It's bottom up seamless. You knit back and forth to the armpits, then divide for the top as you would expect. The arms are picked up and knit down to the cuff. Pretty cool! So I decided to cast on after my first sock was done. There's 173 stitches in the size I'm making (37") and I thought I'd just dive right in without swatching. I also decided on an i-cord cast-on because to me it looks like the bottom would roll like crazy.
So I cast on 173 stitches with an i-cord cast on with the suggested size 8 needle, knit about 2" and then checked gauge. I was WAY. OFF. It wants it knit at 4.5 stitches to the inch, I was at something like 5. I tore it out. Now, I'm typically a tight knitter, so don't ask me why my next swatch (yes, actual swatch) was on a size 7. I got confused. This one came out 5.25 stitches per inch. What?!? Yeah. So then I swatched for real with an 8 again, and got more like 4.75 stitches. Sigh. I settled on the 8 and started casting on again like regular, figuring I'd do a few rows of garder like some other projects on ravelry because the i-cord cast on is so tedious.
But you see, I suck at gauging how much yarn I need for a cast on. I tried casting on 173 stitches 4 TIMES and came up short on yarn each time! GAH! The last time I made it 168 before I had to rip it out. This is why I was casting on with the I-cord, because you don't need to guess at how much yarn, you cast on three stitches, and away you go.
It's all ripped out. Again. I have no idea what I need to do. Should I go up to a size 9 , do my i-cord cast on again, and just be happy? I think I need to knit another swatch. Gah. I hate swatching.
Meanwhile, I'm back with my Glynis sock.
Wow, that's quite an ordeal you went through trying to start that! Maybe you need a break? Finish your socks first ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great sweater. That whole sizing issue scares me.
ReplyDeleteI made a pair of Glynis, and I really, really love them. It's a great pattern, but I had to concentrate pretty hard to knit it.
It's a beautiful cardigan though! I agree with fridica, take a break and think about the edging you prefer :) The socks look beautiful, I love the color!
ReplyDeleteLove the sweater AND the socks! Enjoy and happy knitting.
ReplyDeleteIt seems I always have to cast on 3 or 4 times. It drives me crazy. So perhaps I should look into this i-cord cast on you speak of.
ReplyDeleteUse the rule of three for estimating the cast on. Look at the sweater schematic for the measurement at the hem (or the hip measurement. If you can't get that, do the following maths:
ReplyDeleteGauge: 4.75 sts per in
Cast on: 173 sts
Hem width = 173/4.75 = 36.42 (roundup to 36.5)
Yarn needed for cast on: 36.5*3=109.5 inches, and add another 20 inches to be on the safe side (and give yourself a nice long tail to weave in) so measure out 130 inches of yarn and start with the long tail cast on.
It. ALWAYS. Works. And also, saves tons and tons of frustration as you are trying to cast on large numbers and that is tedious as hell.
Love that sweater! It looks super cute.
I am not the person to ask about any swatch problems. I rarely swatch, but that is personal dilemma, which results in ill-fitting socks or whatever else I am making. My suggestion: Maybe go to your LYS and see if you can get some help? My LYS is very helpful and encourage all their patrons to come in with questions or dilemmas they may have with their knitting.
ReplyDeleteAlso, those socks are totally gorgeous.