Culdesac Button Bands
Pinning and Marking
Picking up stitches. This is probably my least favorite finishing operation. Lots of measuring and thinking and a crochet hook. When I pick up stiches I divide the length along which I am going to do so into quadrants and then determine how many stitches I need to pick up in each quadrant. Lest you think that my SpaceBoard is only useful for blocking, those nice gridlines also make it pretty handy for picking up stitches. First I used the grid to line up the edges, then I put pins where I thought the quadrants should be. This lets me adjust them globally without worrying about snagging the fabric.
141 Stitches Picked Up, 141 Stitches...
After marking on the board, then I put pins into the garment. The extra pins you see "below" the main line are to remind me that I am going to put 8 stitches in those intervals instead of 9. (Yes, you also see an ultimate geek girl accessory -- the reverse polish notation HP calculator. Yes, I did use it to help me do basic math for the number of stitches I needed in each interval.)
One of the interesting elements of the finishing part of this vest is that you do the buttonhole band and the button band separately and then join the seam at the back. I am not sure why. Perhaps it provides extra structural stability? Probably if I had had a longer cable needle I just would have picked up all 282 stitches.
Shiny Happy Button Band
Pretty spiffy if I do say so myself. Those little silver safety pins are button pins that are marking the place where the button holes had to be set. They're coil-less and pretty handy for this sort of thing.
The other side went more or less the same way. I'll spare you the extra pictures. Suffice it to say that it's the same thing without any holes for buttons. However, I marked another "first" with this project mattress stitching up the garter stitch edges. Here's a close up of the back of the neck. Can you tell where the seam is?
Where it all comes together
Here's the wrap up shot:
When I saw this, I almost got excited about picking up stitches in the armholes. Could I have a vest to wear this weekend? Maybe I ought to think about finding those buttons.
P.S. to everyone who has been leaving nice comments about Culdesac... I do want to say a big thank you. It is very much appreciated right now. Things are pretty stressful at work and when I see comments on my blog it really does make my day and make me want to keep moving forward instead of feeling sorry for myself. If I don't respond quickly, please don't think your words weren't noticed. I just don't have as much time as I would like right now to keep up.
Culdesac looks beautiful,and so well finished.I'm not just saying that.I think it's incredible,and a joy to watch,how your knitting has progressed.And you always choose such nteresting projects.
Some people never achieve this level of competance.
I don't expect a response to comments I leave.
Hope things at work get better.
x
It's looking great. And wow, you are methodical in your picking up (which is probably why it looks so good). I've never even considered planning it all out before. I might have to start. I can't wait to see it on you.
Beautiful finishing technique. I am envious! The colour is so incredibly perfect for showing off the detail in this vest.
I have been marvelling at your SpaceBoard for some time now. Where did you get it?
It is very pretty :) I am almost ashamed to say this because so many people dispise it...but I *LOVE* picking up stitches...I don't know, the way they work together with the garmet really appeals to me :)
I have enjoyed watching Culdesac come together. It looks so great that I can hardly wait to see the finished product.
Culdesac look gorgeous! And thanks for the picture album to follow your work, that's really neat. Also love the color that you used for it, what a nice vest that is. Hope you find wonderful buttons for it!
CuldeSac is beautiful and your finishing is fantastic. Making notes for when I decide to try a sweater. Have been enjoying your blog, but never commented because I didn't want to bother you. Don't bother replying unless you want to - just wanted to let you know there are a bunch of us lurkers out here who routinely read and enjoy your work.
I also pin the sweater heavily before picking up stitches to make sure they are even. When I first started knitting I onced ruined a sweater by picking up stitches badly.
Culdesac is gorgeous and I think the color will look lovely on you!
Culdesac is gorgeous!!! I can't wait to make one for myself, but I promised Gridlock for my husband first.
btw, I second aj's comments about us lurkers. I enjoy your blog.
Ginny -- you can get the SpaceBoard from KnitPicks or Patternworks. I got mine from KnitPicks. My mom gave it to me as a birthday present and I lovelovelove it. If I had more room I'd get another one. My only complaint is that I usually can't get a full sized adult sweater pinned down on it all at once.
You guys are fabulous. For anyone out there lurking -- you're always welcome to leave a comment, even it is just to say hello. I don't have any rules and I love to "meet" new people.
It's so cool to me that people like to come to come peek into my journal everyday. And I am glad that I am not boring people with all the details of my finishing operations. These are mostly for my personal records, and I always worry that I am getting too wordy with my photographs.
And I usually do really like to respond to my comments. I've met many other cool knitters this way.
Spiffy??? You bet your bippy that's spiffy. Such impeccable work; one should aspire to work like Theresa. Love it, love it. And! I do hope you have a vest to wear this weekend, because that means pictures for us! Your portraits with the accompanying action shots and always so fun.
(And you're never too wordy, darnit. I love your well-written entries with the accompanying photographs. It all makes for an excellent weblog, if you ask me :-))