Ganseys are all about knit/purl patterns, but we haven’t
really talked about them much since finishing the gauge swatch. Now, having
finished the waistband ribbing and the plain area, it was almost time to get
into the “meat” of this gansey, the textured patterns. First, I knit the
definition ridge, which separates the plain area from the patterns. I chose to use
a one-inch wide band of seed stitch. That finished, I finally was able to start the knit/purl patterns. The patterns I
chose to use were:
1. “Mary
Ann’s Stitch,” which we call double moss
2. Single
Garter Stitch rib (not true ribbing, since it does not pull in)
3. A
large diamond, filled with “Rice Stitch,” which we call single moss
4. A
large Tree of Life
All of those stitch patterns, and several others, were in my
gauge swatch (see Part 2). I chose them simply because I like how they look. I
plan to place a very large diamond below a very large tree of life, centered on
front and back. Very large motifs are not traditional. However, as some of you
have heard me say, more than once, “It’s my sweater, I am in charge.”
As mentioned previously, before starting to knit, I charted
the yoke of the sweater, beginning at the definition ridge. Not only does the
chart tell me how tall the make the plain area, it also tells me how many
stitches are in each panel. That is especially important so that the diamond
and tree of life are centered on the front and the back. This is one of those
cases where “centered” really means “perfectly centered.” Otherwise, it will just
look stupid.
Each front and back consists of the following:
·
3-stitch side “seam”
·
7-stitch panel of double moss
·
16-stitch cable column
·
15-stitch single garter stitch rib
·
16-stitch cable column
·
47-stitch stockinette panel (with single moss
diamond below a tree of life)
·
16-stitch cable column
·
15-stitch single garter stitch rib
·
16-stitch cable column
·
7-stitch panel of double moss
I am currently about 1 ½ inches above the definition ridge.
Here are some photos:
 |
|
The body, smashed on to its 24-inch circular needle. From the
bottom; ribbing – plain area – definition ridge – knit/purl patterns. The cable
columns cut through ribbing and definition ridge.
|
 |
|
A better look at the initials (RGB).
|
 |
|
Double moss stitch panels just above definition ridge (seed
stitch), either side of the 3-stitch side “seam.”
|
 |
|
Single garter stitch rib, above definition ridge (seed
stitch).
|
 |
|
Lower point of large single moss filled diamond, above
definition ridge.
|
All of this, written out like I have done above, makes it
sound terribly complicated. In fact, it is fun to knit and doesn’t take too
much concentration. I just “read my knitting” for each panel, knit it, and
“read” the next. It is going surprisingly quickly. In another ½ inch, I will
start increasing at the underarm gussets, which we will discuss next time.
Until then, happy knitting!