Mind the gap
So the whale didn't make it, poor thing.
Sam languished another day but had recovered sufficiently by today for us to pop out for a late tapas lunch. The weather has been lovely this weekend, very sunny. Toby was off climbing all day yesterday, coming home with lots of funny stories to tell me, like almost being swept away by a wave. Oh, how I laughed. Today he was on hand to help me with my Tubey photoshoot.
Finishing Tubey sort of crept up on me. She's a very simple knit so I have tended to work on her some evenings while watching TV and at Liberty knitting nights. She also came along to Narnia and King Kong with me and was very co-operative, although there were a few mixed up stitches during the last hour or so of King Kong. When I was at Liberty on Thursday the girls were asking me how much more I had to do and it was then that I realised that I was pretty much done. Sure enough, by Friday night all the ends were sewn in and we were finished.
I am very happy with this jumper. The fit is great and very flattering. I knitted the third size up which feels fine. I could probably have got away with the second size as the ribbing is very stretchy, but I think the arms would have been a little tight. The edges are rolling slightly but a light blocking should sort that out. The Cashmerino Aran was wonderful to knit with and is soft enough to wear next to my skin with no itchiness whatsoever. I have heard mutterings of pilling with this yarn - anyone had any problems with this?
As you can probably see from the photo I made the arms quite a bit shorter. As it will be a fairly warm garment I thought a shorter length of arm would make if slightly cooler to wear, making it something that could be worn in the spring on its own as well as in winter under a coat. I finished the arms about 10cm below my elbow which is almost 12cm shorter than the pattern suggests. I also ended up making the body quite a bit shorter. This was unintentional, I just tried it on and stopped when it looked right. However on measuring my body piece measured 42cm, which is about 5cm shorter than the pattern.
I love the neckline; the back of the shrug like top rolls under but doesn't feel bulky or uncomfortable.
With all the shortening going on it will be no surprise to hear that I had quite a bit of yarn left over. I bought 12 balls as suggested and have 68g left, just over one ball. I also went down a needle size to get gauge which suited me fine as I don't have any 5mm dpns.
So there you have it, a very enjoyable simple and effective knit. The pattern is well written and easy to follow but do make sure you take the stretchiness into account when calculating your measurements. I've worn it for the last 3 days and my sister wants one of her own as does Josie; it looks like there could be plenty more Tubeys at the Wool Palace this year.
Great photo. It looks great on you and it is nice to see a photo of you!
I am sorely tempted to knit this pattern....although it will be too hot in Arizona before I finish it to wear it this winter!
Posted by: Sarah HB | January 22, 2006 at 08:12 PM
Very flattering. I like it in all one color. It really looks fantastic!
Posted by: holly | January 22, 2006 at 08:50 PM
oh it looks gorgeous on you! great FO.
Posted by: anna | January 22, 2006 at 10:14 PM
I love your Tubey, especially the shortened sleeve version. I think that is going to have to be on my "Must Knit" list.
Posted by: Louise | January 22, 2006 at 10:29 PM
Fabulous! I love your one color version.
Posted by: diana | January 22, 2006 at 10:40 PM
Oh Mary Mary quite contrary - she is a lovely looking Tubey! Sorry about the whale - it was on our news last night. Must have been a great "life" experience for the kids of London though - bet the school teachers are loving the whole thing.
Posted by: Donni | January 22, 2006 at 11:51 PM
Wow! I didn't much like it in Knitty, but it looks amazing on you. I may have to dig out some of my stashed Cashmerino Aran.
Posted by: Shanti | January 23, 2006 at 12:29 AM
Very lovely and flattering!
Posted by: Chris | January 23, 2006 at 01:05 AM
Wow Mary
It looks fantastic!!!
Posted by: Jacinta | January 23, 2006 at 06:25 AM
Love it!! I never even thought of doing it in just one colour but I think I actually like it better this way. Good call!
Posted by: peggy | January 23, 2006 at 07:01 AM
This is so chic in black. Love the neckline.
Posted by: erin | January 23, 2006 at 09:08 AM
your tubey looks great! good idea to make solid, without stripes. i'm knitting tubey as well, but i didn't like it the way i knitted it. now your example gave me motivation again!!!
nice blog! will read here again...
sabine
Posted by: sabine | January 23, 2006 at 09:46 AM
that looks fantastic mary! you're right ... it is a very flattering knit! hmmm - do i need something else on my to do list? argh!!
Posted by: jacqueline | January 23, 2006 at 09:50 AM
Tubey looks great on you, Mary! Good work.
Posted by: Laura | January 23, 2006 at 10:27 AM
This is a brilliant design for you, it really suits you!
Yes cashmerino pills badly. The only time this hasn't happened with me is with my baby cashmerino socks, knitted at a tighter tension. It hasn't stopped me knitting wiht it though.
I don't suppose all of that manhandling helped the whale either, although it had to be done, but I'm thinking that it probably was sick in the first place, to have gotten lost and swam up the Thames. I hope that was the case, and we didn't unintentionally kill it trying to get it back into the sea!
Dawn:)
Posted by: dawn | January 23, 2006 at 11:56 AM
Oh no.....! Well that's it I'm going to have to wear a bucket over my head to stop me from being tempted by all these wonderful knits. It looks so good, I feel a nervous twitch coming on, bloomin' stashalong!
Posted by: Tracy | January 23, 2006 at 11:57 AM
It looks fabulous!! I love it in one color and, you're right, that's a great neckline. Congrats to you.
Posted by: Vicki | January 23, 2006 at 06:15 PM
Tubey is lovely! Its a definite knit for me soon. Probably not this winter though...
I have had "problems" with the Cashmerino Aran that I used to knit Pinup Queen. It has bobbles & bits all over it. But it is so soft to wear that it doesn't really bother me too much. Maybe I need to get a "sweater shaver" or the Sweater Stone!
I felt so sad when I heard about the whale. It was on the radio and TV here in the States too.
Posted by: Kira | January 23, 2006 at 07:11 PM
Drat! and I was going to be so good about not buying more stash too ... definitely is going on my Must Knit list
Posted by: Mary-Lou | January 23, 2006 at 07:30 PM
really gorgeous... I think I might need one too ;-)
Posted by: atu | January 23, 2006 at 07:39 PM
really gorgeous... I think I might need one too ;-)
Posted by: atu | January 23, 2006 at 07:43 PM
really gorgeous... I think I might need one too ;-)
Posted by: atu | January 23, 2006 at 07:43 PM
It looks great - especially the neck line! I've very temped now.........if only I can finish the mountain of UFOs lying around first!!
Posted by: Ali | January 23, 2006 at 11:02 PM
Tubey is beautiful....I MUST knit that next!
Posted by: Jenn | January 24, 2006 at 12:32 AM
I love your Tubey - it looks great on you!
Posted by: Anita | January 24, 2006 at 02:47 PM