Let's see

Right, well excuse the nightie and I must say it looks better size-wise on the photo than it does in real life. It's pinned together at the side seams rather than sewn. It's at the armholes that it's gaping but I suppose there is hope that it's wearable.

Look out for needle sizes!

Wish I'd spotted this sooner. On the pattern details it says requirements are:
4.5mm needles, 4.0mm dpns, 3.25 mm needles, cable needle and a 4mm crochet hook.
You turn the page and start knitting and it says 'using 5mm needles' ...... and then it uses 5mm needles throughout (well, as far as I have got anyway.) Later on, in the finishing it uses 4.5mm dpns (up a size again) for the cabling. Maybe this is why I am going to run out of black yarn? Because the pattern is using a size of needle up all the way through?

ETA: Just ordered my i-cord maker, some 4.5mm dpns and another ball of black from Angel Yarns.

Some more pics

More thrilling pics. I THINK the back hem is right, although I did it a few times, not believing it. It looks as if there is a tiny bit of red showing on the outside and the 7 rows of st.st. are turned INSIDE the jacket. I had a look at photos and it seems that is the case. I can't sew the hem until it's all sewn together so I have turned it over to show you. Our camera being what it is, you don't have to see the seams on the back (it's called Princess with 3 bits sewn together for shaping?) I like the sleeve. The sleeve I like :)

Still think I will run out of black, still think this is way too big but if you know me you will know I can't go back but would rather carry on regardless. One other thing about Cathay is that the ball keeps falling to bits, big lumps of yarn coming off the original ball and getting all tangled. You know I'm not an old hand and don't know what this is, just the slipperiness of it? I have had to rewind all the balls though to make them keep their shape.

Colouring

In order to help me decide what colours to use, I'm going to get out my coloured pencils (great idea, Seahorse!).

I traced the finished jacket on the Almost Felted site, and scanned it. It's not the greatest job of tracing that you'll ever see, but I think that it'll help me a lot with making up my mind!

A few hours, and many coloring pages later: I'm getting closer to deciding, and sticking pretty close to the original. I *think* I'll do it in black (01), red (03), gray (08) and blue (07). I reserve the right to be fickle, however. Thanks for the earlier link to Richard Sharpe. I've never heard of him before, but be still my beating heart!!!

I have my yarn!

Actually, the title is more than a little deceiving. I've finally decided what yarn to use - Cathay. After checking out many others, none seemed to fit the bill as well as Cathay. Now, the very hard decision as to what colours to use. I went to the yarn store today and purchased one ball of #03 red for swatching. I'm pretty sure that red will be in the jacket, so that's why I chose it. None of the blues that were in the store said "duck egg blue" to me. Can you tell me the number for duck egg blue?

I'm not convinced that I want white on my jacket, but maybe I do. I'll be glad when the decisions are made and I have the yarn in my hands so that I can start knitting. Off to swatch ....

Another finished example

I just added a link to the sidebar for another finished Sgt. P, by Anna in Finland. Check out the photoshopped picture too :-) I love the colours used in this one.

Just a quick poll of members too, how do you all feel about opening up comments to other Blogger users?

Yarn Choice?

I'm thinking about starting in the new few weeks and struggling with a yarn choice. Have any of you ever knit with Knit Picks' Andean yarn? It's tempting me, and the price is certainly right, but I'm wondering if it would have enough stability for a jacket? Will it pill? I'd be grateful for any opionions.
http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/itemid_5420126/yarn_display.aspx

I'm still considering Cathay, but I'm wondering about it being too thin and loose a fabric. I notice that the Alchemy yarn$, which is also used for this pattern, is heavier. What a dilemma! Do you like the Cathay and the way it's turning out for you? Would you choose that again for this project?

What's a knitter to do? *L*

Rock and roll!

These are fronts? Hehe, I don't get it. But I'm sure it will all become clear. Hope so anyway!









Now THIS is better. Ah, lovely hem. I love doing these now. It came as a shock when I did NBAT, but I have it now :) Anna is right, the knitting is quick. I want to wear this when it starts to get chilly again and the finishing will take 'til then I'm sure. I wish I could start the corset too Claire, but I will wait.