Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Yarn Along - Nordic Trail Vest

Clever little name this vest has...
...for those of you that don't Nordic Ski, let me briefly explain the two different styles of this skiing discipline:

1.  Classic, or as it also know, Alternative - the skier has both ski's parallel, often in pre-existing tracks, and moves forward by alternating arms and legs - left arm right leg, right arm left leg.  Picture yourself running in a straight line but with skis on your feet and poles in your hands.  The trail you leave in the snow would look something like this...

2.  Skating, as the name suggests is a movement very similar to ice-skating or roller blading and leaves a trail much like this...

Put the two together and you've got the Nordic Trail Vest.
view of the back section
It's a seamless piece, knit on a long circular needle, with the shoulders finished off by a three needle bind off.
the 'classic' track pattern also runs up the front sides.
Hope a good blocking will show the pattern off a little better.
It's all gone great guns to here but now I've run into a little problem.  I'm meant to pick up 60 sts for the sleeves but no matter how many times I try it, I'm only coming out with 44?  I've knit up a sleeve anyway to see how it looks, it fits OK but feels a tiny bit too snug.  Any ideas how to pick up more sts that actually exist?  should I just make a few?
So the sleeves are on hold for the moment while I tackle the front bands and collar.  The pattern doesn't give a precise no. of stitches to pick up but suggest three out of every four, for 14 rows of 2 x 2 rib.  Fingers crossed I've got enough yarn, it will be a close call.  I'm using the Noro that was once my Shalom.


I've developed a Farley Mowat addiction. All other reading is on hold until I've finished these three (then I'll order myself some more!!).  I even skipped my book club meeting this month as I want no distractions.
To highlight just one - Never Cry Wolf is an amazing read...
'More than a half-century ago the naturalist Farley Mowat accepted an assignment to investigate why wolves were killing Arctic caribou.  Mowat's account of the summer he lived in the frozen tundra alone-studying the wolf population and developing a deep affection for these wild creatures (who were of no threat to caribou or man)-is today celebrated as a classic of nature writing, at once a tale of remarkable adventure and an indelible record of the myths and magic of wolves'.

Linking up with Ginny for Yarn Along if my computer will permit it.  Having IT problems again.  Think the (not so old) gal is on her last legs - there are already two wee vultures with screwdrivers, waiting in the wings to see just what she's made of.
So what's on your needles this week?



12 comments:

  1. Wonderful explanation on the Nordic trail vest. The colour of the yarn is beautiful with little hints of sheer bliss. Good luck with picking up the stitches.

    ReplyDelete
  2. There is a dishcloth on my needles, that has been there for months and months. ha ha! Just no time to create right now.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think I am going to have a rest from knitting for a bit, I have just knit up an In
    Threes for my daughter and a whole heap of sewing.........love the explanation of the pattern on the vest that is wonderful. The picking up stitches quandary how can you count the number of rows you have? Sometimes when you are picking up stitches it is easy to miss rows, making stitches will not make it any less tight I wouldn't have thought.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think I would pick up one and make one, adding the 16 pastiches at intervals, that might help. I always get so confused picking up stitches.

    Good luck,
    Meredith

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful vest Emma and lots of great reading!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the yarn you're using in your vest. Thank you for the awesome explanation - the details would otherwise have been lost on me. And I *love* Farley Mowat's books. I'm due to re-read them methinks.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very pretty yarn, have no advice, as knitting is pretty new to me, the books sound really interesting
    Clare

    ReplyDelete
  8. That is so neat about your pattern! I must put that book on my reading list. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  9. The skiing thing is so cool. I never would have realized the connection but it's so fun once you know.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Beautiful yarn!

      And I am about to reserve some Farley Mowat books from the library on your recommendations :)

      (deleted original due to spelling mistakes)

      Delete
  11. Cute pattern!
    I am always so confused my instructions for picking up stitches - it doesn't make any sense to me at all so I wont even attempt to offer an answer but I wish you luck with it :o)

    ReplyDelete