05.22.06
Finished Object: Starsky
Here it is at long last, my finished Starsky! In an appropriately Starsky-themed post! There I am doing a totally plausible Starsky impersonation! What, you’re not convinced? Okay, I’m going to tell you a deep, dark secret, and I hope you will keep this between us and the internet: I don’t know anything about this “Starsky” character or the show she (he?) was on, whatever its name was. In fact, I am miserably, pathetically culturally illiterate when it comes to certain decades (specifically, everything between 1945 and 1998), so when I went to do the Starsky pose that I’d seen on the Knitty pattern, I was forced to admit that I am woefully ignorant of Starsky and everything associated with him (her?). Honestly, if I’d had to guess, I would have said Starsky was the dog in a detective/dog TV adventure series.
I made a genuine effort to inform myself about this important element of American culture, but in the end I realized that it didn’t matter. I didn’t make this sweater out of some kind of admiration for an outdated TV (movie?) character. I made it because I loved the leafy cable pattern. I loved the way the bulky yarn contrasted with the more feminine pattern details. I loved the idea of throwing this cardigan on over any and every outfit on cold winter nights and chilly fall mornings. I have not been disappointed in these things. So screw the original Starsky! She can stay in the 70s (80s?) where she belongs.
Okay, some actual knitting details. The pattern was well-written and straightforward. This was my first sweater ever that called for sleeve caps, and because of my screwy row gauge I had to rewrite the cap. It worked out quite well, which made me rather pleased with myself — if anyone else happens to get a row gauge of 22 rows per four inches (instead of 18 rows), let me know and I’d be happy to share my modifications. Unfortunately, the heavy yarn combined with my inexperience made the upper arm seams a bit bulky, and they don’t lie very flat (giving a look that falls somewhere between “shoulder pads” and “linebacker”). However, I haven’t tried blocking them particularly aggressively, so doing that could alleviate some of the problem and scale me all the way back to “early 1900s schoolteacher fashion.”
The yarn (Sierra from Knitpicks) is a satisfying yarn to work with. Nothing too fancy, just a nice, hardworking yarn that is barely scratchy against my skin. It’s a great value for the money. My one complaint was that every ball save one had a knot in it (a couple had two), so I did a LOT of felted joins. I guess I should be grateful that I had that option, or I would still be weaving in ends today.
I think that’s it in terms of pattern notes. I contributed basically nothing to the knitting world through my making of this sweater. I knit it almost exactly as written, in the yarn called for in the pattern, in the color pictured in the pattern. There really is nothing for any of you to say about my FO aside from “Wow, that sure looks a lot like the one on Knitty.” So don’t feel compelled to knock yourselves out trying to think of something interesting to say about it. (”Wow, the sleeves look about a half inch longer on yours,” would demonstrate an impressive attention to detail, though.)
Given that I was so eager to wear this sweater that I actually attempted to wear it while I was finishing knitting it, I guess it’s somewhat odd that it has taken me so long to post about it. Fact is, I’m feeling a little guilty: I spent quite a bit of time and mental energy at the end of this project hoping that the unseasonably cold and rainy weather would hold out just a leeeeeettle longer so I could get some wear out of the sweater before having to put it aside for the summer, and the result was the crappiest, rainiest, most miserable May in memory. So, sorry about that New Englanders. I guess I’m still learning my own powers.
Leah said,
May 22, 2006 at 10:58 pm
So, I have nothing overly interesting to say, except that Starky looks lovely. You did a great job!
Mintyfresh said,
May 22, 2006 at 11:07 pm
“Wow, that sure looks a lot like the one on Knitty.”
Ashley said,
May 22, 2006 at 11:11 pm
Starsky looks awesome. I must make it (and don’t worry, I too will be following exactly as written. Unless it’s too short).
My dirty little pop culture secret? When I was a kid I was hanging out with my cousin, who was the same age as me, but cooler because she had a bunch of older sibs, but I was the oldest (and a dork). Anyhoo, my cousin asked me if I liked C*H*I*P*S and my response was “Oh, I’m not allowed to eat those. They’re so unhealthy.” I had no earthly idea that C*H*I*P*S was a TV show, because I was not allowed to watch non-PBS TV.
Sigh.
Jessica said,
May 22, 2006 at 11:13 pm
It looks great! You did a wonderful job on the pattern and the pose.
Dave said,
May 22, 2006 at 11:19 pm
Your Starsky looks wonderful. He/she would be proud be have his/her name associated.
Row gauge … sleeves. Hmm. I’ll have to look into that. I’m thinking of just picking up stitches and working my way down. Hmmm. Where’s my measuring tape? I bet Starsky would be able to find it …
Kris said,
May 22, 2006 at 11:23 pm
It turned out great! The detail on the cable is very crisp despite the bulky yarn. Congrats!
Gina said,
May 23, 2006 at 1:07 am
Starsky looks great! I’ve been eyeing it on Knitty…glad to hear it’s straightforward since I might make it my first sweater. Showing my knitting stupidity, but what’s a felted join?
Rain said,
May 23, 2006 at 7:22 am
It looks great on you and sounds like something you’ll wear a lot.
I don’t know much about Starsky either other than it was a show my brother watched. I was a Duke’s of Hazard and A-Team girl.
Mary Ann said,
May 23, 2006 at 7:34 am
Great job! I don’t understand why the sweater is called Starsky. It is much too pretty to have anything to do with a cop series. I really like the pattern. And it certainly will be a great sweater to wear once the weather turns cold.
Amy said,
May 23, 2006 at 7:55 am
Mom, (Mary Ann), Starsky wore a sweater just like that on the show. Hello!
It looks beautiful on you Rachel. The white will make it very versital. I wish we could wear things like that in Texas.
Amy
Rebekkah said,
May 23, 2006 at 8:13 am
Very nice!
For the record, I had never heard of Starsky and Hutch (which was a 70s or 80s TV show, for the record) until *graduate school*. It took a friend from a whole different continent to be appaled at my lack of knowledge of my own culture (hah), and explain it to me. To my defense, it sounds like they got a lot of American shows on a several year delay in Switzerland, so while I was probably too young to actually watch Starsky and Hutch when it aired in the US, Pia was just the right age to watch it when it aired in Switzerland. So I felt slightly less stupid.
So, uh, you’re probably around my age or a bit younger. You’re *totally* forgiven. And 1998? The whole second half of the 90s is completely lost to me. I was in college, where my only TV viewing was ER and the X Files. There were pop culture events in the 90s? Naaah… ;-)
Laura said,
May 23, 2006 at 9:48 am
Proof that I’m older than you–I remember the TV show being on. (But I never watched it. Cops and robbers, ho hum! Gimme Sesame Street!)
Lovely sweater. I thought you said that it was going to be a dress? Did you reknit or block agressively? Try ironing the sleeve caps to make them flatter. I do that sometimes.
I’m excited to make my own. Amy is crazy if she thinks that people can’t wear such clothing in TX. It’s perfect for going out to eat or to the movies during the summer. (Someone once told me that Houston was the most air-conditioned city in the US. That seems like one of those trivia facts that is fun to repeat but difficult to verify.)
Carole said,
May 23, 2006 at 9:51 am
It looks great! And I don’t blame you for wanting the weather to cooperate a bit. I forgive you. But now? KNOCK it off! ;-)
Stacey said,
May 23, 2006 at 9:54 am
So it was you causing all the rain and cold! :) Sweater looks great – functional and comfy – everything one should be!
Paloma said,
May 23, 2006 at 10:38 am
Why do you always make me want to copy you!? I love it. To be honest, the knitty pic did not really capture my attention too much, I think because it looks a little too big on the model. But I think it suits you perfectly.
BTW – Owen Wilson and the guy from Zoolander ( I cannot remember his name right now) re-did Starsky and Hutch a few years ago. Kinda stupid movie, but fun to watch with some wine!
Carry said,
May 23, 2006 at 11:44 am
Good lookin’ Starsky!!! And how impressive to finish it up even in the midst of the Amazing Lace world domination! ;)
Chris said,
May 23, 2006 at 12:50 pm
Wow, you caused all that flooding?! Dang. It looks like a great sweater. And for cultural cribbing, may I recommend Wikipedia?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starsky_and_Hutch
margene said,
May 23, 2006 at 12:56 pm
A lovely accomplishment!!
blossom said,
May 23, 2006 at 2:07 pm
wow!! it looks stunning!!! i love love love it. you did great!
Stacey said,
May 23, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Wow! – great job. It looks really awesome on you.
Sadly, I am old enough to remember the show. I wasn’t old enough to watch it at the time, but my brother and I did pretend to be Starsky and Hutch. (just so that the gender-bending went both ways, he also had to sometimes pretend to be Cindy Brady)
PumpkinMama said,
May 23, 2006 at 3:36 pm
Looks fabulous. Be wary of such powerful mojo that it causes flooding just because you want more sweater weather. I’m blaming you if we get hit by a hurricane this summer.
Kri said,
May 23, 2006 at 3:41 pm
It looks exactly like the one on knitty, but that’s great! I really like the one on Knitty, including the color. Yours looks great too, and confirms my wish to someday knit this.
Areli said,
May 23, 2006 at 4:36 pm
Wowza!! Starsky turned out so well, I would be feeling so proud!!
I don’t really know who Starsky is either, if it makes you feel any better.
The pic of you wearing while knitting made me laugh :-)
Sachi said,
May 23, 2006 at 5:41 pm
I’m finishing up Starsky right now and I’m in serious danger of running out of yarn. I’ve also come to the horrible realization (thank you) that my sleeve caps are going to be wonky because of my row gauge… Excuse me. I must go have a panic attack in private now.
Jaime said,
May 23, 2006 at 7:00 pm
Starsky looks beautiful! This definitely looks like a sweater that will go with many outfits.
I think it’s interesting that you don’t know about Starsky & Hutch. I am a fountain (unfortunately or fortunately?) of trivial (useless) information like that. :p Maybe it’s fitting given that my namesake is that of a 70s icon!
christine said,
May 23, 2006 at 7:12 pm
You’d have to be a middle-ager, like me, to appreciate Starsky……….actually, I was forced to watch the show by my brothers………
Great great sweater! The belt and loops are smashing!
Theresa said,
May 23, 2006 at 8:07 pm
Love the narrative arc of the photo essay, but for a moment I thought you’d stolen my car to take the photo!
katie said,
May 23, 2006 at 11:05 pm
YAY for a finished Starsky! Love the pose-impersonation-whatever you wanna call it. It looks awesome on you and it sounds like you had a lot of fun knitting it! I’ve heard good things about Sierra and I might try it sometime…just because I’m on a limited allowance *cough* income. (”Wow, the sleeves look about a half inch longer on yours.”) =D
erin said,
May 24, 2006 at 5:21 am
It looks fabulous! And you must have been exposed to higher forms of culture if you didn’t watch Starsky and Hutch on tv :)
Suzanne said,
May 24, 2006 at 9:41 am
Thats a really great sweater. I think it will be very versatile and I dont see the thick shoulders or whatever..
I wasnt allowed to watch Starsky and Hutch…it was on too late for me. However I did think that Starsky was the cute one.
Cindy D said,
May 24, 2006 at 11:01 am
Rachel….loved the sweater when I saw it in person at the Oceanstate Guild meeting!!
For the record Starsky is a “he”. I watched the program when I was your age. It was so so, but not your sweater!!!
http://www.starskyandhutchonline.com/
Nonnahs said,
May 24, 2006 at 11:39 am
Absolutely gorgeous Starsky! Congrats!
Sonya said,
May 24, 2006 at 12:47 pm
Your Starsky looks fabulous! And you don’t know what your missing. 1970s cop shows take cheesy to a whole new level. I agree with Suzanne, Starsky was the cute one.
Mothhair said,
May 25, 2006 at 7:38 am
Has anyone ever seen anything more adorable than Rachel’s chin dimple in the top picture? Sure, I’m her mom, but I’m not prejudiced or anything. Oh, and the sweater is pretty swell, too!
Allison said,
May 25, 2006 at 1:27 pm
Beautiful sweater! The fit is lovely, and the cables are divine. I really enjoy the dubious expression on your face as you pose, as if to say “Am I doing this right? What’s a Starsky?”
NessieNoodle said,
May 26, 2006 at 1:40 pm
I am totally disapointed, you said it was the size of a bathrobe! not quite, it fits you perfectly, not bathrobe-ish at all….
You are killing me, Starsky and Hutch??? oh boy- that is okay, I only know because of the movie remake, hee hee..
happy long weekend~
Jessica said,
May 28, 2006 at 3:53 pm
Out of curiosity, which size did knit? I’m thinking of doing the pattern myself, but am not sure which size to choose (40.5 or 44.5).
Marisol said,
May 30, 2006 at 1:12 pm
Hello,
It looks like I missed the Amzing Lace signups by a few hours. Please let me know if there are any dropouts or a possiblity for me to join this late.
Thanks.
Isabelle said,
May 31, 2006 at 12:12 am
Your Starsky looks fantastic!
My fav was Hutch though… ;)
amanda said,
July 12, 2006 at 10:47 am
I LOVE your Starsky. I’m gearing up to knit this. I actually have the ribbing and about an inch of the cable done (I’m going to attempt to knit it in the round up to the armpits because I HATE sewing), but I did this like 2 months ago and have NO idea where I am in the pattern.
Lickety Knit » Finished Object: My White Whale said,
February 10, 2007 at 11:53 pm
[...] Our story begins in May 2006. I was just coming off a couple of sweater successes (Tubey, Starsky), and I was eager to embark upon my next project. I had long been promising Matt a hand-knit sweater (a [...]
stacey said,
October 21, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Hello,
I know you knit this ages ago, but I’m working on it now and actually have the same issues with row gauge. If you still have your notes on how you re-did the sleeve cap I would LOVE to have a copy.
Thanks!