One and a half sleeves...

Lest you think nothing has been done in my absence, Rogue is finally on the blocking board, although not yet completed.

I present to you the body and one sleeve:

Please pardon the bowl head.

Your really can’t see the detail on this photo, but better pictures will be forthcoming. 

The first sleeve was an entertaining exercise in knitting. At first I just sailed right through it, at least until I got to the sleeve cap shaping. Luckily I was aware enough that day to look at the knitting on my lap and think that it looked too short. I did not have the body of the sweater with me and I did not remember how deep the armholes were, or how broad the shoulders, so it was somewhat difficult to guess. Still, the sleeve looked short. This, in itself, is an unusual occurrence. Although I am moderately tall at 5’9”, my arms and legs are not proportionate to my height. Legs are longer than average, an advantage truly, but short compared to the rest of me, and my arms, well they are pretty much average to short. Still that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. I often have to shorten sleeves on expensive RTW and lengthen them on the cheaper stuff. In sewing patterns the sleeves are usually long enough or too long. Knitting patterns are all over the map, some too short, some too long, rarely just right; generally though I have to shorten more than I have to lengthen.

While I was waiting to compare the sleeve to the body of Rogue (I was not at home) I grew bored with sitting and staring at a pile of knitting on my lap on which no progress could be made, an actual improvement for me as there have been times when I would have thrown caution to the wind and knit on, hoping for the best outcome. Luckily I did have my Chibi needles so I thought I would turn up the sleeve hem. A good thing that. I had not been certain that I liked it as I knit and as I seamed my indecision was quickly resolved.

Rip that sleeve and start over.

This time I knitted a stockinette hem much as I did for the hem of Rogue, knitting slightly less than 2 inches and then picking up the cast on stitches and knitting them together to begin the first row of the body of the sleeve. Much nicer. No floppy hems or cuffs for me. Give me firm and close fitting sleeve ends whenever possible. 

By the time I got back to the shaping the sleeve cap I had determined that I needed another two inches despite the decidedly low armscye on the body of Rogue. Then I needed another inch at the top of the sleeve cap to fill in the shoulder area. Yes my row gauge was the same as on the body of the sweater. At least it seems very similar, perhaps not similar enough. Row gauge has always been my downfall.

When I finished the sleeve I basted the sleeve to the body to try on for fit before blocking and beginning the second sleeve. Success!!

The second sleeve has been started and will be finished soon. Not soon enough however for there to be a high likelihood that this sweater will venture beyond my closet for the next six months.

 

 

Comments

[Gina]

It's looking great!