Pattern: Indigo Ripples skirt, by Kat Coyle
Source: Interweave Knits Spring 2007
Yarn: Rowan Denim #229, 9 skeins
Needles: US5/3.75mm
Start-to-end: 13 May 2007 - 11 June 2007
Modifications: Quite a few, actually. This project had been in my queue since I received the issue of Interweave Knits that contained the pattern. Still, it wasn't until I saw Eunny's version that I really had to make it. I actually began the project with Eunny's modifications in mind, but made some of my own changes as I went.
I didn't include the purl row below the waistband. I thought I would prefer not to have the purl ridge. Now, I wish I had included it. I, also, wish I'd used smaller needles, perhaps US4/3.5mm. It fits very well as it is and the stitches are very tight, but I think it could stand to be more slimmer fitting.
I knitted the stockinette portion approximately 15 inches long, rather than 12 inches. I plan on wearing this skirt to work this summer, so I definitely wanted the lace portion to begin lower on my thighs. Also, I wanted the ruffles to fall below my knees.
When I started the lace portion, I used the mirrored double decreases which Eunny used: sssk and k3tog. But, by the 5th round, I really did not like how the stitches looked--somewhat bumpy and loose and, to my eye, not quite symmetric. Also, both sssk and k3tog require knitting 3 sts together, which I thought was really awkward to do (and produced loose sts). So, instead of sssk I used sl1, k2tog, psso as described in the pattern. And, instead of k3tog, I used ssk, sl st to left ndl, pass second st over first st on left ndl, sl st to right ndl. Did that make sense? Is there a name for this stitch? I think this stitch is a mirrored version to the sl1, k2tog, psso stitch.
I was actually really frustrated with the magazine photos for a time because I could not tell if my (uncorrected) stitches matched the photo or not. Don't you think it was rather blurred?
I think when I started this project I posted that I could finish it easily in a week. haha That definitely didn't happen and I don't know why I keep insisting that I can finish things by a certain time, when I know it never happens! I have to say that the longest portion to knit up, of this entire skirt, was the ruffled edge. YES. That 1.5 inch, that very last part, took the most time and attention ever. Why?
I really thought it would be no sweat, I could scrunch those 500+ sts onto my 24inch needles. Ten rows are nothing. Then, at the end of the 5th round (where you do the k2tog and yo shapings) I realized I had one extra stitch. Somewhere among those 500+ sts squeezed ever so tightly onto my needles, I had missed a yo pair. There was no way I could track this down on these needles. (Neurotic, me?) So, I went and got a longer pair of needles. Transferred the stitches. Ah, the ease of knitting on longer needles. I actually managed to track down the error. I resumed knitting.
Of course, somewhere between that mistake and the end of the round, I made... another mistake. This time, much easier to track down. I think I must have counted my stitches a billion times to double check. haha But, one and a half skeins of yarn later, I was finished. Yes. The ruffle, by itself, requires an entire skein; and the picot bind-off, another half skein! But, now I have an awesome skirt... and a pair of blue bamboo needles! haha
The only downside, yes there is one--I don't have a washer or dryer. I do not trust this with the local wash-n-fold (they're pretty harsh on our clothes). So, even after I handwashed and dried it, I don't really consider it blocked yet. It probably still needs to shrink some more... I wonder if my neighbors will let me use their dryer... *wink*
