journal

Vanilla can wait

After a wash with Eucalan, it seems that the sheeplot problem has diminished (click the thumbnail for the full size picture). It might still be a teensy bit noticeable, but not enough to mandate an immediate dyeing. Besides, I sewed in the zipper, which matches the natural colour of the wool better than it would a vanilla-scented tea-dyed wool.

However, the strange little flecks of red and blue still remain.

And check out that rowing-out. I think either the size of the piece I’m knitting, or the weight of the yarn, determines whether the rowing out will be obvious/be present: I’ve found that it’s pretty much non-existent when I knit with yarns finer than aran weight, and in swatches; it’s most obvious around 4.5 sts/inch or when I’m knitting something garment sized (this is a cardigan, with the entire body knit in one piece). This is all combined knitting, which allegedly minimizes rowing out. Maybe I should try the western style to see what happens.

12 Responses to “Vanilla can wait”

1. 1
   Monica said on July 29th, 2005 at 1:23 pm

   I want Eris (?)! Monica

2. 2
   Rebekkah said on July 29th, 2005 at 2:33 pm

   You know, I can only kind of tell that there is a color difference if I really squint, and even then I’m not sure if I really see it. I doubt I’d notice anything if you didn’t point it out and prompt me to look for it.

   Of course, now I’m getting paranoid about one of my current projects. I’m using Cascade Eco Wool, which is also sheep colored. The skeins are huge, so I’ll only use 3 (and maybe a bit of a fourth), so maybe that decreases the likelihood that I’ll run into problems. I believe they even had lot numbers on them, but as I’ve seen problems with dyed skeins that are supposedly from the same lot, I really don’t know what to expect. I guess I’ll find out when I re-block and seam everything in a couple of weeks.

   On rowing out - I think it makes sense that you may have it in some gauges and not others. I think my technique differs a lot when using tiny needles and using thicker needles, and it makes perfect sense that my knitting and purling might be affected to different degrees by needle size. (For me this goes double, as I pick my knits but throw my purls.) I think I get more of it at tighter gauges, personally, but I actually have yet to knit something with worsted or heaver that has vast areas of plain stockinette. I’ll find out when I start on Rogue next month. :-)

3. 3
   claudia said on July 29th, 2005 at 3:33 pm

   I have an enormous rowing out problem when knitting back and forth..in any gauge. Different sized needles for knit and purl rows are my only salvation.

4. 4
   Julie said on July 30th, 2005 at 7:17 pm

   That is absolutely gorgeous, but I agree with you in the rowing out. I have trouble between needle sizes, too– haven’t figured out how to correct it.

5. 5
   j. said on July 30th, 2005 at 7:56 pm

   Okay, Monica, it’s there…

6. 6
   Monica said on July 31st, 2005 at 1:25 am

   Thanks:)

7. 7
   HibiscuitsGirl said on July 31st, 2005 at 12:55 pm

   Just wanted to say that I adore Eris! My daughter’s middle name is Eris, so I snatched up this pattern the moment I saw it! Thanks so much for such beautiful patterns.

8. 8
   Brenda said on July 31st, 2005 at 1:07 pm

   I love this pattern. I saw the test piece on a blog and have been waiting for the pattern. But I am flumoxed. I’ve been knitting for m-a-n-y years, but have never heard the term ‘rowing’. Can you explain please?

9. 9
   Esther Teigrob said on July 31st, 2005 at 5:11 pm

   I just printed off THE pattern. I read LYSOH this morning and she mentioned it! But I had to go out and get more paper first!
   Just don’t stop designing! Are you allowing your lawyer job to interfere with your unique gift of designing? Oh well, it was worth the wait. GOOD JOB!

10. 10
    Shannon said on August 1st, 2005 at 9:02 am

    Ordered it, loving it already — another no-doubt smash hit!

11. 11
    sylviatx said on August 1st, 2005 at 11:58 am

    Eris is simply gorgeous! Congratulations on another beautiful design. Can’t wait to finish what’s on the needles now so I can make this one. thanks

12. 12
    Monica said on August 1st, 2005 at 1:39 pm

    Eris is a really fantastic construction. It is a beautiful, wearable design and an extremely wellwritten pattern. Sweater Nr 1 is on the needles, and plans for nr 2 and 3 are made. THANK YOU!!! I have knitted 4 Rogues in 16 months, lets see how Eris will do in comparison:)