Knitting the Twist Cardigan has provided the opportunity to learn a new buttonhole, specifically the Tulips buttonhole by TECHknitting. Here are my test buttonholes:
If you want to do this buttonhole, the Interweave KnitsSpring Summer 2010 issue has the directions, but I found this video was pretty darned helpful in learning about to do. My experience was that I didn’t need to use the smaller dpn needle to do the cast-on for the stitches of the buttonhole (which uses a crochet hook with a yarnover). I think this is because I’m a loose knitter, and I was able to pull those stitches quite tightly as I cast on. Since I was doing several buttonholes in one row, this was a way better thing. They came out looking very symmetrical:
I had a hiccup on the collar because I didn’t trust the pattern (sorry, Bonne Marie, how stupid is that!). I cast-on fewer stitches for the collar than the pattern required because I was using my usual ratio formula. This would have worked if I had intended to simply do a neck-band, but instead it pulled everything tighter that would be helpful for a collar turning out. So I tinked my 3 inches or so of collar and tried again with the actual directions, and it worked (of course). So I also followed the end cast-off directions, proving that I am teachable, and realiaed that the pattern has the collar echoing the button band cast-off. Chic Knits patterns do this kind of thing all the time, it is so nice that someone else has thought of these things.
Tasks remaining:
- Attach the sleeves (already knit) and pray that I don’t have any color-pooling because I didn’t alternate skeins on one of them. If it is too noticeable, I will have to re-knit. I’m trying to overlook that possibility.
- Block. I think the slight pulling in on the bands will resolve itself nicely with blocking.
- Attach ribbon to button band and buttons for couture buttons. I have the decorative buttons and the backing buttons. I’m using these tutorials from Gigi of the Knitmore Girls. (look on the right side for grosgrain ribbon and button tutorials.)
- Weave in ends. Celebrate greatly!
- Think about knitting a hat to match with the leftovers.