When I started knitting Venezia, I knew that I wanted to match the sleeve colors to the body. I knew this wouldn't be an easy thing; since the number of stitches on the sleeve is much less than the number on the body, the yarn wouldn't change colors at the same rate. I thought about this all through the body knitting, and I came up with a plan by the time I started the sleeves.
First of all, I needed to know where to start. I knew I wanted the sleeves to have about 11 inches of colorwork, so I measured 11 inches down from the top of the body. I marked this row with a safety pin. From this marking, I knew which row to use on the chart and what color the yarn should be. I then marked every tenth row on the body with a safety pin.
Every tenth row of knitting on the sleeve, I would re-match my working yarn to the color on the body. This meant I had to pull several yards out of the ball and take them out. The end result is not quite as smooth as the color shifting on the body, but it's pretty darn close.
I only have the yoke left to knit, so there's a possibility that I'll be able to get it done by Rhinebeck. We'll see!
By the way, this sweater is kitty approved. Sasha is a big fan.
That is just crazy. Crazy perfect!
It's absolutely beautiful.
Posted by: Heather | October 12, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Wow. The sweater looks wonderful.
Posted by: katie m. | October 13, 2008 at 07:43 AM
Hi Kristy,
This work tells me that the patience you have can´t be measured in gold! Marvelous!
Posted by: Katrin | October 13, 2008 at 07:59 AM
the sleeves look perfectly matched to the body to me!!! *crosses fingeres you can finish it for Rhinebeck*
Posted by: Heather | October 13, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Whoa. I don't know what you mean about the color changes not being as smooth. They look perfect.
Posted by: Liz K. | October 13, 2008 at 08:59 AM
Wow, that is incredible. The sleeves look fantastic with the main part of the sweater. Good job!
Posted by: Katie | October 13, 2008 at 09:48 AM
wow! Thinking about that makes my head spin!!!
It looks fantastic though, perfect match.
Posted by: Kelly | October 13, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Gorgeous work! I can't imagine the work done on this...beautiful!
Posted by: misti | October 13, 2008 at 10:07 AM
So, so pretty.
(And, really, what else is there to say?)
Posted by: --Deb | October 13, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Brilliant solution! And it works too. Sasha is just adorable.
Posted by: Kim | October 13, 2008 at 10:44 AM
This is exactly the kind of obsessive-compulsive which drives me!!! You go, girl!
Posted by: grumperina | October 13, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Very beautiful. You're doing a spectacular job with that.
Posted by: Cassy | October 13, 2008 at 12:01 PM
This is going to be one rockin' sweater when you're done. It looks fantastic so far!
Posted by: Ingrid | October 13, 2008 at 12:40 PM
That is amazing. Seriously gorgeous. If you do finish it for Rhinebeck, and I see you wearing it, I might have to accost you and take a picture. :) So don't be too frightened.
Posted by: Lydia (punkcatknitter) | October 13, 2008 at 01:06 PM
Pretty Damn Close?!?! Boy, are you hard on yourself. That seems like perfection to me (to to mention that it is a pattern I can't even dream of attempting yet)!
Posted by: emma | October 13, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Holy moly woman! That is a lot of thinking. It's amazing!
Posted by: tiennie | October 13, 2008 at 06:05 PM
Wow, that's going to look incredible when it's all finished up!
Posted by: whitney | October 13, 2008 at 06:33 PM
pretty impressive! creative solution that really worked well!
Posted by: stacey | October 14, 2008 at 08:00 AM
It's just gorgeous! I hope you finish it in time to show it off right!
Posted by: Jessica | October 14, 2008 at 11:24 AM
oh my gosh! it is perfect!
Posted by: leslie | October 16, 2008 at 07:33 AM
You know that you rock, right? I will be looking for you and your preety preety sweater this weekend. Or maybe I will just look for you, I don't want to put on any pressure or anything.
Posted by: nova | October 16, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Your sweater looks so wonderful. Between your great sewing skills and the awesome job you do at knitting, I have decided that I wanna be you when I grow up. You do such nice work!!!!!
Posted by: Ruth | October 21, 2008 at 01:44 PM