Celtic Dreams: Beginning the piece
May. 10th, 2008 08:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kniteracyI mentioned before that at least I already had the wool for this one. I hadn't remembered what a great purple it is, though: it's from Blackwater Abbey Yarns. The shop I worked in before I moved to the UK had a trunk sale for Blackwater Abbey, and even though they weren't offering much of a discount, I was quite taken with the Celtic Dreams pattern. Blackwater Abbey feature Beth Brown-Reinsel's patterns, so it seemed logical to go ahead and buy the pattern and wool right then, and keep it for when I was ready to knit it.
That was four years ago, but here we are. I did a gauge swatch and began this jumper last night. Here is a photo of the first saddle:
Now, one of the reasons this garment appeals to me is not just because I like cables (and I don't use a cable needle!); it's the overall construction of the jumper itself. I'll quote from the pattern booklet, because the overview of the project really is quite nice. Also, I haven't done enough of the construction myself to be able to explain it in my own words. This will be a learning-experience project!
This Aran pullover is knitted from the top down and features saddle shoulders and square armholes, Aran motifs and a deep skirt (as the traditional Aran ribbing is called). The cuffs fit loosely in keeping with the early Arans.
The saddle shoulders are worked first and the live stitches are put on holders. The front and back stitches are picked up along the edges of the saddles, and the neckline stitches are cast on. The front and bck are worked downward to the armhole, where stitches are cast on for the underarm. The garment is then joined circularly, and worked to the bottom of the skirt. The sleeves are picked up along the armhole edges, and worked back and forth a few inches to the cuffs. The patterns were chose so that all the patterns would repeat every 24 rows, even though some repeat more often. All the wrong side rows (alternative rounds) are worked as the stitches present themselves, to simplify the knitting.
So far, it's easy, but so far, I'm just working the saddles. I expect when I start picking up stitches, I'll start cursing a little bit, because although I'm a reasonably experienced knitter, I don't like picking up stitches. Now may be the time to review the technique, to make sure I get it right this time!
That was four years ago, but here we are. I did a gauge swatch and began this jumper last night. Here is a photo of the first saddle:
 |
| First Saddle for Celtic Dreams Jumper The two saddles serve as the bass for the jumper's shoulders. You make two of them, then pick up stitches along the edges and cast on more stitches in the middle for the neck. |
Now, one of the reasons this garment appeals to me is not just because I like cables (and I don't use a cable needle!); it's the overall construction of the jumper itself. I'll quote from the pattern booklet, because the overview of the project really is quite nice. Also, I haven't done enough of the construction myself to be able to explain it in my own words. This will be a learning-experience project!
This Aran pullover is knitted from the top down and features saddle shoulders and square armholes, Aran motifs and a deep skirt (as the traditional Aran ribbing is called). The cuffs fit loosely in keeping with the early Arans.
The saddle shoulders are worked first and the live stitches are put on holders. The front and back stitches are picked up along the edges of the saddles, and the neckline stitches are cast on. The front and bck are worked downward to the armhole, where stitches are cast on for the underarm. The garment is then joined circularly, and worked to the bottom of the skirt. The sleeves are picked up along the armhole edges, and worked back and forth a few inches to the cuffs. The patterns were chose so that all the patterns would repeat every 24 rows, even though some repeat more often. All the wrong side rows (alternative rounds) are worked as the stitches present themselves, to simplify the knitting.
So far, it's easy, but so far, I'm just working the saddles. I expect when I start picking up stitches, I'll start cursing a little bit, because although I'm a reasonably experienced knitter, I don't like picking up stitches. Now may be the time to review the technique, to make sure I get it right this time!
