Mon 1 Nov 2010
It looks like the blog opinion is about as torn as I am. It’s probably a good thing that I’ve been dragging my feet and playing with the swatch a lot.
Do you see that?
I thought I detected a tiny bit of bias in the knitting, but it disappeared completely when I blocked. But now, after a couple of days of petting, it’s coming back strong. It makes sense that a slipped stitch pattern that only goes one way would have a bias, but it’s rather unfortunate for garment design.
I had 90% decided to go with a slipped stitch cardigan, and IÂ was sorely tempted to cast on, but I wanted to wait for blog results. And now I’m glad that I did. I’ve knit a sweater with biasing yarn before (that time it was actually the yarn, not the stitch pattern), and there really isn’t a whole lot that you can do to keep it from stretching in odd ways. Especially with an open front.
I thought that maybe I could seam the sides to add some extra stability, but I’m not convinced that will actually help. I thought about trying to add some right-leaning slips to the stitch pattern, but I don’t think that will work based on the way it’s constructed.
So, I think the slipped stitch is out of the running, disqualified for bias. The last thing I want is another sweater knit on size 3 needles that gives me a slightly barberpole look, or worse, that has two front pieces that just won’t match for more than a couple of wears after blocking.
And so, I think the underdog wins. A deep border in trinity, with a body that’s stockinette. I do love the way the trinity feels. I’ll have to be careful not to spend too much time petting my cuffs, so they don’t wear out too fast!
Thank you all for your opinions! It’s nice to know that it will probably work out well either way, since the votes were so evenly split.
Guess it’s time to cast on, huh?
This is where those words “ponder” and “consider” really come to your aid! I wouldn’t have even thought of biasing, but I definitely see what you’re talking about. Good save!
I’m late to the party, but it sounds like you’re going for what I would have voted for anyway 🙂 With a yarn like that, I love doing a little something interesting, both for my entertainment and to play with the color/texture of it, and then just letting the yarn shine in stockinette. I think that’s why I love my SeaPearl sweater so much – lots of lovely room for the colors to be themselves. I can’t wait to see how this one comes out!!
Can’t wait! I am sure the trinity stitch will look lovely as a border.
It’s a good thing you know what will work and what won’t–I’m not sure I would have caught the biasing problem.
Have fun!