Artlaydā¦ Thanks for posting this site. I just seen this kal but I can not join because I have started a different jacket. However, I did have these same kind of questions with mine and this will help me in my creation.
Thanks again
Iām in! I chose Cascade 109 in Red. I did my gauge swatch today and it came out perfect on 10ās. I canāt wait to get started, though it will probably take me a million years to finish!
In preparation for any cabled project, I always make an enlarged copy of the ākeyā for the charts and then I ācolor codeā the chart first, then the charts themselves. I enlarged my charts [U]before[/U] color coding.
If you decide to color code these very busy charts, [B][U]PLEASE color code the KEY first[/U]. [/B] Thenā¦put a ruler under each row of the chart, starting with Row 1, and color code all the chartās cable symbols to match the KEY. Then move on to Row 3. Donāt be tempted to hunt all over the chart for the same symbol and color code all c5rās first. You will drive yourself crazy. Color code your charts methodicallyā¦row by row from the bottom up. Line by line. Then you will not miss anything, and you will not color code something in error. Donāt rush yourself. Get it right. You canāt erase it. You can only re-print the charts and re-do the colors. Ick.
[B]Warning: [/B]I found [U]two sets[/U] of 5-stitch cable chart symbols that are nearly identical. Be on the lookout for them.
Here is a snippet from a color coded KEY:
Here is a snippet of how to apply the color coding to a chart:
Wow That looks great. I must print out my copy and have a good look at it. Have not really studied the pattern yet. I did not want to be distracted away from other projects until my yarn arrived. I am hoping it will come this week.
I will be colour coding my chart as well. Makes the whole process so much easier.
I first learned how to color code cable patterns from you!!! GREAT idea and I have done it ever since, no matter how simple or complicated.
These charts are a bit overwhelming, my first thought was they must be enlarged. Usually with a pattern I can throw it on teh copier and enlarge, BUT NOT THESE!! Did you take them somewhere to enlarge them?
Yes, Iām certain that Office Depot or Staples printing services department can enlarge the charts for you. Donāt know cost.
However, you could also enlarge it yourself by:
open your SYLVI pdf chart using Adobe Reader
enlarge chart 1/page 6 to 150%, or whatever larger size is still completely viewable widthwise within the computer screen (whatever isnāt viewable wonāt print)
Click on āFileā, then āPrintā. In the window that opens now, thereās a section called āPrint Rangeā with gives you the possibility to specifically enter which pages you want to print. In your case, Select the button called āCurrent Viewā. (your current view will be something like chart rows 1-64 only)
click OK
It will print the enlarged view, of letās say chart rows 1-64.
Then do the same with the top half of the chart, picking up chart rows 65-80
Repeat this two step printing process for the second page of the chart.
I like printing the 4 pages of charts cuz they are still a manageable size to handle.
Hey, if you do take your charts to Staples or Office Depot, you could request they use a heavier wt. paper! This would make the handling much easier. Less flimsy.
Another way to enlarge your charts yourself is: print the chart as per normal. Next, lay the top half on the scanner, and use the printers capability to enlarge what is laying on the scanner.
Then repeat the process for the other half of the chart.
I usually do this when the chart is in a book or leaflet.
But in the case of pdf pattern Sylvi, I could use the FILE>PRINT>PRINT RANGE>CURRENT VIEW>OK route.
I would have never thought to color code the pattern, of course, I have never done anything quite so complicated either! I would probably have been going all crazy and crossed eyed trying to figure out what the difference was between all those symbols too. Thanks!
I did manage a cuff and about 7 inches of seed stitch for the first sleeve last night. It makes for very nice mindless knitting TV time!
BTW, line by line, row by row, this cable chart isnāt all that hard.
Itās just that there are soooo many symbols. GADS.
Itās kinda like Fair Isle Knittingā¦a sweater might have a hundred different colors, but you only have to deal with two at a time per row! :teehee: So, row by rowā¦it aināt all that bad!
Iāve[B] decided to eliminate the HOOD [/B]in favor of this standup
style collar that I saw over in the SYLVI Group on Rav. http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Raia/sylvi
She stated that she started knitting from the
neckline of the FRONTS and BACK with 1x1 ribbing
for double the height she wanted the collar, and turned
it to the inside and whip stitched it into place. She worked
2 button holes, as the PHOTO ABOVE shows. I think it
would require making 4 holes so that when the
collar in turned down to the inside, they match up and
create just two real buttonholes. She didnāt elaborate
all that much. Anyhoo, this is the PERFECT collar for me.
Iāve also decided Iām [B]not going to work [/B][B]the inside-out seam.[/B]
I am not wild about it [U]at all[/U].
Iām going to work the conventional mattress seam.
[B]
It is a standup collar,[/B] and doesnāt lay down over any
of the flowers and leaves in the BACK.
I just got a letter today from Parcel Force saying they have my yarn, so I have paid the customs duty and hopefully it will be here tomorrow or Friday.
I not sure what I will do about the hood yet, but I think I will do a normal seam as I donāt like the seams on the outside. Would like to do something on the fronts as the coat looks a bit bland if you donāt know what is on the back.
I agree with you about the FRONTS. :think: Iām still mulling it over.
When you look at the FRONT, ho humā¦ho hummmmmm.
Then, when you turn around:[SIZE=5] BLAM![/SIZE]
Thereās a surprising EXPLOSION of detail from top to bottom.
OK, here is a way we could approach it:
knit the sleeves first (this gives us a good āfeelā for the gauge)
knit the LEFT FRONT plain (I wouldnāt put motifs on both FRONTSā¦it would be overkill)
knit the BACK (we can view the āreal dealā and this helps us assess the look and size of all the motif possibilities)
knit the RIGHT FRONT, making a decision about what motifs to include in it; after knitting the entire BACK, weāll have a good āfeelā for the cable motifs; we can decide what parts of the cable motifs to extract from the chart and incorporate into the RIGHT FRONT; it could be something as simple as one flower, vine, and two leaves trailing up from the hem of the RIGHT FRONT!
join sleeves to body and knit the hood (or collar)
As I said in an earlier post, I am always fighting with the length of my sleeves. I am a 5ā gal, so my arms are proportionately shorter as well. Iām going to knit my sleeves just to 15" before starting the raglan shaping, put the sleeve stitches on waste yarnā¦and wonāt finish the sleeves til the LEFT FRONT and BACK are done. This will allow me to mock-seam (clip) the BACK, LEFT FRONT and half LEFT SLEEVE together for a āfittingā. By that try-on, Iāll know whether or not to leave the sleeve at 15" and start the raglan shaping at the armholesā¦or knit some more length to the sleeve.
This coat will be a very simple knit for the most part. By taking time to tinker around with such details as swatching, our sleeve length, try-on fittings, etcā¦we will ensure a good fitting coat!
It is rather fun to plan this coat, isnāt it? The modification possibilities are endless! Modifying the coat to suit our own body type and our own taste is interesting.
BTW, I am in the process of getting directions on how modify the coat to fit a bustier woman. I posted the issue over at the Rav group. Someone there has promised to post new directions (in the TWIST BLOG) for modifying the coat to fit a well-endowed bust.
I love the collar idea. I was hoping someone would come up with something other than the hood, and thanks for sharing, ArtLady. I am going to block my three swatches which I used 10,10/12 and 11 needles. I am certain it will indeed be the size 11 and then will start color-coding. I donāt think my printer will enlarge the chart sufficiently but will fiddle around and maybe it will. :woohoo:
Another idea for the plain FRONTS, and I saw this over at Ravelry SYLVO Group: Knit some pockets up, big squares or rectangles; stitch them onto SYVLI either the conventional mounting with the opening at the northā¦or a side mounting, with your hand entering from the side. We could embellish the front of the pocket with some I-cord stems, a couple of simple leaves, and maybe a small knitted flower.
