Top Down Nightmare

So do you guys remember the top down saddle shoulder sweater that I've been talking about for about a millennium? Well, I've had enough of lace right now and I think it's time for some simple knitting. Except, knitting a top down saddle shoulder sweater is not that simple. Maybe it is just me, but right now, the planning is a DISASTER!!!

Either that Barbara Walker speaks and write in tongues or I'm just plain dumb. I think it's the latter. Why is it that legends like Barbara Walker and Elizabeth Zimmerman write knitting patterns like a story? Well, I can hardly call it a pattern, more like a riddle. They want us to be thinking knitters I guess. And I just don't think very well. And I quote:

Make the saddle and then pick up from the right side while setting in the sleeves with short rows increasing ever so often for a nice fitted sleeve cap.

WTF?????

All I want to do is to make this:


But I have to refer to this:


Which in turn refers to do this:


Which brings me back to square 1 - the classic top down raglan:


Golly!!!!!!! What a nightmare, and even the basic raglan I can't understand. So frustrating.

So, I've decided, I'm going to make small doll sweaters starting with the raglan, then the sleeveless, then the set in sleeves and then finally the saddle shoulder.

Maybe that way, I will eventually grasp the concept of sweater making from the top down.

You all have a great weekend.

Confused - Joining the Provisional Cast On

Ok, so I am totally confused with this provisional/invisible cast on business. It's not that I don't know how to do it, but it is what to do with those stitches after that. Maybe you guys out there who have done this can help me out.

In a picture of a nutshell, this is how Hazel Carter's Sampler Stole works:



Cast on provisionally.
Knit one direction, then pick up provisional stitches and knit the other way.

Here are her instructions paraphrased:

Invisibly cast on 99 stitches. Knit 1 row. Begin Central Panel Chart. After that, begin first Border Chart. Knit till end of Border Chart.

Here's what's confusing.

Second Border, with RS facing, pick up 99 sts from the invisible cast-on, turn and k1 row. continue to work as for first border until end of Border chart.

So, think about this. There is are 2 extra knit rows on one side of the stole, i.e. the side where the provisional cast on is. Am I right or am I over analyzing this?

To make things symetrical, shouldn't I knit 2 rows after the Central Panel Chart right before I work the first Border?

Here, look at this:

1. Central panel straight to border pattern:


2. Those k1 row's two times:


Does all this make sense??? HELP!!!

Camp and Lace

So, Biddy B. from work went to camp.

Not just any camp, but Meg Swansen’s Knitting Camp. I am sooooo jealous, but I just couldn’t afford $1,500 at this time.

Anyway, my blog hasn’t seen this many hits since Biddy B. got to camp. What has she been telling ya’ll about me?!?!?!?

I’ll find out at lunch.

Well, here are some complaints that I have heard about me:
1.Why didn’t I come?
2.Why hadn’t I updated my blog?
3.Why haven’t I been knitting as much?
4.Am I dead?

No, I’m not dead but I’m broke and I do a lot of yoga and I still knit. So here’s a little knitting update.

This is what I’ve been working on here and there when I have time. This is about half of Hazel Carter’s Sampler Stole from A Gathering of Lace.

I know, I’ve done a horrible job at the dry blocking, but I can never figure out to keep the picot thingys from happening. I think I need to get more blocking pins or some blocking wires.

So, I’m quite amazed at how pretty the pattern is coming out. I think I messed up on the invisible cast on even though you can’t really see it from this far. And I am just scared when I think about starting the knitted on edging.

See, I should have been at camp.