Shawl Together Now

And it came to pass, as the sun set upon the third day, that the collar was done at last.  And she looked and called it Good:

Yes, I think I can now say that I like the collar, though since this is version 8.0, it may be that I just want it over with.

I have no freaking idea why the thing is so, well, LARGE.  There is about 300 yards of yarn in there, if you can believe it.  Obviously, garter stitch uses more yarn, but how there ended up to be so much acreage in the thing is beyond me.  I'm thinking that the depth of the V neck is to blame: shallower would have been preferable, because it just takes so many dang stitches to get around the wee beastie.  But there comes a point where you just have to press on and see what happens.  Apparently for me, that point is somewhere between the 7th and 8th version of the shawl collar.

Which translates to a collar which, even when folded in half, is pretty freaking high in the back.  For someone short of neck (like me), it's really more fabric than necessary.  But if cozy was my goal, I think I have well and truly got it.  This thing is not just a shawl collar, it's an actual shawl, attached to the neckline of a cardigan.  Epic.  Practically a hood. Beware of sudden updrafts: Sweater may achieve liftoff.

Still, I think the project's headed in the direction I had hoped (Knitting Gods; insert SMITE here).  I was going for something that looks tailor-y and fitted-y and sorta, well, period, if you get my meaning, but without being costume-y.  Although, if it does end up costume-y, I will still love it. 

Strangely, after all the time I have spent with this wool, as fleece, as spinning, and now as knitting, I'm only now starting to think about what it will be like to actually wear it.  And I like what I have so far.  Two challenges left (that I am aware of, at least): 

1.    Make sleeves that work the way I want them to, and
2.    Don't run out of yarn.

Same thing we do everyday, no?
 

Collarless

Progress on Caora Dubh continues:

Here you can actually see the cables:

And today's goal is to do the shawl collar.  That was yesterday's goal, as well, but it's proving surprisingly elusive.  I have gutted and started the collar over no less than 7 times, stymied by the geometry.  It's not that I haven't got other people's instructions for how to do this, it's that they yeild shapes that completely defy my ability to make clothes from. 

I'm harboring guarded optomism for version 8.0, having unearthed a machine-made cardigan of Phillip's which has the collar I (think) I want.  Seeing the shape I'm supposed to be knitting (different from anything I have found in my books, by the way) is bound to help.  Failing that, I plan to make blood sacrifice to the Knitting Gods.  Wouldn't be the first time, after all.
 

Repurposing

I've been playing with string.  Today I'm turning the yarn I have into the yarn I want.  The Oregon knitting teachers and I are beginning our very first knitalong (Join us, Do!) We decided to make adult Tomten jackets, based on Elizabeth Zimmermann's sensational classic. 

What I have in mind is to make my Tomten as a swing coat, with trapezoidal sides.  Naturally, this will require a boatload of aran-weight yarn.  Fortunately for me, I was lucky enough to have been gifted with 4 huge cones of scottish shetland 2-ply:  

Absolute pounds of yarn, with the only trouble being that it's much too lightweight for what I propose.  My new pal Shelia January wisely counseled me that 2 or 3 strands of this held together would pass nicely for the weight I need.  But of course, simply holding the strands together would be far too simple for someone like me (OCD Much?).  For one thing, these cones are anything but portable, and I winding them into smaller bites is almost the same amount of work as actually plying them into cablespun yarn.  Add to that the fact that I think all this yardage needs washing (lotsa spinning oil from the mill in it), and you can see the direction things took:
 

Shelia pointed out that to cable the strands, I would first need to add a bit of twist, in order to get a balanced yarn.  So through the wheel it goes.  I'm treating the 2-ply finished yarn as if it were singles, adding more twist in the same direction it was plied at the mill, and then re-plying it the opposite direction.  Then a luxurious soak in the sink, and an eternity to dry.  Who knew?  Turns out 6 plies of shetland can really hold onto moisture!

Presto!  Fluffy, balanced cablespun shetland!  And I even like the color.  At least for now - we'll see how I feel about it after preparing the 10 or 12 skeins I estimate needing.  Still, it's totally worth the trouble for a free Tomten.

Join up with us on Ravelry!  There are some DEEPLY talented knitters in this group, who happen to be teachers and designers, as well.  I can't wait to find out what we do!  Also, the pattern/formula is available in several different versions, and suggestions for modifications abound, so the sky's the limit.  See you on the Dark Side.  I'll save you a seat.