Flint Knits

Okay, yes, the quality of these photos leaves something to be desired. Even more so than the sad pictures I usually get from my crappy little camera.

But I was so excited to finish Jarrett that I forced its poor recipient to pose for pictures at 6:00 am, in the dark, as he was getting ready to leave on a 12-hour road trip. I really wanted to get some snapshots (to prove I’d actually finished the thing), before he took off for Michigan and I didn’t see him or the sweater for 3 weeks. That said, I’m sure there will be another (reluctant) photo session one day, when there are elbow patches and natural light to make the whole thing prettier.

For now:

Modifications? First, I went down three sizes smaller than the pattern’s Small, but had to do so without shrinking the shoulders too much for recipient’s slender but dudely frame. Brooklyn Tweed’s post about this pattern was massively useful here, as I lifted his idea of knitting set-in sleeves from the top down. (Thank you, Barbara Walker!) After I did the math for the front and back pieces, I was saved many headaches by these two smartypantses — the sleeves look great and fit perfectly.

Also, at the giftee’s request, I only put a shoulder patch on the left side (the shoulder he carries his messenger bag on) instead of on both, and left off the bottom button and buttonhole. He also requested dark brown elbow patches instead of grey ones. I’ve yet to knit these, but I’m pretending this is a finished object anyway.

And instead of the suggested YO buttonholes, I used a tubular buttonhole, explained in wonderful detail by your friend and mine, Montse Stanley. I also tried out a tubular cast-off for the first time, which looks fab on the collar ribbing. I’m a big fan now — in fact, I went on to use the same bind-off on the cuff of my first Baudelaire sock.

And I’ve also become a big fan of Rowanspun, which is, of course, discontinued (why, Rowan? WHY?). It knits up just okay, but then blooms into the softest, most wonderful felty fabric. I still have 4 hanks left of the DK, and a full bag of Rowanspun Chunky is on its way to me from the UK right now. There is at least one geek-chic sweater-vest in my future.

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