Tissue of Lies
And the lying continues. Gettin’ pathological, I’m afraid. I’m a link, link liar, and so’s my Aunt Mariar. I am a fabricator, a fantasist, a falsifier; I am a promulgator of the mendacious, the counterfactual, and the great big whopper. And you don’t get fries with that.
For starters… remember how the other day I thanked Madmoon for the cool provisional/toe-tip cast-on trick?
Nu-uh. If you want to be kind, you can color me Confused rather than actually Deceitful - I believe it’s a prettier shade. It was actually GChumbley who came up with that one. Madmoon had some other clever idea about faking her way around having to do a Turkish CO, and I somehow managed to conflate the two.
Next… remember how the OTHER other day I claimed that the orange basket-weave swatch was the same stitch as the basket-weave in the purple socks?
Nu-uh. It wasn’t. I looked more closely at it yesterday and had to whack myself on the forehead. It’s actually a form of Indian Cross Stitch. The reason it looks so different is… that it IS different.
OK, so with those off my conscience, I can now proceed to some truths. On the clear understanding, of course, that I have no credibility left at all. Feel free to doubt me. I sure would if I were you. Nevertheless, I do aver that the following statements are true, upon information and belief.
- THE YARN HAS BEEN SPUN!!!!!
Thanks in no small part, I am very sure, to the mojo you guys have been sending - the yarn chants, the yarn dances, they have all had their effect. So now I gotta ask you to keep those
cards and letterschants and dances coming, because we still haven’t been given an actual ship date. You know the drill.SHIP! YARN!
SHIP!! YARN!!
SHIP!!!!! YARN!!!!kthxbai
- I’ve (re-)finished one purple sock and blocked it and tried it on and now it totally passes muster; I’ve started re-knitting the other one. I’ve decided I’m going to call them “Finger-Trap” because “Footbasket” just sounds too dorky-weird even for ME. No picture for now - the sock looks pretty much the same as before, only it goes on easier and fits better. I am very pleased with the way the hidden increases worked out. And yes, this one goes on the list of to-be-written-up-soon, and I’m thinkin’ I’ll make it a free download. But I have GOT to get a few other things squared away (can you say “leaves”?) first.
- I have a ton of Firebird pictures and other related material, and to those of you going nuts about this I do apologize for not having posted any of that stuff yet. It’s partly the superstition and partly the swamped-ness and partly the daunting-ness of the triage. But I’m planning to do it Real Soon Now. Honest.
- Not so much a statement of fact as a question, sort of an informal poll thing. Once the present pile-o’-crises passes - once we get the yarn and turn it around and catch up with the backlog and ship the club stuff and… I wish I hadn’t started this enumeration because I’m getting tired just thinking about it, but anyway, where was I? oh yes, once the present pile-o’-crises passes - I am hoping to turn my attention to some serious work on the Change-Ringing Tsweater. And I just wanted to get a feel for whether people - other than certified wackos like me, I mean - would really be game for knitting a whole complex cardigan out of fingering yarn? at what is essentially pretty much the functional equivalent of sock gauge? I already know that ain’t for everyone… just like the rest of my work. I’m completely fine with that. But if it turns out that it ain’t for anyone… well, that’s a different story. A small intimate party, great; I just don’t want it to turn into one of those what if you threw a party and nobody came things. When I was looking up that CTH yarn the other day I noted with some interest that Cheryl of CTH is putting together a book of large garment designs based on her sock yarns (tentative title Not Socks). And of course I see that people really do make beautiful fine-gauge pieces like Eunny Jang’s Venezia Pullover and the Alice Starmore sweaters, so it’s not like I’m entirely alone on this island. But still… I’m interested in knowing, first hand and in detail, with all the individual whys and wherefores that may spring to mind: Would YOU knit a complex cardigan in fingering-weight yarn?
- And finally, for no particular reason except that it’s been lurking in my comment-moderation queue for many weeks now and there is something in the phrasing of it that appealed to me, I give you this sweet scrap o’ spam:
thanks for letting me sentiment your customer log and giving me all the information
Yeah, you’re welcome, fella. You can sentiment my customer log any time.
And that’s no lie.
March 12th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
What’s that burning smell? Ah, yes. Your pants.
(And no, I would probably not knit a sweater out of sock yarn. But it sure would be entertaining to watch you do it!)
March 12th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I have made Hanne Falkenberg sweaters at sock gauge. In fact those are the only handknit sweaters I actually wear.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Knit a sweater out of sock/fingering weight yarn? It’s on my ‘to do someday’ list, definitely. However, would it be the Change-Ringing Tsweater? That I would doubt - though I might knit it exactly per your directions in, say, DK weight (or more likely, since it would have to be a kit from Jennifer, getting TWO kits and knitting it with two strands of the Flock Sock, on humongous needles), and then it just might fit my tent-size torso. Unless, of course, you’re PLANNING on providing directions all the way up to size 3X, in which case, I’m your woman! I’m sorry, but I am just not into (capable of?) all the math that would be involved in trying to upsize one of your deviously complex designs. I do covet that sweater, though.
SHIP YARN!!! SHIP YARN!!! SHIP YARN!!!
March 12th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I would not knit a sweater out of sock yarn. Since I don’t knit socks, either, I don’t know what to do with the sock yarn I’ve accumulated in my stash. Wristies, maybe? I’m an “advanced beginner,” or maybe “beginning intermediate.” I’m mostly waiting for the leaf patterns, which I will translate into ornaments for an otherwise plain sweater in worsted weight.
March 12th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
So far I have only knit baby and toddler sweaters out of sock yarn, but I’m getting ready to do my first adult-size stranded sweater using Jamieson’s Shetland jumper weight (basically sock wieght). I don’t know if I’d do the change-ringing sweater as I would need to see the overall shape you’re going for.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
If you build it, I will come……I mean, if you size the pattern up to a 52 inch bust, I will knit it.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I feel famous now! I’m inspired to finish my sock! Ship Yarn!
March 13th, 2008 at 1:53 am
I might, if the knitting itself was interesting and challenging, and if the garment looked like it would fit well or had areas where I could modify the shaping if necessary, and if like the available color(s). Sweaters take me a long time to finish, that’s a given; the smaller gauge would make me pickier about the predicted enjoyability of the knitting.
March 13th, 2008 at 2:01 am
Um. No? I can’t even manage ONE cable, much less umpety-zillion, thanks!!
But I bet I can name at least one person who would seriously consider it….
Liar!?!?? Nah. Prevaricatress.
Anything I can do to help out on some of this stuff? From the other coast, yet?
Oh, and on the sock…why not ‘Basketcase’? hehehe
March 13th, 2008 at 2:10 am
depends. I do knit children’s sweaters out of sock yarn. And I have am adult habu sweater kit that I plan to knit at 8spi–I would have to think it would look good on me–probably wouldnt knit it for another adult—but I very likely would downsize it to fit a little kid.
March 13th, 2008 at 2:22 am
I’ve knitted a sweater for me on US1s before, it’s one of the few that I’ve kept from my sweater period. If you knit for the knitting rather than the item then what you want is something interesting so I think you’d find enough takers to make it worthwhile. The issue would be sizing, people come in more varying shapes than their feet. I can make the amendments I need to meet my personal fitting challenge but then I’d run out of yarn with a kit.
March 13th, 2008 at 3:46 am
I do knit sweaters in sock yarn. That is, those two on my needles are supposed to become cardigans, once they are finished. It is not such a big deal, even with a complicated pattern. Just takes longer. And it is great to wear them, because they are warm but do not limit your movements like bulkier ones do.
Ahem. Years ago, I started a sweater with a very complicated cable pattern on 1.5 mm needles. Thats probably doomed to be never knit to the end.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:05 am
Can I sentiment your customer log forwith and heretofore as well?
Also, I’d be interested in your Tsweater. I like a challenge, I love the change ringing colour sequence, and I prefer the fit and drape of sweaters knit at fine gauge to those knit at larger gauge.
I’m not saying I’ll cast on tomorrow. We all know how I procrastinate. But I’d definitely by the pattern, even a kit if there was one.
Also, I’m dead set on the name Footbasket. It appeals to my weird sense of humour. It’s not too weird for me!
P.S.- I’m a lhideous mentirosa too. But everthing I said above is 100% true!
March 13th, 2008 at 6:06 am
P.P.S- Hideous doesn’t have an l in it. Don’t know how that happened.
March 13th, 2008 at 7:19 am
I’d give it a Tsweater a try! I’m a fan of smaller gauge and already have one long sleeve pullover on my queue. Bring it on!
March 13th, 2008 at 8:07 am
I would knit a sweater in sock weight gauge, sure. I don’t know if I’d use sock yarn though, because I have this idea that it would be lovely to have a more washable sweater- a sweater I can throw in the dryer too. Um, I want to make a sweater out of linen or hemp, because they get softer the more they get washed, but my hands hurt just thinking about it. I will one of these days though. I haven’t knit a sweater yet, but gauge doesn’t frighten me.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:07 am
I am just finishing a sweater in fingering yarn. It’s fairisle, and I’m on the button bands.I have another couple of sweaters planned.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:33 am
I never have knit a sweater in sock gauge, but I certainly wouldn’t rule it out. As others have said, though, I’d have to really love the pattern- a sweater is a fair commitment anyway, a fine-gauge one would consume enough time to push the stakes up.
Of course, the real question is, can you get Stephanie to knit it? Because I would *totally* watch her knit such a sweater. (Anyone want to dare her?)
March 13th, 2008 at 9:07 am
While I am making my sister a sweater on size 2 (American) needles right now, I don’t know how soon I’d be ready for another one. However, it’s probably a pretty safe bet that by the time you get all the sock stuff out of the way and move on to the Tsweater, I’ll have gotten my finishing stuff fix.
I have spent quite a bit of my life lusting after ridiculously cabled sweaters.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I’ve always wanted to knit a fine gauge sweater. And it sounds like the Tsweater would be an interesting knit, and soooooo very tempting. But… I can’t guarantee that I’d knit it right now. So many projects in the queue, so little time available. I would definitely like to see you design it and knit it, though. That way, it would be there for me when I’m ready!
March 13th, 2008 at 10:37 am
A sweater in sock weight yarn - absolutely YES. Change-ring pattern - DOUBLE YES!! Count this cookie IN.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Yes, definitely. I like fine-gauge sweaters, I think the Change-Ringing patterns are fascinating, and and I like the idea of a sweater that expresses them both in cables and in colorwork.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:46 am
…I see that you asked for detail. Well, a sweater is a big committment, so if I’m going to knit one I want it to be something that’s going to be a classic and wearable for a really long time. The shape of the change-ringing sweater looks good in that department. Also if I’m going to be working on something for a long time, I want it to be really interesting, which the cables and colorwork would be because they’re continually changing.
I like to wear fine-gauge sweaters because they’re light and comfortable and I can wear them most of the year. I also like knitting with yarn that feels good. Right now I’m knitting some stuff with Louet sport-weight merino, and there’s something about the size of it that’s really appealing. It’s so…fine. And I’d like to make and wear a sweater of fingering weight yarn because it would have fine detail, if that makes sense. Which I would enjoy both doing and looking at. It’s like a piece of art that has a lot of layers or ways of looking at it, and there’s always something new to see, so it never gets boring.
March 13th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Ship yarn! Ship Yarn? Ship Yarn to me!!! OK, glad I’m not the only person obsessing over the leaf pattern. I’ve got to say that of all of the sweaters I’ve knit, the ones I like the best are knit on the smallest needles. A Dale of Norway in fingering weight alpaca and a version of Starmore’s kells in a DK weight (intarsia with 23 colors-hellava way to learn intarsia!). I agree that they are more comfortable because they are less bulky. They also travel better because of less bulk to carry/wear and go from outdoors to indoors better because they are not quite so warm. Ok, off to wait for the mailman. Do you think it would be bad to tackle the mailman and grab the vintage kit when it comes?!
March 13th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Well, yes, I would knit a sweater in sock yarn. I have made a 3 yr old size out of the (rainbow) remnants of several pairs of (rainbow) socks, so I know it’s possible — and makes a much finer sweater than worsted weight yarn. I’ve been thinking of making myself a sweater with sock yarn (washable, non-pilling, plenty of room for patterning, lighter weight) — but (no offense) probably not your cardigan: (1) I’m thinking crew neck with cables, and (2) I’m a male-type person and most of your designs that I’ve seen have definite feminine “tendencies”. I’d enjoy watching you develop and progress through working a design, though.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
I’m with Robin H. — if we could get Stephanie to do it, then many (hundreds?) would follow! Probably including me — after all I’ve ordered Vintage. Ship Yarn Ship Yarn.
Seriously though, as a woman of ample size, I would have to think about a sweater in fingering weight. I have one chunky weight sweater on the needles that keeps getting set aside for socks even though it is beautiful, and relatively fun (and easy) to knit (Manet Jacket from Oat Couture). It would be a serious investment for me to complete a sweater in sock yarn. I do VERY much like your Change Ringing patterns and as a serious hand bell ringer, I am delighted with the inspiration for the patterns. So, my answer is yes, I would make the sweater — I’ve just convinced myself
March 14th, 2008 at 1:12 am
Uh, don’t most people usually knit Fair Isle sweaters out of fingering weight yarns? If you’re planning a lot of complex color changing, wouldn’t anything thicker be too heavy? Perhaps approaching Kevlar if you get too feisty and go to DK or worsted? I would be game for it if you don’t go designing it before I can finish my Dream in Color KAL. Which I have to finish my Noni bag that was supposed to be a Christmas present first, which I have to finish…uh oh, I think I’m starting to sound like someone I know whose designs I love.
Besides which, my weaving instructor still won’t let me do the change ringing painted warp weaving yet. She says I haven’t the experience for it. I feel like Anakin and Obi-Wan is thwarting me.
March 14th, 2008 at 5:15 am
Let’s just say I could be tempted. The shape and style are right and with a big bottle of Advil I might just take the plunge!
March 14th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Sentiment your customer log? Hmmm.
Anyway, after weeks of Panera, I can actually hear you saying all of this and I have to say, that’s a little spooky.
The smallest weight yarn I’d consider using for a sweater is sport weight. I would love a sweater knit in fingering weight but I might finish it in the next century. It’s taking me a year to knit that simple gold cardigan.
Maybe we can all yell SHIP THAT YARN like they yell MOVE THAT BUS on Extreme Makover.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:57 am
4. No. I’m sorry, perhaps that was unclear. Hell no.
But I’d sure love to sentiment your customer log, baby.
March 15th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Yes, I would kit a complex sweater out of sock weight yarn. I’m currently swatching for a daletta sweater and really want to knit morrigan, though I may have to modify it a little bit to look better on me. I think I’m in the crazy camp though, since I’ve knit a pair of socks at 14 stitches to the inch (colorwork in lace-weight yarn).
March 15th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
4. Hell, yes. Large-gristed yarn is only fine on small-wristed folk.
Consider change-ringing lice — yowzir. I gotta move north.
March 16th, 2008 at 8:45 am
I’ve been wanting to make a small-gauge cardi for ages. And I love the design - that swatch with the room between the cable is wonderful! But here’s the problem. Right now I’m pretty fat. I’m trying not to be. So starting a sweater that I can’t wear when I’m done (no matter which way I estimate) would be really depressing on a project of this magnitude.
The other issue is that I don’t have an off-the-rack body. I am a PowerDwarf: 4′10″ and very curvy even at my fighting weight. Between the exaggerated hourglass and the short waist, I have to customize most tops. Attempting that with all those cables would likely make my head explode.
Short version: as much as I’d want to…. I don’t think I would actually do it. Until I’m fit. Oh! And then I could add inserts at the boobs and hips…. shit, I think I just talked myself into it.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Would I be interested in knitting a sock-yarn weight sweater? Maybe. I’ve a lot of odds & ends of sock yarns which need using up. Not enough for pairs of socks - unless they’re very mismatched.
Having had a look at the Tsweater project. Yeah, reckon I’d be up for a campanology inspired cardigan - as a relief from a Aran cardigan, miscellaneous socks, small commissions from our daughter & squares for a afghan.
Just one thing - I’m tall with long arms*, so make it fairly easily adjustable in length, please.
*Okay, I’m also certifiable, being of these (somewhat large) proportions, & prepared to knit in sock-weight yarn.
& if you ever do patterns for your Minoan blue sock, rather than the kit, & the Celtic one - I’m interested. Shipping charges across the Pond can be a bit prohibitive, even with the current exchange rate.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Heck, yes, I’d knit a sock-weight sweater. Anything heavier would cook me here in S. Texas!
It would have to be something that I’d find flattering, and preferably, come close to my 49 inch bust measurement, but I’d knit it.
And at a 49 inch bust - that’s a lotta knittin.
March 20th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Hey, I have just finished reading all your archives. Quite a challenge, you have written a lot in just over a year!
Can’t wait to see what you and Jennifer have going for this year’s first sock club kit!
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Let me see; we will take this in orderly fashion (though not in order)– re: 4, yes. Yes, absolutely. Because I am crazy–I mean courageous. Next, re: 2– hurray! Good for you Tsarina! Re: 1–hurray again! We will (this is the royal We, of course) ask for it to rain yarn ship yarn. (Dear me–slip of the fingers.) Re: 3–watching in polite and possibly amused silence. Re: 5–cute. You know, I get spam in German? (That really amused me the first time I saw it.) Not sure how I got on that mailing list.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Apparently the HTML tag del doesn’t work in the comments. Consider that “rain yarn” deleted.
March 30th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I would definitely do a change ringing sweater in sock yarn. In fact, I may design my own unless the pattern is already available. I am under some time pressure to design and finish my final Nihon Vogue project by the end of July. I may not have enough time as it is, but I bought this terrific Shetland yarn designed by Judith MeKenzie McCuin, and I think it would work for this idea.
Do you object if I use your idea? I very likely will use a simpler pattern than you contemplate, and I will probably begin swatching later today or tomorrow.
I thing your designs are fabulous, and I am looking forward to getting the vintage socks.
Chanting as I write…Send Yarn!