Yes, I am insane

[redhedlvr2]

There's something about this time of year that makes me want to knit.  I'm not making Christmas gifts for anyone, although I rarely make anything for myself except socks.  So I can't figure out what it is that makes me go yarn-happy.  This week, it's this sweater.  And you know what?  I'm gonna make and keep it for myself.  The only problem, it's really so far above my skill level that saying I'll make it and actually making it happen are two different things.  But I can dream.

Comments

[henrycat.livejournal.com]

That is so beautiful! I definitely will be digging in my stash to see if I have anything suitable to knit it with. The tree motif is fantastic. Thanks for posting this! I hadn't seen it before.

[redhedlvr.livejournal.com]

I found the sweater on Ravelry and the tree chart right here on live journal at dragoncrafter's journal. Here's the link. (http://advanced-knit.livejournal.com/192971.html)

I'm going to first do a test panel for the tree which I'll just make into a pillow. I have a hard time with charts and for something as complicated as this, I'll need some practice.

[henrycat.livejournal.com]

That's a great idea - not only for the practice but it will make a gorgeous pillow. I like to use highlighter tape on the chart just above the row I'm working on - you can also put it over the row below that will completely isolate it.

Looking at the pattern, I don't much like sleeves knitted in one piece with the body either, so I'm going to do what dragoncrafter did - substitute a set-in sleeve.

[redhedlvr.livejournal.com]

I think you've suggested highlighter tape to me before when I first started working with charts a few years ago. Still a very good idea, especially with this one. I have trouble figuring out what to do with those bold (in this case bold RED) lines down the left side of the chart. They always blow my mind. But after really looking at the chart, and reading the comments below, I believe I understand what she wants on the chart. Do the right to left all the way across, and then start at the red line and knit left to right so those few stitches between the red line and the left side of the chart only get worked once. Like I say, charts are not my friends, hee he.

I agree with you on the sleeve. Actually, I was thinking about this over the weekend and have decided, I don't want a hood covering up all my hard work if the tree goes on the back. And since I don't really enjoy sewing up knitted seams, I was thinking of doing the body all in one piece working the chart on the back. Then working the front bands around the whole neck edge and just not doing a hood. Maybe doing the sleeves from the cap down and then the cuff bands sort of like I'm doing the shawl knitted bind off I'm working on now. Hope that made some kind of sense.

[perclexed.livejournal.com]

My gods that gorgeous. Oo la la! I've got a set of short fingerless mitts to make for a friend, and then I'm busting out this ridiculously cheerful rainbow stripes yarn I've been saving for myself and making something for me. Might be mitts, because my hands are freezing. Or continuing to work on the Icelandic yoke sweater. But dangit, something for myself for once! *fistbumps you*

[redhedlvr.livejournal.com]

I know! How often do we keep what we make for ourselves? I thought about this the other day. My family knows I "knit". And they are usually the ones who receive my knitted results. But I'm not sure they really appreciate all that goes into the process. The Yarn Harlot wrote up exactly how I feel about the process on her blog. Think about how long it takes to produce a knitted/handmade gift and then how long it takes to walk into a store and buy something for someone. There's just no comparison.