Marina... Making My Way To The Start Line

Ready, Set, Stop!

Okay, I've made a couple of decisions. The first is I will hold off starting Mara for a later date. I've decided to go ahead and start Marina. I plan to change things a bit. To assist decision making it helps to understand that,

Marina was published in Scottish Collection (Tomato Factory) in 1992. Contained pattern for a pullover and v-neck cardigan with 2/2 corrugated bottom rib and front and/or neckbands. Uses J+S 2-ply jumperweight with 21 colors. It is knit at 16 sts and 16 rows for 2-inches on US size 3 (3.25mm) needles. Pattern sizes are Medium (44) and Large (48).

Marina was published in This Morning Woolcraft (BBC) book in 1993. This pattern is a v-neck cardigan with 2/2 corrugated bottom rib and front/neckbands. Uses J+S 2-ply jumperweight with 22 colors. It is knit at 16 sts and 16 rows for 2-inches on US size 3 (3.25mm) needles. Pattern sizes are to fit bust size 34-36 and 37-39 inches (41/45).

In 2003 the Marina pattern became available as a kit from VY's as part of their "AS Classics" series. The colors were changed to what AS characterizes as an undersea garden. It does not use 2/2 corrugated ribbing and looks more like a jacket with a crew-neck shaping. Uses AS's own 2-ply hebridean with 19 colors. It is knit at 28 sts and 32 rows for 10cm on US size 3 (3.25mm) needles. (~14 sts and 16 rows and 2-inches). Pattern sizes to fit small (42), medium (46.5), large (51), and extra large (55.5). Studying the picture of this Marina the charted pattern was changed a little (the pattern row repeats shifted positions and the largest pattern was repeated one additional time).

So.... Is everyone with me so far?

A very big observation is the wool tension is very different between J+S's 2-ply jumperweight and VY's 2-ply hebridean.

I ordered my wool from J+S and I have 22-colors because I own the Woolcraft pattern but I plan to drop the extra color. I also plan to knit the 'undersea garden' version (style) using the old colors. I spent a lot of time thinking about how I am going to do this. After studying Marina/Undersea Garden I understand the row repeats and how they changed. I also noticed the bands are knit using one of the pattern row repeats. You can do this to by going to VY's site and study the picture and compare that to the original Marina. Next I took my graph paper and started charting.

I get very dizzy looking at AS's charts so I re-created them using the Meg Swansen method where she just uses 2 symbols to depict whether the stitch is a background or pattern stitch. I used an 'X' for background and 'blank' for a pattern stitch.
I took a white folder with pockets and created a swatch chart. This is a great way to, not only organize your wool colors for easy reference, but the pockets are useful for written notes or storing your pattern directions.

Okay, now I have the charts figured out but still have a gauge problem because of the different wool types. I spend hours thinking about this after studing my Northwest Sunset Vest I just knitted. I knit that at a different gauge than the pattern called for and the sizing worked out perfectly for me. So I plan to do the same thing here but will need to swatch.

I'm going to use directions from a crew-neck pullover pattern and insert steeks for the front/button bands. I am going to knit the bands using one of the pattern repeats like Marina/Undersea Garden and plan to "wing it". I ordered an extra ball of every color. I don't know if I will have enough wool or not. Again, I am just going to "wing it".