I tend to get very excited when I start a new project. The enthusiasm tends to wan when I realise that there are going to be lots of finishing to do.
Intarsia is a bit like that. It's fascinating watching the motifs grow, but downright scary when you see the amount of finishing required.
Rowanette Wendy was right in pointing out that some tweaking can be done to make this a more 'intarsia friendly design', so I've done a bit of swiss darning to reduce the number of joins.
I'm making the 4-5 yo size, so that my nephew can get a little extra wear out of it. If you do make this sweater in the 4-5 yo size, buy extra yarn in the main colour, I'm thinking that you're going to need at least 1 extra ball, possibly 2.
Although I had substituted the the Rowan glacé with Jaeger Aqua (similar type of yarn with similar meterage), I bought 5 balls instead of 4 to compensate for the slightly better meterage on the glacé. I am knitting to tension, but I think I'm going to need another ball to finish it, maybe another 2 balls. OK, maybe I'm a bit wasteful, by joining at the seams and chopping up bit of yarn for the intarsia, but the yarn quantiities should be sufficient for this.
Intarsia patterns are supposed to estimate higher yarn quantities to cover for this. Back in the days when I was less of a wimp and did not realise that intarsia was supposed to be something difficult or fiddly, I used to intarse(?)regularly and have tons of yarn left over from each project. With this one, the only left-overs are the colour from the motif, not the background. (Intarsia does improve with practice and patience, but as you can see, I'm still a bit rusty)
Anyway, to keep me strong, I've found a few other knitters that have finished this sweater. See, it's always good to keep my eyes on the goal.
Knits and Grits
2 Boys Mamma
All this by hand
Who knows, I might even decide to do the embroidery, even if it means more ends to sew in.
Posted by atu at January 9, 2007 10:15 PM | TrackBackHey, thanks for linking to me! Jacob loves his sweater, which makes all that weaving in worth it. The embroidery really makes the design, too! I really love the pattern, and many others in the book as well.
Can't wait to see your final sweater! It will look great!
Bringing back somewhat frustrated memories. Your intarsia is beautiful, much better than mine! Of course, that was my first ever intarsia, so I will give myself an allowance there. I can't wait to see yours finished--it's shaping up so nicely!
Posted by: katie at January 12, 2007 04:45 PMWow, how do you get your tension so even with intarsia? My tension looks absolutely horrid in intarsia, so I avoid it ... and other colorwork such as Fair Isle. Can't wait to see the finished sweater :)
Posted by: Dina at January 12, 2007 12:47 PMThat is an adorable sweater! I guess I'm a bit odd, in that I actually like weaving in ends. And no, you can't send me yours to do!
Posted by: Leanne at January 12, 2007 11:27 AMHa, intarse should definitely be a word! Sorry to be late to the party commenting on the W+R mitts - yours look lovely. Very ladylike. I am on my third pair, which is still not for me! And I have another pair "on order" before I can even think about starting the ones for me. Good job they're so nice and quick to knit. Sorry to hear you had trouble with the angora - if you want to make some more, I used Posh Yarns Sophia 2-ply cashmere, which is lovely and soft and you can get 2 pairs out of 1 skein - bargain! (I promise I am not on commission!)
Posted by: tricia at January 12, 2007 10:43 AMThe pattern is cute! But yes, you have lots of finishing to do with intarsia. Somehow I think I have overcome this and just finish them instead of moaning over them ... that is if the project is something I really love. :)
Posted by: Agnes at January 11, 2007 06:23 PMAwww, isn't that adorable! Good luck weaving in all the ends; you'll be done before you know it.
Posted by: Lazuli at January 11, 2007 05:40 PMForgot to say... I needed an extra ball of the main colour too, even though I put a large lorry motif on the back as well....
xx
Posted by: Wendy P at January 11, 2007 08:31 AMIt looks lovely, Polly. And Lucinda Guy did a great job with this pattern, because it looks fabulous on every little person wearing one!
I really must be some kind of weirdo, because I don't mind sewing the ends in. Yet I couldn't bring myself to do the embroidery to finish it off. So I'm weird, but not a perfectionist :-)
Posted by: Wendy P at January 11, 2007 08:29 AMGet darning, girl, those are nothing! I know you will darn along the joins so it looks good from the back too.
My DS has a heart for diggers too, I suppose I should teach him to say tracked excavator in my professional capacity. I have a tractor sweater just onto the needles ATM.
Posted by: Sam at January 10, 2007 08:33 PMThe sweater is so cute even with all of the ends.
Posted by: Wanda in AR at January 10, 2007 08:06 PMAll those ends! But it's irresistably cute so I think it will be worth it :)
Posted by: Peggy at January 10, 2007 08:05 PMIts fabulous Polly, its so nice to find a great little boys jumper pattern.
Posted by: yvette at January 10, 2007 07:01 PMHmmm, what is the verb form for intarsia...does one intarserate? make or do or commit intarsia? Lovely work, though I nearly fainted when I saw those ends.
Posted by: Juls at January 10, 2007 06:50 PMLittle kids love bright colors, so I'm sure the eyestrain will be worth it in the end! ;-)
I've never tried intarsia, but those pirate argyle socks over at Moth Heaven really tempt me.
Posted by: Beth S. at January 10, 2007 06:06 PMThat's a lot of ends. A LOT a lot. But hey, steam shovels are completely worth it, right?
Posted by: Emily at January 10, 2007 03:41 PMHi! I love the sweater. Your's is looking fabulous! It would be perfect for my nephew who loves construction equipment. What book does it come in?
Posted by: Liz at January 10, 2007 03:04 PMScarey ends but a gorgeous sweater! I love the pattern book that it comes from but have yet to knit from it.
Posted by: Lin at January 10, 2007 02:07 PMCute, cute. I just did a colorwork hat (not intarsia, but stranded) and I vowed to weave in ends as I went along.
It worked for the first two color changes, then I got too excited to finish the hat to keep up with it.
Guess what I have to do this morning....
Posted by: jessie at January 10, 2007 10:53 AMI love the design, but all those ends are making me feel a little faint!
Posted by: Mary at January 10, 2007 09:47 AMI am not worthy! Intarsia too now!! ;-)
Posted by: Jacinta at January 10, 2007 07:42 AMThe sweater looks like it is coming along nicely. I definately don't envy you the weaving in...
Posted by: Shelley at January 10, 2007 12:53 AMUggh, you didn't have to show me that one! Even though it is intarsia and I definitely don't love the idea of knitting that, I am considering making one. My nephew is almost 2 and this would be so cute on him, awww! I think I need to be a good auntie and suck it up, right?! Yours looks great and the embroidery will really make it, although I'm lazy and think that wouldn't happen with me. (heehee)
Posted by: Wanda at January 9, 2007 11:33 PMI love that sweater, in spite of all those ends! :) Look forward to seeing it done!
Posted by: jess at January 9, 2007 11:19 PM