Serrano Knit Along

Finished!

2007-03-05T17:56:00.000-08:00

Finished! This was made out of Knitpicks Gloss. This pattern was really interesting-- fun and challenging, and I just love the special details, like the hem, that just end up looking super polished.

It ended up being smaller than I hoped... and significantly shorter. I got gauge (actually, truth be told, my gauge was slightly bigger) and blocked twice, but it didn't quite make it up to size. Because of this, I am considering removing the hook and eye tape and going for a one-hook closure just at the bottom of the v-neck.

Because of the length and tightness, it won't be super-wearable for me, but I know it'll look cute as a cropped cardi with some dresses.

Ahhhh, I love finishing stuff... now I'm on to Sahara!
But none of that silk and sequin business... just a nice soft cotton blend, TBD.

I can see the end...

2007-02-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

I'm blocking the body and the sleeves now! I really enjoyed knitting those sleeves, by the way. Quite meditative.

This is Knitpicks Gloss-- very nice! Hope to have a FO picture in the next few weeks.

Hola!

2007-01-21T20:36:00.000-08:00

Well hello all! It has been pretty quiet in here lately, but I hope to get a good amount of posting done on this project. I've been doing ok up until the waist decreases... they are giving me some trouble. Its sounds so easy in the directions, but just doesn't seem to work out without some difficulty. Of course, I was knitting while watching the Pats play the Colts (boo Colts!), so I may have been a bit distracted!
The yarn I chose is Knitpicks Essential in Ash. The bottom pic is more accurate color-wise.
Wish me luck!

Stilted progress

2007-01-16T07:03:00.000-08:00

Well, here's my Serrano, which I haven't actually touched since October (but finally got around to photographing).

I suddenly found myself with the wrong number of stitches, and then got distracted by other projects (can't remember which offhand) while it was in time out. I may frog back to the hem and start the lace over, but I definitely want to remember to do a gauge check before I do. Either way, this is officially the next active project. (Although that Tubey I have going might be nice for the cold weather we're getting...)

The yarn I'm using is Karabella Aurora 4, which is just *delicious* and doesn't seem to suffer too much from frogging.

Done, but...

2006-11-23T07:46:00.000-08:00

Hi folks,
Sorry no pictures!
I have finished Serrano, but decided that the body is too short--the waist shaping is too high, and the overall length isn't right.
I *think* I could fix this by picking up the row just below where the arm and neck shaping start, knitting 2 patter repeats, and then grafting it to the upper part of the body. It seems to me that this will work, but does anyone have any cautions, "no, don't do this because..." or anything? I figure that in the worst case, I would have to frog everything above the neck and arm shaping, which I will if I have to, but I'd rather not!
Please let me know!

Sorry for the delay, but here it is.

2006-11-17T03:50:00.000-08:00

I know I am a bit late in doing this update but my 2year old daughter came down with a cold, so there was lots of cuddlying and not a lot of knitting.

Sorry for the photos but the person who took them obviously doesn't realise the need for showing off the details:-) But I hope you still get an idea of just how beautiful it is.

I did not do the waist shaping as I was not comfortable with doing it only on the one side as I felt it would look unbalanced and I also decided not to put buttons or anything that closes the front.
I always have to make my knitting on the smallest size for myself but this was the first pattern I have ever found where I could/should of done one size bigger as it looks fine now, but as soon as I try close it, it looks like I have outgrown it.

But anyway enjoy... now I can move on to new things:-)

Almost there:-)

2006-11-12T22:50:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update...

This weekend was very productive and tiring because I started the second sleeve Saturday morning and finished it last night. It is now sitting blocking and hopefully tonight my daughter will give me time to do some more work on it.

I have blocked everything and already sewn the first sleeve into place, I am about three quarters done with knitting the collar band. So hold thumbs and maybe I will have FO pictures for you guys tomorrow.

I can't belive that it is almost done, this has been a weird pattern to knit. On the one hand trying to follow the instructions frustrated me no end, and on the other hand I was knitting something that was looking so beautiful.

After all my moaning about the difficulties in doing this pattern, I still want to say thank you to the designer (if she reads this), because I as a knitter could never NEVER design a item that actually makes people want to knit it. Actually I don't think I would ever be able to design anything period. I find it's too difficult to do it, and I say thank you for taking the time and effort to give us a cardigan of such amazing beauty... I can't wait to wear it.

2006-11-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

Serrano is going pretty slowly for me right now and I've actually set the sleeve aside when I realized that there was something totally wrong with the last bit of the sleeve cap. I know I have to frog, only a repeat or two, but I've frogged so many times already I'm just at the point of tears to do it again. So I set it aside. I'll probably pick it back up, fix the sleeve cap and cast on for the second sleeve sometime next week. I just need a break from the frustration. Weird thing is, I'm knitting other patterns labeled "piquant" from Knitty and having no trouble at all.

I seriously doubt I'll have much more than the second sleeve finished by Christmas, I've cast on for some holiday knitting this week and I'm also doing a Knitster spot on DIY's The Knitty Gritty in early Dec. and have to knit that project as soon as I get the pattern and the yarns. So it's definitely getting back burnered for a while, but my goal is to finish both sleeves by the new year and the body in January.

Why is everybody so silent?

2006-11-03T01:46:00.000-08:00

Well here is my current updates:

This was Serrano blocking

I have done the 3 needle bind off on the shoulders and bound off the neck but still have to pick up and do the band around the neck.

Now the sleeves are a real don't want to talk about it piece, but because you guys are all knitters I'm sure you have done something like this, and cans sympathise with me. I started the sleeve about 6 days ago and just couldn't figure out why I wasn't getting the patterns to line up at the joining of the two halves. I have redone the sleeves about three times and still got the same result everytime. And then last night I had a light bulb moment. I know that the pattern repeat is 7 sts but I forgot about the pattern been 7 +4... Can you believe that? So last night I started again and so far this is my result:-)

Between my mistakes and the difficulty in the pattern, this has been one of the hardest knits I have ever done, which is weird because I find cable patterns a breeze. But anyway lets see how it goes from now on. I'm just a bit worried about how the finale product is going to look as I have put so much hard work and love (bec yes I love the way its looking) but I am not very good at putting the things together in the end. My work always looks a bit untidy because of the way I sew it together. I can only hold my breath and hold thumbs and toes.

a quick update

2006-11-01T10:20:00.000-08:00

between creating costumes from a drawing handed to me by an 11 year old and my father's pain management problems and hospital visits, I've pit aside Serrano for now and have stuck to mindless knitting.

In need again:-(

2006-10-30T04:39:00.000-08:00

I am doing this post out of desperation. I actually feel like quitting this KAL because of the difficulty in figuring the pattern out... the only thing that's stopping me is that the body is sitting on my blocking board busy blocking and honestly I can't stomach frogging so much work.

I am stuck on the sleeves. I am doing the smallest size and it worked out 30sts...
k3, sl 1, k3, (2 x patt repeats, 4 sts), 5 sts.
I knit the 4sts that couldn't be a pattern repeat as st st.
Not this was not a problem except when you put them together.
I put the second part of the sleeve knitted on the right and the first side knitted on the left as the pattern sais. I joined them and my pattern repeat works out perfectly as it just carries till the end where It says I must have five sts left but I do have five sts but also still those four extra ones.

If someone can make sense of what I just said then please I need help.

When I join the two I have the right sides facing me.

Adrillo/Serrano

2006-10-30T04:22:00.000-08:00

Hi, I'm one of the new batch of participants in this KAL. I got my yarn for this project last week and I'm ready to start anytime now. This is the yarn I will be using:

Its a tealy-green 2-ply wool. I'm going to pet name my Serrano, Adrillo, after a green pepper. =) Looking forward to a great KAL with you guys~!

Kessa

new to the group

2006-10-29T09:13:00.000-08:00

Hey All,

I have been a bit of a voyeur, reading this KAL since the end of September, not sure if I would have time to join. Since I started Serrano a lot of my questions and concerns have been addressed on this blog and there are still a few lingering. So I decided to bite the bullet and join everyone. I am new to the KAL world and blogging in general. My blog is shared with two other knitters and my entries are under the name "yarnchica"(just for confusions sake).

Okay, now onto Serrano issues: I have gotten to waist shaping on the body and made it through the decreases (um, twice) and even started on the increases on one attempt but ripped it out each time. I can't seem to reconcile the lack of symmetry. Has anyone else had issues with this while still managing to do the waist shaping? I know it might be easier just to ignore the waist shaping all together but I think I need the shaping. Any ideas on how to power through?

Thanks,
Dani

2006-10-28T20:05:00.000-07:00

A BRIEF ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE: I have to apologize, I've been working a lot lately and we've got some new members who were waiting VERY patiently for me to add them. SO if for some reason you have an issue or email the KAL email address and you don't get a reply, it's probably because I get busy and don't think to check it. Feel free to drop a comment over at my blog, that goes to my regular inbox, and I'll make sure to get back to you. Sorry to anyone who I've dropped the ball on.

So how's it going for everyone? Progress? Updates? Bad words? Frogging? Success? Spill!

sleeve increases

2006-10-23T20:35:00.000-07:00

Question on the sleeve increases section - when starting the increases, did you keep the design count as previously set and just knit new stitches as st st until you had enough for a full repeat on either side? I'm not nutty about the idea of my lace pattern not lining up with the rest of the sleeve if I do as the pattern says which is "work new stitches into pattern."

How'd y'all work that part out?

Finally Getting There

2006-10-19T23:18:00.000-07:00

Well here is my progress so far. I was sick on Wednesday so being the addicted knitter that I am:-) I pulled out Serrano and Season 2 Disk 1 of Desperate Housewives (l0ve this programme).
About an hour in to things I started the shapings and during the whole time I thought... mmm this isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Finally get to the final decrease and decide to count... pattern sais 18 sts left and I have 19:-( GRRR
I could not find where I had the mistakes so out came 3 hours of work in under 10 minutes.
I had to laugh the other day because one of the few words my 2 year old daughter can say is wool and she plonked herself on the couch the other day and picked up my knitting and actually tried to wrap the wool around her fingers like I do and then she pretended she was knitting. Lets just say I was really proud of her.

tenacity.

2006-10-19T12:07:00.000-07:00

Two cuff halves, joined!

Close up.

So far, so good. *fingers crossed* Hard to tell from the picture, but the stitch count is right, the halves are joined and things are lining up. Next, we put in a lifeline!

2006-10-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

I no longer have a sleeve. I have a wad of yarn vomit. However, I think I figured out what (again) I did wrong. I would not have a wad of yarn vomit, but I didn't have a lifeline in and when I had to frog, et voila, a huge mess.

This is a brilliantly engineered pattern, but I am thinking that the author needs to idiot-proof it a little bit more and make some of the instructions a little more clear. *sigh*

Or maybe idiots shouldn't attempt it. :-(

EDIT TO ADD: I am officially a glutton for punishment, but upon review of Claudine's most excellent photos, I figured out what I did wrong and recast on for the sleeve. Just in case it's unclear (it was to me) to any of y'all? You join the sleeve halves on the vent sides. Not the other.

Doing both halves on one needle at the same time and I think I've sorted it.

of Sense and Sensibility

2006-10-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

This weekend was crazy busy, so when I sat down to knit, I didn't have the attention span to work on Serrano as I've already discovered that I have to be in peak condition to count to seven over and over and over again.

But I also have issues that I'm trying to reconcile in my mind so that I will love my sweater once again. The pattern isn't symetrical. I want each section of the body to independently contain a series of pattern repeats, I don't like the continuous pattern. I'm seriously playing with the idea of using some blocks of st. st at the underarm seaming area to cater to my sensibilities a bit, but I don't know if I will like this better. I just think that lack of mathmatical perfection is going to grate at me (boy would Mr. Noffsinger be ROFLHAO right now-- I flunked his geometry class, hand to take it over-- of course I got an A when he wasn't standing in front of me, but I digress).

Anyway, between trying to decide if I would like big hunks of anti-lace while achieving logic, or if that would bother me more, I keep looking at the yarn and seeing cables. Oh, what a temptation to use the designger's schematic and insert cables......................

Which is why I'm working on something different for the most part, until I fall off the Seranno fence and can commit to a single path.

2006-10-14T07:26:00.000-07:00

*frustration*

Okay kids, this pattern is frustrating the heck out of me but I will persevere. I cast back on (a sleeve, because I am not stupid and have realized that there might be more Stupid Knitter Tricks ahead, so less to frog is good) and have worked out the lace pattern... sortof. The repeats I've got going now look right.

However. Yes, of course there's a "however", there is ALWAYS a "however" because nothing ever just goes smoothly, right?

Here's where I'm stuck. Knitting the large size. You cast on 30 stitches, work the hem, then CO 3 stitches on the WS. Next row, K3 SL1 K3 then work in flame chevron pattern for 25 stitches, then knit to end. I can only work the pattern for 21 stitches and then I have 5 stitches left with no room to work the repeat again, so I am just knitting it to end. So far, so good. Get to the second half of the chart, I am going to have to start the lace pattern 2 stitches earlier and that will cut into the K3 SL1 K3 area which is supposed to be used for facing, if I want the pattern to fit. BUT, this half of the pattern will fit on the other end where I've had to just knit.

Is this making any sense? Is it ok to start the repeat there and will the facing still work if I do? Did you guys run into the same stitch count issues?

How about that area where I can't fit in another repeat - in the pattern notes it says just to work in plain st st. Anyone else have an issue with this one?

Feedback would be good!

2006-10-13T16:34:00.000-07:00

I'll take "Stupid Knitter Tricks" for five hundred, Bob.

I have to thank the last poster for pointing out a mistake that I was making in the lace - and for the clearly diagrammed illustration of same. I'd have totally missed it otherwise. *sigh*

So yeah. One Cthulu shot glass full of Patron and half a pint of Brownie Batter ice cream later, I think maybe I'm ready to cast back on.

Progress update

2006-10-13T04:17:00.000-07:00

Here's my progress on Serrano at the moment. I started with a sleeve first instead of with the main body (good way to "swatch"), and it's a really good thing I did that too, as I made quite a few mistakes at the beginning.

First was because I didn't pay attention to the pattern instruction that says "When there are not enough stitches to complete both a yo and its paired decrease, work these stitches in stockinette stitch." and did the yarn-over anyway, only to discover 12 rows later, that I had 6 stitches too many. Frog, frog. Then not long after I had to frog again, this time because I decided to compare my little swatch to the pattern designer's stitch pattern close up on the website, and discovered this:

Left: Mine (not fully stretched yet), Right: How it's meant to be.

See how in my swatch on the left, the pattern repeats are further apart from each other, compared to how it's meant to be? Well, turned out that I misread the chart. You see, in the chart, the pattern repeat is 7 stitches, plus 4 stitches extra. The 7 stitches repeat is outlined in red. But as it happened, I printed out the pattern with my black and white printer, and didn't see the red outline. So I happily knitted and knitted, thinking that the pattern repeat is 11 stitches wide, and the result is what you saw above. Sigh. Frog, frog.

Thankfully after that it was quite smooth sailing, and I think my gauge is ok too. Here's what the sleeve looks like now, just a bit over half way. This is not stretched out to full capacity yet, only stretched a bit so that you can see the lace pattern.

Arm- and neckhole decreases

2006-10-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

Is anyone at this stage yet? I don't know how to keep track of which row and which decrease I'm on for which shaping (arm vs neck). Any advice?

2006-10-10T05:47:00.000-07:00

Finally!

I got my yarn (probably late on Saturday-- I hate my postperson- grrrrrrrr) and cast on last night. I've only got nine rows complete though, so no picture yet.

I've never made socks before so working with this small of a needle size is new to me, so is the provincial cast on and so will be the short rows. And while I was pondering my madness, I have to admit that I was glad that I'm not taking this adventure alone.

Thank You

2006-10-09T04:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks for those who answered my plea of help but it still doesn't fix my problem:-( I still have one stitch too many.

You divide the row with pm's as follows: 12, 33, 78, 33, 12 which adds up to a total of 168 stitches.

Then you minus the k6, s1, k5... 12x2=24 which then leaves you with 144 stitches.

Now the chart is 11 stitches so divide 144 by 11 = 13.09 which gives you 13 pattern repeats plus one extra stitch. I am a perfectionist so that I can't just ignore that one stitch.