Alcea Armhole Shaping -- Eeek a Steek!

My very favorite resource for Fair Isle Knitting is called The Art of Fair Isle Knitting by Ann Feitelson. I had checked this book out from the library so many times that I decided it was finally time to purchase my own copy.

Unlike most folks, I enjoy reading about the history of different knitting techniques and this book is filled with history. For instance, how many of you knew that 'fair isle' knitting was named for an island north of Scotland called FAIR ISLE? And, did you know that 'shetland' wool was named for an island north of FAIR ISLE called SHETLAND?

The Art of Fair Isle Knitting also has excellent explanations on armhole shaping and steeking. If you are interested in fair isle knitting I would encourage you to take a look at this book. That being said I have found that, like the Elizabeth Zimmermann books, I learned to appreciate this book more and more as I progressed in my knitting experience.

When I last posted about Alcea she was ready to receive some armhole shaping along with armhole steeks. If you are not much interested in steeking, now is the time to jump to your next blog site......... this may be a more tedious post than you want to read!

After two repeats (2 motifs equals one repeat) I got to the length where I wanted my armhole. I knit the right front sts in pattern and then placed 8 sts on a holder for the right underarm. I then cast on my 10 steek sts with backward loops. Continuing in pattern around the back I got to the left armhole point and put those 8 sts on a holder. I cast on my steek sts for the left underarm and continued in pattern across the left front.

And that is how I got my steek stitches in place! I then had 10 steek sts for each underarm and the front cardigan steek was already in place. Each steek is knit with alternating colors keeping the first and last st always in the darker background color. To shape the armhole I did decreases on alternating rows. The decreases slant inward toward the steek.

Next up...one more motif (24 rows) and neck shaping!

Alcea ~ Armhole Point

I've been knitting along on Alcea and continue to love the design and colors. A good soak and some blocking will smooth out the stitches and make the colors pop a little more but that won't be until I'm finished.

At 6" per repeat, two complete repeats of the 48 row pattern chart gets me to the underarm point where I need to begin shaping the armholes. The rib is 3" and the body thusfar is 12".

I think I will do one more full repeat and then knit rows 1-26 to get me to the shoulder. That should be the right stopping point so that the shoulder seam motif won't look wonky. I don't know if I've mentioned this but the pattern is actually a pullover and I am converting it into a cardigan.

Now it is time to do some underarm shaping as I make my way up to the shoulder. And then there is that armhole steeking that I have never done......I'm a little nervous about that. Do any of you have any tips??

Weekend Knitting

I Finished my first Monkey Sock for the Swap this weekend. I cannot get a true representation of the colors no matter which light I put the sock in. So, you will just have to use your imagination and pretend you are basking on the beach in a tropical Carribean paradise!

I pulled an old friend out of her basket this weekend thanks to the encouragement of my daughter. ALCEA has been sitting in a basket waiting for me to decide if I wanted to frog her and make a pullover instead of a cardigan. Do you remember her encounter with the dogs last summer?

I'm still a wee bit skiddish about modifying this pattern to a cardigan. Especially since I have never knit a cardigan before! DD thought I was nuts to even consider frogging this sweater. She reminded me of all the many hours I've invested already. So, I pulled ALCEA out and remembered how much fun she is to knit. I'm almost done with the first 48 row repeat.

And speaking of my daughter Jennifer, I just have to post a picture of her very first pair of socks. She received Sensational Socks for her birthday along with some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn and dpns , from her MUM of course!).

Look Mum! No gusset holes!