Thursday, May 28, 2009

This Just Might Work

When I cast on for the Dovetail Pullover I began with the front. Why? Well, I was determined to make a V-neck, rather than the ribbed boatneck shown in the pattern. The boatneck looked tricky to execute and not at all flattering. If the V-neck didn't work that would be the end of Dovetail. No back, no sleeves, just rip and start something else.



I think it's working out. See --



I haven't completely finished the front, just took it along far enough to be sure that the neckline would be okay. I don't typically plan or design anything, or (heaven forfend) make a drawing or chart; it's more a process of coming up with a vague idea and then noodling around to see what works.



Comparing the knitted piece with a V-neck pullover that fits well, I got to a point where it seemed a good idea to start the vee. I knit each of the two middle purl stitches together with the traveling knit stitch to its right (or left, depending) and then did a K2tog or SSK on every right side row. This follows the way the cables were developing, but has a different slope, since the edge is only moving over one stitch at a time instead of two. It would be nice to be able to decrease all the way over until the edge of the vee meets the side of the cable section, but that might make the shoulders too narrow. Time will tell.



For now, the front looks good enough that I have embarked on the back. It's coming along nicely too. Sort of like knitting the second sock – all the decisions have been made (exactly where to place the waist shaping, when to start the armholes, etc.) so the knitting is completely mechanical . . . and very restful.

6 comments:

Knitting Linguist said...

Ooh, I like that very much. I, too, am a fan of v-necks, and that one looks really good with the design. The color's beautiful, too!

Delighted Hands said...

You have made some excellent results for 'noodling'! I , too, am a winger of ideas but your vest is truly perfect!

Susan Luni said...

That does look promising. In theory, I'd have been tempted to double up on the neck shaping to match the cable. However, on first looking at yours, I didn't notice there was a difference in slant. I wouldn't have known if you hadn't said. It will probably look even better on.

Sharon said...

You are an itty bitty minny. Whatever you make looks good on you. This isn't going to be an exception.

Marjorie said...

I like that sweater a lot, and I used its schematic as a guide for the purple cabled sweater I finished a month or so ago. I think your V modification is a very good one. I noticed in examining the next, that the number of stitches to be picked up didn't seem exactly right.

My grandmother used to knit and crochet as you do--just by looking. I've never evolved that far. I have to work out everything with pencil and paper to avoid disasters.

bspinner said...

I like the cable pattern and how you've worked the V neck. Color is nice too and I'm sure like everything else you've knit will look great on you.