Had a wicked case of post-partem knitting blues after finishing Clapotis. Spent my creative time Thursday just puttering with stash and doing a needle inventory. Now I'll admit, I'm a person who rearranges deck chairs. My house may be in chaos, but my needles are well-ordered thank you very much. Since I spent way too much time on this chart that organizes by size, material and company. I'll be glad to share. If you want a copy just comment and I'll email you the MS Word doc. If you're scratching your head and thinking I'm crazy, well that's true, but I used to do this for a living so for me it's mindlessly engaging. I keep a copy tucked in my wallet for use at the LYS.
After a day off, I awoke refreshed and ready for a new knitting challenge. But I didn't expect this much of a challenge.... CO for the Noro Rocktorp in a medium and got to knitting just happy as could be. I tend to knit over gauge and I wanted a M+, so I figured it would work out. What I didn't figure is that the stitch instructions would proved to be so frickin unclear.
The instructions for "tweed stitch" (as she calls it) in this pattern do not specify where to carry the secondary yarn - front or back. Makes a huge difference.
To back up, first I started by slipping knitwise, and by the fourth row my arms were hurting so much I couldn't imagine knitting this sweater. Looked in the books and found the obvious issue there - always slip purlwise to keep the stitch untwisted. OK, maybe common knowledge, but I argue that it's not a big deal to add the clarifying notation "purlwise". Anyway, I accept that as my problem.
I ripped and consulted books and the net for tweed and linen stitch instructions. Seemed that maybe I should be carrying the yarn in front. CO again and the sample below is what came from that. (Let's not talk too much about why I didn't swatch.) Not good huh?
Ripped again, did a swatch (yeah, at least not a three-time idiot), and determined the yarn should be carried in the back at all times, which looked like the back side of the attempt above. CO again and here's where I am. Still not sure... The book photo is not perfectly clear and there's no close-up, but I think this looks right.
If you have a strong feeling this is NOT right, please say it now or forever hold your peace.
So, what did a really really need after that? A mindless project! Straightforward knitting. Not lace, no tricky patterning, nothing new to learn. Just knitting.
My mailman delivered a solution. Ten skeins of Noro Silk Garden arrived from an ebay buy. Love this subtle colorway. I typically go for reds and strong colors and I want to break out of my comfort zone.
Silk Garden #88 for Klaralund
Not on the agenda, not in the stash, but yet here it is. Klaralund is on the needles. Got smart and pulled up the centers to evaluate the color order of each ball before CO. Don't care about the body matching, but I like the sleeve striping to be somewhat aligned so I paired the balls with the best matches and saved those for the sleeves. Here's the first ball knitted up.
Now, one final issue. Silk Garden has changed. My guess is that Noro's success has meant they've sought out other yarn providers who aren't as good as their primary mill(s). Or they've decided to cut costs. Something happened. I remember last summer/fall no one had any Noro and everyone was back-ordered. I'm sure they were busting ass to meet the demand. Sad result is inferior product.
Three years ago I bought SG for the Debbie Bliss Enrelac sweater I've been wearing ever since. In that yarn the silk part of the blend is gorgeous - better than this photo can show. It's got that lovely silk shine that makes it stand out from the more subtle wool and mohair. The noticeable silk slubs only add to the rough beauty. The mohair gives a light, attractive halo. Overall the yarn is soft and there was virtually no rough matter - sticks, unspun fibers, etc.
That was then. Still love the dying, but this is low-quality yarn. Not sure I would have bought this in a store and I'm so glad I got an ebay deal on it, but it's still not cheap - it just feels like it. No shine or smoothness to the silk, no mohair fuzz - in fact you'd be hard pressed to say either fiber was used by just casually looking at it. Sticks and hay throughout. Little white kinky fibers falling out of every skein. I've had two knots already I'm just starting the second ball. Total crap. Just did a little googling and it seems from the WiseNeedle reviews that I'm not the only one who's gotten a bad batch. Thankfully the colors still say Noro.
So, my suggestion would be to touch your Silk Garden before buying if you think this would bother you. Next time I'm in my LYSs I'm going to see if any SG in stock looks good. I'll let you know.
Hi, I just was referred here from another blog, and I wound up reading quite a bit of yours. It's very good and you do beautiful work. I just finished a slip stitch tweed look jacket (Paton's Divine Decadence New York Jacket) and your new project looks like mine. It was done by knitting two rows with one colour, slipping the other colour and slipping with the yarn on the wrong side.(did that mske sense?) I always think I can skip the swatching and then I'm sorry :). My yarn was really fuzzy, too, so I finally had to do a swatch in something smooth so I could see what it was supposed to look like. Your jacket will be gorgeous when it is done.
Posted by: karen | February 06, 2005 at 04:00 PM
Hi,
I found your blog via the yarn harlot's. Your clapotis and first pair of socks are both great! I also love your very artistic photo layouts!
I'd love to have a copy of the needlework organization chart!
Posted by: Wendi | February 06, 2005 at 05:29 PM
On the slipped stitch issue - usually if the pattern is described as slipped stitch, then the yarn is carried forward. But, conversely, if it isn't billed that way and the directions merely say to slip, then the convention is to carry the yarn behind. No help, right? If it's a Cornelia Tuttle design, you may be able to e-mail her. She corresponded with Wendy of Wendy Knits regarding issues with Klaralund (there are several). You may want to e-mail Wendy. I'm not familier with this pattern, but if I get a chance to duck into my yarn store I'll take a look at the pics and let you know if I have any ideas. It's hard to believe that the pics are that bad (though it wouldn't be the first time!)
Re: Silk Garden, have you checked it out at your LYS as well? Although I love E-bay I once got a crap batch of yarn from there, so I'm always cautious. It would be sad if SG has gone down the crapper.
Love your blog and am looking forward to the upcoming knits.
Posted by: Julia | February 06, 2005 at 05:41 PM
aww, that's a shame about the silk garden. i've never even felt it or held it in my hands, let alone knitted with it. i've heard so many rave reviews in the past - but i've also heard so many people saying how so many yarns/needles aren't the way they used to be. i think your busting ass theory is right. well regardless, i think your klaralund will be beautiful!
i hope you find some answers for your tweed stitch issue. rocktorp's gonna be gorgeous! i love those colors together.
Posted by: michelle | February 06, 2005 at 06:25 PM
Well, I have to say I'm glad to hear what you though of the SG - I love my Klaralund, but didn't understnad all the fuss about Silk Garden. It did soften up after washing, but not much - it's still pretty itchy and has lots of little white fibers everywhere. But I LOVE the sweater. The colors you're using a great!
I would love a copy of your chart - I love to organize my stuff that way. YAY Nancy!
Posted by: Jackie | February 06, 2005 at 07:48 PM
First time reader of your blog and I stumble upon it just when you're offering something right up my alley: a needle organizing aid. I was thinking earlier today that I need to record the sizes/lengths etc., that I have. Please sent the chart! Thank you!
I've bookmarked your blog and will be back.
Thank you!
P.S. I've used Noro yarns for several small projects--scarves, Booga Bags, etc., and have been very disappointed by the number of knots in eash skein/ball.
Posted by: Melissa | February 06, 2005 at 07:55 PM
I would LOVE a copy of your chart. I can't tell you how many times I'm at my LYS wondering if I already bought the US4, 32" circular needle...
I like the way your final try turned out...it reminds me a lot of a scarf a girl at a class I was taking was making...! I'm looking forward to seeing your progress... ^_^
Posted by: tania | February 06, 2005 at 09:48 PM
Beautiful colors on the SG - I actually popped in to take a look at Clapotis - absolutely gorgeous. I went straight to knitty.com and printed off the pattern so I could start my own. I'd love to have a copy of your needle chart - I tend to lose track of the needle sizes/lengths I've got when I'm at the yarn store so it will come in very handy. Thanks for the offer... Great blog and beautiful work - I've bookmarked you. :-) Looking forward to seeing more FOs.
Posted by: Vicki | February 07, 2005 at 10:27 AM
I've always had problems with Silk Garden--well, I haven't used it for anything larger than hats and scarves and have only used it a few times. Anyway, I've been frustrated with the sticks and have often found knots in it, which makes me really mad. The colors are so gorgeous though!
Posted by: Lisa | February 07, 2005 at 10:52 AM
I would love a copy of your chart. Thanks for sharing and love your site!
Posted by: Connie | February 07, 2005 at 02:18 PM
I don't know much about tweed stitch, but even if you're not doing it right - it looks beautiful. I really like the colors you chose. Sounds like you are casting on many new and cool projects. :)
Posted by: Anne-Caroline | February 07, 2005 at 06:03 PM
Your entrelac sweater is gorgeous! I am planning on ordering some silk garden to make an entrelac shawl for my mom. I'm wondering now if I should look for something else. Nothing else seems to do color changes quite like the noro though. I wonder how they do it.
(I'm another one who found your blog through the Yarn Harlot. :)
Posted by: Abigail | February 07, 2005 at 08:58 PM
a woman after my own heart! charting needles, this is what i need to keep in my bag. if you don't mind emailing me a copy, i'd appreciate it. and your clapotis is lovely! i love the color you chose.
Posted by: amanda | February 08, 2005 at 12:20 PM
Oh nerdy sister of organization -- hail to thee. I have my needles organized on a spreadsheet. I've taken to making copious notes about projects I'd like to do and then rating/ranking them by how likely I will be to knit it. I consider if I'll learn anything new from the pattern, is it portable, is it a concentration knit or a mindless knit, do I have yarn for the project, etc. It is ever-evolving. I should spend this much time knitting!
Posted by: Gina | February 09, 2005 at 06:54 PM
I'd love a copy of your file. Thank you!
Posted by: Kristi | February 21, 2005 at 02:20 PM