Jason Knits

I knitted a swatch with Anna’s Grasshopper last night. Using the recommended needle size, US 8. Although the yarn felt a little scratchy when I first picked it up, it didn’t cause any problem during knitting. I gave the completed swatch a warm bath and let it dry on a towel. After all that, the fiber bloomed and fuzzed up a bit. The fabric did become softer like so many who used Peace Fleece said. It definitely looks and feels “hairier”. I think the drape will be nice. It’s not stiff at all. I was concerned about the fuzz. Will it cause scratchiness next to the skin? I placed it against the more sensitive part of my arm. Brushed the fabric against the skin a bit. No scratchiness. It actually felt quite soft and nice. It’s a nice “hairy”. I always wear a shirt underneath the sweater anyway.

Here are two pairs of photos. The first of each pair is the “before” blocking picture. The other is the “after” blocking picture.

See the fuzziness? I guess that’s what they call “halo”. The Mohair does bloom and pop out after blocking. The yarn is a heavy worsted 2-ply. I got 4.125 stitches per inch. Yes. It needs to be that precise with the sweater project. My partner loves how this fabric looks. So do I!

An update on the sampler from the book “The Sweater Workshop”. There are more techniques to do, but here’s what I have so far:

1. Garter Stitch
2. Stockinette Stitch
3. K1, P1 Ribbing
4. Twisted Rib
5. K2, P2 Ribbing
6. Stripe in Ribbing
7. Short Row (Hard to see, but there are two big holes there.)
8. Button Hole (It’s there.)
9. Cardigan Border
10. A Pocket (It’s quite easy. Who’d knew!)

I tried doing Short Row in the round three times with the same result each time. Holes on the right side. I just don’t understand it. I went on Jacqueline Fee’s Yahoo Group in search of an answer. I found that Short Row is a troublesome spot on the sampler. She suggested to just move on and continue with the rest. She added that it would make more sense when knitting a real sweater. So, I moved on. I did try to to find instructions on the web. But everything was knitting short row in the flat. Not in the round.

The instructions tell you to knit to the length of the short row, do a wrap stitch, turn, purl to the length of the short row, do another wrap stitch, turn. Knit to the wrap stitch, pick up wrap and knit it together with the stitch on the needle. Continue with the round until you come back to the second wrap stitch that you made, pick up the wrap and knit together with the stitch on the needle. This second time creates large holes. I think it’s impossible not to create holes if you don’t pick up a stitch or two when you come back to the right side of the short row. Because there are two extra rows on the short row. Eh, it’s difficult to think when I am still feeling sick. Any ideas? or comments?

My Peace Fleece yarn arrived on Monday. Surprise! I didn’t use any of my color combinations. I was having a difficult time deciding which to go with. I got so frustrated with myself and just went for solid color. It won’t be my only sweater, you know. Well, it’s got enough going on in this yarn to make it interesting. It’s called Anna’s Grasshopper. Grey-green mixed with 6 other colors. I ordered on Friday the 19th, and it arrived on Monday the 22nd. Talk about speedy!

I finished the first row of the “petals” on the Lotus Blossom. Two more rows to go. I hope the “points” will get rounded and look more petal-like during blocking. Crossing my fingers. I also put in a lifeline for the first time on this shawl. I am comfortable with correcting mistakes. Believe me, I had a lot of practice. But I am really afraid that the stitches would fly off the needles and I wouldn’t know how to put them back on.

I also started knitting the sampler from “The Sweater Workshop”. I am actually further along on the project than what you see in the picture. I was feeling sick yesterday and just sat on the couch and knitted most of the day.

Jacqueline Fee is very detailed with her instructions. I know some of the stuff already, but she really makes it so clear that I think I understand it on a different level. It’s not just do this, do that. She makes you understand the “why”. I really appreciate that. Certain things are also done differently, making it very interesting.