1/30/12

miriam, oh miriam



Back on Miriam...so sorry for the delay! It's been a long week and I have lots of excuses (had to put a cat down, gave away my bunny love boy, Immie is sick again, photo shoot with the amazing Cecily....) but I won't bore you with all that.

I have an updated version of Miriam available...email me at info@quinceandco.com if you bought it already and would like a fresh copy.

Here's what is different: the row gauge and the needle size. After many swatches, I ended up with 25 stitches and 37 rows equaling four inches on a US 4, steam-blocked. So, hopefully that is an easily achievable gauge for everyone!

And I just want to point out that the gauge is not wrong on the first pattern. There is a living example of it working right here in front of me. So, if you have already started knitting with that version and aren't having any problems, then go forth!

Also, I'd like to mention (and I'm sure you all do this anyway) that it is a good idea to do to your swatch what you do to the final sweater. If you are going to wet-block your sweater, then wet-block your gauge swatch...if you're going to steam it, then steam the swatch...etc. There was one part of the story I didn't mention and that was that the swatch was washed and the final sweater was steamed. Could this be the culprit? The reason the sweater gauge was different than the target gauge? Perhaps, but we never measured before steaming, so at this point it's a guessing game. And at this point, I'd like to just look to the future and get to work on knitting my Miriam.

So...has anyone ever knit a black sweater before? I haven't, but am going to give it a whirl. I think I'll get a lot of wear out of a little black cardi. So....casting on....

10 comments:

Connie Chang said...

Oh yes, gauge issues and designing. I tend to knit very very tightly (I guess I'm always stressed out), so my gauge is always tight row-wise. I am always worried I'm limiting the appeal of my patterns because of my crazy tight row gauge. I think I knit/designed a sweater recently with a 24sts/37rows gauge. Ugh!

madder said...

yes, that's close to this gauge! but, this design is simple simple. stockinette and garter--I think it should go relatively quickly...
And, I think mood does play a big role in gauge. Crazy!

Marthaamay O_o said...

Your cat? That's sad, I hope you are okay?

madder said...

My old lady Clue cat. She was very old and had a wonderful life. Clue was really great to all my other kitties, very nurturing, and she loved Imogen, too. But she was sick and it was time for her to pass on. Our house is definitely quieter now without her (she was Siamese after all). Thanks for asking. xx

Ariane said...

Gauge, gauge gauge gauge! When you learn the hard way...

vanessa said...

so sorry to hear about your kitty! :-( not a fun week.

i think a black miriam would be lovely! i have been thinking of making one in black myself!

Regina said...

I'm so sorry about the animals and poor Immie being sick again! I think a black cardi would be great! I'm still working on one in lichen, and hoping to knit a gray one sometime in the future... someday....

madder said...

Thanks, R.
Oh, lichen, a lovely shade of green!

Ellen said...

Carrie - thanks so much for the update. I'm very sorry about your cat, and that Immie is not feeling well. I look forward to seeing Cecily's book with your photos.

madder said...

thanks, Ellen.