Comments on: my third sweater: planning the button band http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/ (p.s. I now have comments, yay.) Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:58:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: MontanaJen http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155704 MontanaJen Thu, 08 May 2008 16:36:02 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155704 Yeah - I'm loving the wide band. I'm so glad you made this, as the CPH is in my queue for next time. I'm sweater stalking you - making the Ribby Cardi right now. Would you mind doing Sitcom Chic next? ;) I agree with the other commenters, eight buttons may be too many, but six too few. Seven seems like a good compromise. Yeah - I'm loving the wide band. I'm so glad you made this, as the CPH is in my queue for next time.

I'm sweater stalking you - making the Ribby Cardi right now. Would you mind doing Sitcom Chic next? ;)

I agree with the other commenters, eight buttons may be too many, but six too few. Seven seems like a good compromise.

]]> By: megan http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155703 megan Thu, 08 May 2008 16:35:46 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155703 Rebecca - Not to worry, I didn't think you were calling me a scardy cat, but I realize I didn't explain why I decided to go ahead and do a seam I was familiar with. But I do want to learn grafting, and had planned to use it for the hood here. Just ran out of time since I need to be a bit careful with my button band since I cannot block it. This is a time consuming effort, let me tell you. Rebecca - Not to worry, I didn't think you were calling me a scardy cat, but I realize I didn't explain why I decided to go ahead and do a seam I was familiar with. But I do want to learn grafting, and had planned to use it for the hood here. Just ran out of time since I need to be a bit careful with my button band since I cannot block it. This is a time consuming effort, let me tell you.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155696 Rebecca Thu, 08 May 2008 16:13:53 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155696 Ack! Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you in particular were scared of grafting! In fact, after following your adventures in sweater knitting, I've been very inspired by your approach and exploration of different techniques to get the job done in the best way for you. I know a woman who will rip out half a sweater to get the perfect fit is a woman with no knitting fear! Ack! Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you in particular were scared of grafting! In fact, after following your adventures in sweater knitting, I've been very inspired by your approach and exploration of different techniques to get the job done in the best way for you. I know a woman who will rip out half a sweater to get the perfect fit is a woman with no knitting fear!

]]> By: megan http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155679 megan Thu, 08 May 2008 15:35:03 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155679 Liz - Ah, thank you. I just found <a href="http://drunkenmonkeyknits.blogspot.com/2007/09/button-advice.html" rel="nofollow">this entry</a> at Drunken Monkey Knits saying that an uneven number of buttons is often recommended. Coincidentally she is working on a CPH as well. Liz - Ah, thank you. I just found this entry at Drunken Monkey Knits saying that an uneven number of buttons is often recommended. Coincidentally she is working on a CPH as well.

]]> By: Liz http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155678 Liz Thu, 08 May 2008 15:31:21 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155678 I recommended 7 buttons just because I think any more would look crowded. Maybe caro has a better reason :) I recommended 7 buttons just because I think any more would look crowded. Maybe caro has a better reason :)

]]> By: megan http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155663 megan Thu, 08 May 2008 15:03:02 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155663 Rebecca - I'm not afraid to learn to graft, but simply on my way out of town and am running out of time to get the sweater done so I can take it along. It was all a time thing. Liz - I'm curious, why are you both recommending seven? Is there a fashion rule I'm unaware of here? Is it like the design rule of fives, but for buttons it's seven? I agree, seven (one less than in the picture) would look far less fussy. Rebecca - I'm not afraid to learn to graft, but simply on my way out of town and am running out of time to get the sweater done so I can take it along. It was all a time thing.

Liz - I'm curious, why are you both recommending seven? Is there a fashion rule I'm unaware of here? Is it like the design rule of fives, but for buttons it's seven? I agree, seven (one less than in the picture) would look far less fussy.

]]> By: Liz http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155638 Liz Thu, 08 May 2008 14:05:37 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155638 I'm a sewer, not a knitter, but how about trying 2 smaller buttons on the bottom of the sweater instead of one large one. That would prevent any gap and might be a little lighter. I agree with caro - no more than 7 buttons on the rest of the button band. I'm a sewer, not a knitter, but how about trying 2 smaller buttons on the bottom of the sweater instead of one large one. That would prevent any gap and might be a little lighter. I agree with caro - no more than 7 buttons on the rest of the button band.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155633 Rebecca Thu, 08 May 2008 13:56:57 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155633 Ooh, the sweater is looking great. I love your methodical approach to sweater knitting. And don't be afraid of learning to graft. I'm never sure why people always seem to think it's difficult or tedious. It's certainly no harder than, say, a tubular cast on (which I was motivated to learn after reading about your adventures with it). I grafted the hood of my Rogue hoodie and even over the wide band of cables, you'd be hard pressed to find the seam. Ooh, the sweater is looking great. I love your methodical approach to sweater knitting.

And don't be afraid of learning to graft. I'm never sure why people always seem to think it's difficult or tedious. It's certainly no harder than, say, a tubular cast on (which I was motivated to learn after reading about your adventures with it). I grafted the hood of my Rogue hoodie and even over the wide band of cables, you'd be hard pressed to find the seam.

]]> By: julie http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155612 julie Thu, 08 May 2008 13:05:30 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155612 i have no knitting advice, but i wanted to say - WHAT?! buttons or no buttons, it looks deliciously wear-out-of-the-house-able as is. before i even saw your last paragraph i thought, "man, i bet she's going to get a lot of compliments on that sweater as it looks Very Expensive." good luck with the finishing! i have no knitting advice, but i wanted to say - WHAT?! buttons or no buttons, it looks deliciously wear-out-of-the-house-able as is. before i even saw your last paragraph i thought, "man, i bet she's going to get a lot of compliments on that sweater as it looks Very Expensive."

good luck with the finishing!

]]> By: megan http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155514 megan Thu, 08 May 2008 07:27:54 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155514 Tina - Thank you, I do like those button bands, they are super wide instead of just wider. I'm still having trouble finding the right ratio of stitches to pick up for the button band. Tina - Thank you, I do like those button bands, they are super wide instead of just wider.

I'm still having trouble finding the right ratio of stitches to pick up for the button band.

]]> By: Tina http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155476 Tina Thu, 08 May 2008 05:35:33 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155476 you were talking about a wider button band, this one looks good.... http://www.ravelry.com/projects/azgal81/central-park-hoodie or this one http://www.ravelry.com/projects/spinsterbat/central-park-hoodie you were talking about a wider button band, this one looks good....
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/azgal81/central-park-hoodie
or this one
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/spinsterbat/central-park-hoodie

]]> By: megan http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155432 megan Thu, 08 May 2008 03:24:07 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155432 For my previous swatch I picked up every 3 out of 4 and it still curled, so I'm trying 1 to 1 and 4 out of 5 this time. Daphne - Thanks, I'll consider the wider button bands even though I'm a little eh on how they look on the sweater. It's the very nature of the loose knit that I'm afraid will make it gap even more. For my previous swatch I picked up every 3 out of 4 and it still curled, so I'm trying 1 to 1 and 4 out of 5 this time.

Daphne - Thanks, I'll consider the wider button bands even though I'm a little eh on how they look on the sweater. It's the very nature of the loose knit that I'm afraid will make it gap even more.

]]> By: Daphne http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155421 Daphne Thu, 08 May 2008 03:17:52 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155421 Pick up 3 out of every 4 stitches for the ribbing, evening it out to repeats of 4 + 2 (2x2 ribbing, right? plus two extra so you end on knits). (Or pick up 2 out of 3 -- whatever looked best on your test swatches for button band.) If you're worried about the width of the sweater & it gapping, why don't you knit wider button bands? Not too awfully long, but you know, long enough. From what I recall of the sweater, I think the fabric is soft enough that it shouldn't gap much. Pick up 3 out of every 4 stitches for the ribbing, evening it out to repeats of 4 + 2 (2x2 ribbing, right? plus two extra so you end on knits). (Or pick up 2 out of 3 -- whatever looked best on your test swatches for button band.) If you're worried about the width of the sweater & it gapping, why don't you knit wider button bands? Not too awfully long, but you know, long enough. From what I recall of the sweater, I think the fabric is soft enough that it shouldn't gap much.

]]> By: caro http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155370 caro Thu, 08 May 2008 01:10:30 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155370 I wouldn't go more than 7 or so buttons, otherwise it might look too fussy competing with the cables. As far as the buttonband goes, don't worry about how many the pattern tells you to pick up, that math never works out. Just pick up 3 and skip one. Works like a charm on every sweater, every time. I wouldn't go more than 7 or so buttons, otherwise it might look too fussy competing with the cables. As far as the buttonband goes, don't worry about how many the pattern tells you to pick up, that math never works out. Just pick up 3 and skip one. Works like a charm on every sweater, every time.

]]> By: Kim http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155352 Kim Thu, 08 May 2008 00:20:06 +0000 http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/05/07/my-third-sweater-planning-the-button-band/#comment-155352 I started at the top and worked a buttonhole every 5th rib. I don't think I'll be buttoning mine up completely so every 5th rib worked out fine for me. :) I started at the top and worked a buttonhole every 5th rib. I don't think I'll be buttoning mine up completely so every 5th rib worked out fine for me. :)

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