19 January 2008

knitting nerves

so i cast on the hourglass sweater in my beautiful noro cash iroha (color 22: garnet!)on friday night. i can tell you i cast on about 5 times...to do a regular cast-on, or do provisional so as to have live stitches to knit the hem with? i tried and didn't like my gauge, so i went back to a basic cast on edge that i picked up later! i was amazed at how this yarn comes to life when knitted. i finished off my first hank this evening and joined #2. i'm very excited...and nervous. the pattern gives finished measurements...and the one we'll deal with is chest circumference. the given sizes are 33, 37, etc. (because those are the 2 i'm dealing with). problem: sorry if too personal ;), my "chest circumference is 33.5...so can't do the 33, right...but the 37 seems like a lot of ease. AND i read that the cash iroha grows with blocking. oh no...what to do. i am thinking that i may not do the full increases for the chest circumference and do a bit of an in-betweeny thing? anyone have any suggestions? i cast on the full amount of stitches for the 37 size, hemmed it as i went and it looks great. the silk/cashmere/wool blend is so amazing...little lumps of cashmere here and there with the shine of the silk...oooooh. i have only done two of the decrease rows so far and have one more to go (so really, time to think before increasing!) i'd love your thoughts!!! i love knitting and hate the guess work (that could easily be a general statement across the board for me!) i want things to go exactly as they should! so...to stick to the pattern or stray??? let me know...

3 comments:

bandwidow said...

oh, man i hear ya. you know what i would do is set everything down, and take myself down to your nearest shop and ask for advice...that way they can see exactly what you're talking about. i would love to see a little pic of you knitting so far though...

rachel said...

unfortunately, meliss, this is like being in a foreing country! i do not understand knitters-speak, and probably never will! so alas, i have no advice, but rest assured: everything you make is beautiful!

Jennifer said...

you're only .5 inches bigger than the first measurment...I'd go with the smaller size...it'll stretch, and who knows, Chris might like the tight chest action...