Berroco's Americano Vest

Wow. I can't believe it's been over two years since I posted on this blog! Shame on me! Well, the past two years have been quite busy (not an excuse, just fact.) Just since the first of June I've had Mother (83) at the emergency room twice and at the doctor's office for tests or blood work six times since; and I'm in the process of moving the entire contents of The Busy Needle to the online store.

But this blog is supposed to be about what's on my needles, and NOT a personal commentary on my life. So.....

At the moment I'm working on Americano, a vest in Berroco's new Vintage Chunky. The pattern is published in Berroco book 203, released for the Fall 2010 season. I've selected a lovely orangey-rust color. I started this on Sunday, put about 2 hours per day on it, and already have the back and left front finished.

Right now I'm working my way up the skinny pieces (over the shoulder) on the yoke and expect to finish that tonight or tomorrow morning. If the right front goes as quickly as the left front did, I should have this ready to block and put together this weekend.

It has gone far more quickly than I anticipated. The Berroco Vintage Chunky yarn (at 14 sts in 4") is soft and a bit drapey; lovely to work with. The vest, however, is VERY fitted, with 2+ inches of NEGATIVE ease.

I spoke with the great folks at Berroco this morning and they said that this is correct; it is a very close fitting vest. Hmmmm......

Most of the women who will be taking the Americano Vest class on October 2nd don't like close fitting clothing. (We aren't ALL a size 2!) So I'm making this vest in the Size 42 (the sizing goes from 30"-50" and this is the Women's Large size) so the class members can try it on and see how they like the fit. If it's too tight for them, I'll recommend going up a size (or two) to fit their body circumference, but using the length for their correct size.

We're definitely going to be changing the cast on edge. Even correctly blocked it rolls upward because of the negative ease.

I'm also going to teach two different buttonholes that they use in the pattern, and I'm doing this for two reasons: 1) most already know how to do a k2tog, yo buttonhole so this will be something new for them to learn, and 2) I really don't like yo buttonholes as they don't look as professional as they could. (Somewhat opinionated, aren't I!)

When I get this vest put together I'll post a photo. Must find some fabulous buttons for it!

Women's Sweaters

The new Berroco Women's Sweater show has arrived at the shop and they're gorgeous! The creative geniuses in Massachusetts have knit this fall's Men's Sweaters in ladies' colors and I think they're even more fabulous than the Men's Trunk Show sweaters. They'll only be here until Saturday afternoon, when they get packed up and shipped off to another shop, so you'll have to drop by soon to get a quick peek at them!

Thanksgiving Friday

The Busy Needle will be closed on Thanksgiving Friday so I can have some "quality time" with my oldest son, Gavin. I'll reopen again on Saturday morning - 1o-ish! Have a great Thanksgiving and a wonderful time shopping on Black Friday!

Chill people! I know I've not kept this up as I should have been doing... and I'm getting a lot of flak for it. Just settle down. You know my only free time is between 3-5 am!

July-August Class Schedule

Okay, okay.... I'm working on the July-August class schedule as fast as a I can! Hopefully I'll have it posted by Monday, July 13. I promise I'll send out an email as soon as it posts.

Just to keep you appeased (somewhat!) here's a sneak peak of a couple of classes:

Children's Hats - They make great Christmas presents and we have a new teacher who has made dozens of cute designs from one basic pattern.

Lace Shawl - That new merino/silk blend yarn will be featured in this class. Only two skeins needed for this project! I'm working on the model as fast as I can!

Hardanger II - Bookmarks or Christmas ornaments? Jackie has the bookmark model done, but we have a customer who wants to do Hardanger Christmas ornaments. Which would YOU prefer?

Coming in September - A Man's Sweater - Great for Christmas, and you have time to get this one done!

Coming in October (we hope!) - The Norah Gaughan Collection from Volume 3 - including the Eastlake sweater on which we'll do a class in November, and the Violette-le-duc Sweater shown on the cover. Can't wait to finalize the details with Berroco!

Eastlake Sweater update

Berroco did call me back yesterday, as promised. And they've already posted the sweater corrections on the website.

First, the scarf is knit on the smaller size straight needles. (Once you've done your gauge swatch, you'll know which size that should be.)

Second - You do, indeed, change to the larger size needles when you are ready for the first (ws) decrease row. If you are in gauge, this should be immediately after the seventh leaf pattern row.

While the number of stitches to decrease on each side of the leaf pattern still bothers me (approx 15% on the larger front side, but approx 30% on the smaller), I'm just going to let that one go.

I did talk to Berroco again this morning, however. Decreasing while ribbing just doesn't work. The ribbing gets screwed up and there's no way to keep it in pattern. This ws decrease row on the larger needles needs to be purled on either side of the leaf pattern. By doing it this way, it will also agree with the back when you go to sew the side seams. (Just remember to follow the pattern directions for continuing the ribbing at the sides of the leaf pattern during this row. Don't forget to put in the additional markers.) Then it works!

Norah Gaughan's Eastlake Sweater

On Wednesday (July 3rd) I finished the gauge swatch for Berroco's new Inca Gold yarn. Yummy stuff to work with. Great stitch definition. While the people at Berroco reached gauge on a size 7 US needle, I needed a size 6 US to reach the same specifications.

Gauge is important. ALWAYS make a gauge swatch and block it! I cannot tell you how many disasters it will avert. If I had just jumped into the Eastlake sweater on size 7 needles, it would fit me... but only if I gain 20 lbs! (Not something I'm planning to do!)

Anyway, one of the first things I noticed is that the directions for the front of the pattern do not tell you to switch to the larger size needles (as it does on the back after knitting 1" of ribbing.) And yet the measurements for the top of the bust are the same for the back as they are for the front. Sounded suspicious, but Norah Gaughan often thinks so far outside the box that I have learned to ask questions first, before hollering that something is wrong.

So I thoroughly read through the rest of the pattern, searching for some clue, but could find none. I did find, however, that the instructions for the Eastlake Scarf don't tell you which size of straight needles to use. (The pattern materials indicate two sizes of straight needles and one pair of circular needles are needed for the sweater and scarf.)

As a yarn shop owner, one of the wonderful things I can do is call the folks 'who know' at Berroco and ask specific pattern-related questions. I did that first thing this morning. They said, "Hmmmmm... We'll call you back, hopefully today, probably tomorrow." I really appreciate the fast turn-around. The Berroco folks are ALWAYS helpful and great to work with.

But then, Berroco stands behind their products, unlike some other yarn companies. It shows in Berroco's customer service, and it makes all the difference when I purchase yarn for the shop. It is also first and foremost in my mind when I choose to make shop models, as well as when I pick yarn for my own personal projects. Okay, I just realized I sound like a commercial! And, NO, I don't get paid to say this. LOL!

When I hear from Berroco I'll post their response. I'm sure they'll also put it on their website under Pattern Corrections. (The Pattern Corrections link is at the bottom of their home page.) My suggestion is that you ALWAYS check this link before starting your Berroco pattern.

In fact, you should always check ANY pattern company's website for corrections before starting your garment. It could save a lot of hassles. While I wouldn't have expected to find pattern problems with the Vogue Cover Sweater I just finished knitting, in fact the schematic for the left front has errors on it, and there is an error in the pattern itself. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.