my lunch (plus coffee, always coffee!) - reminds me of the yarn (I'm still not sure of the true colour, pink or deep red?)

Pattern: Turbulence U-Neck Pullover Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan
Yarn: Debblie Bliss cashmerino dk
Needles: Addi turbos 3.5 mm & 4 mm
Gauge: 22 sts and 30 rows = 4 inches
Modifications: None
Size: Petite
Started: 6.14.06
Completed: 7.4.06

This pullover was a straightforward knit – make a front, back, two sleeves, submerge block and then sew, sew, sew. The front piece with the gorgeous cable was the most interesting part of the project, but it went by too quickly. I stuck to the pattern, but if I had to knit it again, I’d consider knitting it in the round and adding waist shaping. It’s big on me and very square/boxy – my own fault, I should have taken the time and adjusted the pattern knowing that the measurements given for the petite size were going to be too big.

The turbulence cable chart is missing row 36 – no big deal, just follow the established pattern – then the next row will be a knit row and you decrease 4 sts between the markers evenly.

I’m not completely satisfied with the finishing job I did on this sweater. I spent days blocking, carefully pinning the pieces together, sewing them up, picking up stitches. I held up the sweater and knew immediately that I needed to work on assembling a sweater. Maybe pressing the seams would help, but I think it would just emphasize my sloppy sew up job. More practice? (This is my second sweater with set in sleeves and lots of seams.) Bottom line: I want my projects to look hand-knit, not homemade. It’s all in the details and finishing, no?

Posted by brooke at 06:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Progress on the Turbulence pullover.

front with center cable

finished back piece

Cables are classic and my favorite stitch pattern to knit.
My love of cables began back in October 2005 when I became obsessed with a cabled hat and scarf pattern from Rebecca 30. I knit it in soysilk, karabella and ggh cashmere. Knitting the hat with soy silk was the first time I used dpns – I remember that day at my lys vividly – attempting to knit with multiple needles, trying to decipher a Rebecca pattern, using soysilk yarn to make big cables and eating jellybeans from a bowl on the table.

Posted by brooke at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Yesterday a few friends stopped by - I had the back of the Turbulence U-Neck Pullover on the table. (Earlier in the day I had been walking around the house and knitting rows of stockinette. Walking because sitting for too long makes my back feel stiff and knitting because I can’t stop. Eventually we left for a family lunch and I left it on the table, separated from its pattern.) So when they inquired about the knitting, I ran upstairs to get Knitting Nature and showed them the back cover. They loved the cable on the front of the pullover. I felt like screaming, I know! Isn’t that the most amazing cable! I showed them a close up and the chart. You’re going to knit that? It does look challenging, but I was thinking, I’m going to knit that!

Lolly put it best when she said at the end of her book review, “Destined to be a classic, and destined to be on my needles!”

Knitting Nature References:
Sknitty’s finished Roundabout Leaf Tank

Grumperina’s Pentagon pullover

Posted by brooke at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)