Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Tenho Jeito

Pattern: Perfect Periwinkle Turtleneck Tube Vest by Stefanie Japel in Fitted Knits
Yarn: Every last bit of 2 skeins of Cascade 220 Wool
Needles: 3.75mm (US5) Addi Turbos
Thoughts: Many.

In Brazilian Portuguese, there's an expression ... jeito or jeitinho. If you have jeito, it more or less means that you're clever and resourceful. When I was in high school in Brazil, I had a friend whose rocket for the science fair landed in the neighborhood behind the school. He found it in the hands of a little kid, who insisted that the rocket was his but gamely offered to sell it to my friend. That kid had jeito.

A jeitinho is your resourceful and clever solution. Yesterday, as I was finishing up this tank, I was deeply engaged in working a jeitinho. I made the smallest size, which called for 2 skeins of yarn. In trying to make it as long as possible with just the two skeins, I ran out of yarn before finishing my bind off. Aarrggh! I had tried the sweater on, though, and felt that the neck was a little longer than it needed to be. So I unravelled from the cast-on edge back about 4 rows or so and then cast off with a size N crochet hook. That made the neck edge a little ruffly, but at least it goes over my head. And I had enough yarn to finish my bind-off.

Valuable lessons learned: unravelling from the cast-on edge is a major PITA!

I am still contemplating undoing the bind off at the bottom and adding some more ribbing in a coordinating color, probably espresso brown. What do you all think?

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29 Comments:

Blogger Melinda said...

Looks lovely -- I think the current length would be fine if you plan to never raise your arms. Otherwise, an inch or so of another color would probably be helpful.

12:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gorgeous sweater! I think a contrasting bottom edge would look good if you need to add length (I like mine on the long side). You defintiely have jeito!

12:21 PM  
Blogger Sonya said...

Very pretty! I think a complementary color at the bottom would look nice. Ditto on the jeito.

12:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think it needs to be a little longer, so the idea of a contrasting colour sounds great! I looks lovely nevertheless.

12:56 PM  
Blogger pamela wynne said...

Love it! I do think it could be a bit longer. Let us know what new jeitinho you come up with for that!

1:04 PM  
Blogger Ashley said...

Yup, contrast color--another couple inches or so will make it. But I am VERY impressed that you unraveled from the cast-on edge. That takes dedication!

1:26 PM  
Blogger Yarnhog said...

I agree that it could be a bit longer. If it were me, I'd do a contrasting color at the bottom, then unravel the top part of the collar and add some contrast color there, too, to tie it together. Sorry.

1:59 PM  
Blogger Laura B said...

I think it needs a little extra length at the bottom too. I'm really impressed that you unraveled from the cast on edge. You must have a lot of patience.

2:21 PM  
Blogger Shar said...

Very clever, I would never have thought of that. I like the ruffly(sp) turtleneck.

2:35 PM  
Blogger The A.D.D. Knitter said...

You are so resourceful!! Insert Portuguese word for fabulous here!

2:41 PM  
Blogger Eve said...

It's cute! I love how it screams: "LOOK AT MY BOOBS!"

4:18 PM  
Blogger Mama Urchin said...

I think the only thing about adding a contrast color at the bottom is that it will draw attention to that area. MIght not be a problem, just thought it was worth mentioning.

6:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Awesome sweater! In my fave five already! :)

8:28 PM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

I like it! I'm agreeing with everyone else here to say if you want a longer length (I'm with you here. I like a longer length), then a contrasting hem would look quite nice.

8:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes, length is good. It still fits you really well, though! And I think the neck length (height?) is really good too.

8:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, it looks great! I can see why you'd want a little extra length, though. I'd definitely add more - in fact, if you're using a new color, I'd add quite a bit and make it several inches longer so it looks intentional. I know nothing about clothing design but I can imagine that might be flattering.

9:30 PM  
Blogger Dr. B. said...

I like Yarnhog's idea a lot. Even more than that, I like your Brazilian-flavored solution-making.

Genius!

10:54 PM  
Blogger knitography said...

Lovely! I made the same size and also found 2 skeins left me a little short. When I wear it under a jacket I don't mind, but if I were to wear it by itself it would bother me. So, it's up to you how comfortable you are with the length it is now!

10:55 PM  
Blogger Brandy said...

I agree with most everyone else. Longer sweaters are better :) It looks awesome - I really think I need to buy that book!

11:09 PM  
Blogger Olga said...

I actually kind of like that length, but it depends on how you're going to wear it, huh? Will it be a vest to wear over shirts? If that's the case I don't think it needs to be longer (it'll be like a little cropped vest), but if you're going to wear it on its own, it might be better longer. Ditto what Eve said! LOL!

12:56 AM  
Blogger ofpinsandneedles said...

Yup, you certainly have jeito - but then I always knew that!

I think it's lovely as it is, but if you're concerned about the length you might find yourself always tugging at the bottom, or, worse, never wear it at all. Espresso brown would be a good choice I think.

You CAN knit sweaters! xo

5:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good idea. It's a great sweater. Do you naturally have great boobies or does the sweater accentuate them? I could use a little help in that dept.

5:50 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There is nothing worse than a sweater that is too short -- it requires constant tugging and ends up never being worn. If that's the case with this, then definitely add the contrast color to the bottom. i would pick up the color at the neck too (although that would necessitate picking out that edge again!)

But it looks great (and reminds me that I haven't knit anything but socks, mittens, and scarves for a long time....). Congrats!

9:03 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think it looks great but a little length wouldn't hurt.

8:44 PM  
Blogger Amy said...

It's great! And I'm all over the idea of an espresso-colored stripe on the bottom. (And maybe a row at the top if it wouldn't make the neck too long?) If you added a couple of inches, you'd get more of that nice hourglass silhouette in the sweater.

10:22 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

that is so amazingly rockin - and how clever of you indeed. (and you are so right about the cast on unravel bit, resourceful but makes you reconsider hopping in the car to get another skein.) good going!

btw: dh is going to the cav's game tonight - got tickets from a friend, how cool is that?! hope they win!

10:46 AM  
Blogger knit_tgz said...

Tens jeito, tens!

You speak Portuguese?!

12:19 PM  
Blogger Jen said...

I think it looks great as is. The contrasting color would take away from the svelte look, imho.

1:20 AM  
Blogger Caroline said...

Thanks so much for the advice--you were spot on. I did finish the tank (have been too busy to post photos yet!) and found that I had just barely enough yarn. It's a bit shorter than I'd like, but still passable. It helps that I'm petite. : ) Your solution was quite clever.

1:48 PM  

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