This is Knitpicks Swish Superwash in Ballerina on size 3.5mm needles. It comes out at 30 st over 5 3/8 inches. That’s about 5.6 stitches per inch. Not exactly how Jade Starmore intended, but I am swatching for what I would call a sweater inspired by her beautiful Beadwork. I only have the child’s size pattern, from her book A Collector’s Item. There is an adult pattern out there in Interweave’s Winter 99/00 issue, but I am sure it’s not in my size, so I would still have to do the math. I am thinking of using this yarn (but probably not this color) for a baby sweater, since it’s superwash but still wool. It’s wonderfully soft yarn, and I may buy some more for a sweater for me, so I don’t have to be so dainty with my sweaters. If you know me, you know I’m not dainty. ;/
Here’s another swatch. I watched Annie Modesitt on Knitty Gritty. She did a Corset T and it was really cute. I read the pattern and it specified a yarn that she calls Worsted Weight, but the website for the yarn calls DK. I emailed for clarification, but while I was waiting for a reply, I got out this Knitpicks Merino Style and started swatching. The top of the swatch was made up in my head, I forgot to print the pattern and didn’t feel like booting up to look it up, so I just started making stuff up, some double decreases and increases over some garter stitch and k2p2 rib. I loved the look so ordered a bag of Merino Style in Iris, the same color I used for the obi of my Kyoto sweater. Then I heard back from Annie that the yarn was definitely worsted weight. So, I’ll once again have to do some math. Whatever. I love this yarn, so I don’t mind.
But here’s the problem. I have finally started to do something about my weight and am going to Weight Watchers. So far, it’s working! I am down 13 pounds so far, and plan to keep going. I won’t tell you how much, but it’s a lot. So I am thinking about avoiding knitting things that will end up being too big when I am done. This one is rib all over, so might work for a while but eventually, if all goes well, it won’t fit. Do I knit it anyway, and then frog it and reknit it again in a year or so? (The idea of re-knitting Kyoto kills me, but I will one day, and have plenty of yarn left over!)
Meanwhile, I hope to pick up some linen for the shawl from Big Girl Knits this weekend, for after my xmas knitting and other ideas.
adnohr blog
an ongoing failure in paying attention
First of all, Congratulations on the first 13 lbs and wishing you well and all sorts of success as you keep going.
Obviously you will need transitioning clothes, and you will probably want to knit some for yourself, but personally, I wouldn’t knit anything with the mindset I was going to tear it out and re-knit later. When I lost 40 lbs several years ago (with the help of the online community through ediets) I was so happy to get rid of clothes, and create new ones that didnt’ have any larger association with them. So this might be the time to knit with that bargain basement yarn or something that you don’t love enough to want to look at it more than one season – Just a thought.
I really appreciate all your thoughts and input on Beadwork. I have some Karabella Breeze in stash and would never have thought of it for Beadwork.
I know the dilemmas of knitting garments in the midst of a weight loss process. Besides the ideas you’ve already mentioned, I can think of some more. You could focus on holiday knitting for now, and then see where you are after the first of the year. You could knit something in the size you think you’ll be when you achieve the weight you want to maintain and use it as a motivator. You can also use patterns for things you will knit for yourself when you reach your goal as inspiration. I’m pulling for you in your journey. I’m not through with the excess fat shedding of mine, and then there’s maintenance.
Thanks for the positive words. I’m working on my 10% goal, and we’ll see how it goes from there.
Congratulations on the weight loss. I understand the feeling of not wanting to knit something that won’t fit after you lose weight. I have yet to knit a sweater because I don’t want something I won’t be able to wear soon, and, it is a bit depressing to have to knit something big, that won’t look as good, etc., etc. So, my new project is socks, and then stuff for Dulaan, Christmas gifts, and the Red Scarf Project.