So about the shrug...

-
...it was finished and worn to the wedding but I've been holding back on letting it make it's blog debut as I have been engaged in an internal debate about whether I'm really happy with it or not. Well I say internal, I have pinned some of the near and dear down and discussed it with them but their interest in how many rows of ribbing would be optimal and which precise bind off technique I should have employed and why has been lacklustre to say the least. The wise just kept telling me they liked it.In the end it's going in the winner pot. If I made it over I would add some extra ribbing as I didn't love the way it looked when I tried to fold it back. To my mind this would also help prevent it's tendency to migrate backwards as there would be some more weight around the front. I know I could undo the bind off and add some more rows (and replacing the bind off with a sewn bind off which would also be preferable, as the edge is just a smidge tighter than would be ideal). However, having carefully weighed the pain involved in unpicking x-hundred stitches of clingy, stringy Kidsilk Haze against whether I will continue to wear it as is, I have decided that it really is a triple A star, award winning champ of a winner. I do like an easy life - and having finished my first 'sweater' of the year I'm definitely in favour of leaving well alone.
Pattern: Two-Tone Ribbed Shrug from Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel
Yarn: Kid Silk Haze, Smoke - less than 3 balls
Needles: 4 & 4.5mm Harmony Circulars
Started: 2 January 2009
Finished: 20 March 2009
Modifications: I followed the pattern as written but used a much lighter weight yarn than it was written for.

Now here's a puzzle for the blog - I calculated the yardage I would need based on the Cascade 220 that the pattern is written for. I assumed as I was knitting at basically the same gauge and air was effectively filling in gaps where yarn would be with the heavier weight yarn I would need the same yardage. However I found I needed substantially less - am I missing something obbvious in how I should have calculated the yardage? Share your wisdom with me bloggy friends.

Comments

florencemary said…
I think your shrug looks perfect on you - what a great final photo! I love KSH - the shades, the look, everything... except, ripping back! I can tell you from experience, you will have extreme problems with ripping this baby back; so there, it must stay as it is.

As for the yardage thing: hmmm, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the didgeridoos, I reckon. Does that help?
27 March 2009 at 18:13:00 GMT
Anonymous said…
the shrug looks brilliant, great pics too!
27 March 2009 at 19:51:00 GMT
Julie said…
Definite win. Looks lovely, and that's what matters. (Well, that and it's not unraveling, a double win!)

I personally wouldn't consider picking out Kid Silk Haze for anything less than... I can't think of anything I'd tear it back for. Even a gaping hole, I'd graft rather than pick back. That stuff is evil. Youo did a great job working with it.
27 March 2009 at 20:51:00 GMT
mooncalf said…
I had a look on Ravelry and it looks like most of the projects on there used between 2 and 3 skeins of Cascade 220 (or similar) which is about the same yardage per 100g as you get in a 25g skein of KSH.

I don't know what the pattern says you should have used but I'm guessing it is an error because it looks like you used roughly what everyone else did!
27 March 2009 at 21:25:00 GMT
Anonymous said…
Beautiful job! Looks gorgeous. As for the yardage, perhaps there is something up with the row gauge that also changes things? Or else maybe the universe messing with you...
27 March 2009 at 21:47:00 GMT
Charity said…
Sarah, I think you look really lovely in the shrug! :o)
27 March 2009 at 23:05:00 GMT
Rose Red said…
Oh yes, it's a definite win!! Love the colour and the wider sleeves (so many shrugs have tight sleeves - I really like this with the width).
28 March 2009 at 01:03:00 GMT
Ambermoggie, a fragrant soul said…
Oh no don't try and rip back KSH is a pain to do that with:( It looks wonderful:)
28 March 2009 at 10:54:00 GMT
Kai said…
I love it! I think it looks fab on you.

As for the yardage.. I would have to say that my thinking is the same as yours. If you have gauge and it works out around the same weight, then the yardage you use should really be the same!
28 March 2009 at 17:24:00 GMT
Linda said…
It does look great on, so definately a winner! As Clarabelle says, don't rip back, nightmare with that yarn. :)
30 March 2009 at 07:56:00 BST
Anonymous said…
Well, I think it looks most excellent on you, and from your photos it absolutely deserves to be in the winner pot!
2 April 2009 at 10:42:00 BST
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Christmas TIME

-
Image
I've hit the December point known as - "if only there were more time" - I think it about a thousand times a day as I have yet another crazy idea of something to make/cook/do for Christmas. I like to think that if I could just abandon the job for December that I'd get it all done. I'd get more done for sure but it could never be 'all' as the inspiration out there ensures fresh supplies of schemes for wintery delights - like learning to crochet just to make snowflakes or building my own snow village or... well I'm sure you all get the idea and have a billion things bubbling over that you'll never quite get to. So it's prioritise like crazy, craft for sanity (and if it is as simple as wrapping some berries and mistletoe round a heart shaped wreath - jump for joy) and I try to remember that seeing the people I'm making the presents for is the most important thing of all! I don't think I'll be back here before I head down to the wilds...
Read more

The Keeping Cosy Winter Shawl

-
Image
  Pattern: Springtime Bandit   Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend, Colour: Atlantic Started: November 2010 Finished: January 16th 2011 Ravelry page I think photographing this shawl has been ten times the challenge that knitting it was! I've taken several shots over several days to try and capture the glory of this red yarn, I'm calling it a day now though I haven't quite got what I wanted as in these grey, dingy days I don't think I will. Happily I feel the absolute opposite about the actual garment, it's everything I dreamed it could be when I saw the inspiring version A Girl In Winter made in the Manos Silk Blend and this shade, evasive though it may be to the camera is so uplifting that it's been the perfect companion for dark, winter days. It's a warm, deep multi-toned red with a pinky blue base, a real treat for the eye. The shawl is big and grand, but cosy and homely all at once. A wonderful pairing of yarn and pattern. I didn't manage to get the...
Read more

Ooh la la...

-
Image
Elle est fini :o) My little beret has finally made it over the finishing line. The peloton have long since disbanded so I can't claim any colour jersey for this but I loved being part of the knitalong so I'm really just pleased I wasn't months behind. Pattern: Verity Yarn: South West Trading Company Karaoke - Mermaid; just under two balls Needles: 4.5mm dpns and 40cm circular Started: 1 July 2008 Finished: 6 August 2008 What's that - you want to see a modelled shot? Well only on one condition - you have to give me your honest opinion as to whether I can rock this hat or not. I am not convinced and the 1TB is being no help - when I say I think it suits me he agrees, when I say I think it doesn't - well yep he agrees! So let's have a vote on it - my head will be adorned by Verity or not depending on the results of the poll [ETA - this is now a blogger poll at the top of my sidebar - happy voting] , and don't worry if you think I look a fool - there are a c...
Read more