Finishing Ballerina was supposed to mean I could knit what I wanted, but that’s not entirely true. I’m very behind on my stealth Christmas knitting, which I can’t blog about until after the holiday. Real freedom won’t come for two more weeks.
Even so, I did manage to start Betsy. As a reminder, here is the pattern I’m talking about:
I’m knitting mine out of Simply Shetland’s Lambswool Cashmere in Red Hot (shade 1294). It’s very cloudy today and I can’t seem to quite capture the color but this is fairly close. I haven’t knitted much, but in an unusual moment of farsightedness, I knit my gauge swatch the exact size of one of the pocket linings. I was so proud of myself. So I have two pocket linings and nothing else. I’m not sure I’ll use those buttons with Betsy, but the colors look great together. I really like working with this yarn so far.
The lower front and back are all in seed stitch; I am going to do the body in one piece because I don’t like how seed stitch looks when it is seamed.
The yarn knits up very nice. Those swatch/pocket linings look as though they’ve been blocked.
I do not enjoy seed stitch. I don’t envy you this project.
Comment by LaurieM — December 12, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
From Susan: You may get to use those buttons yet! I think they really pop with this yarn — they get a bit lost with the Damak Kauni combo. I still think I may knit Betsy or a “close cousin” in the blue green Tapestry I bought this fall.
Comment by lv2knit — December 12, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
I’m so excited to see you start this!
My Betsy is still languising somewhere deep in my queue… 🙂
Comment by ann — December 12, 2007 @ 7:39 pm
Laurie: I very lightly steamed the pocket linings so that they would be flat enough for me to measure.
Comment by surly — December 12, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
I totally agree about knitting in one piece, especially with seed stitch, but then why seam if you can avoid it? Do you have a “rule of thumb” for adapting a pattern? I generally leave out one stitch per side per piece, but I modify that depending one the pattern repeat. I guess it’s more like I have a “rule” for stockinette, but if there is any pattern, I adapt so that the repeats are as complete and symmetric as possible.
Comment by Astrid — December 12, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
Wow! That yarn is gorgeous the buttons are fab and together they are sheer poetry. That’s going to be a beautiful sweater:)
Ang
Comment by angelarae — December 12, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
I think that’s going to be a great-looking sweater. It’s one of my favorite colors.
Comment by Kay — December 12, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
This is going to be awesome! I sure miss reading here, the holidaze has me spinning (not the good kind that results in yarn);-) Can’t wait to see the stealth projects!
Comment by Carol — December 12, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
The color is wonderful!
Comment by Michelle — December 12, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
That’s going to be a pretty sweater. I, personally, could not knit it because it’s too much stockinette. I do love the collar and the trim, though. The buttons are great.
Comment by kellistarr — December 13, 2007 @ 8:56 am
Sally – I was wondering about how that yarn feels. Do you think there will be any itchiness when wearing? It’s a wonderful colour, and the buttons look fabulous with it.
Comment by Gale — December 13, 2007 @ 9:09 am
Sally- Oh good, I’m happy that you’re using this yarn, as I’m interested to find
out what you think of it.
The color range is terrific.
Comment by Lorraine — December 13, 2007 @ 9:33 am
Love, love, love the buttons…they’ll take the sweater to “extraordinary”! Go for it…they’re to die for!
Comment by maureen — December 13, 2007 @ 11:18 pm
Betsy is a beauty, whether she is simply pockets now or whatever! This pattern will be perfect when knit up in this shade of red, and I’m totally with you when it comes to knitting in the round to avoid seaming whenever possible.
Comment by Karen B. — December 15, 2007 @ 11:40 am