In Pieces

I started knitting in my late twenties and hadn’t been at it long when I was introduced to seamless knitting.  There was that Twinkle book and Stefanie Japel, and I became a believer.  I went seamless as much as possible on a knit.  I’d modify things to be knit in the round, try to do afterthought sleeves rather than set- in sleeves, or just eschew designs that required seams altogether.  Only recently have I been hearing all the “seams give a knit structure” talk.  I’m sure that’s been an issue of debate for a long time, but I do knit under a rock, so…

 I think Nachtfalter was the first time I realized that, yes, the seams did add structure.  It didn’t hurt that they were minimal and easy to sew.  I can definitely see myself employing seams from now on where a top might stretch out of shape without them holding it together.  When using hemp for my Hawt Sands coverup I was glad for those side seams.  I fear the hemp would’ve stretched and twisted into a deformed mess if left alone.  As it is, it just lengthened a bit, which was fine with me.  (I will post photos of it in a few days.  I have to take them at the beach, after all.)

Maybe I didn’t see a need for seams before because I knit very fitted sweaters in the beginning and now it’s all about ease.  I’ve even added a false purl stitch seam to loose sweaters to try and prevent stretching.

(ravelry, kollabora, and flickr)

My point here is that my latest project, the Oud Tank, has been knit in lots of pieces: front, back, side panels, and collar, and I found it fun to break it down that way.   It was a nice change of pace and let me stow it in my purse more easily.  It may even sharpen my seaming skills, which are so very dull.

Okay, and now can I just say I’ve been waiting all season for the moment when Helena meets her sisters, so Saturday was kind of awesome.  (Go here if your device won’t let you see it.)

Also, how do they do it?  Two full seasons and I have yet to cringe at dumb lines, dippy relationships,  or get bored by the plot line?