As I have said before, knitting progress is like watching paint dry. I now have 4″ 5″ 7″ on my Oregon sleeve. Whoopie!!
Marina asked me about my fair isle sleeves. I have tried most of the techniques out there: for my first fair isle, I used 16-20″ needles and then switched to double points. I hated this for two reasons: 1) the needle tips are so short they are hard to knit with (the length of the tip gets shorter when the needles are less than 24″ in length), and 2) I do not like doing stranding across dpns.
For my second fair isle, I bought a set of needles in every length in US Size 3’s (20″, 16″, and 12″), and then 12″ US 2’s. The tip problem was even worse on those 12″ needles but at least I didn’t have to strand on dpns — I still hated it!Â
For the third, I used the magic loop method and LOVED it. I started with 32″ needles and made one loop with the extra cable length. When the sleeve was about half way done, I switched to 24″ needles and continued with a single loop until the sleeve got too small, then I switched to a modified double loop method. I never had to strand across the “naked” cable and finished the sleeve all the way with a 24″ needle (long tips — yippee!!). That is obviously the method I am using with this sweater. When I get to the “modified double loop method” I’ll post a picture. It is too hard to describe in words but is easy to do.
I am actually enjoying the sleeves because it does feel like I’m getting somewhere — at least compared to the body.Â
It was extremely cold today (below zero), but I ventured out into the arctic blast — in nothing but my coat sweater.  I do not own a winter coat, which is unusual for a Minnesotan and also admittedly stupid. It just hasn’t been that cold the last few years and when I layer up with two or three sweaters I’m as warm as anyone. I may have to break down one of these days and buy a coat if the cold streak keeps up!! 😉
What is it about Minnesotans? I never owned any gloves or boots when I lived there.
I was going to post an update on my Berry cluster, but I’ll wait ’til tomorrow while everyone’s watching the Super Bowl. I’ve done the back, front, and one sleeve. The neck had a few “issues,” which is what I’ll talk about tomorrow.
Comment by surly — February 3, 2007 @ 10:28 pm
LOL — my SIL in Mpls insists that she “has to” own a fur coat because of the cold.
Comment by AuntieAnn — February 4, 2007 @ 1:16 am
I used to use dpns but since reading Wendy’s and the Mason-Dixon blog, I use those 12 inches as long as there are no less than ~66 stitches! It took some getting used to those short needles.
Comment by Marina — February 4, 2007 @ 7:01 am
I can’t wait to see the double loop method. I am getting closer to doing the sleeves on Donegal and I am looking forward to trying your method. I hate stranding on DPNs, but I hate the short circs even more. Oregon is looking beautiful.
Comment by Hope — February 5, 2007 @ 10:58 pm