Friday, December 22, 2006

Yarn economy ... or knitting the yarn from both ends!

When I started planning Julian's Christmas sweater, the defining design factor was a lesson in yarn economy! You see, I only had 6 balls of the Knit Picks Andean Treasure I wanted to use. So I went to great lengths to try to anticipate yardage on this project: I knit a big swatch (a really big one) totally ripped it out, measured the yardage used to knit it, and plugged the info into my Knitware software* to see if I would have enough to knit a hoodie for Julian. It estimated that it would be close, but possible. And it was both!



I did everything I could to ecconomise yarn on this project, from knitting hems closed rather than sewing them in later, to keeping the pattern as simple as possible with a single cable, and changing balls mid-row as required (oh, my!) rather than doing so at the beginning or end of a row... you know, like you are supposed to *wink, *wink ;0)

Every inch counts, you know! In fact, it got too close for comfort and I started knitting the icord button loops from the other end of the sixth and final ball to make sure I would have enough yarn to knit the 4 required loops before grafting the hood shut (just in case it became necessary to unravel a few rows of the hood...) And it looks like I'm going to make it. Yay! Plus, no leftovers! The no leftover thing is actually kinda disappointing though because as I was knitting the hood I started getting my hopes up about making a matching Korknisse ornament as a prezzie for Jujube. Seriously, checkout the ones Elliphantom knit. I'll wait. Go, on...

How freakin' cute are those?! I'm so collecting bottle corks this holiday season and since I can't enjoy any libations of my own, I'll have to make sure everyone else (who's not driving of course) has a merry 'ole time! Top up anyone? Anyone ;0)

Okay, back to knitting business, here's my sad progress on my advent calendar this week. It's ornament number 5! Out of 24 people!!! Shameful, I know. Well there's alway's next year, right? Here's my poor lonely tangerine! Sigh.


Good-luck to all of you who will be burning the midnight oil these next few nights in hopes of finishing all those gifted knits. I'll be making little wishes for all of you to finish with every eyeleash I blow in the wind, curly chip I crunch, wishbone I crack, train tracks I lift my feet up for as we drive past, or candles that I extinguish. Yup, I'll be thinking of you ;0)

Happy knitting ;0)

*I tried to find a link for you but it seems their site
www.knitware.ca no longer exists...hmmm?

16 comments:

  1. Those little ornaments are really cute! I wonder if you can buy corks from those wine making stores...seems to me you'd need corks to top the bottles with, so maybe they have some.

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  2. Anonymous8:35 p.m.

    Talk about cutting it close!!!!!! Will we get to see a FO pic after Christmas?? I hope so! We have a tradition of making one ornament a year. So if you do it my way, you're 5 years ahead!!!

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  3. I'm knitting Jillian's blanket that way too. Joining balls mid-row actually gives me a little jolt of terror but I'm doing it. Those rows are long and I want the biggest blanket possible.

    You'll get all the teensy advent things done for next year. Julian will enjoy them more next year anyway. Two a month!

    Gosh, haven't thought about "wish chips" in years. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

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  4. I have HUNDREDS of corks at home! Wine is drunk in my house everyday. So, say 4 bottles every week for 8 years...a lot of corks. I can totally send some your way if needed. And I'll have to make these little guys myself! Can't wait to see the hoodie.

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  5. Anonymous6:51 p.m.

    Nothing like worrying so close to finishing.

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  6. Anonymous3:27 p.m.

    First of all - beautiful color on that sweater - can't wait to see it finished! But also, thanks for the link to the cork ornament pattern - I'm committed to knitting some ornaments every month between now and next December! Lydia

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