The last time I wrote about this (on May 28th) it was supposed to be on it’s way to another State, finished! I was going to wear it with some polished cotton *denim* trousers and black wedgies at a show.
It never made the runway…
Instead, it continues to be my Wheels-on-the-Bus-Go In-the-Round project! Almost done now, I’m on the las oh there I was typing last sleeve when really since there are never more than 2, the Second Sleeve.
For a long time I’ve avoided bringing my in-the-round projects on the road with me (which could be one of the reasons this one took longer to finish than others) because I don’t like the beating the entire sweater takes when it’s mobile.
Above you see my solution, found by accident, one day when the bus was really crowded and I had to hunker down in my 18 square inches of seating and get to it regardless of bulk. The sleeve was eased away from the folded sweater that stayed for the most part, in my satchel, and because I was knitting it Magic Loop style with a 29″ circular needle, I only had to flip the sleeve back and forth to knit a round. VOILA! This saved on wear-n-tear and tears because the sleeve didn’t get up and twisty on me like the little bast*rds* sometimes can…
A lady that was kitty-corner to me in the back row saw what I was doing and exclaimed: “You’re knitting a sweater in the round!”
She was an experienced hat and mitten knitter who was fluent with the double points but her exposure had not opened up to this part yet; she did not know you could knit a sweater in-the-round. YAY! And did I ever catch her enthusiasm!
“YES!” I blurted happily, “It’s in the round! And I’m knitting a sleeve!” This was perhaps the most excited I’ve ever been about knitting a sleeve, mainly because that sleeve was making someone else’s brain expand all happy like :)
You cannot ask for more, especially on the Bus…
I looked up from knitting on the highway the last weekend to see a youg female passenger looking at me with a HUGE smile – I think it was b/c I was knitting! I gave her a wave and we kept on going. It’s so fun to see one of “US” so very excited! Have a great holiday.
I just had to re-knit two sleeves to get the length right. Because it was a raglan sweater, I knit from just above the elbows, and had the whole bulk of the sweater on my lap. Although I was using dpn’s, at some point I realized the same thing you found — the sleeve could be turned back and forth, while the sweater stayed still. Much nicer experience.
There’s nothing like a little KIP to bring out the secret knitters around one, no?
I had a similar bus experience earlier this week – a woman saw me knitting and asked if I knew how to knit in the round. When I told her I did, she asked me how to start. I showed her how right there on the bus, and when she got off, she told me she was going home to immediately start a hat! That was the best bus ride I’ve had in a while!
Spot of sunshine in the daily grind =) I’ve got several knitting co-workers at work, one even spins — it’s such fun to share projects.
I have yet to meet a fellow knitter on the bus, just a crocheter. Socks are usually what I take on the bus and I always get comments on my knitting,mostly what is it?
Are you still on the 66 or does another line take you to work now?
I was wearing my new CeCe on the 66 on Thursday. Pictures on Ravelry soon.