Dawn Brocco's Life & Design Blog

I'm waiting on the natural black and natural white cashmere to come in, to start Dad's hat (and scarf, if I can get both done, and if the hat uses just 2 hanks).

But, as I almost never want to spend the time to knit anything without having it become a pattern (most designers really don't have the time to *just* knit), I pulled out all my stitch dictionaries and began looking for something "manly" yet interesting and not too simple looking, so that the design won't look like it was picked up in a shop anywhere. Handknits should always have that *something* about them that make them stand out from mass-produced.

I found some slip stitch cables, some narrow and some wider, and thought that one of the wide ones would be ideal, as regular cables generally use 1/3 more yarn, which, in cashmere, I wasn't going to do.

So, the slip stitch cable would satisfy the need for texture yet make a lighter weight hat. I started a swatch interspersing the cable with ribbing, which was OK. But then, as I swatch, ideas always crop up, and I thought - wouldn't it be nice if I could make a woman's version using the same cable, with beading? Well, of course I could. But then the ribbing just didn't suit that version of the idea. BUT, the smaller slip stitch cable interspersed with the larger one, surrounded by purls. but skipping the knit sts of the ribbing, would allow for beading it the way I would want to. Another idea firmed up.

So, I ripped the first swatch and redid it with just the cables and purl sts, measured, and plotted the hat for Dad's size, and promptly continued the bead search I've been doing online for DAYS now, trying to find as many shops that had 5.5 mm or size 3/0 beads.

I ordered some from Mill Hill, but other than theirs, the only others in glass that I've seen are the Miyuki triangle beads. They do seem to be very shiny, as the sites say, and I will definitely order some small amounts to try them out, but am concerned about the triangular shape not being ideal for all knit garments. I'd think one would want the flat side of the bead against the body, leaving the pointed end facing out. I much prefer the look of round beads, instead. But googling for 5.5 mm pebble beads gives other sites selling the Mill Hill beads! I *would* like to have other options!

I have the Fire Mountain catalog and am not impressed. Most of the beads are too small for knitting, tho they *do* seem to have every color of the Miyuki triangle beads. I ordered the Bead Warehouse catalog on Saturday, and will be eager to see what they offer.

So many places have the Czech beads which are lesser quality than Miyuki, as are Matsuno and Toho, at least from what I've been reading. With such a fine quality yarn, I'm not about to sacrifice quality with the beads! But the Miyuki seed beads don't seem to go large enough?! More searching later, for sure.

Am awaiting the Gazette to come back from the last knitter who's helped me proof this issue, then I really got to get going on its printing. I'd NOT like to have to mail Gazettes AND Christmas presents at the same time! But that *would* be my life - never enough time.

Today, I'm continuing writing up a pattern for a cardigan I knit over 2 years ago - yeah, it just hit a roadblock, and even now, after re-cogitating about the problem, I come to the same answer - it's only going to be in 1 size. But, then it dawned on me that's it's not as horrible as I initially thought. My Maine Raglan Jacket, Woodland Trio, and Wild Rose Raglan are each in one size only and it hasn't thwarted sales - as long as that one size is *large* enough, it will suit enough women's sizes these days.

So, this one is 47", which covers a 36" chest, like mine, with an oversized fit, to 40" with a classic fit. I wouldn't even suggest 42", as the ease at that size only allows between a classic and a close-fitting fit. As the design is a norwegian-style cardigan, classic to oversized is preferred, not close-fitting. The larger the body, the more ease that is needed to get the same level of comfort within a garment, so I wouldn't suggest larger than 40".

I've seen photos of larger women wearing skin tight hand knit sweaters, and they are not doing themselves or the sweater any justice. EASE!! Knitters really need to allow ease. HOW much ease is personal, and as EZ always recommended - compare the measurements of a similar-weight sweater you already own.

If you don't own one of that weight (and yarn thickness DOES affect the amount of internal ease available - there's less ease with thicker yarns), then take thyself (with fabric tape measure in purse) to the nearest mall and find some sweaters of a similar weight, take them into the dressing room and try them on.

When you find one that FITS you nicely, take it off, lay it on the bench or chair in the dressing room and measure across its widest part (usually just under the armholes). Multiply by 2 and *that's* the # of inches *you* need in that weight sweater. I think alot of knitters would be surprised to find out that the ease (the difference between their chest meas. and the garment's meas.) is going to be more than 2"!!

The only sweaters I can wear with just 2" ease are DK wt or thinner pullovers or cardigans with 3" ease and up to a heavy worsted wt. But in both cases, IF and only if, they are shorter than hip length. End result - know thy body and know thy fit preferences and you won't end up knitting things that don't fit the way you want them to.