February 04, 2007The Name is Bond. Jane Bond.I'm still plugging away at the hand-knitting. The Marseilles Pullover is coming along, and I've pulled out the Daktari skirt, one of my older UFO's. I have finished knitting the skirt (I hope - more on that later) and have the first half blocking. I've stretched that bugger out to within an inch of its life. But, as a little respite from all this handwork, I also took the opportunity to dig into the stash and crank out a nice little basic sweater on the machine last weekend. I spent the week hand-knitting the ribbing and seaming, and had it finished just in time to wear for the hottest weekend we've had in a while. When I started this sweater a week ago it was chilly and rainy, but not surprisingly it was eighty degrees for the photoshoot I did today.
I'm not in the mood for pattern notes today, so instead I'll spend a few minutes sharing some recent observations on the compatibility of Rowan designs and the knitting machine. I've always loved Rowan, but I have discovered, after going through about twenty back issues in the last week, that until recently most of their designs were, well, boring. What made the magazine so great, and kept it from becoming the knitter's version of the Talbot's catalog, was great styling, unique accessories, and hot models. (How many times have you been suckered by a hot Rowan model? It happens to me all the time. Although I know I probably shouldn't, I'm still planning to knit this silly sweater with butterflies all over it someday because I just can't resist the model. She looks so great covered in butterflies, surely I will, too. I am such a sucker for packaging.) Boring is not a bad thing, though, or at least not in my book. I think that the Rowan model of style is singularly instructive (although I have been known to make fun of the fact that many of their models do not don pants). Most of my wardrobe is solid in color with classic, tailored lines, and is completely coordinated with everything else. Every once in a while I will buy a zany orange dress or some fun lime-colored slides, but as a rule I wear these things infrequently and stick to my uniform, perking myself up with the occasional fun accessory in a wild color. So a classic, fine-gauged sweater in a nice neutral color is right up my alley, even if it is a bit of a snooze. And this is why the knitting machine is such a wonderful invention. I want the boring sweater, and I want to use the lovely fine-gauged wool that has been languishing in my stash (for eight years, no less), but if I have to choose between making an interesting sweater in a funky color by hand or knitting endless miles of stockinette, I know what I'm going to do. With the knitting machine I can have it both ways. I slowly continue work on lovely cables and lace by hand, and pound out a wardrobe basic on the occasional weekend. Lovely. Anyhoo, my advice to those of you who find yourself slogging through Rowan's exquisitely-crafted stockinette sweaters on US 3 needles season after season is to run out and invest some money in a knitting machine. (Or do as I have and beg, borrow and steal one!) It will be worth every penny and you'll suddenly find that you have time to finish hand-knitting that intricate aran that has been sitting in a pile for months. Posted by Julia at February 4, 2007 07:10 PMIn bond | machine knitting | main
Comments
I can relate to this post... I have a NEW Artisan 70D sitting in my basement because I don't have the space to use it until we finish renovating. I've been cranking out a stockinette sweater by hand for the past couple of weeks, slightly peeved, knowing that it would be a one-day endeavor on the machine. Posted by: christine at February 20, 2007 02:01 PMAmen! Hey, you still made it yourself! And you will wear this sweater a lot - or at least, you should, it looks great on you - and how great to have a whole darn sweater made with a sock-ish time commitment! Posted by: Mary-Heather at February 6, 2007 07:55 PMI, for one, love love love Rowan, but I agree that their stuff is simple (but that's why i like it). I also like small gauge stuff. I like knitting by hand, but sometimes it is boring to do miles of stockinette in size 2 needles. Still, I don't think I would get a knitting machine because if I didn't handknit and I wanted a small gauge sweater, I'd probably just buy it. Love the new FO. It's very becoming on you! Posted by: connie at February 6, 2007 12:15 PMYou should have photos your self posing with a finger pistol =) the butterfly sweater is awesome and i am sure when you don it, you will be just as hot as that model. those rowan girls do make every knitted thing look spanking good. i have often contemplated a knitting machine as the completion of one sweater in frog tree alpaca on #3 needles was quite enough to last me a lifetime. hmmmm, no real occasions to make such an extravagant request of the husband, no real work income coming in. i might have to hold off on that coveted item. and i love the simple knit sweater. classy, as always. Posted by: mamie at February 5, 2007 12:53 PMAhhh, she came out GREAT. I've been on the edge of my seat waiting to see how she'd come out. The hard thing with the machine is that it feels like it's harder to gauge the progress because the fabric needs to rest and block, so much more so than with lace. Obviously, rowan and gauge swatching came through because the piece is really wonderful. Posted by: Marnie at February 5, 2007 09:59 AMI'm with you on boring sweaters. I always wear the boring ones the most often. That butterfly sweater is gorgeous by the way. Amen. You have read my mind! This is what I've learned about me and my knitting as being my biggest problem- I adore simple, fine-gauged stockinette sweaters. Problem is, I can't knit them. I want them, I would love to knit them, but I can't get through them. I've been thinking about investing in a knitting machine for a while now (esp. after watching Marnie whiz through that one project at our last get-together). I'm on the verge, I just need to save up for it, but I'm sure I can justify it as a worthwhile investment for me. Thanks for the added push (as if I needed it)! I will be asking you guys for suggestions... Posted by: Nonnahs at February 5, 2007 09:31 AMI've been contemplating a knitting machine of my own for a long time, for just that reason. In Yorkshire Fables there's a fabulous, entirely stockinette sweater knit in KSH. Would I love to wear it? Totally. Will I ever knit it? Probably not. :) Bond looks great! Posted by: Amy at February 5, 2007 07:55 AMWanda - I completely agree. I enjoy the stockinette, too, and I think the simpler sweaters are often the prettiest ones, and definitely the most versatile. It's making several of those all-stockinette sweaters on tiny needles that I'm avoiding. The occasional fine-gauged piece can be enjoyable, but two or three is a bit much for me! Posted by: Julia at February 5, 2007 07:49 AMInteresting idea. I also tend to like the simple to wear, but am drawn to cables and colors to knit. A machine would be a nice complement. Posted by: Jennifer at February 5, 2007 07:29 AMThanks for the tip! I have a sweater machine and Rowan books--now I just need a weekend! Posted by: Laura at February 5, 2007 06:05 AMIt may be boring(meaning the stockinette), but I actually prefer those as the type of sweaters I wear the most, so I don't actually mind knitting them, although not on that fine of a gauge. The sweater looks great. Just the type of sweater I would wear. Very lovely. Posted by: Wanda at February 4, 2007 09:06 PMBoring pattern, maybe, but you love mah-ve-lous in that sweater! Totally worth the effort. Posted by: Leslie at February 4, 2007 08:05 PMVery sage advice. You look fabulous in the simple, elegant sweater, my dear. Posted by: margene at February 4, 2007 07:18 PM |
