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adapting pattern to larger gauge

I have a question for all you experts. I just started getting a catalogue from a company called KnitPicks, and I love their Andean Treasure Sampler Vest. It's designed for sport weight yarn and size 3 and 5 needles, using 12 colors in various Fair Isle patterns. I would love to try it, but I can't use such small needles - anything smaller than about a 10 makes my hands hurt (as well as trying my patience). Do you think it would work to adapt the pattern to a larger gauge - say, use two strands of yarn together and size 10 needles, and, obviously, cut down on the number of rows and stitches per row to attain the same size pieces? Or am I out of my mind? Or does someone have a Fair Isle, multi-color vest pattern to reccommend that is already written for heavier yarn and larger needles? Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Reply to
khoff
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On 1 May 2006 20:09:40 -0700, "khoff" spewed forth :

The short answer is: pretty much anything is possible if you're willing to spend the time figuring out how to do it.

The idea behind the original FI designs was to use odd bits of wool. A Fair Isle sweater is, by definition, tightly knit with fine yarns on small needles; they're warm, they're weatherproof, and they're coincidentally amazing to gaze upon when well-executed.

You certainly can substitute your yarn/gauge into the KP pattern but the end result will be radically different from the original. Consider also that yarn big enough to be knitted on #10 needles (60-6.5mm) won't lend itself to stranded knitting so you'll end up doing slip-stitch or stripes, further altering the appearance of the FO from the original.

There was actually a pattern for a stranded sweater in, I think, Knitters, within the last couple of years that used Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky. I was horrified for any number of reasons, not least being that I had just finished two cardigans using this yarn. They're bullet-proof as I knitted them (6.5mm needles, 2-3spi), I can't imagine STRANDING the stuff and then expecting someone to wear the result, though I suppose if I lived in Siberia I might very well want a sweater of that caliber.

Hah, there goes my opinion peeking through :D

Wooly

Who f00bered the armhole steeks of a sweater. Good thing I realized the error of my ways before applying scissors! Now I have to rip three days' of knitting and reknit the yoke/shoulders :P

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Reply to
Wooly

"Wooly" admitted [...]

Oh God, reading that first sentence made me feel faint. How long did it take you stop shaking after you realized what you'd almost done?

--Threnody

Reply to
Threnody

On Thu, 04 May 2006 00:44:21 GMT, "Threnody" spewed forth :

Eh, it wasn't horrible. Ask me to bring Russian Prime to Friday knitting sometime when you know you'll be there. THAT is a sweater I wish I had never knitted, and one that demonstrates the necessity of MEASURING and MEASURING AGAIN prior to cutting.

But, wool spit-splices.

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Reply to
Wooly

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