« Roxie! | Main | Roxie Rox my Sox! (I know, I know, awful!) »
Introducing Gemma
March 14, 2005
On saturday I went to London on my own (no one else could come!) to get some yarn. Oxford has no yarn shop, and the places that sell Rowan yarn in Bristol (where Adam lives) and Birmingham (where my parents live) rarely have all the colours or even all the types of yarn, so I am now doing all my yarn shopping either on the internet or in London. I didn't want to order the yarn for Gemma online because I wanted to see which colours went together best. But in the end I decided the exact same colours that were in the magazine were the nicest, so I bought those!
This is Calmer in Calm, and 4-ply cotton in Ardour (the same shade I used for Rosa!). When I got home, I realised the 4-ply cotton is not as soft and nice as other times I've used it - weird. I hope it softens up.....
Anyway, I started a sleeve just to try out the stitch pattern and see how the colours looked:
I love how it looks, and the calmer knitted up has SUCH a nice feel - it will be lovely to wear :)
My only problem with this design is the number of ends there will be to darn in.....the pattern repeat is 6 rows, and even with carrying as many yarns up the side as I can, each repeat creates 4 new ends to darn in - ick ick ick. Not so bad for the sleeves, as only the cuffs are in a fancy pattern, but the entire back and front are in the pattern! Does anyone have any tips? I've never knitted anything which generates so much mess to weave in before.
Back soon with Roxie progress!
Posted by jen at March 14, 2005 01:11 PM
Comments
Oh no - lots of ends. I'm not a fan of weaving them in either, I tend to try and carry as many as I can otherwise I weave them as I go. It seems like less hard work this way.
Such a shame I couldn't make it on Saturday - definitely next time!
Posted by: kerrie at March 14, 2005 04:59 PM
Reading has a good John Lewis with a yarn department and a wide variety and there is Jacksons that has all sorts of Yarn, I think Rowan included!Both are very near the station. Plus there is the Wool Shop in Didcot, a hidden away treasure trove!!!
However London may be_more_fun_for a day trip;)
Posted by: Judith at March 14, 2005 05:13 PM
You can knit in the ends as you go by wrapping the old yarn over the new yarn, as you would for intarsia, on each stitch for three or four stitches. Then when you are done with the front or back all you need to do is clip each end close to where you ended with the weaving and you are done. No weaving them in with a yarn needle! It works great and they are secure this way.
Good luck, great colors!
Posted by: Johanna at March 14, 2005 07:26 PM
I have a suggestion for your ‘Gemma dilemma’ (re: all those pesky ends to weave in.) How about knitting it in the round, up to the armholes? Just cast on one less on each end (so 4 less than the number for the front + back), and place markers at the sides and follow the pattern accordingly. You’ll still have the sleeves and the upper body pieces to deal with, but it should lessen the burden substantially.
And by the way, thanks for bringing this issue to my attention. I just bought materials to make it too! (in colors you would hate).
Good luck & enjoy! I look forward to seeing your finished product.
Posted by: Heidi at March 15, 2005 01:16 AM
you can put it on circular needles - but knit back & forth
and carry yarns up either side
doing a RS row or a WS row for the color depending on which side the yarn was left on
this probably reads really strangely, i wish i could talk to you in person to explain what i mean!!!
Posted by: carolyn at March 15, 2005 02:52 AM
I love the way Gemma looks! I haven't gotten my hands on Rowan 37 yet, and had no idea that she was so pretty! I enjoy weaving in ends. I'd offer to weave them in for you, but I live in a totally different country.
Posted by: Ellie at March 15, 2005 03:48 AM
Oxford has no yarn shop? You mean the Rowan store at Gloucester Green is no longer? What a shame! I lived in Oxford for almost 6 years, been awhile since I moved back to the states though. I also liked the yarn shop in Abingdon, trying to remember the name of it... something like Butchers or Bakers? Mason's I'm pretty sure. It's just about town centre in Abingdon. The John Lewis in Reading did have a good yarn department, but not as fun as going to Oxford Street where you can hit JL and Liberty's!
Posted by: abigale at March 22, 2005 03:51 AM
Gemma looks great! I've been thinking about knitting this one, too - just need to get other stuff of my needles first!
Posted by: Katie at March 22, 2005 09:43 PM