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good morning fellow knitters,
i am starting my first sweater. i am so scared. yet i am sick of knitting scarves.
i took a sweater knitting class. which was really cool. but i forgot most of it. and i don't want to retake the class due to the expense.
but the teacher that taught the class was amazing. a certified Master knitter.
my question to you is should i try to do alterations as i go? and if so...how do i do that?
and gauge..i get so confused about gauge...i have that litle metal gauge tool and everything...but i don't know how to count the little v's or the little bumps i have a hard time seeing where one stitich ends and the other begins.
but i am good knitter. i am just sick of scarves.
any suggestions or advice?
bright blessings,
baby d.
i am starting my first sweater. i am so scared. yet i am sick of knitting scarves.
i took a sweater knitting class. which was really cool. but i forgot most of it. and i don't want to retake the class due to the expense.
but the teacher that taught the class was amazing. a certified Master knitter.
my question to you is should i try to do alterations as i go? and if so...how do i do that?
and gauge..i get so confused about gauge...i have that litle metal gauge tool and everything...but i don't know how to count the little v's or the little bumps i have a hard time seeing where one stitich ends and the other begins.
but i am good knitter. i am just sick of scarves.
any suggestions or advice?
bright blessings,
baby d.
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Re: first sweater project
Tue, August 23, 2005 - 9:09 AMFind a shirt that fits exactly the way you want your sweater to, then take measurements. If you're really anal (or just don't want to do math), you can trace it onto thin cardboard or butcher paper. That way, as you work, you can lay it onto your template and see how it's progressing. You can get a shirt cheap at a thrift shop & cut along the seams for the sleeves.
Gauge swatches are a pain in the ass, but well worth the trouble. Make a 4" x 4" gague swatch, keeping track of the number of stitches & rows as you work (because trying to count them later blinds me too!). Then, just do the math.
Hope this made sense, I haven't finished the coffee yet :)
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Re: first sweater project
Tue, August 23, 2005 - 7:00 PMMolly,
thank you so much for the suggestions. i shall try it out and let you know.
happy knitting,
baby d.
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Re: first sweater project
Tue, August 23, 2005 - 7:43 PMA sweater is a million times easier than you'd think... my biggest piece of advice for you is to make a plan first of how you're going to construct it. When you know that (ie, how will the sleeves fit, what kind of rib will I put on the bottom, etc) you can start making some calculations by using your guage. I'd advise a very good method known as the Proportion Method which just uses your shoulder measurement to figure out the whole pattern - do an online search, you'll find some good examples - it's a traditional Irish knitting method.
Invest in a book, unless you already have one. Always good to have some resources to look at. And use good wool/cotton or whatever you have - you'll be spending a long time on this, make it out of good stuff!
J -
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Unsu...
Re: first sweater project
Sat, August 27, 2005 - 5:03 AMJohn,
thank you so much for sharing your suggestions with me. i am going to do that online search right now.
wish me luck,
baby d. -
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Re: first sweater project
Tue, August 30, 2005 - 8:39 PMspeaking of books, do you suggest any that might be a good source for a beginner sweater knitter? I've leafed through some, but the directions seem a wee bit complicated. I mean, should I pick up Knitting for Dummies?
thanks mucho,
Ro -
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Re: first sweater project
Wed, August 31, 2005 - 10:28 PMThe Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crochetings is *great* for a beginner and a decent reference book when you just can't remember how to do that increase you never do but this pattern calls for it.
As a sweater reference guide, I wouldn't recommend it. Not bad, just not the right tool for that job.
I've gotten some great tips on Knitty and just by reading through enough patterns from all over to get a sense of what's what. I've also learned to actually *read* the pattern, not just skim it. A lot of patterns make more sense when I actually pay attention.
Or, of course, ask your friendly neighborhood LYS for advice!
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