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| We have button bands and a neckband! |
I had a hell of a time picking up stitches. It took me forever! But I got there in the end. Yow, my wrist hurt after all those tight twisted stitches...
Now I have to take out all my lifelines, weave in all the ends, block, and sew on buttons. After I took this photo I attempted to fix the armpits. Ummmmm...it was a nightmare, and I don't know what magic Gail used in her video to make it look possible, lol. I think next time I will fix up the armpits right after I get past them, instead of ignoring them and trying on the cardigan a million times, making the holes much worse. That's probably what did me in... So yeah, the armpits may have a few dodgy knots in them and are suspiciously rock hard. lol!
By the way, button opinions, anyone? I saw some heart shaped buttons and was tempted, but now I'm thinking that's too cutesy (it's my weakness). lol! I'm thinking either white/cream, or light pink buttons.
I find it very hard to believe this may be wearable when I'm done. I'm sort of waiting for it to blow up in my face. Gotta stay positive!
Okay, onto a knitting fail!
I got excited about starting a new project. Francis Revisited! It's free, and a lot easier than Miette. It'll be a breeze right?
Not if you're me!
I knitted a gauge swatch. I learned how to swatch for knitting in the round, and it made me feel fancy (lol). Your swatch has to be all knit stitches, since in the round you're always knitting on the right side- no purls! I did it like this.
My gauge came out a lot smaller (3.85 sts per inch, while the pattern's was 3.25). I did loads of calculations. I thought I could use my smaller gauge to size down to a smaller bust size. So I followed the directions for the small.
But judging by how it's looking, the armholes are going to be mega tight, since it doesn't seem to come down far enough.
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| The next row I'm supposed to put the sleeve stitches on scrap yarn. |
One thing I'm thinking is that I should have adjusted my cast on. The pattern says to cast on 80 stitches. I realised that 80 sts at my gauge is almost 4 inches smaller around than theirs!
So that's going to sit higher on my body, and affect the shaping.... As well as probably changing the look of the cowl.
For a simple project I sure know how to complicate things! And I don't want to have to buy a bigger needle to make my gauge bigger because I can't afford it right now, lol. Needles don't grow on trees ya know! (Well, the wooden ones do, kinda).
So I'm thinking I should frog it and re-evaluate. I found this Raveler who noted adding length in the top, by changing the increases from every 2nd to every 3rd row. Hmmm... Alright knitting smarties, weigh in! What would you do?