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To catch a sleeve

One little sleeve, barely begun.

I have been anxious about this, the look and the details and the mechanics thereof, debating and dragging and second-guessing and tapdancing before starting. It seems, though, that no amount of acrobatics can get around the need to eventually cast on and knit - I'm told it's a step rather necessary in making a long-sleeve sweater - so I have.

And I really like it.

I think.

In the comments to this post, there were ten squintillion excellent suggestions on how to handle the sleeves, all of them enormously appealing and many of them things I'm planning to shamelessly gank for future projects. The main variables:

  • Belled forearms in pattern - this was my first instinct. I kept thinking about the austerely graceful sleeves of the Union Square pullover, thinking about how pretty and feminine and clean they looked. But then, I started thinking about the combination of ornate fabric and exaggerated shape, and started having nightmares of looking like a drunk Renaissance Festival attendee, flower garland askew and loudly telling everyone that my costume is "medieval, or baroque, or whatever." Nix.

  • Ditto an undersleeve of oatmeal under a generous patterned cuff.

  • Ditto belled forearms in oatmeal, with the added non-bonus of visual amputation.

  • Tapered, close-fitting cuffed sleeves - I almost went with this one, too; I really liked the idea of a shirt cuff closed with a button or even cufflinks, maybe with the sleeve patterned and the cuff in solid oatmeal. But that would have put me squarely into "shirtwaist" territory, and while as I type I'm thinking that would be a fun thing to interpret in knitting, this is not that project. Also: there are lots of triangles in the pattern, and while I don't generally think of myself as superstitious, that just seems kind of wrong.

So here's what I've got:

It'll be an almost completely straight sleeve, only an inch of difference between underarm and hem, the way jacket sleeves are cut. There's the key - this is such a firm fabric, constructed in such a structured way, suiting lines and seamstress details belong to it, not soft drape and movement. There will be a simple deep notch without overlap, edged at the opening with narrow turned-under hems of the camel color, which will also hem the sleeve itself. Depending on my mood during finishing, I might install hook-and-eyes in the slits to close them, or maybe just let them lie open. All this will echo the finishing for the colorwork portion of the body - the front bands in the colorwork section will be camel-colored (oatmeal in the welt) - and the slit is being planned for in the same way, with a narrow 4-stitch steek to be cut and then enclosed in the casing formed by the hem. Like I said, I like it.

I think.

Posted by Eunny on May 25, 2006 04:26 PM |

Comments

I'm not ordinarily given to hyperbole, but: please know that if you don't make the pattern for this exquisite jacket available for purchase, I will DIE.

Save me, Eunny!

Posted by: KarenB | May 25, 2006 05:35 PM

I really like the option you are going with now. I think the tailored designs works really well to balance the ornate patterned design.

Posted by: Kitty Kitty | May 25, 2006 05:44 PM

It sounds magnificent, and I cannot wait to see it finished.

Posted by: Leisl | May 25, 2006 05:52 PM

This is incredibly nice. Have you finalized your color choice yet?

Posted by: purrl | May 25, 2006 06:03 PM

Yes!

Posted by: nikki | May 25, 2006 06:21 PM

Perfect. I knew it would be, but now I can't wait to see it executed.

Posted by: Stephanie | May 25, 2006 06:46 PM

The sketch looks wonderful! I can't wait to see the result!

Posted by: kelly | May 25, 2006 08:28 PM

now tell the truth, you are professionally trained designer sketcher aren't you... they are so karl lagerfeld-ish beautiful!

Posted by: blossom | May 25, 2006 08:38 PM

Sounds perfect to me! Can't wait to see the finished jacket.

Posted by: ivete | May 25, 2006 08:45 PM

I see you design like I do. Start, and then let the work tell you what comes next. I can have a complete design worked out, and then halfway through I suddenly discover what it is really supposed to be. The important thing always is to cast on and let it develop.

Posted by: Virginia | May 25, 2006 10:55 PM

Every single day, I come to your blog expecting to be disappointed. I mean, not even the best knitters can crank out beautiful, wonderfully designed stuff time after time, can they??? Yes, they can - you never disappoint. Everything you design and knit is wonderful. I cannot wait to see the finished product!

Posted by: Sue M | May 25, 2006 11:02 PM

I like it too.

Posted by: Nadia | May 26, 2006 01:07 AM

awesome.

Posted by: steph | May 26, 2006 02:12 AM

Oh my, I just realized that I commented on the wrong post. That is, I commented on an older post when I meant to comment on your most recent one. I wrote this: "Might I just say that your photographs are incredible! I'm just starting up my own little knitting blog, and my photos aren't nearly as pretty because my camera is absolutely awful. How do you get your shots to work out so nicely? Do you use a light tent? What camera/ add-ons do you use? Thanks for any help you can offer!"

Keep up the wonderful work, your sweater is beautiful.

Posted by: Eve | May 26, 2006 08:46 AM

Perfection! Eunny, I'm begging for this pattern to be available for sale. I simply must knit one for myself.

Posted by: Zooks | May 26, 2006 09:32 AM

I am glad you keep the details simple and classy. Some of the suggestions offered gave me a shudder. Now, will the collar still be of the small pattern or will it be camel color? Anticipation!! vj

Posted by: vj | May 26, 2006 09:36 AM

The colors look so rich in this photo. Lovely.

Posted by: Angela | May 26, 2006 09:57 AM

I think following the influence of how suits are cut is really a wise choice. The fabric is so luxurious with colorwork that I think we, as viewers, don't have the best impression of how it's going to hang.

Now, a question: When you started doing colorwork on DPNs, how hard did you find it to keep your carryalong yarn loose enough over the joins between needles? No matter how loose I tell myself if needs to be, my fabric is puckering!

Posted by: Marianne | May 26, 2006 10:27 AM

I think you've chosen a good silhouette for the sleeve, one that won't interfere with the beautiful colorwork. I can't wait to see how the sleeves work out.

Posted by: rene | May 26, 2006 11:06 AM

You're such an awesome writer. I love it. And whatever you decide on will be perfect.

I think.

Posted by: Kenny | May 26, 2006 11:11 AM

Fabulous choice for the sleeves and thanks for sharing your thinking process it really helps me to learn more about garment construction. And I agree with the person who said she would die if you don't publish the pattern for this jacket. I'm getting seriously covetous of it, too.

Posted by: Shelly | May 26, 2006 12:32 PM

Perfect.

I know.

Posted by: Beebs | May 26, 2006 02:50 PM

Beautiful, I think your choice will work perfectly with the overall design. I, like Eve, would also be interested in learning about some of your photography details. Hmmm, maybe a new tutorial, "How to photograph your knitting"?

Posted by: E to the M | May 26, 2006 05:28 PM

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