Autumn Cape 2016 A long Term Project Sleeves Part 1

Autumn Cape 2016 A long Term Project

Sleeves Part 1

With the Back and Sides done apart from the embellishments it is time to begin on the sleeves. This will be recorded slightly differently to the other knitted pieces.

Picking up Stitches

I took one of the side pieces and began to pick up stitches using the same type (circular)and size needles as previously 5mm. Holding the knitting the correct way up and starting on the left hand side I started picking up stitches. This worked out at a roughly 120 stitches in total.

Picked up 120 Stitches

 

Before I began knitting I had a bit of a ponder and wrote down a few notes. I also added to them as I went along and a count section.

Notes 

I started knitting using a Dark Brown yarn and added new colours as I went along. After I knitted the last stitch I added a Stitch Marker.

For those who are familiar with Knitting in the Round they will know that if you use a Knit Stitch then join when you get to the last stitch and knit continuously in a circle you end up with a Stocking Stitch Pattern.

This was my original intention when I began knitting. However as I tried to start I hit a problem. Unlike my previous Cape that I made this Sleeve had one vital difference. On the last one I had used block colour. This time however I was constantly changing colour.

I discovered that because of this all the yarns would be at the wrong end of stitches and most of them would be too far away to bridge. So after a bit of a think I decided the only sensible option would be to knit back the way I had knitted.

Unfortunately I realised if I used a Knit Stitch I would mess up the effect. Therefore my only option would be to use a Purl Stitch on the reverse. It might be worth pointing out that since I am knitting this way there will be a gap at the bottom as I am not knitting across the join.

Naturally I wanted to keep a record of where I was and what I was doing. This was especially vital since I was changing the way I was knitting the Sleeve

Written Chart 10 Rows

I kept the idea of writing the numbers in different colours however instead of only recording the Knit Rows I also wanted to record the Purl Rows. This was reflected in the Pictorial Chart

Pictorial Chart 10 Rows Stocking Stitch

Unlike the Pictorial Charts I used for the Cape and Sides this Chart I not so much used as a design but more over as a record of where I am whilst knitting.

  

Pictorial Chart 10 Rows Left hand side

 

As you can see the Chart is numbered across in groups of 5 with the 0 marked as the Midpoint and the numbers increasing from either side.

Pictorial Chart 10 Rows Right hand side

If you notice at both sides of the Chart there is K and P marked alternatively. This is indicating whether that particular row is a Knit Row or Purl Row.

There is also a line down the Midpoint. This is exceptionally important as the way the colours are marked are different from the other Charts.

Pictorial Chart 15 Rows Stocking Stitch

  

This might be a little difficult to explain but I will try my best. If you look at the above chart and find the Midpoint you will see a Dark Brown line extending towards the Left. This was the first part of my initial row.

I continued filling in the colours as carried on knitting until I reached the end of the Chart. You can just see the eraser at the end of that row in the Left hand corner. This next part is important DO NOT continue the colours on the line beneath. Instead start colouring in from the Right hand corner towards the centre.

This will result in one completely filled line on the Pictorial Chart. If you look again at the above photograph you should see a line with marks on straight down the centre in line of the Midpoint.

It is easier to spot in the middle section of the Chart roughly half way down. The marks are little arrows pointing in which direction you start knitting the next row.

The initial row began from the Midpoint and moved towards the eraser and then from the Right hand corner towards the Midpoint. This was the first Knit Row. Therefore to follow the Purl Row on the second line you have to start from the Midpoint towards the Right hand corner then from the eraser to the Midpoint.  I continued this alternative colouring along the Chart.

Written Chart 15 Rows Stocking Stitch

15 Rows Stocking Stitch or 30 Rows Knit and Purl fills one side of the A4 Written Chart and the Sleeve looks as below.

First Sleeve 15 Rows Stocking Stitch

That is the view from above.

First Sleeve 15 Rows Stocking Stitch

That is the view from above. I shall sew in some loose ends before continuing.

Autumn Cape 2016 A long Term Project Sides Part 2

Autumn Cape 2016 A long Term Project

Sides Part 2

I thought after the last very complicated blog you might like to see a photograph proving that yes the Sides do actually match the Back of the Cape.

Top of Sides and Back of Cape

I am going to attempt something a little different on the armholes from last time on the previous cape. Last time I was using only one colour. This time I am going to be making armholes using two.

On Row 21 on the Pictorial Chart (Row 41 on Written Chart) I knit 12 stitches of one colour then 12 of another. I then Purl back again in the respective colours. I do this for both Side pieces.

Side Pictorial Chart - Start of Armhole

If you look at the above photograph on the Left-hand side you should see Brown, a gap then Red. I decided when knitting to change to Yellow and have marked as shown. The other side is correct.

Now this might get a bit tricky.  I will include the Selvedge in the instructions as we are going to add more. I took the Side piece that is Brown and Yellow and knitted as follows.

The Knit Row

Slip 1 Brown,

Knit 8 Brown, - 9 stitches in total.

Slip 2^nd to last knitted Brown over last knitted Brown Stitch to cast off stitch. You should now have 8 Brown Stitches.

Cast off the rest of the Brown Stitches until you have 9 Brown Stitches on Needle and 12 Yellow Stitches.

Knit 1 Yellow Stitch

Slip last Brown stitch over Yellow Stitch.

Continue to Cast off Yellow Stitches until you have 8 Yellow Stitches left on needle.

Knit to end.

At this point you should have on your needle 8 Brown Stitches, a gap then 8 Yellow Stitches.

The Purl Row 

Slip 1 Yellow Stitch

Knit 1 Yellow Stitch

Purl 4 Yellow Stitches

Knit 2 Yellow Stitches

You now have 8 Yellow Stitches with Selvedge at Both Ends

Slip 1 Brown Stitch

Knit 1 Brown Stitch

Purl 4 Brown Stitches

Knit 2 Brown Stitches

You now have 8 Brown Stitches with Selvedge at Both Ends

All 16 Stitches can now be safely slipped on to a Knitting Stitch Holder.

Brown and Yellow Armhole Cast Off

At this point I turned my attention to the other Side Piece and stopped prior to slipping on to a Knitting Stitch Holder.

On Two Needles Close up 

Here I am trying something a little different. Instead of slipping one side onto a Knitting Stitch Holder I am going to use the additional needle from the other side and Knit both sides down at once.

Knitting Both Sides

Knitted down to Casting on 8 Stitches

When I had finished one Side down to where I need to cast on stitches again. I then proceeded to add 4 stitches on each side of the gap thus making a total of 24 stitches again.

I could then Knit straight across and release the other needle ready to use again on the opposite Side. I slipped the first Side on to the Knitting Stitch Holder.

When the other side was level I cast on the 8 missing stitches and knitted across so now both Sides were ready to continue down to the bottom.

I have only vaguely followed the colours of the Pictorial Chart down to this point. I will be making a few embellishments.

End of First Pictorial Chart – Sides Level

In case you are wondering why I am only vaguely following the Pictorial Chart the reason is because it is a guideline not an absolute accurate representation. This is due to making alterations during the knitting for example when I have dropped or made extra stitches.

Whilst following the second Pictorial Chart I tried to keep the Sides roughly the same on the joining section but I began to work in the Green Yarn. I continued this until nearly the bottom then I started working in the Dark Brown again.

Once I reached the point of casting off I stopped and Instead of Casting Off I slipped the stitches onto a Knitting Stitch Holder. The reason for this is I had lost count when knitting the Dark Brown on the Back of the Cape.

Therefore when begin to sew the Sides to the Back of the Cape if I haven’t done enough rows I can just put back onto the needles and add a few extra rows if necessary.

Sides down to the Bottom and on Stitch Holder

Autumn Cape 2016 A long Term Project Sides Part 1

Autumn Cape 2016 A long Term Project

Sides Part 1

Before I make a start on the sides I am making a check on the amount of yarn I have since some of the wool is discontinued and therefore I am unable to replenish the stock.

Full Balls Left

2 Copper Balls, 3 Gold Balls, 1 Dark Brown, 1 Mid Brown, 1 Red Berry. The following Green balls 2 Olive, 2 Fern and 2 Bronze Green details are at bottom of page.

Part Balls Left

 

2 Dark Brown 1 Mid Brown, 1 Aran, 1 Gold, 2 Copper, 2 Red Berry, 1 Ginger.

I then checked what colours were at the top of Pictorial Chart 1 that was adjacent to the sides. In both cases the colour was Copper or Orange if you prefer.

I then measured the sides of the previous cape I had made and found them to be roughly 4 inches. I therefore made a test gauge to determine the amount of stitches to cast on.

After a couple of attempts I decided to cast on to 5mm needles 20 stitches plus 2 either end for the Selvedge making 24 stitches in total.

Cast On 24 Stitches

I cast on 24 stitches and knitted 5 rows in stocking stitch just to double check.

Sides Pictorial Chart

I have designed the Pictorial Chart so I can see both sides at once.

Sides Written Chart

I have done the same for the Written Chart.

Both Sides

At this point I am currently knitting the sides simultaneously.

Arrrrrrgggghhh

I have messed up, not sure whether to working whilst tired, not paying attention due to multitasking or just because I am working in reverse.

What I did. This is going to be complicated so here is a reminder of what the 1^st Pictorial Chart looks like.

1^st Pictorial Chart

Left                                                     Right

So therefore I copied the colours on to a new chart for the sides.

Side Pictorial Chart

Left                                                    Right

What I forgot was the sewing edges would not be in the same place especially as when knitting from the top down. At first glance it looks completely fine. However when reading the pattern I didn’t take into account the position of the yarn.

When knitting you usually have the yarn on the right hand side. Somehow I had managed to reverse this at some point – don’t ask me how?  I think I got confused when adding in a colour and started going backwards!

Anyway I ended up having to unravel it back down to the Orange and start again. This time I drew the Chart how it would be with the Sides attached to the back. Therefore I swapped the two sections around so both patterns joining sides be in the right place.

Reversed Pattern Pictorial

 

Reversed Pattern Pictorial and Written.

 

So to recap looking at 1st Pictorial Chart

Pictorial Chart 1 Representation

Joining Side Left    Joining Side Right

The two black lines represent the approximate colour section I am matching (at least down to the first branches).  Now look at the Reversed Chart below.

Pictorial Sides Chart

        

    

Right-hand Side Join         Left-hand Side Join

Here you can see that the sides have now been swapped and are therefore opposite to the Original Chart. If you have problems following this then you will know how I feel trying to work it out!

I think I will leave the blog at this point as the next part will be shaping the sleeve opening.

Green Yarns in Photographs.

Merino Blend DK King Cole 50 g Shade 43 Bronze Green Dye 52153

Merino Blend DK King Cole 50 g Shade 854 Fern Dye 52153

Cygnet Four Ply 50 g Shade 0268 Olive Dye 628030

Autumn Cape 2016 A long Term Project Part 9

Autumn Cape 2016 A long Term Project Part 9

The last time I blogged about the cape I had reached an unnerving point where I had to alter the Owl Pattern part way through. The Owl at present to my mind resembled at best a Pigeon and at worst one of the Gulls that shrieked MINE from Disney’s Finding Nemo!

Original Pattern Owl

The picture above is the Original Pictorial Owl for the back of the Cape.

New Pattern Owl

As you can see I have taken 4 to 5 rows out of the Chart. In reality of course since I am only counting the knit rows of the Pictorial Chart it is 8-10 rows.

Pictorial Shortened Owl Cropped Version

Although it is not a particularly good photograph you should be able to see how it looks fully coloured.

Pictorial Shortened Owl Un-cropped Version

Obviously once I had shortened the Owl on the Pictorial Chart I also had to shorten the hollow surrounding it. Then after knitting to point in the photograph above and was now only using one colour (the dark brown) I simply continued in stocking stitch.

I am not exactly sure how many rows I knitted – as I was in the Pub at the time. However it was at least 10 rows of stocking stitch. If you imagine it is from the shoulders to the knees it is about right.

I did not want to make the back too long for several reasons. Firstly because the Owl is quite near the bottom and since I intended to wear it in Autumn/Winter I don’t want to ruin it by getting it splashed with puddles or mud. Secondly I am not sure how much it will drop when being washed and worn. Last but not least I have not as yet decided whether to add a knitted decorative edging. That will depend on the amount of wool left.

Finished Cape Back Pre Embroidery

Finished Back Embroidered Squirrel

 

Finished Back Embroidered Owl

 

Finished Cape Back Post Embroidery

So unless I decided to do some tweaking such as defining the hollow more and adding an edging that is the Back of the Cape FINISHED : )