So Much Better

Despite all the other things in my life that I really ought to be doing, I couldn't get over the disappointment of that stinking baby sweater. I was walking around possessed with frustration. I debated giving up knitting entirely and selling my stash on e-bay, as well as setting a small controlled fire in my bathtub.

I regained my sanity, however, and made a few more rounds on the internet, where I came up with the perfect solution:



So much more my speed.

This is a top down seamless raglan sweater designed by Carole Barenys, from Knitting on the Net. Omitting the purl ridges, it is exactly what I wanted.



Arbitrarily, I decided that Caron Simply Soft isn't really worsted weight. I still didn't do a gauge swatch (truly, I never will learn), but I used size 5 straights for the ribbing and a size 6 circular for the stockinette. I think it suits the yarn far better than any other combination I've tried. These are larger sizes than the pattern calls for, but the pattern makes a 6-month size sweater, so I'm okay with mine being larger.

The sweater seems to grow proportionately, so I don't have to worry that it will get wonky the way it might if I did it to measurements. And if it turns out to be greatly over-sized, well, it will just fit the baby longer.



I'm enjoying knitting this so much more, and the knowledge that I won't have to grapple with awful seaming is making me downright tranquil. I have to think that in some way the positive energy I am now putting into it will make it to baby Gabriel. I also get to pick out sweet little buttons, which I've never done before. It's perhaps strange how exciting that detail has become.



At this point, I've done 32 rounds. I'm meant to continue increasing until there are 42 stitches on the sleeves. I did a little math to see what I may anticipate, and it goes something like this:

42 stitches desired - 8 initial stitches = 34 stitches to increase
34 increased stitches / 2 increases per round = 17 increase rounds
17 increase rounds * 4 rows per increase section = 68 increasing rows
68 increasing rows + 8 rows of ribbing = 76 rows to complete increases

If I am correct in this, then I am about 40% done with the increasing section. Not bad.

Now I just have to deal with finding time to knit while squeezing in the rest of my schoolwork and massive end-of-semester franticness.



Good thing Iggy is nearby, cuddling a sweater for inspiration.