Joining Kat and friends for Unraveled Wednesday.
Knitting.
I have knit myself into a corner on my Boxy. Let me attempt to explain.
The pattern includes instructions both to knit it in pieces and seam them together and in the round. I chose the latter because I hate to seam.
I am using nine different red/red-ish yarns for (or so — sometimes I add another red ball to my basket, sometimes I take one out). Initially I planned to knit the sweater in 1″ stripes in the different yarns. But as soon as I started I changed to helical stripes, which have worked very well… as long as I was knitting in the round.
When I divided for the armholes I had to devise a new plan. What I did was to knit once across with color A, slide the sweater back to the other end of the circ, then knit one row of color B; purl the next two rows in the same fashion; rinse and repeat. This has worked marvelously.
The problem came when I reached the short row section at the top of the back. How exactly do I knit each short row in the different colors? I have two ideas:
- Knit the first short row in color A, doing the wrap-and-turn in the usual way. Purl back part way, drop color A, and continue with color B and do the wrap-and-turn in the usual way. Knit back partway, drop color B, and continue with color A.
Not sure quite how that will look. Should I switch colors in the same place in the row every time? That would have the advantage of never having to cut the yarn (and weave in the ends, something that this sweater has way too much of) but it might make the yarn changes noticeable. Or should I stagger the color changes to avoid that? - Knit the entire 10-row, short-row section in color A, saying “Screw it, no one will notice” all the while to myself. While this would probably be fine for the back, where it will be covered by my hair 99% of the time, what about the front? The short row section will be right below my face, hence, just about as visible as it could possibly be.
What say you? I am leaning to the second solution for the back and the first one for the front.
This afternoon I return to my knitting groups for the first time since COVID became serious in my county last fall. We have one very, very, very pro knitter in the group — she exhibits and sells her yarns and her FOs in various venues in the region. I plan to seek her judgement — maybe she will think of a solution I haven’t considered.
Stay tuned…
Reading.
Masked Prey by John Sandford. I got all excited when I saw that Sanford had published two Lucas Davenport novels — #30 and #31 –that I hadn’t read yet. As I started reading #30 it was familiar. Yep, I read it last July. Crud. I requested #31, though, so their is another Lucas Davenport in my future.
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Daughters of the Dust by Julie Dash. This has been sitting on my bookshelf for at least a year, since a friend loaned it to me. It is set in the first quarter of the 20th century and follows several Black women from the sea islands off the Carolina coast. Written in their Gullah dialect, it portrays their struggles, their loves, and their lives. They have retained much of their African traditions; some have left their home island, some have stayed; many are related one way or another. Recommend. 4✭
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Sheesh, only two books this week? And one turned out to be a book I had already read? I am shamed.
kmkat & her kneedles 
I’m glad you are able to attend your knitting group in person and consult a pro knitter (not that you are not a pro!). Hopefully you arrive at a solution that works for you. There’s no shame in only two books this week; sometimes life just interferes with reading and other fun stuff.
I read the entire trilogy you recommended by Diane Harkness! I could not stop. I found it was cheaper to purchase the 3 books separately than in the boxed set.One was only $2.99 Canadian on Kindle Unlimited whereas the boxed set would have cost about $20 more for the 3. I read them on Kindle straight through and loved every minut! Thank you for all your recommendations!
Good luck with your yarn dilemma! I expect I could offer some advice if your knitting was actually in my hand. My brain isn’t up to visualizing the pattern these days…
I know I’ve read some of John Sandford’s books, but I’ve long forgotten just where I was in the series. I was nowhere near 30, though, so there’s plenty for me to queue up. Thanks!
Yesterday was Star Wars day (May The Fourth Be With You!), but apparently it wasn’t, as far as your knitting conundrum. I would like to initiate today as Booze Makes Your Problems Vanish Day – May The Fifth Be In You!.
I’m not familiar with the pattern, but in the first option, if you move your color changes by only a few stitches each time, could you allow short floats rather than cutting the yarn each time?
I just placed a request for “Daughters of the Dust” with my library – that looks great! Love all the different reds in your sweater.
In person knitting… sigh. I hope my group will be able to meet outdoors soon! (we need the weather to cooperate!)
And I am with Vera on Daughters of the Dust! I hope that my library has a copy! Thank you!
No help on the knitting advice. 🙂
I am still reading “Heart of Fire”, the autobiography of Senator Mazie Hirono. It is amazing all of the things she has been able to accomplish in her life starting from such very poor beginnings. I am near the end where she is fighting for the people against the Republicans during the last administration. I appreciate her view of what was going on in the Senate during that time. Taking me a while to read but I recommend it. What an amazing woman! Only immigrant serving in the U.S. Senate at this time.
Are you aware that Daughters of the Dust has been made into a movie? It’s available through Prime.
I hope you find a solution to the knitting/yarn dilemma. The reds are very pretty together.
Best of luck with the Boxy. I can’t think of any additional solutions, but maybe your pro knitter friend will. If it was me, I would do the back side first using the easier second method, and see how noticeable it looked. If it didn’t bug me, I’d then do the front the same way. (Though of course, if it did bug me, I’d be back to wondering at solutions…)