My father worked with Leavers lace machines in Nottingham UK. He also took the family to Greece, and then Uruguay to set up machines out there. That was before I was born, but I remember visiting the factory in our home town. The machines were vast, running the length of the factory floor, and the jacquard punch cards sat at one end. The noise was tremendous/ responsible, I suspect , for my Dads deafness as he grew older. This was in the 1970’s, and I guess the machines have now been broken up- such a shame. How often we don’t know what we had until it’s gone. The only things I have left is a set of bellows used for blowing excess graphite dust off the machines, and the factory clock.
Do you know how heartening it is for us to hear you lament the difficulties of balancing everything to complete the cardigan? Your philosophical and good humoured take on this conundrum is hugely uplifting for those of us who do more thinking than knitting. Tks Roxanne!
I love what you’re doing with the buttons! But what I love even more, is the fact that you have decided that enough is enough on your reverse engineered sweater. You being true to what works best for you. Roxanne that sends a very powerful message to us all. I know exactly how your brain works. I wish mine did the same, lol but I’m blessed with a great teacher. I’m getting older and tired and I’m not sure I want to design my own sweater but I find everything you share with us not only extremely informative but very inspiring! Retirement is coming soon so one never knows! Thank you for sharing your expertise and everything else you do with us. Have a wonderful week!💞
As always, you have a thoroughly interesting and informative tour of your progress this week. I am an experienced knitter but have never even thought of designing my own sweater. BUT, somehow your videos have increasing encouraged me you try this process. Who knows I might just give it a go. Thanks so much for sharing your journey in such an engaging way.
I'd have never have thought of stacking buttons...clever idea, Roxanne👍I admire your persistence with the reverse engineered cardi. We lesser mortals might have given up ages ago😄
You have probably finished your button band by now but I thought I would still weigh in. I agree with many that the 2x2 ribbing perpendicular to the sweater is my first choice. I also think that the way you have stacked the buttons is brilliant and that they suit the sweater perfectly. I really enjoy your podcasts and they have encouraged me to cast on another sweater for myself!
I had good luck on one wavy band I didn’t want to reknit by putting it in hot water and hand agitating it to shrink and slightly felt it. I liked the firmness it created and didn’t even need to grosgrain it.
I put together a spreadsheet of my own for my shawl in fingering weight yarn and chuckled when I realized my total stitch counts is about the same as your sweater (just under 45k). I just hit my 50% mark! I really like the stitch motiff you choose.
Sorry to hear you’re frustrated w the reverse engineered sweater. I particularly love it and think the visual of the vertical button band is classy and blends well with the cables. It seems to me a 2x2 rib would be too busy, not so logical. But you’ve got the waviness dilemma - have you considered double knitting it? Lucy Neatby has an innovative buttonhole technique on double knitting with a very nice finish. Love all you do to provide us with interesting info and inspiration!! Thank you
For a similar neckband to the brioche one, have you considered doing a double knit neckband? The designer PetiteKnit uses one for her Champagne cardigan. There are videos on her website showing the technique of the neckband as well as the buttonholes. Whatever you do, you still created a beautiful cardigan.
Thanks for another great episode, Roxanne! It's always great to see your projects develop. Do you have a video about your spreadsheet? Ummm.... how exactly does one create one of these? You always refer to yours, and I want to know how to do it, too! Keep well!
I did segments on spreadsheets in several previous Casual Friday episodes. ua-cam.com/video/gtXrZ-DEQ04/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/rz-ZTPNouU0/v-deo.html.
Now this "diamond" sweater design would be a GREAT knit-a -long project. You could consider maybe devoting one podcast to the beginning and ideas included in a KAL. After that, it could just be a component of your Friday or Tuesday podcast, to answer FAQs by the KAl participants and maybe talk about your progress and show photos of projects. I really like KSALs, but have only done one so far.
The last few episodes have been so interesting! I bought “Knitting Without Tears” in about 1980 after seeing a b & w Elizabeth Zimmerman show on Iowa public television. She was so engaging that I will never forget how long it seemed to take for the book to arrive in the mail. By then the series had ended but I could hear her voice talk to me as I read her book. I made several sweaters following her instructions. Thank you for a trip down memory lane!
I wonder if you measured the size of the blocked brioche knit and compared it to the size of the regular blocked knit stitch you could then use the ratio to determine the pick up ratio? Say the brioche stitch is 3x as large as the regular stitch, then use the pick up rate of 1:3?
Yes, that would be the same procedure as the one I used when I hadn't blocked it. The row gauges were the same when laid flat, but each changed in different ways when hanging. So there was an issue with getting that ratio right, but also the issue of the brioche needing to be knit more firmly, being washed, and then needing a buttonhole knit on those smaller needles that would produce a buttonhole big enough.
Great episode! I'm so excited to see you talk about Jacqueline Fee's book! Love it. I also love starting new projects and that rush you feel! The 70's sweater looks great!!
As you attach the buttons, you might want to seriously consider adding a button *on the wrong side* to support their weight so that they don't droop like an old man's mustache. To get the best results, I teach my students to sew through the entire "sandwich" ~ comprised of: front button + button band + back button ~ treating the 3 'ingredients' as one. I use this method on *every* cardigan/jacket I knit; I find the sweater wears better (longevity) and holds its shape. I prefer this method to Mom and Grandma's method of adding a stabilizer to the front band; while the "ribbon trick" might look great for Easter morning, it is usually sagging by Mother's Day.
Hi Roxanne, it's really interesting to hear you think through design problems, and relatable! There's something I've been wondering, e.g., how it's recommended to use 2 sizes smaller for brioche - how do you account for the fact that the difference between sizes is not consistent? Down 2 sizes could mean 0.5mm smaller or 1.0mm smaller or something else depending on the size you're starting from. Do you have any general strategies? (of course, swatching it out is always a good strategy)
Proportionally, the size difference will be reasonable, regardless. Also, you might swatch with several different needles to see which fabric you like best.
Also think the Brioche looks okay but accept you are closer to it and can also feel it. Assuming you go ahead and change it, I think the 1 x1 rib would look much better than the picked up 2x2- much closer in appearance to the original. The vertical appearance is essential for the overall look, I think. Either way, you have made a fabulous job of your version of a loved garment.
It’s too bad you are giving up on the button band but I get it for sure. My opinion was to add more buttons on the sweater. It’s a pretty heavy sweater to only have a few. Love the stacked effect. It’s tough to get that frustrated but you are in the home stretch. 🇨🇦🧶
My father worked with Leavers lace machines in Nottingham UK. He also took the family to Greece, and then Uruguay to set up machines out there. That was before I was born, but I remember visiting the factory in our home town. The machines were vast, running the length of the factory floor, and the jacquard punch cards sat at one end. The noise was tremendous/ responsible, I suspect , for my Dads deafness as he grew older. This was in the 1970’s, and I guess the machines have now been broken up- such a shame. How often we don’t know what we had until it’s gone. The only things I have left is a set of bellows
used for blowing excess graphite dust off the machines, and the factory clock.
Do you know how heartening it is for us to hear you lament the difficulties of balancing everything to complete the cardigan? Your philosophical and good humoured take on this conundrum is hugely uplifting for those of us who do more thinking than knitting. Tks Roxanne!
Yeah, I don't think it does anyone any good (me, included) to pretend that knitting doesn't present challenges, even to the very experienced!
I think the 2x2 button band will look good and I love how you did the stacked button. It looks fabulous.
I love what you’re doing with the buttons! But what I love even more, is the fact that you have decided that enough is enough on your reverse engineered sweater. You being true to what works best for you. Roxanne that sends a very powerful message to us all. I know exactly how your brain works. I wish mine did the same, lol but I’m blessed with a great teacher. I’m getting older and tired and I’m not sure I want to design my own sweater but I find everything you share with us not only extremely informative but very inspiring! Retirement is coming soon so one never knows! Thank you for sharing your expertise and everything else you do with us. Have a wonderful week!💞
As always, you have a thoroughly interesting and informative tour of your progress this week. I am an experienced knitter but have never even thought of designing my own sweater. BUT, somehow your videos have increasing encouraged me you try this process. Who knows I might just give it a go. Thanks so much for sharing your journey in such an engaging way.
I love how you “Doubled” the button itself. I’ve never seen that done. Genius!
Your observations and techniques to get better outcomes in the finished garment is what I like very much. Thank you.
Live in Edinburgh, spent a week in Shetland at the beginning of the month, knitters paradise! ❤
I'd have never have thought of stacking buttons...clever idea, Roxanne👍I admire your persistence with the reverse engineered cardi. We lesser mortals might have given up ages ago😄
I think ur brioche buttonband looks great..Leave it!
Thanks Roxanne, the information in your podcasts is so enjoyable.
You have probably finished your button band by now but I thought I would still weigh in. I agree with many that the 2x2 ribbing perpendicular to the sweater is my first choice. I also think that the way you have stacked the buttons is brilliant and that they suit the sweater perfectly. I really enjoy your podcasts and they have encouraged me to cast on another sweater for myself!
Do hope you get your sweater sorted. It is good to see that problems can occur even for the most experienced. 🇬🇧
I’d go with 1x1 rib button band. It’s firmer, will match up row by row, and looks like the brioche.
I had good luck on one wavy band I didn’t want to reknit by putting it in hot water and hand agitating it to shrink and slightly felt it. I liked the firmness it created and didn’t even need to grosgrain it.
I put together a spreadsheet of my own for my shawl in fingering weight yarn and chuckled when I realized my total stitch counts is about the same as your sweater (just under 45k). I just hit my 50% mark! I really like the stitch motiff you choose.
Giving away my age, you reminded me I have the original Jacqueline Fee book! Looks like lots of reading and experimenting to do!
Thanks
You're welcome!
Sorry to hear you’re frustrated w the reverse engineered sweater. I particularly love it and think the visual of the vertical button band is classy and blends well with the cables. It seems to me a 2x2 rib would be too busy, not so logical. But you’ve got the waviness dilemma - have you considered double knitting it? Lucy Neatby has an innovative buttonhole technique on double knitting with a very nice finish. Love all you do to provide us with interesting info and inspiration!! Thank you
Love the stacked button, whatever you choose it will be beautiful Roxanne! I just love Franklin Habit !
I really like the stacked buttons. That's what I guessed you would be doing. I can think of some cool applications for that look!
For a similar neckband to the brioche one, have you considered doing a double knit neckband? The designer PetiteKnit uses one for her Champagne cardigan. There are videos on her website showing the technique of the neckband as well as the buttonholes. Whatever you do, you still created a beautiful cardigan.
Thanks for another great episode, Roxanne! It's always great to see your projects develop.
Do you have a video about your spreadsheet? Ummm.... how exactly does one create one of these? You always refer to yours, and I want to know how to do it, too!
Keep well!
I did segments on spreadsheets in several previous Casual Friday episodes. ua-cam.com/video/gtXrZ-DEQ04/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/rz-ZTPNouU0/v-deo.html.
I love your stacked buttons! They are perfect for that cardigan.
Now this "diamond" sweater design would be a GREAT knit-a -long project. You could consider maybe devoting one podcast to the beginning and ideas included in a KAL. After that, it could just be a component of your Friday or Tuesday podcast, to answer FAQs by the KAl participants and maybe talk about your progress and show photos of projects. I really like KSALs, but have only done one so far.
I have "knitting from the top" as my leisure reading , determined to learn how to knit sweaters . Will look for sweater workshop , used if I can
There's a Tutorial on UA-cam for the way you think you may do the band. It's your one, I have used it and it works well.
The last few episodes have been so interesting! I bought “Knitting Without Tears” in about 1980 after seeing a b & w Elizabeth Zimmerman show on Iowa public television. She was so engaging that I will never forget how long it seemed to take for the book to arrive in the mail. By then the series had ended but I could hear her voice talk to me as I read her book. I made several sweaters following her instructions. Thank you for a trip down memory lane!
I wonder if you measured the size of the blocked brioche knit and compared it to the size of the regular blocked knit stitch you could then use the ratio to determine the pick up ratio? Say the brioche stitch is 3x as large as the regular stitch, then use the pick up rate of 1:3?
Yes, that would be the same procedure as the one I used when I hadn't blocked it. The row gauges were the same when laid flat, but each changed in different ways when hanging. So there was an issue with getting that ratio right, but also the issue of the brioche needing to be knit more firmly, being washed, and then needing a buttonhole knit on those smaller needles that would produce a buttonhole big enough.
Great episode! I'm so excited to see you talk about Jacqueline Fee's book! Love it. I also love starting new projects and that rush you feel! The 70's sweater looks great!!
As you attach the buttons, you might want to seriously consider adding a button *on the wrong side* to support their weight so that they don't droop like an old man's mustache.
To get the best results, I teach my students to sew through the entire "sandwich" ~ comprised of: front button + button band + back button ~ treating the 3 'ingredients' as one.
I use this method on *every* cardigan/jacket I knit; I find the sweater wears better (longevity) and holds its shape. I prefer this method to Mom and Grandma's method of adding a stabilizer to the front band; while the "ribbon trick" might look great for Easter morning, it is usually sagging by Mother's Day.
Hi Roxanne, it's really interesting to hear you think through design problems, and relatable!
There's something I've been wondering, e.g., how it's recommended to use 2 sizes smaller for brioche - how do you account for the fact that the difference between sizes is not consistent? Down 2 sizes could mean 0.5mm smaller or 1.0mm smaller or something else depending on the size you're starting from. Do you have any general strategies? (of course, swatching it out is always a good strategy)
A few minutes later I have another question :) what software do you use for charting out patterns like the diamonds?
Proportionally, the size difference will be reasonable, regardless. Also, you might swatch with several different needles to see which fabric you like best.
Stitchmastery
Also think the Brioche looks okay but accept you are closer to it and can also feel it. Assuming you go ahead and change it, I think the 1 x1 rib would look much better than the picked up 2x2- much closer in appearance to the original. The vertical appearance is essential for the overall look, I think. Either way, you have made a fabulous job of your version of a loved garment.
Actually, in my mind's eye picture, your idea of the knit one purl one ribbing looks fantastic
Great episode
Thanks for sharing that even you, master knitter, don't always measure gauge correctly.
Tomorrow I’ll start on my homework.
Thank you for mentioning The Sweater Workshop. I was fortunate to find it at Amazon as an e-book!
It’s too bad you are giving up on the button band but I get it for sure. My opinion was to add more buttons on the sweater. It’s a pretty heavy sweater to only have a few. Love the stacked effect. It’s tough to get that frustrated but you are in the home stretch. 🇨🇦🧶
You sure do pack in a lot of stuff in 30 minutes! Always so interesting, thanks. 🧶