So, I'm having some beefs avec the Union Square Market Pullover:
(1) Provisional cast on. I'm not sure I'm doing it right, the instructions in the pattern and IK are unclear, and they seem to contradict the instructions in Knitter's Companion. I did what I thought was correct, but am still unsure whether it will work when I attempt to hem the bottom. Plus, the pattern instructions on hemming the bottom confuse me to no end. Is one supposed to knit with three needles there or what?
(2) Yarn Gauge, etc.. Perhaps I jumped too fast into the Lorna's / Gems Opal combo. I saw some Frog Tree Sport Alpaca at a fabulous little yarn shop called Heavenly Socks in Belfast, Maine, and am thinking that might have been a better choice for a number of reasons. First, being alpaca it is danged soft and warm, and a bit more refined than the merino yarns I chose. Second, the gauge seems more suitable for the pattern. I swatched with the Lorna's and the Gems Opal, and while I did get gauge the fabric is stiffer and rougher than I would prefer it to be. I finally saw another completed USMP done in alpaca from La Drougerie and, as you can see in this pic, the gauge looks sooo much finer than mine. In short, I have alpaca envy.
I could return my unwound skeins to Purl, which would mean a store credit there (which I would certainly use) and $20 of yarn I can't return and would use for goodness knows what else. Then I could hunt around for some Frog Tree Alpaca (Yarn Tree carries it) or something comparable. Or I could stick with what I've got and hope it works.
Indecisive much? Nah...
Argh. This is so frustrating! Yarn substitution is MOST annoying. As much as I love Kate Gilbert's designs, I wish designers living abroad and publishing in (primarily) American knitting magazines or websites would use yarns that are readily available in the US or provide suggested alternatives! It's bad enough that you stoke our jealousy by living in France, or Germany, or Japan, or South Africa, so is this really too much to ask?
Unfortunately, the editors of the knitting mags get to choose the yarns - *not* the designers. You can hear Kate talk about it in an interview on Knitcast.
Posted by: Cher at August 19, 2005 10:37 PMI hate to say it, but if you aren't going to be happy with it I would change the yarn and get something else. (Your time knitting it is a commodity as well) Does purl not carry frog tree? What's the price difference between that and blue sky alpaca? Maybe you can see if they have gauge swatches so you can feel an actually finished piece.
Posted by: yahaira at August 20, 2005 12:15 PMHI Jess,
I'm also in the Union Square KAL and am in the swatching stage. I had planned to use some Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino that was in my stash, until I realized that I only have 1/2 enough yardage....so yesterday I bought one skein of the Frog Tree Sport weight Alpaca (color 24 - v deep pink). This morning I swatched on size 3's and couldn't get guage. Went down to a size 2 needle, and am at stitch guage, however row guage is still way off, and I feel the swatch is just a little too tightly knit. Feels like too many stitches. I liked the knit fabric better, softer, more supple, on the 3's. my LYS is holding enough of the FT alpaca if I can make the swatch work. So now I have to decide whether to buy it or keep looking, knit on size 2's to guage, or do some math and knit on size 3's.
I feel your pain.
Marji
ahh yes... but us Euro people cant get half of the yarns you can put your hands on, and a good deal of us can be bribed for exchanges :)
Posted by: stinkerbell at August 22, 2005 5:45 AM