Thanks for your ideas regarding ease! Holly is so right - it would be so helpful if patterns incorporated recommendations on ease, or at least include the amount of ease included for the model in the photos.
In the end, I'm going with Yahaira's (apparently) perpetual recommendation of zero ease. Some of you wisely reminded me of Colchique, which made me recall that (a) I tend to overshoot on ease and (b) you can block wool larger but it's tough to block it smaller.
Are you tired of swatches yet? I've been doing nothing but swatching for weeks now! Anyway, one more swatch before I begin Forecast. I'm still debating about the bobbles... so how about a bobble v. cable SMACKDOWN??
I'm currently debating the 3-stitch (smaller) bobble approach v. all cables. I kind of like the bobbles. They're fun to make, they're unusual, and make for a more unusual sweater. I've seen a lot of patterns that use bobbles in a painfully twee way, but not so here. I'm nervous, on the other hand, that they will add too much bulk to the arms and shoulders, something I probably don't need. On the other hand, with such a brightly-colored yarn, plain cables may just fade right into the garter stitch background. I could also go with a third option - bobbles on the front, horseshoe cables on the sleeves (which is the cable underlying the bobble pattern), but I worry that it will ruin the coherence of the pattern to do this. On the Moses meter, Moses displayed a mild preference for the cables:
But I wouldn't trust that kitty's taste - she prefers eating sweaters to wearing them! Film expert Rachel adamantly wants bobbles, but she's kind of living in the forties... in a good way, Ms. Rachel! Chris said cables at first because "bobbles seem stupid" which didn't sound like a well-considered preference. Other opinions? Option A is 3-stitch bobble pattern. Option B is the plain cable pattern. Option C is the "combo" of bobbles on the front and cables on the sleeve. I know I've been quizzing you a ton lately... hope you don't mind my exploiting your expertise!
Posted by jess at March 4, 2006 4:52 PMI'm going Option B - the plain cable version. Mainly because I keep looking at Pinku's and thinking how gorgeous it is!
Posted by: jacqueline at March 4, 2006 5:58 PMOh, finally something I can answer! I don't have much expertise to weigh in on your technical questions, but I can definitely answer a simple opinion poll!
I have to agree with Moses. Option B.
Ill be the dissenter and go with option A because I loved Winnie's version.
Posted by: yahaira at March 4, 2006 6:21 PMi ditto yahaira about option A. the bobbles don't look too bulky in winne's version, not too lumpy and bumpy. i think if you just do cables, you might be disappointed that you didn't take the bobble leap.
Posted by: carrie m at March 4, 2006 6:30 PMI like the bobbles, but definately the three stitch not the fat fives. On the versions of this sweater that I've seen, plain cables look too boring.
Posted by: Amanda at March 4, 2006 7:14 PMI definitely think bobbles are the way to go. Either way will be great, but the bobbles just *pop* more.
Posted by: Kelly at March 4, 2006 7:27 PMJust say no to bobbles.
up with cables!
i'm leaning towards to bobbles in your swatch. i think that the definition is really nice and lends a certain oomph to the pattern.
Posted by: gleek at March 4, 2006 7:34 PMI think the bobbles make it something special. They look really great in the yarn you chose.
Posted by: Amy at March 4, 2006 7:46 PMLove the small bobbles! Go with those!
Posted by: Michele at March 4, 2006 8:13 PMWhen I posed a similar question for some gift mittens I was designing, cables came up as the poll winner, but bobbles won the day with the giftee.
Go figure.
Posted by: Karen B. at March 4, 2006 9:43 PMI vote for option C, a little of both. The small bobbles look nice but I'm partial to cables. And you have a valid concern regarding cabling on arms & shoulders adding bulk. ALL OVER bobbles might be too much, but would add a little something to the body if used tastefully.
Whatever you chose I'm sure will be perfect - the yarn & color is fabulous! Can't wait to see the FO!
Posted by: Lisa at March 5, 2006 12:20 AMI love bobbles so it's hard not to vote for them here. Go for it!
Posted by: Michelle at March 5, 2006 12:37 AMI think bobbles make it special and quirky, too (in a very good, cute way). The three stitch bobble is a great compromise. And they accentuate the cables.
Posted by: Julia at March 5, 2006 2:40 AMI think the bobbles really add to the charm of the sweater, and I think without them the cables seem out of place in such a textured knit. Option A!
Also, I just love that you said twee.
Posted by: Jenna at March 5, 2006 7:34 AMCable sweaters are everywhere these days. And I think that as far as cable patterns go, this one wouldn't be especially interesting. Go with the bobbles!
Posted by: Georgia at March 5, 2006 9:36 AMBobbles. This sweater wouldn't be the same without them and you are petite enough to make anything look awesome. Even the big bobbles will be awesome and striking. If you wanted something without bobbles you wouldn't be doing this pattern, right? I think it makes the pattern unique.
Posted by: Laura at March 5, 2006 10:37 AMI'm going to dissent with the latest opinions and say cables. I don't think the bobbles show up in the second photo (from a distance) as the cables do, and look messy instead of neat (which is not a comment on your knitting bobbles! because they look nice up close, but from a distance they don't look as sculpted). That said, I'm not a huge fan of forecast anyway ;) I'll save my bobbles for bobbilicious.
Posted by: kristiface at March 5, 2006 12:02 PMI really loved Winnie's version, although I prefer where Pinku started her sleevesa and the extra length of the waist portion. I started with just cables, and I'm stalled as it's looking rather bland.
Posted by: Gina at March 5, 2006 3:34 PMI find the whole bobble thing mysterious- I haven't made one yet, but when I read the Forecast stitch instruction, I didn't understand it.
I do like them though, but not all over the entire sweater- they seem like they might be uncomfortable on your back when sitting against a chair...
Posted by: Kym at March 5, 2006 9:49 PMGo with either B or C. Bobbles can be fun but one must use them with moderation*.
*Yeah, I know I'm on my, like, 76th pair of Jaywalker so who am I to talk about moderation, right? :P Oh well, just follow some sage advice from my mother: Do as I say and not as I do, smartass.
P.S. Advantages to being the one of the few not watching the Oscars: There is no one online. A few of my favorite online shops updated tonight and I got first dibs. That never happens, hooray.
Disadvantages for being the one of the few not watching the Oscars: You feel alone, so very alone. *sob, sob, choke*
Posted by: Sandra at March 5, 2006 11:00 PMI surprise myself and like Option A: Bobbleland. Your investigation of this sweater has made me want to make it too, and I was sure that I would wnat the cable-only version. But I think the clusters of 3 little bobbles looks like a nice berry cluster, the shadows they make look great.
Posted by: Jen at March 6, 2006 10:28 AM