Ready to Start My Green Belle

I've finally found some wool in the colour I had in my head, and am ready to start. Just in time for... umm... spring, but that's ok as this bulky cardigan won't fit under my winter jackets anyway!

I'm using a combination of Rowan 4 ply Scottish tweed and a plain dk alpaca, knit together to hopefully give an aran weight. My gauge is still a little loose, even with 4 mm needles, so I'm going to start on a sleeve and see how it looks after a few pattern repeats.

In terms of sizing, I will try making the smallest size (32 inch bust). I have an 86 cm (about 34 inches) bust and narrow shoulders, and from reading the other blog posts it sounds like this should be ok with some negative ease. I am also short (156 cm) so I think the length of the body and sleeves (which are short on the model) should be ok for me.

My intended modifications: I will use 3 buttons as it looks much better. I think I will make tighter cuffs, but will do this at the end so will use a provisional cast on for the sleeves. I'm not sure about the collar yet - it will probably get changed too! I am a bit scared of all that seaming so will attempt to eliminate a few - to start with I will knit the sleeves in the round.

By the way, can anybody tell me the yardage they actually used for the small size? My LYSO thought the 700g = 1260 metres as given in the pattern sounded like way too much, and convinced me to buy less (1000 metres). Now I am worried I don't have enough!

lower section....

...row 48...it takes time....

I knit and knit and knit....

The last days I knitted every free minute....and I have fun!

False start, but have gotten going now

Thanks for inviting me to join the KAL - I need all the help I can get! I saw this pattern first as the Romy Cabled Cardigan in Knitting magazine here in the UK, which doesn't have charts, so I was relieved to discover that it was also the Silver Belle and that Vogue had published charts. I am knitting it in Almerino Aran, in colour Brighton Rock 307, which is 50% Baby Alpaca and 50% Merino, but I had to drop down to a 3.25mm needle to get the stitch gauge.

I started with the sleeve and if you are wondering what the mess is at the beginning, that is my false start as I just did not twig that because it was a WS row 1, I had to read the chart left to right! I am so used to going right to left that I couldn't figure out why it was going wrong. So after 6 rows, I knit a row of waste yarn and started again. I want the live stitches as I will be adding the cable trim on the cuff. I was also a bit thrown by the symbol on Chart F for K3 tog, when really it should be P3tog, but I figured that out after comparing the written out Romy instructions. I loved the tip about colouring in the chart so I've done that and also I have highlighted all the even rows so I can pick out the different rows more easily. As suggested by others, I am starting with a small size sleeve and will increase to a medium yoke.

I only learned to knit properly a year ago, and have knit several socks, some gloves and a pair of fair isle mittens, so this will be a big challenge for me. One problem I am having is a loose stitch after I have cabled, I think it is the pull of the crossed over stitches pulling that stitch bigger than it should be. Any tips on that?

Best wishes, Wannaknit (Sharon)

Sleeve question

I'm making my Silver Belle with its parts in different sizes to accommodate my large bust. I knit one sleeve in size Small and think I'm ready to start the yoke in Medium, but even at 18 inches the sleeve seems short to me (and looks short on the VK model too).

So here's my question: Where should the top of the sleeve hit my body? All the way to my armpit, or with some space? I'm afraid if I stop before it's flush against me then the yoke will be tight around my torso and will pull the sleeves up from my wrist.

Maybe I'm overthinking this. Silver Belle is the first sweater that I'm actually customizing to fit my body.

Thanks so much!

1...2...3...START!

I'll use the original yarn: Debbie Bliss' Cashmerino Aran

Shafer's Silver Belle

It's been finished a while, I'm just slow getting it posted. I'm really pleased with the end result. I made a few modifications to the pattern--nothing too extreme. I used a J.Crew men's wool sweater I found in a thrift store, so it was a real bargain--only $4.00! I wear it quite a bit. Check out my blog for other pics

shafers-needleclicks.blogspot.com