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February 5, 2008
Unfair Isle
So Nathan wants a new relaxing hat. He likes to, you know, relax.
Only this time he wants a knitted one. A couple of months ago, he randomly bought me this book, and looked at me meaningfully as he showed me the interesting toques in it.
Okay, says I, I can do this. I can't do fair isle to save my life, but I'll give it a shot. Yesterday was spent knitting this out of Cascade 220 stash:
What am I doing wrong? First off, it's too small, but that's my own dumb fault. I can go up a needle size. But why is it so lumpy? I understand that I'm a fairly tight knitter and so I was trying to relax my hands and not pull the floats too taut. It still looks like crap. Oh, well, it was too small anyway, and I'm not happy with those colors. I DO heart the band quite a lot. And the pattern (once I figured out how to read it) is pretty simple. And I'm motivated. Back to the drawing board.
In other news, the left front of the CPH is nearly done. It will be an old-fashioned Christmas miracle if this sweater ever fits me.
Comments
Are you carrying your yarn the same way every time you switch yarns? If you're not, I think that will make it lumpy also. And if you're a tight knitter, I would suggest going up more than one needles size for fair isle. Also, blocking is magic and will help unlumpify the hat.
Posted by: grace at February 5, 2008 11:29 AM
I second Grace, and add that another thing to try is to knit it inside out to keep the floats loose. If that makes absolutely no sense I can send a picture. :D
Posted by: Emily at February 5, 2008 5:21 PM
Try steaming your swatch--just put a pillowcase or something over it, turn your iron up and give it a few shots of steam. Steam is a miraculous healer of fair isle!
Posted by: Val at February 5, 2008 6:30 PM