Knitting Nature - Norah Gaughan

Ram's Horn Jacket ... the knitty details.

Pattern : Knitting Nature – Norah Gaughan

Design : Ram’s Horn Jacket

Size : Small (which is very roomy)

Yarn : Bendigo Rustic – colour Peppercorn

Needles : Addi Circulars - 4mm (front bands) 4.5mm (hems) 5mm (body)

Gauge : changed needle sizes to obtain exact gauge

Knitting / construction suggestions :

Hems – do not knit together as this causes bulk. Loosely slip stitch in place before blocking.

Front Bands – knit them at the same time as the fronts, unless you are a pro at mattress stitch. Knitty.com gives an excellent example.

Suggestions on obtaining a professional finish to your garment :

Block, block, block your garment before sewing together, especially the turned hems. The hems need to be blocked well so that they will lay flat.

Pattern Alterations :

Body of garment - no alternations

Sleeves : shortened 5cm (2”)

Collar :
Establish Pattern : Rows 1-26 – no change.
Short row shaping : Rows 1–8 – no change.

The problem ::: *Repeat rows etc …

After many days of frustration and trying various ways to make this work (the errata’s are incorrect ! ! !), the only solution I found was to :

My solution :::

Repeat rows 1-8 until there are 50sts on either side of the markers, 14 Openwork Stitches in between, giving a total of 114sts on needle.

Continue working stocking stitch and Openwork Stitches, without further shaping, until work fits snugly around neckline – this includes the bands. (Fold work over to form your collar and stretch slightly. I suggest this as when you block the collar you will gain some length. After blocking, I did not stretch the collar onto the neckline).

You are fitting your collar from the beginning and end of your front bands. I’ve noticed on some completed RHJ that the collar does not extend over the front bands. I think it needs to. My collar measured 68.5cm (27”) and was very easy to attach.

Now here is another change I made. I did not like the way the collar gapped open at the front when folded and attached to the neckline. It looked fine on the model, but not in real life.

Once I had the length I required (knitted on a circular), I folded my knitting (still on the circular) with the wrong sides together and with another needle, followed the final instructions by knitting two stitches together as one, to give the rolled edge on the collar, closing the end of the collar so that it did not flap open when worn. This of course is optional, but I like it and it sits better too.

I used Mattress Stitch on all seams and also to attach the collar. I attached the underside of the collar first, then the outsider, which gave a good result. Both sides look good.

It matters to me.

There you go … all done!

Ram's Horn Jacket - Norah Gaughan ...

RHJ collar as per instructions (sort of!)

Almost done!

Thought it was time for a progress post on RHJ.

RHJ should have been finished by now, but the collar instructions leave a lot to be desired. On cruising the net I’ve discovered there have been people who have not only had problems, but even abandoned this knit because of the collar and the collar is what makes this garment.

As you can see RHJ is almost complete. The front bands have been knitted, but not attached as yet as this is another bug-bear with the design. The bands should have been knitted at the same time to alleviate bulkiness and the sewing on of the bands – would have been much neater, but I decided to knit the pattern as per the instructions … will not be a great drama.

To have progressed this far with the collar is a milestone, in as much as I have really just taken the bull (in this case the ram) by the horn and knitted what I have thought to be correct.

Searching and finding several errata instructions (which by the way some are still not correct!!!), I discovered the length the collar/horn was to measures for my size, but there is no way the collar will fit around the neckline and sit as shown in the photo.

The other problem with the collar is that there is no schematic. There is for the body of the garment, but not the collar … disappointing.

So, what to do … well, keep on knitting until the collar sits around the neckline as shown in the photo. Oh, the collar does resemble a ram’s horn too.

I don’t want this post to be taken out of text. All I am documenting here is there is a fatal problem with the collar instructions as well as the erratas issued, but, that’s not really a problem …. is it? What happens when there’s a problem with a pattern? You rewrite it of course!

So it is.

I have rewritten the pattern and will post it to my blog when I’ve completed RHJ, so that any poor soul that falls in love with this fabulous design will hopefully stumble upon Knit Avenue and be able to complete their RHJ without hesitation.

I’m still hopeless in love with this design.

Norah Gaughan’s designs are beautiful and distinctive - a little matter of pattern confusion shouldn’t put anyone off knitting these designs.

All is forgiven ... knit on!

Hanne Falkenberg Kit - Plisse

After much agonizing whether to purchase this kit, I’ve finally made the decision and will soon have Hanne kit to add to my many and varied experiences – as I hear they are an experience to knit.

I’ve chosen colour 47 – Sea Blue, which in itself was a task as my inclination was to order green, but as I’m knitting RHJ in green, another colour had to be selected. To my knowledge, there are no Hanne shade cards available - making a choice is almost impossible -so it’s fingers crossed that Sea Blue will be okay.

There has been much talk of the Hanne patterns in the way they are written, but most people seem to get through them, with a little help at times, and still end up with a great result. Bearing this in mind, I will no doubt be plodding my way through the knit, eagerly searching for other like minded souls to share the experience.

Any takers?

There is a Hanne Knitalong, so will join that at some stage, but not anticipating knitting the kit for a few months. This will be a winter 2008 garment as I have no hope in knitting it this season.

Ram’s Horn Jacket
Knitting has slowed this week as I’ve had other commitments which have taken me away from my knitting altogether. This weekend will see my time freeing up again and anticipate knitting the collar, blocking, sewing and wearing RHJ by the end of next week.