October 17, 2005
Raspy, the complete sweater
Raspy is done, and I looooove it.
I get why people like Denim yarn. Its like a huge math problem while knitting, but so comfy to wear! I wasn't sure what to expect from a sweater made of *denim* .. I didn't even know what such a thing would look like. Its good though! It even looks decent with jeans. I think its going to be my weekend/evening sweater.
The Specs:
Yarn: Elann Den-m-nit, 13 balls mid-indigo
Pattern: Raspy from Denim People
Gauge: generally approximates the called-for 20sts/28 rows per 4", prewashed.
Needles: Bamboo circs; size 4/5 for the sleeves, size 5/6 for the body
Pattern Modifications:
1. Sleeves. Lengthened the sleeves to 24" pre-wash by adding additional rows before the sleeve cap shaping. I knit the sleeves first. Knowing they were done definitely helped with motivation when restarting the body again and again.
2. Body. Worked the body in the round rather than flat, and adjusted the numbers for an ease-free fit. I followed the pattern for the smallest size, then increased up to 34". Altered the raglan shaping so it would correspond to the number of rows on the sleeve raglans.
3. Row gauge. Constantly checked row gauge and removed rows while knitting. I basically dropped one row from every 7 specified by the pattern. (For those seeking real specifics: decreased every 5th/6th/5th/6th/5th row to the waist, worked 10 rows even, then increased every 9th row 4x to the chest.)
4. Neckline. If I could do it again, I'd do something about the neckline. The front and back are identical. The back looks fine, but the front tends to pull and roll. Same thing happens with my Hourglass sweater. Really, a front neckline should be lower than the back, always. Next time, next time.
5. Edge Stitches. I slipped the first and last WS stitches purlwise. This helped when seaming; everything lined up perfectly. Here's a close-up of the inside-out raglan seams. These work quite nicely with the dropped stitches.
That's it for this denim sweater! Next I might try one with the darker indigo.
Comments (52)
Wow, that looks great and fits you so well. Congratulations on finishing!
Posted by Kim | October 17, 2005 10:21 AM
Posted on October 17, 2005 10:21
It looks awesome! My husband's biggest complaint about Combat, the ribbed sweater with elbow patches, is that the front neckline is too high (without shaping)! Maybe the pattern writers were trying to keep things simple...maybe a little too simple...
Posted by lori z | October 17, 2005 11:05 AM
Posted on October 17, 2005 11:05
WOW. I love it. You look great in it. You tore threw that in no time.... It's taking me forever. Finished the sleeves this weekend and also started on the front. I can't wait to finish it.
Posted by D R E W | October 17, 2005 11:17 AM
Posted on October 17, 2005 11:17
Not much to say except it's FABULOUS! I'm so glad you love it, it looks great on you!
Posted by grumperina | October 17, 2005 12:15 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 12:15
Holy moley! That looks awesome, Diana! The time that you put in with all your modifications was definitely worth it!
Posted by Annie | October 17, 2005 12:42 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 12:42
WOW! That looks great! I'm glad you were able to make it work out!
Posted by Angela | October 17, 2005 12:59 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 12:59
Wow! That looks great. Love your supermodel pose!
Posted by Christie | October 17, 2005 1:00 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 13:00
gorgeous!! looks like a couture knit from the runway!! and your notes are very informative. i have yet to try a denim yarn, but it is on my list (very long list, that is)!
and i agree with you on the front neckline. my audrey's front tend to choke me after wearing it for a while.
Posted by blossom | October 17, 2005 1:03 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 13:03
Those dropped stitches are nutty! What an interesting look.
Posted by Colleen | October 17, 2005 1:05 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 13:05
Good lord, YOU'RE DONE! That was super fast for such a 'long' sweater pre-shrinking.
It looks awesome!
I wanna start mine now.
Posted by adele | October 17, 2005 1:13 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 13:13
WOW, i love it. I loved it before, but now I really want to knit it! It looks perfect on you!
Posted by Joelene | October 17, 2005 1:13 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 13:13
love all the modifications you made to get this to fit the way you want. looks fantastic!
Posted by li | October 17, 2005 1:19 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 13:19
Wow, what a fabulous sweater! And you knit it so fast! The fit is perfect. Wow!
Posted by Steph | October 17, 2005 1:21 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 13:21
very nice! the fit looks great, as does the raglan seams. i'm glad to see it shrunk up the right way. i think that would be nagging at me the entire time i was knitting (even if i did do a gauge swatch).
as for the neckline -- it probably bothers you more than anyone else. but i do agree with you -- the front should dip down more than the back.
Posted by jody | October 17, 2005 1:23 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 13:23
Wow, that was fast! And it looks *wonderful* on you! I’m glad the project worked out.
Posted by caitlyn | October 17, 2005 1:24 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 13:24
Looks great! I like the dropped stitches - very cool.
Posted by Cyndi | October 17, 2005 1:28 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 13:28
it looks gorgeous and your modifications are excellent. makes me want to make that sweater next, but i am on a yarn diet. great job!
Posted by thuy | October 17, 2005 1:34 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 13:34
So the edges do roll a bit ... but I think it's part of the casual charm of denim sweater. Lovely ... you gave me motivation (again!) to finish my Bomber ... thanks! ;)
Posted by Agnes | October 17, 2005 1:40 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 13:40
its beautiful
Posted by yahaira | October 17, 2005 1:42 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 13:42
LovelY!!! What about doing a crochet(?!?) chain around the neckline, that might help the roll, and force it to pull in a bit.
Posted by Julia | October 17, 2005 1:46 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 13:46
It looks really really great. Bravo! And honestly, what a great job giving all the specifics.
Posted by julia | October 17, 2005 2:00 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 14:00
Oh wow, it's gorgeous! And how quickly you finished it – it took me ages to knit it.
Posted by terhi | October 17, 2005 2:32 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 14:32
WOW! that's fantastic. totally worth all the trials and tribulations, eh?
Posted by Ann | October 17, 2005 2:56 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 14:56
Looks awesome, Diana! And must be very comfy!
Posted by Felicia from sweetgeorgia | October 17, 2005 2:59 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 14:59
what? already? you only started it like yesterday!
it looks absolutely fantastic, though - the fit is perfect! ok, i'm frogging mine.
Posted by kris | October 17, 2005 3:15 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 15:15
OH MY GOD YOU DID IT!!! It looks awesome. Just perfect. I hope mine will turn out well too. What an inspiration.
Posted by winnie | October 17, 2005 3:25 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 15:25
You did such a fabulous job! It looks sooo good on you. Congratulations on conquering both the math and the freaky denim yarn.
Posted by Purly Whites | October 17, 2005 4:43 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 16:43
oh my god! that is absolutely awesome! great fit and perfect style. i really must start my own raspy soon...since the yarn has been maturing in my stash for about 9 months now.
just gorgeous diana!!
Posted by jacqueline | October 17, 2005 4:46 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 16:46
Awesome! I'd make a Denim sweater, but all this talk about math scares me away.
Posted by Alexa | October 17, 2005 6:39 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 18:39
What a great fitting Raspy! All that work with the modifications really paid off!
Posted by joy | October 17, 2005 7:08 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 19:08
This looks so comfortable and it shrank just right. Causual chic!
Posted by erin | October 17, 2005 7:56 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 19:56
It looks terrific on you!
Posted by lyn | October 17, 2005 7:59 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 19:59
Fabulous! It looks so comfortable! Excellent Knit!
Posted by carolyn | October 17, 2005 8:44 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 20:44
Raspy is so cool! I love the fit and the length of the sleeves. It's basic and yet hip at the same time. I'd wear it all the time if I were you!
Posted by Karma | October 17, 2005 9:56 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 21:56
I love it! I had the exact same issues with the neckline but wouldn't know what to do to fix it.
Just don't wear it to the LYS (esp. if the folks there don't know what Rowan is putting out. I went to my LYS wearing Raspy and they all stared at me as if I dropped the stitches accidentally).
It is great though, isn't it? (But a lot of extra thinking is involved and there shouldn't be.)
Posted by Wendy | October 17, 2005 11:11 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 23:11
That is a great looking sweater. I hear that denim yarn gets softer with washing and wear. It will be like a great sweatshirt. You lucky girl.
Posted by Deena | October 18, 2005 2:52 AM
Posted on October 18, 2005 02:52
wow what a great fit - looks fabulous on you.
Posted by anna | October 18, 2005 5:21 AM
Posted on October 18, 2005 05:21
Gorgeous work! It looks fabulous- I'm really tempted to knit this myself (sadly, too many things to knit, not enough time)
Posted by Di | October 18, 2005 5:30 AM
Posted on October 18, 2005 05:30
Wow! I really do love it! Awesome job.
Posted by Robyn | October 18, 2005 1:14 PM
Posted on October 18, 2005 13:14
I love it! The fit is perfect. I've got to admit, it's the math that's keeping me away from this one.
Posted by cari | October 18, 2005 1:57 PM
Posted on October 18, 2005 13:57
Ok - all the time you put into restarting and modifying this one was so worth it. It looks fantastic on you!! Love it.
Posted by vicki | October 18, 2005 2:15 PM
Posted on October 18, 2005 14:15
I'm late to the wrap party, but I have to tell you that I love it. It looks great on you and the fit is fabulous. Great job on the modifications.
Posted by Stephanie | October 18, 2005 3:56 PM
Posted on October 18, 2005 15:56
So great! It looks perfect on you. I'm so glad all your mods worked out.
Posted by marichan | October 18, 2005 4:56 PM
Posted on October 18, 2005 16:56
lookin super as usual!
Posted by SQ | October 18, 2005 7:53 PM
Posted on October 18, 2005 19:53
Gorgeous! I love it!
Posted by diana | October 19, 2005 7:56 AM
Posted on October 19, 2005 07:56
gorgeous. i've been stalking raspy for ages, and i'm relieved to see such a nice example made from that "other" denim yarn rather than rowan denim.
Posted by karen | October 19, 2005 5:42 PM
Posted on October 19, 2005 17:42
Beautiful! I hope mine comes out as nice as your.. Thanks for all the details too.. I will keep it all in mind when I knit it... especially the neckline since my hourglass did the same thing too :)
Posted by Dani | October 19, 2005 7:46 PM
Posted on October 19, 2005 19:46
wow -- that is a beautiful, awesome sweater! the dropped stitches look great.
Posted by carrie m | October 20, 2005 2:25 AM
Posted on October 20, 2005 02:25
Perfect fit, and it'll be sooo comfy. Makes me want to dig some denim out of the stash.
Posted by Anmiryam | October 20, 2005 9:13 AM
Posted on October 20, 2005 09:13
Gorgeous! I have a dark indigo Raspy all knit up, waiting to be seamed! I hope to get around to that soon, and you're inspiring me!!
Posted by Michelle | October 21, 2005 7:50 PM
Posted on October 21, 2005 19:50
Raspy looks fabulous!
Posted by Jenn | October 23, 2005 10:16 PM
Posted on October 23, 2005 22:16
Nothing new, but it's nice to see things continue to go their way
Posted by amortization calculator | May 1, 2006 11:21 PM
Posted on May 1, 2006 23:21