So, here I go and tell you that I'm thinking about bailing on my blog, and now all of a sudden I have all this fun stuff to show you! Maybe I just went through a slump in the early summer...knitting doesn't seem to be on the top of my mind when I know that temps below 90 are too far away to contemplate, but now with fall right around the corner (the weather at least) I am picking up speed.
This is the Inversion Gansey, to be honest, I had NO IDEA what was going to happen with this when I finished it. I figured it could go either way, a total winner or an OMG I want my 60 hours back. This pattern was seriously complicated. Seriously. It had cables and lace, a gussett, two different sections of increases and decreases in the body, saddle shoulders, and a seriously wide boatneck that I think I successfully thwarted.
I had a hard time getting into this one because it was so complicated, I had started it thinking it would be TV knitting, a bit of entertainment, but mostly stockinette and it just didn't work out that way in reality.
Mods: Instead of leaving live stitches on the front and back which would have had me with over 140 stitches for the collar, I bound off and then picked up at a 2:3 ratio, giving me 110 st. I did this because the FOs on Rav looked sort of off-the-shoulder, not a look I favor, and HOORAY! it worked out for me. It's still really wide in the neck, but I think it will stay on my shoulders, so it'll be fine with a cami.
I am excited to see how this yarn wears, it is Ella Rae Merino Heather, and it is SOFT. I usually need any undershirt even with most merino yarns, but this feels like cotton on my skin, so soft and smooth! Maybe it's the cable construction...I'm not sure, but I'll definitely be using it again if it wears well.
Bottom line, I guess I would recommend the pattern, obviously it worked out fine, I'm just not a fan of following blindly along and hoping things work out for the best, but if you want to knit it, be aware that it is not an easy knit!
I have one more sweater 2/3 done...a bit more persistance and I'll have to show you soon!
Oh, that's very cute! I think the neck line is very flattering. I have some of that yarn in my stash (in a heathered dark red/purple) -- now I'm dying to try it out!
So glad you're still blogging! I wonder if part of it is that summer and knitting just don't always mix that well, plus summer is usually such a busy time. Maybe you should just plan to take summers mostly off from blogging?
Posted by: Jodi | September 22, 2011 at 09:51 PM
You look truly amazing! Complicated as it was, this pattern (and your variation) are perfect for you. Congratulations!
Posted by: Barbara-Kay | September 22, 2011 at 10:07 PM
Nice! I'm not generally a fan of gansey sweaters because of the boxy shape... but this is very flattering!Is there some shaping in this, or did you modify it that way?
Posted by: KathleenC | September 23, 2011 at 06:51 PM
love the sweater, and can't wait to see the 2/3-done one. But what I really want to see is your Swirl! I bought the book, too, but haven't started yet.
Posted by: pattie | September 24, 2011 at 05:51 PM
Ooh! Ooh! That is absolutely gorgeous - and it looks so good on you! Very nice. I know what you mean about complicated sweaters, though - it can be hard to make that commitment (and they can turn out badly, like the one I knitted three times last fall before throwing it into the time-out bin, where it sits still).
Posted by: Jocelyn | September 26, 2011 at 07:34 PM
Oh, I see what you mean! I understand how you might be a tad underwhelmed with the green pullover, but this one with the cables and designs is VERY cute! Great job!
Posted by: Julia | October 10, 2011 at 02:04 AM