I’m trying not to cast on something new. It’s time to buckle down and finish my second Twelve-Point Circular Yoke.
The yoke is done. The body and sleeves are next.
But look at this. I’m so happy my protype is done and wearable, if only it would warm up and be spring.
Prototypes are experiments, so not even close to perfect.
Every time I begin though, I’m fully convinced that this design is fully formed in my head, and all I have to do is knit it. But you guessed it, that’s not even close to how it goes.
Problems crop up. I work out these problems while I knit, rip, and re-knit. Then, I decide on the changes I need to make for the final design. That is what I’m knitting now. But I have to admit that the prototype, for me, is much more exciting to knit.
Part of the problem solving was around coming up with a way to add some extra width on the front for those of us who need it. I’ve added an explanation of how that works in this video.
Yes, the prototype of the Twelve-Point Circular is done. Yahoo, sleeves are finished. Phew.
Why are sleeves such a slog? Anyone?
I have set myself up to knit 6 sleeves. Yikes, that’s bad news. The good news is that the first two are done! I’m celebrating 🍾.
Everything else is stuck in the middle. I have the ribbing to do on my Lunenburg and then 2 more sleeves.
The cotton/Hemp Twelve-Point Circular is on hold for the moment. I want to show you how I added extra width on the Front. Coming up soon.
Because 2 sweaters is not enough, I’ve started a Puzzle-Pillow Blanket by Meg Swansen.
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It’s all mitred corners which keeps me interested and is lots of fun. It’s from this book.
I’m using up all my odds and ends, working them doubled up on a 5.0mm. The pattern is a bit obscured, ok, a lot obscured, but I’m using each ball until it runs out. Otherwise, I’ll end up with even more tiny balls. I need to move all these bits of yarn into something I can use.
Since it’s garter stitch, and is getting larger, I am also practicing my Purling Back Backwards so I don’t have to flip it over every row.
That’s me, up to date on my projects which are all stuck in the middle. I hope your knitting is moving along. Cheers, Deb
… I have an ‘almost’ sweater, almost done that is. The pattern has been uploaded onto ravelry: Twelve Point Circular Yoke and it’s free. The sweaters aren’t even done but I thought you might like to see it since I’ll be talking about it for the next couple weeks as I finish up.
It always looks so great when it’s this far. I tend to forget how much back and forth it took to get here.
This is my dubious process:
Have an idea. Start knitting (that’s the really easy part). Go to bed.
Decide to write the pattern and start writing. As I knit I write what I’ve done. Then, I write ahead of my knitting, trying to write the instructions for the sweater that I will follow because I’ve got this, right?! Then I go to bed.
Next morning I decide that I should have done something slightly different for the neck edge. Rewrite the instructions and decide it’s too late to redo that part since I’ve done too much knitting by now. Wonder if this is going to work out. Go to bed.
I need to figure out a step by step way for you to do the math for setting up the yoke markers. Will this make sense to the knitter? It’s totally logical to me. Sigh. Go to bed.
Double check that the math works even though I’ve just knit it up and it’s fine.
Next morning decide that I can’t leave that neck edge problem alone and start another sample. This time it works better. Phew. Happy dance.
Next, write out the math for figuring out the stitch count for the bottom of the yoke. That’s easy since it’s the same method I’ve used on my other Any Gauge patterns. Then I start counting stitches to see how close I am to the bottom of the yoke. Counting all those stitches is a pain! I must be able to figure out an easier way to know when I’m getting close. Got to bed.
Next morning, work on an idea I had during the night. It seems to work. Yay. Happy, happy.
As I approach the bottom of the yoke I think about how to make the Front wider than the Back, for those of us who need this modification. I think I have it worked out. Write it down. Do a diagram and realize it’s not working. Stomp around for a bit. Start over. Doesn’t work. Knit something else for a while. Actually, quite a while as you can see (Lunenburg).
Back to the question of extra width of the Front. A solution comes to me now that it’s been on my mind for several days. OK, start knitting on my prototype again. Happy days again.
Write out the Helical sequence for putting the sleeves on spare yarn. Knit my prototype and realize I wrote it all wrong. Correct it. Keep knitting.
So here I am with a finished body. I’m a happy camper.
My second yoke is also coming along.
The pattern is up on ravelry: Twelve Point Circular Yoke and it’s FREE. I will update it with more photos when I have finished my sweaters. If you want to knit along with me as I knit my second circular yoke, I’m happy to have you along for the ride. I’ll be at this for a couple more weeks.
Here’s my video update if you want to see the sweaters in real life (is it real life if it’s a video?).
I’ve been having fun, really, I love this. Cheers, Deb
Deb Gemmell: Top Down, Gauge Free and more 