The only problem with working a project on tiny needles, and being excited about the project and devoting much energy to it, is that it doesn't make for the most smashingly interesting blog discussion. However, I am hoping that by being able to show continued progress in a relatively short period of time will be encouraging to anyone out there who is on the fence about this project because of the combination of small needles and crochet lace. I'm now finished with the first sleeve and have started on the lace edging for the second sleeve. I'd be farther along (maybe done with the edging for the second sleeve) if this weekend hadn't been more about gardening than about knitting, but early May is the time that those annuals need to go into pots if I hope to enjoy summer floral bounty later on.The best thing about being done with the first sleeve is that there is only one major structural piece of the sweater left to go: the last sleeve. Once the crochet lace is worked, the rest of it is pretty much smooth sailing and it will be time to block the sleeves and assemble the garment.
The sleeve is a small task compared to the final task after the assembly: crocheting the lace edging that goes all the way around the outer edge of the sweater. In true Rowan style, they have you crochet the lace and then attach it to the garment. Which isn't really that hard. But I'm considering actually just starting the lace on the body of the sweater and working it in the round to avoid both the seam that I would have to make to put both edges together -- and the possibility that it will be hard to ease an inelastic cotton lace piece around the garment. Clearly I would have to do some figuring and work out the region of the pattern that has been adapted for flat crochet, and I'd have to work at making my numbers work out with the lace pattern and the distance around the garment. But, Experienced Crocheters, am I missing something else that I should be considering? Any advice, suggestions or general thoughts would be appreciated.
The only issue with working the crocheted edge in the round would be that it will look slightly different than the sleeves which were worked back and forth. You could still crochet it directly on the piece just do a small slip stitch to the start of each row before you turn.
For novice crocheters like me, that's a useful piece of information about crochet in the round and in the flat looking different.
The project is looking great so far.
It looks wonderful, and I'm sure the finished product will be worth the effort. I hear you about the gardening. April is the big gardening month for me, and I am covered in scratches, bruises, sunburn, bug bites...but the garden looks gorgeous and I have a new outdoor dining area to show for all the effort, too!
I agree that crocheting the lace onto the garment is a good idea. I'd start in the middle of the back or at a side seam. Count the stitches you need for the pattern and make a multiple of that many single crochets into the body of the garment. It won't hurt to "cheat" by putting two in one stitch or combining two stitches into one to make the numbers work.