Front and Center
Notice that those cables twist in the opposite direction?
Both fronts are complete and I'm entering that manic phase where it's all about finishing the sweater. That place where I've definitely gone from process-knitter to product-knitter. It's a strange place for me, this time, because usually I have some idea of where I'm going to be when I finally get to the end. I have a finished model in the magazine to examine and dissect, I might have knowledge of other representatives of the designer's work. But for my own sweater design, there's no glossy picture to look at and there's no previous history to tell me that everything is going to turn out alright.
So I am feeling both adventurous and trepidatious. The true casting of a knit garment's personality always seems to show up as the garment gets finished. It can be beautiful pieces on my blocking board, but it's the structure of the garment that brings it to life. If the structure and the fabric don't combine well together, it the sweater never gets beyond beautiful pieces.
This is part of why I am so particular about blocking. When you block, stitches unfurl, things even out, you can ensure that lengths that are supposed to be the same actually are the same, make sure that armholes are deep enough and that necklines are smooth enough. You can troubleshoot. You can see if things lay the right way. If they don't lay well on my blocking board, they are unlikely to get better in a garment.
So the finishing process will start tonight. Maybe by tomorrow, we'll start to really see the true personality of my sweater shine through.
(The instructions for the Left Front are available for anyone who wants to look into the extended entry).
Left Front
Bottom Band
CO 12 stitches
R1: K2, P8, K2
R2: P2, K8, P2
R3: K2, P8, K2
R4, P2, K8, P2
Maintaining 2 stitch stockinette edges on each side of main pattern, knit the 6 rows that compose the link base (see Elsebeth Lavold’s Viking Patterns for Knitting, p. 13), follow with 2 repeats of the central link pattern (see Viking Patterns for Knitting, p. 14) and complete the motif with the link cap (Viking Patterns for Knitting, p. 13). For the central link repeats, perform the crossover in the opposite direction from the crossover done on the right front.
Repeat the first 3 rows above that comprise the foundation rows, ending with a right side row.
Turning the corner will be done with short row shaping.
P2, K8, P1, yb, sl1, yf, return stitch to left needle, turn work, K1, P8, K2
P2, K8, yb, sl1, yf, return stitch to left needle, turn work, P8, K2
P2, K7, yf, sl1, yb, return stitch to left needle, turn work, P7, K2
P2, K6, yf, sl1, yb, return stitch to left needle, turn work, P6, K2
P2, K5, yf, sl1, yb, return stitch to left needle, turn work, P5, K2
P2, K4, yf, sl1, yb, return stitch to left needle, turn work, P4, K2
P2, K3, yf, sl1, yb, return stitch to left needle, turn work, P3, K2
P2, K2, yf, sl1, yb, return stitch to left needle, turn work, P2, K2
P2, K1, yf, sl1, yb, return stitch to left needle, turn work, P1, K2
P2, yf, sl1, yb, return stitch to left needle, turn work K2
P1, yb, sl1, yf, return stitch to left needle, turn work,K1
P1, purl next stitch and wrapped stitch together, turn work, K2
P2, knit next stitch and wrapped stitch together, turn work, P1, K2
P2, K1, knit next stitch and wrapped stitch together, turn work, P2, K2
P2, K2, knit next stitch and wrapped stitch together, turn work, P3, K2
P2, K3, knit next stitch and wrapped stitch together, turn work, P4, K2
P2, K4, knit next stitch and wrapped stitch together, turn work, P5, K2
P2, K5, knit next stitch and wrapped stitch together, turn work, P6, K2
P2, K6, knit next stitch and wrapped stitch together, turn work, P7, K2
P2, K7, knit next stitch and wrapped stitch together, turn work, P8, K2
P2, K8, purl next stitch and wrapped stitch together, turn work, K1, P8, K2
P2, K8, P1, purl next stitch and wrapped stitch together, turn work, K2, P8, K2
P2, K8, P2
Break yarn, put stitches on holder and wet block to deal with yarn changes before continuing.
Starting from the edge nearest the vertical pattern band, pick up 21 stitches along the top of the horizontal pattern band. Knit three rows in stockinette (i.e. knit, purl, knit) at the end of the second knit row (with right side facing) K2, start 1st row of motif base, K2 from stiches on holder.
Maintaining the motif and stockinette areas as appropriate, work 41 more rows (for a total of 45 rows including stitch pick up row). End with a wrong side row.
Armhole Shaping
BO 3 stitches at the beginning of the next row. Decrease 1 stitch on the next three right side rows one stitch in from the armhole edge (31 stitches remaining on needle). When 32 rows past the decreases have been knit (ending with a right side row)…
Crew Neck and Shoulder Shaping
R33 (WS): BO 6 stitches on the neck edge of the next row (21 stitches remain). Complete the row in the pattern established.
R34 (RS): Work row as established.
R35 (WS): BO 3 stitches at the neck edge (18 stitches remain), complete the row as established.
R36 (RS) Work row as established.
R37 (WS): Decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge, one stitch in from the edge, using P2TogTBL. Complete row as established. (17 stitches remain)
R38 (RS): Work row as established.
R39 (WS): Decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge, one stitch in from the edge, using P2TogTBL. Complete row as established. (16 stitches remain).
R40 (RS): BO 4 stitches at the armhole edge. Complete row in established pattern. (12 stitches remain).
R41 (WS): Decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge, one stitch in from the edge, using P2TogTBL Complete row as established (11 stitches remain).
R42 (RS): BO 4 stitches at the armhole edge. Complete row in established pattern. (7 stitches remain).
R43 (WS): Decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge, one stitch in from the edge, using P2TogTBL. Complete row as established (6 stitches remain).
R44 (RS): BO 3 stitches at the armhole edge. Complete row in established pattern (3 stitches remain).
R45 (WS): Work row as established.
R46 (RS): BO remaining 3 stitches.
Wet block piece to shape if desired.
gosh, it's arresting...i love cables! can't wait to see the FO!! now, if i can have octopus come and knit for me :)
The suspense, the suspense....
Sigil is going to be a beautiful sweater! Looking forward to seeing it finished.
Wow, those pieces are beautiful! I would love to make a blanket with that cable all around the edge.
Gorgeous!
You can really see the short row shaping on the LF and it looks great!! The entire thing is a picture to behold and can't wait to see it toute fini!
Did you do a knit stitch on the selvedge where the zipper is going? just curious..
I love how Sigil is looking... Then again I'm a fan of Lavold, actually knitting one of her pieces right now. ;) It will be interesting to see how your design looks when finished!
I feel the need to purloin those pieces and run off with them. I may have to try to make my own version of Sigil someday...
Between you and the skinny rabbit, I can't decide which one is the better "finisher" - so I have complete and total faith that this sweater will look *fantastic* when it's together. If it's in the cards to look good - it's in the best hands possible. Looking forward to tomorrow's post!
Gorgeous cables! I've been watching the pieces add up and am anxious to see to all put together!
Beautiful!! Can't wait to see the next picture!