Tilted Duster

(More photos in the gallery)

Pattern: Tilted Duster by Nora Gaughan, published in Interweave Knits Fall 2007, size XS

Yarn: Berroco Peruvia in gris claro, 6 hanks

Modifications: None (for a change!)

Notes:
As far as the pattern goes, I have no complaints. The instructions are clear, the diagrams are great, and the multitude of photos from different angles comes in quite handy if you're having trouble visualizing how it all works up. Also, I was very thankful that the entire pattern spanned only two pages, so I could photocopy it all onto one piece of paper (I always photocopy the patterns I'm working on, so I can scribble all over it as I please without wrecking the original, and also because an entire book/magazine is far too unwieldy for me carry around in my knitting bag.).

The yarn worked out well, too; I was a little disappointed that it doesn't feel as soft when I'm wearing it as it did when it was in hanks, but maybe after a wash or two it will be less scratchy. It did shed a lot while I was knitting--after a couple of particularly long knitting sessions, I found myself covered in grey--but it doesn't seem to shed as much now. In short, it's a pretty basic single-ply wool that happens to come in some lovely not-so-basic shades... nevermind that I chose the plainest shade of all, I'm just boring like that sometimes.

As for the sizing, the bust & body fit great (comfortable, but no excess of ease either), but the collar & sleeves, well, not so much. The sleeves are pretty snug--and my arms aren't significantly disproportionate to the rest of my body, so I know this is just the way the pattern's designed--so consider yourself warned: if you knit true to size, you'll probably be wearing only t-shirts underneath this sweater, or a long-sleeved tee if it's really thin. Also, what's going on with that collar? After I steamed it, it relaxed so much that now it's kind of baggy around my neck. I guess in a way it's good to have the extra room, so that the yarn's not constantly irritating my neck, but I can't figure out why it turned out so big... the model doesn't have a particularly large neck, and her collar seems to fit perfectly. H assures me that it looks fine, but I can't help but fixate on it every time I see myself in the mirror. Anyway. Minor things.

Oh, and one last tip; when you're sewing your buttons in, don't completely anchor them down right away--you may need to go back & forth to do some adjusting on both sides to get the collar to sit properly without tugging in weird places, so it's helpful to just baste the buttons in place until you find the right positions, to save yourself some headache.

This may not be my most favorite knit, but I think it'll get a fair rotation in my closet, especially once the weather is actually appropriate for wool sweaters (91 degrees today--are you kidding me?!). Also, I was grateful for a break from the size 6 needles I'd been stuck on for Jarrett, Rusted Root & the peapod sacque; working on size 10.5's let me finish this sweater in just three weeks. If I could go back & do it again, I might leave out the buttons & buttonholes on the collar and fasten the sweater with one toggle in the front, at the base of the collar instead.

I'm not quite sure what I'll move onto next... Jarrett needs finishing, but I'm waiting for some new needles to arrive so I can magic-loop the sleeves. I've been using my Boye Needlemaster set up until now, and the horrible stiff cord was causing me too much repetitive-stress pain in my hand & elbow. Also, I'm fed up of having to screw the needles back onto the cords every ten seconds! The only redeeming quality of the Boye set is the wide range of needle & cord sizes, but because they're such a pain to work with, I find myself buying single circulars anyway. But, I'll leave needle reviews for another day.

Then there's baby knitting; Nephew #2 will arrive at the end of December, and it wouldn't be fair for me to greet him empty-handed, considering all the things I've knit for his brother... I'm thinking either a garter-stitch patchwork blanket, or perhaps a log cabin one. And maybe Trellis. Of course, there are also more things in the queue por moi--a shawl-collar cardigan, the adorable empire-waist Juliet, and the eye-catching Road to Golden... I don't know where to start! Maybe I should start by quitting my job, because I don't see how else I'll find enough time to knit it all before the spring patterns start cropping up...