You ever get a bad feeling about a pattern right off the bat? The Bamboo Diamond Shell from Boutique Knits, my May sweater for the Knit a Sweater a Month Challenge, is not going well.
Bamboo Diamond Shell Start
It’s basically a top down sweater knit from the bottom up. I. Don’t. Get. It. The worst part? I’m pretty sure it is just wrong.
It says to start by working the diamond pattern 3 times for the bottom portion of the sweater.
Bamboo Diamond Shell, Pic from Book
The book clearly states that the Shell is shown in the small size. I am knitting the small size. There is no way that there are only three rows of the diamond pattern before starting the sleeves. It looks like five to me.
But, I’m trying to do this thing where I trust the pattern. So, I work the diamond pattern three times and start working on the sleeves.
Bamboo Diamond Shell Sleeve
Which is annoying, to say the least. It’s a lot of putting sts on a holder, add sts per side a bunch of times, repeat for other side, join sleeves. But then when you join it’s hard to knit around the sleeve hole. You either have to stretch it out to knit it, creating a really hard angle to knit around, or,
Sleeve: Annoying
scrunch it all down, making it really hard on your hands to control all those stitches. My wrists hurt from dealing with those sleeve holes.
And WHY? When you could have just a really nice top down sweater. Then I could put it on and see how many diamond pattern repeats I want to knit for the bottom so I’m not constantly worried it’s going to be too short.
It is going to be too short.
Diamond Shell Start
But I’m trusting the pattern. With my hands. My brain is pissed.
It’s hardly a Bamboo anything since I’m using Bernat Satin Acrylic in Admiral. The color is lovely and it’s knitting up just fine. It’s been a while since I worked with acrylic yarn but it works with the pattern. It’s kind of a pullover crop jacket. Not a lot of skin contact and no real need for a lot of fitting.
That is, if it works out. I’m loving the diamond pattern, but if I have to swing some kind of big bottom band thing because the pattern steered me wrong I am not going to be a happy camper.
Do you stick with a pattern if your gut tells you it is wrong?
oh but it looks so pretty! and YES, I have been forced out of sheer spite, to just keep going and trust the book or whomever, was not just playing a cruel trick on my not so skilled hands!
mostly it has all worked out. but my intincts are getting sharper and I am seeing issues earlier now.
i hope it turns out amazing!
I gotta find more yarn time this week. I am totally falling behind!
Cindy´s last blog ..A Boy’s Life
Comment by Cindy — May 17, 2010 @ 10:33 am
I think we just commented on each other’s blogs at the exact same time! WEIRD!
Comment by allyson — May 17, 2010 @ 10:35 am
Hmm. I’d ask for feedback from some other Ravlery folks who knitted it and see what they say- if no one else found the pattern weird, maybe you just need some space from it. I had a heck of a time with the Twinkle Tunic, but it was me- I was misunderstanding the directions, for oh, about a week. Felt like such an idiot when I finally figured it out.
Julie´s last blog ..Modification Monday: Selbu Clochette
Comment by Julie — May 17, 2010 @ 11:33 am
I had that happen with a scarf that was printed on the label of a ball of some sort or bernat something or other a while ago… no matter what, the stitches didnt add or and the repeats did NOT produce what was in the pic. i finally just googled the pattern and voila a crap load of errata for it. I knew something was wrong.
I would trust your gut feeling. from what i can see in your last pic and what seems to me is where your sleeves are starting… it looks like it’s a belly top. BUT, i’m not holding it right… hmmm
I say trust your spidey senses…
Hope it all works out in the end!
ps. gorgeous color!
telma´s last blog ..Breaking In The Cottage
Comment by telma — May 17, 2010 @ 4:21 pm