I've pretty much been knitting hats for Innocent drinks since I finished the shawl. I've added about 25 to my tally in the last 5 days and plan to have knitted at least 50 by the end of the month. Although I am running out of DK yarn. Well, make that running out of DK yarn that I am willing to put towards hats for charity. I have a fair amount of DK yarn hidden in various places in my stash.
But I mentioned a while back that I had ordered this:
Kim Hargreaves' Joy from the 'Out of the Shadows' collection. I really love Joy who is made (will be made?) of Rowan's Denim. To the degree that I have the kit to make her alter ego, Sal (from the 'New Beginnings' collection, in Rowan Wool cotton. The pattern seems to be fundamentally the same but with longer sleeve.
Note that I hadn't realised this until I looked at them both at the same time. Ah well, my taste is nothing if not consistent...
Here's the progress that I have made so far.
I really like the simplicity of the pattern. The only thing 'worrying' me is that the pattern (and the ball band) both say that denim should be knitted on 4mm needles and I can only get gauge on 5mm needles. Which seems to be a huge difference and I didn't think that I knitted that tightly anymore. All of which would not bother me all that much except that there's no other way to check that it works out other than to knit the whole thing, wash it, watch it shrink and see what happens next.
So please wish me luck. There's no more grafting in my foreseeable future so if this is works out wrong, I shall be using the cardigan as a dishcloth once it's done.
Posted by Amelia at August 8, 2007 09:58 PMI have made Joy twice now, once in the Light blue denim and once in Ecru, both different sizes! and neither of them fitted me well. I found it a very narrow fit with the sleeves too fitted. I hope you have better luck - it's a lovely pattern. Now Glee (I think that's the name) was a wonderful fit in dark blue denim.
Posted by: Linda at August 14, 2007 07:09 PMooh, someday I'm going to order myself one of those delightful Kim Hargreaves kits! Good luck with Joy!
Posted by: Meg at August 14, 2007 04:21 AMOoh, I've had this very kit languishing on the needles for months. It's very nearly done. I don't know why I haven't just finished it up. Perhaps your working on it will inspire me to just get it done. I think that secretly I worry that I will look a bit like a big puff ball or the Michelin man (a tire company mascot in the US who looks a bit like a big marshmallow) rather than the lithe figure in the pattern.
Posted by: Jessica at August 13, 2007 03:38 AMI love so many of Kimīs designs, I really wish I would have knitted most of them already and that they are now ready-to-wear. But I also have problems to find gauge with her designs, it seems to me that she is knitting very straight (is this the right english word?), she is often using smaller needles to get a special texture I think. What Francoise recommended sounds good, but unfortunately mostly I want to start at once without the long time procedure of swatching and washing and checking and start with a new swatch again. And for having never knitted with the denim yarn I am looking forward to see how your bigger needles will turn out - hopefully not as a dish cloth!
Posted by: Krawuggl at August 12, 2007 08:05 AMI have just finished this and its great, but I had big problems with the fronts. I think its the integral button band thing I kept having to rip back.
Posted by: Philippa at August 11, 2007 06:07 PMIts lovely but I am not looking on Kims site, its all too tempting. I do love my Wispy even although I hated knitting with Summer Tweed.
Posted by: yvette at August 10, 2007 04:18 PMj'adore employer la denim de Rowan (et avoir les doigts bleus) + le petit suspence quand l'ouvrage sort de la machine ā laver
Posted by: vivi's mum (Brussels) at August 10, 2007 02:18 PMoh we must chat about your kim hargreaves kits... jealous and also thinking about treating myself to one :)
Posted by: stinkerbell at August 9, 2007 05:22 PMwow that will be one pretty dishcloth!!! :) just teasing! i'm sure it will work out fine!
Posted by: carolyn at August 9, 2007 02:13 PMThat is a great pattern. I am speeding along on Glint at the mo and really enjoying knitting it.
Posted by: Lin at August 9, 2007 12:59 PMJoy is a lovely pattern, and a lovely colour choice, I'm never knitted with denim before, but good idea like francoise says, to do a swatch first, then check gauge after washing. Have you tried asking on the Rowan Forum, there's usually someone who can give good advice on there, or maybe send Kim Hargreaves an e-mail on her site. I read on other blogs, that Kim is happy to advice where possible. Nothing worse than doing all that work and having a niggling fear at the back of your mind. Your progess so far is super. Good luck :)
Posted by: Tracy at August 9, 2007 10:37 AMooh - i really like both of these too. How did I manage to miss them when I was browsing her site recently ?? I may have to try one of them ..... after of course I finish the other 3 kits sitting waiting !!
Heather x
Posted by: Heather at August 9, 2007 08:57 AMIt looks lovely. I'm hanging onto my kits until the Spring, I think!
Posted by: dawn at August 9, 2007 08:42 AMI have to use larger needles to get gauge on denim too. The stitches work out fairly loose until it's washed and dried.
Posted by: polly at August 9, 2007 08:05 AMI love this pattern and look forward to seeing how it will turn out! Why don't you make a swatch, wash it and check the measurements?
Posted by: francoise at August 8, 2007 11:14 PM