So, once I was done with Fifi, my RCC yarn arrived a day later -- Noro Hana Silk in turquoise. Great, right? I have to say, I am quite unhappy with this yarn. Its little loops kept getting caught on my needles and I couldn't maintain gauge to save my life. Ok, fine, I would have been willing to forgive this and knit with it, even if it drove me insane. But one thing I couldn't forgive -- that all the wonderful cables and shaping of RCC were getting completely lost in all the fuzzy loopiness of this yarn. So, I scrapped it, and went with my old favorite instead -- Caron Simply Soft (this one's in Berry Blue). Yes, it's a 100% acrylic, but it has a lot of great qualities. It's incredibly soft, quite light, very easy to get (and maintain!) gauge, and has excellent stitch definition. And you can't beat the price -- $2.69 for a 6 oz skein, and it took just one skein for the whole RCC corset. At the moment, the corset is probably just 5-10 rows away from completion. I made just one modification -- no matter how loosely I bound off and cast on for the armhole, it was still too tight, so I added an extra 10 stitches for each sleeve, casting on 160 instead of 140, and working 29 stitches for each sleeve, instead of 19. In hindsight, I probably could've gotten away with adding just 5 extra stitches for each sleeve.
Phew! That was a long one!
Wow! Both are stunning! It's nice finally see a close up pic of RCC. I have the Hana Silk but I didn't see any loops at all! I like your stitch definition. The photo on the pattern doesn't show the stitch designs at all! I think I might make a plain little stockinette top--something like Sizzle--before starting the RCC. I'm really stalling on Fifi because I simply hate all the ribbing. I'm halfway down the body and need to just make myself finish it. Since RCC also has a lot of ribbing, I need to give myself a break before starting that!
ReplyDeleteI love them both! I think I'll have to make the RCC sometime, too -- yours is so beautiful, it has inspired me! Great job!
ReplyDeleteFifi turned out great. I am also really excited to see your RCC - the stitch definition is fab. I hadn't even noticed from the pattern photo that there's a cable right down the center of this top, like Fifi! That would really have gotten lost in a loopy yarn. I was going to use a ribbon yarn for mine, and hadn't even thought of the possibility of using a smooth yarn like you did. Great idea!
ReplyDeleteYour RCC is beautiful! I wasn't going to do it, but had to get the pattern after seeing yours. AND some simply soft-thanks for the recommendation.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to see this in Simply Soft. I've had some in my stash for a crochet cardi that I've decided I don't want to make. Now I know what I can use that yarn for! Your FO's look great!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the RCC!!! Thanks for sharing. Your Fifi is beautiful too.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely *love* your RCC! I'd started it out in a ribbon yarn & hated how the cabling got totally lost with that particular yarn. I may have to try it in something with better stitch definition and use the ribbon for a stockinette stitch project instead. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteWOW! Your RCC is awesome. I've had the pattern for ages now, but seeing yours really makes me want to start right away. Fantastic job!
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