Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Cast Off, Cast On

I know what you're thinking. Yay, another picture of Laura's foyer! Sorry. I seem to be incapable of taking a decent picture of myself.

Pattern: Licorice Whip by Blue Alvarez Designs in size XXXS
Yarn: About 6 skeins, I think, of Wool-Ease Chunky (25% wool, 75% dinosaurs) in Grass
Needles: US Size 8 Knit Picks Options circulars
Modifications, Thoughts: The original pattern called for a cotton yarn; I had several skeins of this Wool-Ease Chunky in my stash and the recommended gauge was exactly the same as that for the sweater. I shortened the sleeves considerably, to a bracelet length (otherwise known as "a little too short"). Long sleeves are nice for the warmth, but they get in my way when I am in the kitchen.

I knit the XXXS because I wanted a fitted sweater, and I certainly got it. I did block it to be slightly bigger, because the lace pattern was not as open as I wanted. The finished bust measurement after blocking is 35 inches.

It's a fun and easy pattern to knit, and I do like the finished object. It fits. But I'm not thrilled with the yarn. The fabric is a little stiff and the bottom edge is still rolling in spite of the blocking. I'd love it if it were a tiny bit drapier. My friend Preeti and I are thinking about killing the acrylic with steam to make it less stiff. Does anyone have experience with killing acrylic with purpose? Here's another picture, included completely gratuitously because it features my seriously cute son.

As you know, I've had good intentions lately of doing knitting for others. (Not long after I started those good-karma socks for Mom and the scarf for the Red Scarf Project, this happened. Coincedence? I think not.) I've finished one of those Mom socks and I've made good progress on the red scarf. I resolved not to cast on anything for myself until those projects, and the Anastasia socks, were finished.

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

55 Comments:

Blogger jillian said...

You are right, that is a seriously cute kid!

Your licorice whip is great too! I know nothing about killing acrylic on purpose - could you do it in a little corner of the sweater somewhere first? Between this and your gorgeous Clapotis, you're on a finishing roll, always good for karma!

6:10 PM  
Blogger Kate A. said...

Oooh!!! I love it! All you bloggers have been making me love green in a whole new way...I never much thought about it before. I love the pattern, too, much more so now that I see your fitted version than the original photo, even. And I think your son must be the most seriously adorable boy in the world! He's...like...a walking temptation to cover him with handknits, isn't he? Have you taught him to knit yet? The pictures over at The Purloined Letter of her adorable son knitting and spinning kind of make me swoon. Is there any more heart-warming sight?

I, too, finally started my first Red Scarf just before certain recent encouraging events....hmm, well, coincidence or not, to be on the safe side I'm going to knit red scarves like mad!!! ...and see what happens! Maybe if we knit enough red scarves, we'll someday see the whole Bush cabal behind bars?? Okay, maybe my imagination is running away with me, but in any case I did find lots of red yarn in my stash (big surprise) that's itching to be made into scarves (but hopefully won't be itchy scarves).

6:14 PM  
Blogger Lynda said...

Seriously cute!

I love your sweater - I think it's a great fit. I totally get you on the sleeves. I don't know why I ever knit any sleeves longer than 3/4 length, I ALWAYS end up pushing them up anyway.

That's gotta be Manos, right? Who in their right mind could resist?

6:17 PM  
Blogger Lauren said...

It looks great, and W-E Chunky wears like a champ.

6:18 PM  
Blogger melissa said...

i started a my so called scarf in manos this weekend too, and it's probably one of the most beautiful things ever. too bad i have to give it to someone as a gift. you should definitely keep yours! :)

6:42 PM  
Blogger Jenn said...

Love the colors of your whip! And yet another person has beat me to the finish line! Soon.....soon....as soon as I get the sleeve gremlins out of my closet.
Love the colors of the scarf!

6:56 PM  
Blogger Acornbud said...

How great that sweater looks on you! It is so hard to take pictures of one's self, so no apologies for the foyer;)

7:23 PM  
Blogger Sonya said...

Lovely sweater, Laura. I've killed acrylic and it definitely added drape. Majorly cute kid!

7:50 PM  
Blogger mary said...

The licorice whip looks wonderful! I especially love the color. Since yours and Sknitty's look so fabulous, I may have to think seriously about making one for myself. The manos is looking great as your fancy scarf. Can't wait to see more of the stitch pattern.

8:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Laura, I'm so glad you are knitting with the Wildflowers Manos, too. It makes me feel less guilty for bumping it up in my line-up of projects and foresaking my Icarus for a week or so!

Love your dear little boy. He's very, very cute. And, like your Licorice Whip, you made him yourself.

Well done, well done.

8:30 PM  
Blogger Courtney said...

Nice sweater! You are a seriously fast knitter. I'm regularly impressed with your output.

8:34 PM  
Blogger msubulldog said...

Licorice Whip looks great! And what a cute shot of the kiddo. :) I got a good laugh out of "75% dinosaurs"!

8:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Licorice Whip looks like it fits you just right -- I guess knitting it very fitted and then blocking it aggressively was the way to go. Sorry to hear that the drape isn't what you'd hoped for, though.

10:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love the photos. You made me laugh so hard with the karma story :)

12:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Never complain about a finished sweater!!! Congratulations on a job well done! But it is a lesson, one I keep learning the hard way, that you should always use the best fiber you have so a good sweater will be a great sweater. (This flies in the face of fiscal responsibility and totally stinks if you hate the sweater itself after plunking down good money for the yarn. Forget what I said.)

Anyway, I like it on you and the pictures are fine. I am always struggling with sleeve length myself, but these days I'm going with longer rather than shorter and just hoping to avoid any housework. My life's goal.

Very cute boy. :-)

5:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love the sweater, blurry pictures and all! I'm with you on sleeve length - it also makes it easier to fit under coats, I find.

7:31 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your sweater looks so perfect! The color is wonderful... I've killed acrylic on purpose before, and while it certainly adds drape, it makes the fabric kind of weirdly shiny and stretched out - and once you've done it, it probably won't block back if it gets too big... I did it with a baby blanket that was a little too stiff, by steaming it with an iron (not touching the iron directly to it). If you want to try it, maybe you could make a little swatch with any leftover yarn and see what happens?

8:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It looks great - and your son is pretty darned cute! :o)

9:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The sweater looks great! I've killed W-E with steam before, and it flattened out nicely. Took several passes with the iron, but wound up looking great.

9:29 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dinosaur? I love it! I forgot to mention in my email how I love the clapotis. Now I get to tell you the sweater looks great. It seems you are really knitting up a storm! Lucky you!
4 more repeats, then purl edging to go on SKB 2nd sleeve---HELP!!!! I think you made the right choice on the short sleeve version, but I'm always freezing in the winter and didn't think I'd wear it.

9:45 AM  
Blogger Glaistig said...

That sweater looks fantastic on you!! The collar looks very mod. Don't you love FREE patterns that turn out stunning?

I agree with the others -- I think ironing will take the starch out of acrylic pretty well. Maybe you could iron a small portion in the back or knit up a separate small swatch?

(I think we share the same stash or something - I have some Wool-ease in Grass. LB really did a great job with the hue. The name is so apt!)

Your son is such a cutie patootie :)

9:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The licorice whip is great, but the kid, I have to say, is the clear winner here. He's utterly squooshable.

Make sure you take lots of pictures of your acrylicide, please!

11:18 AM  
Blogger Dr. B. said...

Yups. Seriously cute kid. Cool sweater. Kickin' Rummy to the curb.

You are obviously a powerful force to be reckoned with.

Also, thank you for the shout-out in your "featured blogs" department. I'm flattered and very pleased. It made my day.

12:51 PM  
Blogger gray la gran said...

i definitely vote for killing the yarn. machine knitters do it all the time. i would definitely test it on a large swatch first, because i don't think the process is reversible!
you might google it too ... to see what the professionals do in their process :)

1:47 PM  
Blogger Jen said...

Your licorice whip looks fantastic! I was wondering about the gauge specified in the pattern because it seemed pretty bulky compared to the labelled gauge. I guess the sweater should be drapey, no? Anyway, v. cute son, cute sweater, to die for Manos colorway...

1:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It looks great! And the yarn for the new project is gorgeous... You're on a roll recently!

2:20 PM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

Lovely sweater, and sweet little boy. Yeah, the acrylic content of that yarn is well... yeah. I'd be interested to know if steaming the heck out of it works.

4:36 PM  
Blogger ofpinsandneedles said...

Laura you're so pretty! No surprise you son is such a cutie. The sweater's not bad either

5:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It looks great! I dream of wearing an XXS. :)

12:39 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

fabulous jumper! i love it! seriously cute son as well, you're right about that!

i've never killed anything as serious as yarn before, so please share your experiences if you decide to try it out.

9:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The whip looks great on you! I can't tell if the hem curls or not, but I've steamed acrylic before & it did seem to soften it up. I very carefully used a damp towel as a pressing cloth & barely applied (little to no pressure) the iron.
Your clapotis is gorgeous, too! Nothing like a lovely wrap to make one feel wonderful & elegant :)

9:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The jumper is gorgeous and so is your little boy! That second photo needs to go in a frame! x

BTW: I turn my knits inside out and IRON them (especially the hems and seams)... they come out flat and drapey .

10:48 PM  
Blogger Jenny said...

That's a great sweater! It fits great!

8:20 PM  
Blogger Sourire11 said...

Beautiful sweater!!!

1:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great sweater Laura! I love the color and the fit. I just finished a Licorice Whip, too, and really love how it came out. Good luck with the ironing experiment.

BTW - your son is the cutest!

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