Doing test knitting is a mixed blessing! You get the pattern free, ahead of time. That’s it. People ask if you get free yarn. NO. This past June I wanted to test a summer tee (Anitra Vest) designed by Elenor Mortenson. It was quite complex, so I opted out. But I felt bad about it, so I signed up for another: Jul. It will be out later in October.
It is also complicated, but I am now on to the plain knitting. Here is the yoke:
This really pushed all my knitting skills!
I like it fine but for one problem that has ruined this for me. There is a very obvious color break right under the yoke. Yep. The “hand-dyed yarn” problem! I was already carrying three colors in the yoke, so I didn’t want to carry a 4th to alternate skeins. I started doing that after the yoke. The new skeins have an orange cast vs the gray cast of the yoke. It’s hard to see it in the pictures but is quite obvious IRL. I will finish it, but I am very disappointed.
I have decided to make it into a summer tee because of the lightweight fabric and my desire to minimize the effort invested. ::le sigh::
Now that you mention it, and I’m specifically looking for the color change, I definitely see it – even online. So sorry! It’s so much work for a sweater, and then have something like this throw a wrench in the works. I hope you can come to love it more over time.
Comment by Amy — September 20, 2024 @ 1:57 pm
I think it is fine. Nice actually
Comment by Isolde — September 21, 2024 @ 3:44 am
So sorry to hear. Susan! Embroidery, duplicate stitch or beading an option? You would probably have to do same in a few random more places to make it look part of the design, of course, which may or may not appeal to you. I have a beautifully-fitting, cap-sleeved vest (aka sleeveless raglan sweater) that could stand a few well-placed embroidered daisies, but will I ever get around to it (assuming I even learn to embroider)? I doubt it. And will probably wear it around the house anyway.
Comment by Chloe — September 21, 2024 @ 11:12 am
Oh, whoops, I just enlarged the picture and see that it already Has beads! Well, as a highly accomplished knitting teacher once told us,even very expensive commercial knitwear has flaws. Learning to love it sounds like a great option!
Comment by Chloe — September 21, 2024 @ 11:19 am
Beautiful sweater and work! Maybe you could lightly overdye the whole thing when you’re finished to unite the color tone.
Comment by Shelley Smith — September 24, 2024 @ 4:17 pm
You know, depending on just where it falls, a color break just under the yoke could look planned, certainly more so than a break partway down the ribcage. Maybe this is a case of finish it, set it aside, then look at it with an open mind. I certainly sympathize with your mid-process dismay, though. I haven’t always taken things to the “finish it, then look at it with fresh eyes” stage!
Comment by Gretchen (aka stashdragon) — September 26, 2024 @ 10:48 am