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tsarina
Chatty Knitter
USA
123 Posts |
 Posted - 07/06/2006 : 6:54:17 PM
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I'm so glad to have found this thread, as I was planning on purchasing this kit when in Copenhagen in a few weeks...should I??? Or is the pattern totally a pain-in-the-"you know what"??? I loved the shape, but really don't want to deal with a kit-from-hell......
I don't mind a challenge, but I want it to be fun..
Thanks! Elizabeth
Well behaved women rarely make history! |
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~bananaKnits~
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
516 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2006 : 5:21:44 PM
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Elizabeth, yes yes yes, it's a beautiful sweater! I love mine. The pattern is a bit getting used to but if you have problems there is plenty of us out there to help you out. Hanne
I know that I started this thread with my worst nightmare, but once I got over the initial hurdle it was smooth sailing. The problem I had at first is that I did not read the pattern carefully. I did not realize that the front panel had different "short row" count than the other panels. Once I figured that out it was just a lot of stitches and lots of short rows. There is a lady on the Falkenberg knitalong who actually created a spreadsheet for the Mermaid, if you have spreadsheet experience I suggest to do that. I just hand wroted each section and kept track row by row.
Now I'm knitting the Mermaid and I think I've "tuned" into Hanne's style of writing the pattern and it seems a lot easier.
Good luck.
Happy Knitting,
ana
http://bananaknits.blogspot.com/
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caroledward
Chatty Knitter
USA
142 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2006 : 06:26:46 AM
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Hi all;
Has anyone tried the Diva? I love this sweater but have been put off by all I hear about reading Hanne's patterns. Is the Diva as bad as the others? It looks like it might be a little easier. I would really like to hear about any experiences with this pattern.
Thanks
Carole |
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beth02116
Warming Up
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2006 : 08:34:33 AM
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I made DIVA- my first HF. I found the pattern pretty straight forward -after I read it MANY times. My only problem was - I ran out of yarn (making the largest size). I found after washing it it GREW and is now too big to wear. I would make again - but in a smaller size and make it longer- it really was too short to look good on me.
I have since made her Stella Beret (3 times!) and love the simplicity of it. Her patterns just take some thorough reading to understand at first- but all very logical. AND WORTH IT! I will buy another when i find a flattering style for my body type.
Enjoy! |
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Vanadia
Gabber Extraordinaire
Denmark
511 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2006 : 10:00:28 AM
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My experience after knitting DaCapo and Mermaid is to stop thinking, do exactly what the pattern tells you to and read to the END of the section. Her sizes and esp sleeves are a bit on the large side. Once you get used to her style of writing it is quite easy.
I guess part of the difficulty is that Scandinavian and American style of pattern writing is very different. Scandinavian patterns contains the necessary information to knit the pattern. It is quite common to find statements like "knit the left front like the first but reverse shapings".
American patterns are often very elaborate and spell everything out, so switching to minimalistic Scandinavian style may be difficult. |
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sydo
Chatty Knitter
USA
225 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2006 : 10:30:20 AM
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Has anyone knit LaStrada?? I am tempted but all the discussion about sizes and pattern difficulties has me hestitating.
If anyone has knit LaStrada, how difficult was the project, and how did you find the size when you finished.
I may not be up to this!
Sydo |
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sydo
Chatty Knitter
USA
225 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2006 : 10:35:47 AM
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Has anyone knit LaStrada?? I am tempted but all the discussion about sizes and pattern difficulties has me hestitating.
If anyone has knit LaStrada, how difficult was the project, and how did you find the size when you finished.
I may not be up to this!
Sydo |
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caroledward
Chatty Knitter
USA
142 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2006 : 09:50:11 AM
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Thanks Beth - maybe I will get brave and try the Diva. It doesn't sounds too intimidating and it looks easier than a lot of her other designs.
Carole
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Knitasha
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
355 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2006 : 12:37:53 PM
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Uh-oh.
I snapped up a Ballerina kit in the good-enough-to-eat
cyclamen/rust/mustard/blueberry colorway more than a year ago
on eBay, at a price so low I will not repeat it out of respect for weak hearts.
Gave the directions a swift once-over and, not having Amanda's quick eye for a poorly-written pattern, concluded it was going to be a relative cinch to make.
It's in the closet now, waiting for my early-October vacation, when I plan to launch the project.
Thanks to the heads-up from Petrova, Amanda et al, I now know I'd better do a rewrite first. Hope mine ends up nearly as handsome as Ana's.
Re the slipping-back problem: one way to counteract it is to fasten it with a big, heavy pin. And: does anyone remember the thin ribbon straps that used to be sewn into coats, especially furs, so that you could hang them off your shoulders glamorously, a la 30's movie stars, without having them land on the floor? I wonder if there's a way to adapt that idea to keeping a sweater on your shoulders? To be determined.... |
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Knitasha
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
355 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2006 : 12:42:30 PM
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Uh-oh.
I snapped up a Ballerina kit in the good-enough-to-eat
cyclamen/rust/mustard/blueberry colorway more than a year ago
on eBay, at a price so low I will not repeat it out of respect for weak hearts.
Gave the directions a swift once-over and, not having Amanda's quick eye for a poorly-written pattern, concluded it was going to be a relative cinch to make.
It's in the closet now, waiting for my early-October vacation, when I plan to launch the project.
Thanks to the heads-up from Petrova, Amanda et al, I now know I'd better do a rewrite first. Hope mine ends up nearly as handsome as Ana's.
Re the slipping-back problem: one way to counteract it is to fasten it with a big, heavy pin. And: does anyone remember the thin ribbon straps that used to be sewn into coats, especially furs, so that you could hang them off your shoulders glamorously, a la 30's movie stars, without having them land on the floor? I wonder if there's a way to adapt that idea to keeping a sweater on your shoulders? To be determined.... |
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momofgirls
New Pal
5 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2006 : 5:12:03 PM
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Oh boy, a good friend of mine just started "mermaid" from this collections, and she paid a "boat load" for it. I think I'll send her this way to see what you all are saying. I'll hold off with trying one any time soon!
yarn.needles.create.
http://www.fibre-yarns.com |
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gwtreece
Permanent Resident
USA
7254 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2006 : 05:51:09 AM
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I have been wanting to get Diva but have been hestitating. I think I just need to bite the bullet and get it.
Wanda
My Blog
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JGOLOSO
Gabber Extraordinaire
491 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2006 : 05:55:08 AM
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I don't think the directions are *that bad*....they are not super simple, but there is a Hanne Falkenberg knitalong online and there are lots of people there that can help you through the pattern. I started Mermaid awhile ago, but I put it down, because I was trying to knit it while commuting on the train and it is really not one of those things you can do on the train. So, I am hoping to pick it up again in the near future. I got lots of help from the knitalong, site, though. Lots of inspiration, too.
J. |
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~bananaKnits~
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
516 Posts |
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dschmidt
Permanent Resident
3920 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2006 : 11:32:40 AM
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So the second picture is you, right? Ballerina looks great in both pictures. I am hoping to get back to my Mermaid in the next couple of weeks.
Donna in VA |
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Mimi1007
New Pal
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2006 : 7:20:23 PM
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I'm just staring the Mermaid and am already having trouble deciphering the instructions. Does anybody know how many inches to knit the I-cord?? She just says to make it to fit the appropriate size! And it's the 1st step! I must be overlooking something because I don't think I'm that clueless. I'm making (or trying to make) the small, if that's any help, and am already feeling beaten by this project. HELP!!  |
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KathyR
Permanent Resident
New Zealand
2969 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2006 : 7:26:57 PM
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For the small size the cord needs to be at least 171 rows long. I would suggest that instead of counting each row as you knit it you could knit, say, 20 rows then measure to see how long it. You would then knit your cord at least 9 times the length you got for 20 rows.
Happy knitting!
KathyR
Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength. |
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Mimi1007
New Pal
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2006 : 7:32:38 PM
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| How did you figure that out? Thanks for the tip! |
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Mimi1007
New Pal
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2006 : 7:34:41 PM
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| Ah! You're making one row of I-cord for each st. to be picked up! Now I see how Hanne's devious mind works. |
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KathyR
Permanent Resident
New Zealand
2969 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2006 : 3:26:54 PM
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You've got it!  There is a Mermaid knitalong (I think it is the one mentioned on a previous page) which suggests that doing a provisional cast-on first then going back later and knitting on an attached I-cord is a neater way of starting off and better matches the other side. Your choice!
KathyR
Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength. |
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