It looked so beguiling yet innocent, so straightforward, simple and elegant -an almost-vintage raglan-sleeved baby cardigan with a little lacy insert, designed for 4 ply or QuickKnit. Having just Googled 'QuickKnit', it tells me it is somewhere between 4ply and DK, what the Americans call 'sport' weight. Probably I ought to have done that before starting the pattern. This pattern has been whuppin' my butt big-style.
Actually, gauge (14 st to 2 ins on 3.25mm needles) doesn't appear to be an issue; even if it was, it wouldn't bother me: it's a baby cardi, it will fit some baby at some point.
I cast on on Sunday, and had knitted all the way to the neck before thinking that it looked kinda ... small. Kinda .... miniature. So I ripped it back to the beginning, and paid attention to what I was doing for a little while. This pattern is written in such a way that it leaves some stuff up to you - nothing really potentially complicated like 'repeat but reverse shapings' but numbers stuff, like counting from 1 to 10.
Like, rows 1 & 2 form ribbing; repeat 12 times. I somehow made that 6 rows, when it should have been 12, plus the 2 original rows. Equals 14 rows in all. Realize when I have reached the neck of the back. Rip it back. Right to the beginning and cast on again.
Like, rows 1 - 6 form pattern; repeat 3 times. I managed to make that 3 pattern repeats in all instead of the 4 it needed to be. Realize when I have done the armhole shaping and am about to start the neck shaping. Rip it back.
It tells me to make the buttonholes in the integral border (yaaay! great design! I hate button bands) every 12 rows. Plus the armhole shaping. And then, plus the neck shaping. Having already ripped back the back and front left, I admit to myself that my brain can no longer cope with tracking these three vital sections of information all at the same time - and I write it all down.
With this simple solution, now I am whuppin' this pattern's butt.
Hop over to Tami's place to see other, numerate, people not making a hash of their patterns.
love the colour you've chosen for it. Can't wait to see the finished piece, it's going to be so cute.
ReplyDeleteI've got a pattern that I had to write out - keeping track of so many pattern parts, plus buttonholes plus shaping is a stretch! The colours look cute, and I'm sure it'll be worth it when it's done :)
ReplyDeleteI think I would have read the pattern the same way you did. That's not at all clear!
ReplyDeleteYou have way more stamina than I have - I would have given up long before now. It looks really pretty though espeically in that yarn.
ReplyDeleteI hope there is no more ripping back needed :)
eek... I get intimidated by most patterns and would have been flumoxed by it... yarn choice of colour is lovely! looking forward to the FO :D
ReplyDeleteWhenever I have a pattern that requires multiple things be done at once I write it all down too. It really saves me when I have to get up and return a while later and can't remember exactly what I was doing. The sweater will be well worth it.
ReplyDeleteThat looks so sweet!! You'll be so proud when it's done - even if it is whippin' your butt!!!
ReplyDeletevintage patterns are the best
ReplyDeleteOh dear. Patterns that allow for interpretation are not my friend. Super solid instructions are my security blanket! That said, good for you for soldiering on. The sweater is gorgeous and the yarn looks terrific with it. Good luck on the back half!
ReplyDeleteYou will get it and it's going to be so darn cute!!
ReplyDeleteI'm digging the colors. Can't wait to see how it turns out!
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be awesome! So sorry you had so much trouble with the pattern. One of the sock patterns I'm doing (the test knit) is written that way, where you don't know if they're counting the original row in the list of repeats or not! LOL Good luck with the rest of it! It looks great.
ReplyDeleteI love the colours you have.I am still a beginner with knitting :)
ReplyDeleteLove the yarn color...and the patience you are exhibiting.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Carole, I'd probably have ditched it by now, so yay for your persistence! Love the soft colours - it'll be gorgeous. I like the "it'll fit some baby at some point" - I'm going to remember that one! :)
ReplyDeleteLong may the success continue!
xx
Looks like its comin along nicely :0)
ReplyDeleteGood for you for turning the table and getting the pattern beaten down!
ReplyDeleteThe colors are awesome ... glad to see you're now whuppin' some pattern butt. :)
ReplyDeleteThat yarn is so sweet for a baby cardigan. Sometimes writing out the pattern in a way that makes sense to me, or making a chart of all the repeats, is the key to making the pattern work.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the colors, and the pattern looks darling; but I confess to hating sport weight yarn. I find it a pain to work with, so wish you lots of luck, looking forward to seeing it come together.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you are having so many problems with the pattern, but I'm glad you are back on track now. I really love the colors you are using.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really funny post to me. Not that I am laughing at your difficulties, just the funny way you've told about them. The yarn is really lovely and the sweater is going to be very nice.
ReplyDeleteIt's always the patterns you think should be really easy that end up going wrong! It's looking really good though and I'm glad you got the issues sorted and are able to write about the problems in such a humorous way!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing how complex simple math is when applied to knitting a sweater? I like your solution of writing it all down. Less ripping back that way. The sweater is looking great.
ReplyDelete