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.