yes, a 52″ medium) was crazy.
I felted it into a very nice set of pillows.
Comment by liz — January 2, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
From Susan — I think it’s gorgeous and if it’s too big for you, I know a “Big One” who might be able to wear it. 😉 After all, many of my early attempts ended up in YOUR closet!
Comment by lv2knit — January 2, 2007 @ 5:30 pm
I vaugely remember the discussion of which size you should knit on this, and also, saying you were brave or crazy to attempt this project. I did wonder what happened to it . . . Check my blog for a basic sweater being frogged into something else!
Comment by Jennifer — January 2, 2007 @ 5:37 pm
okay, i’m a large…. send it on over 🙂
Comment by Michelle — January 2, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
46″ around? Sounds good — send it over 🙂
btw, congrats on your JenLa award! You should be trumpeting it to the skies, like Oscar-nominated movies. Coming to a computer screen near you, The Rainey Sisters! Winner of the coveted New Meat Award! or something like that…
Comment by kmkat — January 2, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
Um, sorry. I meant the Twice As Nice award, of course. [administers dope slap to self]
Comment by kmkat — January 2, 2007 @ 10:09 pm
I didn’t know about this until you posted your comment!
“I’d like to thank the Academy, as well as the maker of the original sock monkey dress for making this possible . . . “
Comment by surly — January 2, 2007 @ 10:30 pm
I have to admire your fortitude.
Around here, it would have hit the rectangular file a long time ago.
Comment by Lorraine — January 3, 2007 @ 10:38 am
I love knitting designs with intriguing construction, and the spiral sweater more than fits the bill. I’m so sorry that this gem is not going to fit you, but I can see from the comments that you are not going to have a difficult time finding a loving home for it.
Comment by Melanie — January 4, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
I’m staying FAR away from that!
Comment by Carol — January 4, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
From Susan — I saw the Spiral in person and it is beautiful. I also believe that it will fit Sally because it is a longer tunic length and therefore needs to be a bit bigger around. No sweater for moi!
Comment by lv2knit — January 4, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
I have just found your website and I am speechless and in awe. Too late for me to even aspire to knit as you do. There are a couple items that might be in my league and I would love to have the patterns. The wedding ring purses and amulet bag. You said the patterns were in upper right corner and apparently have been removed. I also clicked on patterns and found only a picture of a different bag knitted by someone else. Please email me at jean.saylor@wright.edu or post instructions for receiving/purchasing those patterns. Would so like to make them for my daughter. I have bookmarked your site and will check back regulary. There’s a lot to see and a lot to learn here. Thanks.
Comment by Jean — January 5, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
My, my, that is big! It positively dwarfs the Capitol.
But it was pretty.
Comment by Carrie K — January 5, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
Hi! I’ve fallen in love with this pattern, but can’t find it anywhere. Can you tell me the pattern source? Magazine, book, where is it???? Thanks so much!
Comment by rakusu — August 10, 2007 @ 12:50 pm