Saturday, July 3, 2010

Things I should know by now

There are a number of things I feel that I should know by now. For instance I know that any movie involving small children or animals in peril will reduce me to a sobbing mess (just typing Free Willy, Empire of the Sun and Precious has made me mist up); any garment involving gathers makes me look like the back of a bus; and a third cocktail is always a bad idea.

But there are also things I should know by now, but for some reason I feel faintly embarrassed that I dont. Like superannuation. Surely I should have more of a handle on this by now. More importantly, and interestingly and embarrassingly, I dont know what the difference is between worsted and aran weight yarn. Ok, so one is heavier than the other, but just when I thought I had a handle on it, I discovered the intriguing third category, heavy worsted.

My lack of knowledge about worsted versus aran manifested when I cast on the Berkshire Dolman sweater. Initially I cast on in the yarn formerly known as Madelinetosh Worsted, which has been reclassified as a dk weight. After knitting one side it was apparent that the Madtosh was waaaay to lightweight. My second attempt was in Valley Yarns Berkshire, which WEBS called a heavy worsted. While the weight was right, the colour was wrrrrrrong.

Finally I cast on in Jo Sharp Silk Road Aran, and as I slaved away I had a sneaking suspicion that the aran weight was too light too. Still I was determined, and on finishing and checking the pattern specs out on Ravelry, I saw that what I had thought of as an aran weight, was listed as bulky! Arrrrrgh! Now I have a lovely warm sweater, which I suspect is going to stretch like crazy.

Velma

But my sweater has secret power. I put it on and it transformed me. Can you see the similarity?

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I love that pattern, and was wondering whether I will be able to get gauge with some well stash aged Zara Plus...

It looks great on you!

Rose Red said...

Despite the Velma like qualities of your new jumper, I like it!

But I'm with you on the sobbing mess movies. I give them a miss!

Melinda said...

I think it looks great! Serendipity can be a good thing.

Nellie said...

Thanks Rose Red and Melinda and Travellersyarn! Travellersyarn, I'm not sure what gauge the Zara Plus is, but if I used the SRAran again, I'd definitely try swatching with it held double. And I also found that I used less yarn than the pattern called for.

Charisse said...

Velma was awesome!! The jumper looks great :)