msmcknittington: Queenie from Blackadder (Default)
msmcknittington ([personal profile] msmcknittington) wrote2008-04-25 02:34 pm
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Knitting gods, hear me now!

I'm so close to being finished with Thermal. So achingly close. See? All the pieces laid out on my bed? This sweater is wanting to be worn. It's willing to be worn, it's wanting to be worn -- it's waiting to be worn!

Unfortunately, there are a couple snags. Namely I hate the buttonholes and I just noticed some messed up stitches.



Click on the pictures to embiggen them.

thermal 003

The buttonholes. I'm not sure how well this picture captures it, but they're sloppy. At least, they're not as neat as I'd like. They're the kind where you cast off stitches on one row, and then cast on the same number on the next. I used the backwards loop cast-on, which I don't like for regular casting on, but which works well for situations like these. (Long-tail can't be done.) I've done buttonholes like this before, and they're usually more compact.

thermal 010

I apparently messed up on the pattern in this sleeve when I knit it. It's about halfway up the forearm, and I popped about half a round of purl stitches where there should be purl stitches. It's mostly on the back of the sleeve. I've already set the sleeve in the sweater. It's difficult to see; in fact, I had trouble finding it photograph.

So, questions:

1. Does anyone know of any other style of buttonholes that are neater or ways to make this version neater? My buttons are are 3/4" in diameter, so I don't think a yarnover buttonhole will work. I'd love to do a vertical buttonhole, but it has potential to be a a pain.

2. What should I do about the sleeve? The only way I can think of fixing it is to cut the yarn above the places that are messed up, dropping down to fix them, and then grafting the stitches back. Fiddly. Reknitting the sleeve isn't an option. (Why? Because I say so.) It's not really noticeable unless you stare at the sleeve. Should I just leave it?

[identity profile] tattycat.livejournal.com 2008-04-25 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Just leave the sleeve. I'm working on a vest from Fitted Knits, and I just noticed I knitted a small patch in plain instead of in the pattern called for. I am rationalising that since it's under my arm, no one will notice anyway.
ext_46111: Photo of a lady in Renaissance costume, pointing to a quote from Hamlet:  "Words, words, words". (Default)

[identity profile] msmcknittington.livejournal.com 2008-04-25 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I don't think it's going to be worth fixing. It would be a different story if it was closer to my face or right smack dab in the middle of the back, but who's going to be looking at my forearms?

[identity profile] bexi.livejournal.com 2008-04-25 11:29 pm (UTC)(link)
I can barely see it, even with the arrow, so I really highly doubt anyone is going to notice it.

Do you have EZ's Knitting Without Tears? There's talk of a better buttonhole in there. If you don't have it let me know and I'll try and find the information for you.
ext_46111: Photo of a lady in Renaissance costume, pointing to a quote from Hamlet:  "Words, words, words". (Default)

[identity profile] msmcknittington.livejournal.com 2008-04-25 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I poked around on the internet and found this buttonhole from Knitting in Plain English. I tried it, but it doesn't look the best in twisted ribbing. I'm going to try again and see if I can neaten it up, but if you could pass along the EZ info for me, I'd appreciate it.

Ah, perfection. This is why I don't knit colorwork sweaters.

[identity profile] ciorstan.livejournal.com 2008-04-25 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
All of these things fall under my Kiss or Slap Rule. >.< If anyone is close enough to examine either your buttonholes or Tattycat's stitch pattern underneath her arm, said person is close enough that they should either be kissed or slapped for their impertinence.

There.
ext_46111: Photo of a lady in Renaissance costume, pointing to a quote from Hamlet:  "Words, words, words". (Default)

[identity profile] msmcknittington.livejournal.com 2008-04-25 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd agree usually, and I definitely do about the arm, now that I've seen the light, but I'd like a tidier buttonhole because there are loose stitches on either side of it, and I'd rather not snag those. It's also throwing off the gauge on the previous and following rows, so it's all around not-pretty.

I'm thinking about just skipping the buttonholes, because they're not functional. It's not like I need to unbutton the sweater to get it over my head. I could fake a closure just by sewing the buttons to both layers of the placket.

[identity profile] ciorstan.livejournal.com 2008-04-25 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Seeing as how it's such a tiny placket, I am inclined to agree that making the buttonholes non-existent would be the best way to both strengthen and neaten up the closure. I know from my learnings from forty years of sewing* that a placket that short will, as you say, mean nothing in terms of getting the sweater over your head.

God, I can't possibly be that old. *choke*
ext_46111: Photo of a lady in Renaissance costume, pointing to a quote from Hamlet:  "Words, words, words". (Default)

[identity profile] msmcknittington.livejournal.com 2008-04-26 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
Hmm. I'm going to knit this all neat and pretty like the under placket and forget the better buttonhole.

Ciorstan, you won't be old if you're wheelchair bound and throwing cats at the kids on your lawn.

[identity profile] ciorstan.livejournal.com 2008-04-26 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
Dude. I intend to launch fully loaded Depends with a trebuchet from the porch... gotta keep them off the lawn somehow.

[identity profile] jennnlee.livejournal.com 2008-04-26 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
I would leave the sleeve as is too. I can't see the mistake, even with the benefit of the arrow.
ext_46111: Photo of a lady in Renaissance costume, pointing to a quote from Hamlet:  "Words, words, words". (Default)

[identity profile] msmcknittington.livejournal.com 2008-04-26 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
You see the purl bumps the arrow is pointing at? The row of purl bumps above that are only two rows away, not three like they should be. And it's only for half a round. Such a weird mistake to make.

[identity profile] jennnlee.livejournal.com 2008-04-26 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
Bah, ignore it. ;-)

[identity profile] troubleagain.livejournal.com 2008-04-26 12:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I embiggened the picture and everything and I still can't see it.