FO: Pearl Buck Swing Jacket...

She's finished and just in time. If I send it out tomorrow after class, my mom will get it in time for her birthday. =)



Pattern: Pearl Buck Swing Jacket by Kate Gilbert (Interweave Knits Winter 2005/2006)
Start/Finish: Feb. 8, 2006 - Mar. 7, 2006
Yarn: Jaeger Matchmaker Merino DK - Burgundy (655); approximately 1050yds/960m
Needles: Denise Interchangeables size US6/4mm
Modifications: Added hook and eye closure



Notes:

This felt like a fairly easy/quick knit compared to the Union Square Market pullover. I love the bracelet-length sleeves. Functional but won't get in the way. I think my seaming of the sleeves was a tad wonky at the yoke (had a bit of trouble there) but overall, I'm very happy with how this turned out. I hope my mom will be as happy with it as I am...she's the one who will be wearing it!

I couldn't find a zipper (I can't believe how hard it is to find a zipper in this town) so I resorted to sewing hooks and eyes to some ribbon and sewing that to the inside edge of the jacket openings. Let it be known here and now that I can't sew to save my life. The closure device was whip-stitched in because it was the only way I could sew invisibly (well, invible from the outside, anyway). One thing I didn't take into account when I measured the ribbon was that the edges stretched by about an inch longer after a bit of handling. It worked out in the end but I think for future reference, if I ever knit a jacket with a similar opening again I will sew in some ribbon or tape to help it keep its structure.

Things I learned:

Long-tail cast on has its use.

How to estimate the length of a tail needed for a long-tail cast on.

How cables work...sort of.

Things I need to work on:

Picking up stitches.

Seaming at intersections of pieces (e.g. where the sleeves met the back and yoke seam).

Sewing.

Nearly there...

Sleeves and closure devices

I couldn't find the right type of zipper in the right color or length so I went with the alternative: sewing hooks onto ribbon and sewing that into the jacket. It's not perfect, mainly because the hooks have a tendency to shift a bit, but it will do. I'll ask my mom what she thinks and if she prefers a zipper, I can change it when I go home for Easter.

Also, the small sewing shop is having a sale on yarn. I did something that is kind of unusual for me and bought a few balls without having a project in mind (student budget and time constraints make it very difficult for me to really build up a stash). Anyway, I bought 1200m/1300yd of Wendy Supreme (100% mercerized cotton).



I think I'll be using it for a project that I've sketched out a couple times. It's light top with half-length sleeves and buttons running along the top of the sleeves. For a while thought I hit on a nifty idea. Then I found out that Phildar beat me to it. Oh well. At least the pattern will be my own. The Phildar top is from Tendances Printemps 1, no. 443. I would just buy the magazine but that pattern is the only thing I'd actually make.

Thoughts while working on Pearl...

I have the front pieces finished and have gotten quite a bit done on the sleeves. I'm working both sleeves at the same time just to see how this method goes, and I'm pretty happy with it so far. In previous sweaters, I've noticed that I usually take about a week to complete one sleeve. On this it seems that I can complete both sleeves in the same amount of time as one sleeve if I work them together. Nice to know when you're on a deadline.



Another thing to note is that when I blocked the pieces, they seemed to grow when wet. Not sure if this has anything to do with the yarn or if it's my tension showing its ugly side when soaked, but it does shrink back to the correct size as it dries (thank God). I just pinned it loosely as close to measurement as I could get and re-pinned them a couple more times until they were the right size.

I'm thinking about adding an invisible zipper or hook closure so that the jacket will be more, well, jackety. I think my mom will also appreciate the ability to close the front. Not sure how sewing these in will affect the edging detail, though.

Progress, part deux...

Top: Yoke and back; Bottom: Close-up of the pleat.

I'm using Jaeger Matchmaker Merion DK in burgundy. Pretty close to the recommended yarn but it was about £5 cheaper overall. Also, the place I was at didn't have any colors I liked in the Extra Fine Merino.

Progress...

The Pearl Buck jacket is coming along smoothly. I joined the KAL over at A Bluestocking Knits a bit ago. It technically doesn't start until March, but I happen to have a deadline--my mom's birthday in mid-March. My parents will also be going on a trip shortly after her birthday and I think this will be nice for her to take along. So I've been working on this steadily for the last couple weeks (not counting the week I was in Amsterdam). I have the back, yoke, and left front so far. Currently working on the right front. This is definitely a nice project for learning how cables work. I never understood the technical aspect of cables but I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.

Also pulled out the pullover that was supposed to be my dad's Christmas present from under the bed and put it back on the needles. I figure if it's on needles, I'll be more likely to get around to finishing it. I'm actually surprised at how far I got before putting it down. I didn't realize that I had most of the body done already (just thought I had half the body done). So now I'm not too worried about getting it done before I go home for Easter Holiday. I may even be able to finish it in time to mail it home with the jacket.

I've decided on the type of yarn to use for my "inspiration" top. Well, almost. I've decided on Jaeger Siena. The local fabric store has just gotten in loads of cotton yarns (probably for the spring and summer), so I finally got a chance to see and feel the options. Still not sure which color. I've narrowed it down to cream, meadow, and phlox. Fortunately, this will be for the summer so I'm not in any rush to decide.