Finished!

[carynb]

As I noted on Saturday, I managed to finish my Rogue, finally! I'd forgotten what a rush it was to finish off something I really like, and will wear. I'm not generally very creative or crafty, so managing to finish something like this just felt really, really good.

I also really liked the fact that I had to learn a lot in order to finish the pattern. Some things I'd never done before are:

• Some simple different stitching patterns like slip-slip-knit and knitting/purling through back loops. I learned to knit from my mother and my grandmother, and they were, apparently, pretty straightforward when it came to knitting. Changing the direction of the stitch decreases does make a difference in the look of the finished product, though.


• Another relatively simple trick I'd never done before: Making the increases and decreases one in from the edge, instead of the last stitch in the row. It makes for much smoother edging.


• Double cable increases and decreases - specific to Celtic knotwork-type cabling, these look pretty cool.


• Blocking. I'd never even heard of blocking before, and I was amazed at the difference it makes in the end product. Who thought that wetting and pinning down the wool before putting it all together would actually do anything? *g*


• The biggest of them all, though, had to be the grafting. I'm incredibly proud of how well the grafting of the cable pattern on the hood turned out, considering I'd never done any before.

	Finished Rogue, Hood Detail Closeup of the cabling on the hood, with a hint of the detail on the sleeve
	Finished Rogue, full length A full-length shot of the finished Rogue. It is just a titch too big, but I can live with that.*g*

Comments

[much-ado.livejournal.com]

that first picture of the hood detail would make an absoultely lovely icon for you!

(just sayin'... :)

*sigh*

i really should book the trip to go see my mum, so i can get my Rogue as well, and then we should have an LJ-Rogue-Meetup somewhere ;-)

[carynb.livejournal.com]

You mean like this? *g* Thanks!

It's actually the first picture of me I've had taken in ages that I actually like enough to iconize. I should give Mike the camera more often.

And it's a wonderfully comfortable sweater, and quite cozy-warm (assuming she knit it of wool, of course). I'm sure you'll love it!

[corbet.livejournal.com]

Boootiful!

And also, I second much_ado's icon sentiment. :)

[carynb.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[mycrazyhair.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous! (Though I like the larger version of the first picture better than the cropped icon version - I like seeing the way the knotwork goes down to the V.) Very very cool.

[carynb.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

And maybe I'll play with the icon a little more tonight when I get home. Trying to figure out where to crop and doing lots of different things is half the fun, after all. I may even get adventurous and add some text... *g*

[galadrielsfire.livejournal.com]

WOW Caryn! Fantastic! And yes, that pic is awesome. I wish I were talented in the knitting sweaters way.

[carynb.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

And believe it or not, all it takes to knit is a little manual dexterity and a lot of practice. Once your fingers know what to do, it becomes almost rote. This one kept throwing new stitch patterns at me, but there are a few absolutely wonderful sites on the internet that go through the different stitches in detail, with pictures and sometimes, video.

If you'd like to learn, I could certainly show you how to get started. It's easiest to start with some sort of rectangle - a scarf, a wrap, an afghan, a baby blanket - so you don't have to worry about seaming and grafting, and possibly not even increases and decreases, and then you pick up more stitches as you get more experienced.

[galadrielsfire.livejournal.com]

OOOOooooo! I would definitely love to take you up on that offer. And what do ya know? I'll be in town for a week over New Years! *g*

[halfabee.livejournal.com]

Yes, do a scarf first. Something you won't get attached to when you make your first mistakes. In my experience, the following are challenges to a first time knitter:

- casting on (why is the start so hard to get right?)
- keeping a uniform tension (practice, practice)
- knitting on four needles (socks & mittens, etc. However, knitting on an appropriate sized circular needle isn't difficult)
- taking back after you've made a mistake (or worse, dropped a stitch) and then fixing it
- figuring out the pattern shorthand & translating it into what you do with the yarn
- knitting with tiny and fancy yarns

Yes, I knit; although I haven't done anything other than make patterns for race29irl in a long while.

[galadrielsfire.livejournal.com]

WOW! That sounds like A LOT. EEk! I'm up for a good challenge though. And I could use a new winter scarf. *g*

Re:

[carynb.livejournal.com]

A scarf is defintely a good place to start. I'll have to look around and see if I can find an interesting pattern that's not very complicated - something that's good to learn on, with enough variation to keep you from getting bored. *g*

Re:

[halfabee.livejournal.com]

Really, the only items you will initially need to worry about are:

- casting on (why is the start so hard to get right?)
- keeping a uniform tension (practice, practice)
- taking back after you've made a mistake (or worse, dropped a stitch) and then fixing it

And that's why I recommend starting with a scarf (which you don't mind discarding) as practice. My first scarf had numerous errors (mysterious increases), but my second was much better.

[zoarazul.livejournal.com]

On doing the increases/decreases in from the edge ... absolutely. On your FO ... BEAUTIFUL! (yes, I meant to shout that!)

[carynb.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

On doing the increases/decreases in from the edge ... absolutely.

Yeah, it makes so much sense. I can't believe that it never occurred to me before I read this pattern, where it was actually specified to do that. From now on, I'll always do it that way.

[race29girl.livejournal.com]

Great job, it looks amazing on you. Its always cool when you can learn something new while doing a project. Occasionally I will have to consult my "expert" (Mom) to get advice and help. I just finished my first pair of socks and her help was muchly needed. I did a good job with turning the heel and grafting the toe but I am not sure I will want to do another pair. After all that's what mothers and grandmothers are for are they not?

[carynb.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

And it was really good to learn new stuff on this one. It certainly keeps the process from getting boring, y'know? And I'm not sure I'd be up to socks anytime soon, so I'm impressed. *g*

[halfabee.livejournal.com]

As others have said - very nice & a decent picture of you too.

[carynb.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[lordzowy.livejournal.com]

Who knew she could be a model too.

Good job, looks great.

[carynb.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[twistedevotion.livejournal.com]

Both an excellent sweater, and excellent photos!  Bravo!  

[carynb.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Chase!

[twistedevotion.livejournal.com]

You're quite welcome!

wow that looks wonderful!

[(Anonymous)]

Great job on the Rogue... I agree that the hood detail photo is a good one...
How long did it take you to do? I haven't started mine yet, but when I do, it will be in Briggs & Little Heather in Peacock (like turquoise)..

Cheers,

Jessica

http://weavingrainbow.com/blog

Re: wow that looks wonderful!

[carynb.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Jessica!

Actual knitting time was probably about 3 months, but I also knit a Clapotis in there, so that was a couple of those weeks.

Then it took me a couple of weeks to figure out how to block the hood, and find myself a wig holder to use, so I don't know if that counts or not. *g*

The Biggs & Little is great - wonderfully warm.