From: sjf@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (susan.j.flaster)
Subject: Update on Gauge, Fair Isle, latest project
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 14:32:50 GMT
Keywords: Thanks for advice

Thanks to all you wonderful people who answered
my posting on gauge and Fair Isle.  I learned a
lot from you and your enthusiasm led me to a
an increased interest in knitting.  I even joined
a local knitting club!

Basically, my first problem was that I bought worsted
weight yarn when the pattern called for sport yarn.
It was advertised as sport yarn and I was taken in
by the ad copy.  Of course my gauge was much too big
and a few of you told me to find out what the normal
gauge of the yarn was and to recalculate my pattern.
I did that and then my next problem was with color
knitting.

The pattern had a beautiful Fair Isle pattern and I
quickly found that when I got into the design, the
knitting just tightened right up.  A lot of you have
had the same problem and offerred some solutions.  I
also got some books out of the library and realized
that I have to practice in order to produce something
I would be happy with.  I took the easy way out and
made the item (a baby blanket sleeper) in solid color.
I also started practicing changing colors, knitting
loosely, holding the yarn in 2 hands, etc.

As I said before, reading the net and corresponding
with some of you has gotten me real excited about
the craft.  I've been reading some of the history
and collecting more patterns.  I'm also working on
2 or 3 items at a time.

My latest crazy idea is a red, white, and blue
variegated short sleeve sweater.  Our chorus is
doing patriotic songs for the spring concert and
we are asked to dress in red, white, and blue.
Naturally I have nothing in my wardrobe of these
colors since I am very fair and stay far away from
bright red or real white.  So I found a pattern for
a drop sleeve, short sleeve sweater with a color that
I am adapting.  I am making the ribbing tighter than
the pattern and using variegated yarn instead of the
stripes and cable design called for.  I could only
find the variegated yarn in worsted weight and I am
using a matching deep royal blue for the ribbing edges
and collar.  I also used circular needles up to the
armhole and then divided for the front and back.  I
have passed the armhole, nearly finished the back and
have started the front.  It should look striking for
the concert . . . I stand in the first row!

Have stopped my marathon knitting for baby until it's
born so I can see how big it is.  This is my first
grandchild and it's over a week late.  Besides the
short sleeve sweater I'm working on a beautiful aqua
V-neck cardigan for myself with a lace pattern down
the fronts & sleeves.  Finished the back and fronts.
I fell in love with the washable wool while on a trip
to Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  It was so cold there that
I wore a wool sweater constantly and decided I would
like to have one beautiful, warm sweater.  I have read
that wool is not always so warm, that it lets the body
breathe.  I have never found wool to be cool, however.

This has been pretty long but I promised to post the
results of my previous requests.  There were so many
replys; I hope I have summarized satisfactorily.

Sue Flaster
att!hogpa!sjf

-- 
Susan J. Flaster (Sue)                    att!hogpa!sjf
Bell Laboratories, Whippany NJ
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles