I'd have slept a lot better if I'd steamed the February Lady earlier in the week. It was looking mighty close yardage-wise. 1010 yards should've been enough, I know that, I kept telling myself that, and the balls of yarn continued to unwind. One night I woke myself thinking about it. When I got down to the last 4 balls (of unknown length) I started parsing them out. I knit one sleeve with one ball, but didn't bind off. I knit to the bottom band. Finally, I steamed. It looked promising. I finished the sleeve and bound off. I have long arms, gorilla girl arms, and still it is long enough. I knit a bit more of the body and the bottom band. Did not bind off. Last night I picked up the stitches for the second sleeve with the confidence that there is plenty of yarn and probably some left over. Lesson learned. Steam as you go.
15 responses to “February Lady Sweater”
It’s weird – it pooled like the gusset on a sock. I bet it won’t be noticeable when you wear it.
Oh, I think it’s pretty like that… I like the unmatched stripes. 🙂
I can see what you are saying with the different striping (good photo, really shows the detail). I bought the yarn to knit this sweater, but its my first one and I keep chickening out.
I like it’s character, actually.
can see what you’re saying but I like it.
Yup, handspun is unpredictable. I don’t think it would ever be otherwise, no matter how we split the roving, etc etc. But i think once it’s on a human shape, the striping will not be the eye catcher.
It looks great and if you’ll enjoy wearing it (I would) keep going!
Pooling! The unmistakable mark of a handmade garment! Unique!
But not easy to control. And undesirable for me. One of my biggest challenges when spinning up a fleece …how to avoid pooling, because for some reason, my eyes go right to the pool and stay there!
Think maybe I’m a control freak?
Weird – but I still like it very much. Glad you didn’t run out!
One of the delights of handspun, hand-dyed yarns! (If you find you can’t deal with the striping, I know of someone (in Arizona, ahem) who would take it off your hands…)
I’ll be darned! I’m having the exact same experience with my February Lady sweater- a handspun of light-and-dark browns in merino. I thought for sure I had enough, but I’ve been second guessing that since about 1/2 way down the body. I finally divided up my last skein (a big one) to make sure the sleeves are even. I just hope they’re long enough, because I also have very long arms… and my stripes look the same as yours! Well, I’m off to steam my unfinished sweater now!! (Look at it on Ravelry- if you go there- under hollyk)
Oh- and I think yours is beautiful!!
I like the way the colors came out – a sure sign of hand spun yarn! It really is pretty.
I’ll be honest. There is way too much going in that sweater for me with the pronounced striping. I acknowledge that I’m not the biggest fan of variegated sweaters, so take me with a large grain of salt.
That is strange. Wonder if the lace pattern has anything to do with it?
Such is the nature of handspun!