16 January 2019

I've been quiet for awhile and that's because I've been knitting. Cooperatively, Lyn and I knitted the Swan's Twist Top using Knit One Crochet Too's Daisy. The yarn is a blend of linen, silk and hemp. It has a wonderful drape. I will include a picture as soon as I have a model to put it on.

Aside from that I've been knitting away on my second version of John's Sweater. The fingering weight of JaggerSpun Heathers in Dewberry knits wonderfully. The back is finished and the calculations are working out. It helps to have a live dress model to try the knitting on. I've started the front. The only thought required was for how many pattern repeats will fit and which repeat do I start with.

As always, stop by the shop and see what has been done. You're always welcome to join us at the table to sit and knit any time the shop is open.

13 October 2018

I've finished one full row repeat of the Nora Gaughan knot pattern. My calculations were correct (whew!) and the take-up gave me the correct width. I'm not so worried about the row gauge because I have to knit to length anyway.

The fingering weight of the JaggerSpun Heathers in color Dewberry is an easy color to work with and shows the stitch detail well.

Now it's just on with knitting to finish the back. Five more row repeats of 31 rows will get me to the underarm.

15 July 2018

Well the back and one sleeve are done. The sleeve required maintaining pattern as the increases were worked. I thought that was going to be a big problem. Despite the weirdness of a partial pattern it worked well. It may not make seaming easy but that will be a future problem.

These two pieces used 395gm of JaggerSpun Heathers which works out to most of one cone of 1490 yds. I have another cone that I've started using for the front so there will be plenty of yarn left to work the complete sweater.

It takes four repeats (vertically) to the under arm. I'm on the third repeat for the front. This looks like it will be done in time for a birthday... whew!

These pieces have not been blocked.

22 June 2018

I'm still plugging along, as time allows, on the sweater that I'm knitting for my brother. The pattern looks difficult but really isn't if you've ever knitted a cable.

Now that I've corrected the chart that Berroco made for Nora Gaughan's pattern it is much easier to knit and follow the pattern. I will say the hardest part of knitting this sweater is maintaining the stitch pattern while decreasing or increasing the stitches.

I've finished the back and the arm scye wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I just followed the recommended decreases figuring if I follow the decreases for the arm cap they will match. So here goes ......

I will warn that the length of the sleeve recommended in the pattern will be too long. Just look up any sleeve length in a similar pattern. I will be working to 17" and in order to have the correct number of stitches I'm increasing each side every right side row.

If anyone is interested in knitting this pattern you are welcome to a copy of my modified chart, but you need to come to the shop to get it.

Questions about the sweater or my sanity, stop by and ask questions.

This sweater is being knit from coned JaggerSpun Heathers, color Smoke. The yarn gauge is 6 sts/inch. My gauge, over pattern, is 9.2 sts/inch. It will take more than one cone for a man's 42". It's so nice to knit with not having to worry about running out of yarn in the middle of a row.

17 May 2018

I decided to knit a sweater for my brother but nothing I do can be simple. I found a great stitch pattern for a sweater designed by Nora Gaughan. The sweater that Nora designed is called John's Sweater and it is a Ravelry pattern.

I decided the yarn used is too heavy for my brother so I went from a aran weight to sport weight yarn. After working a sample my gauge (over pattern) was 9.2 sts/inch. Just a bit of adjusting is necessary to make this work with the JaggerSpun Heathers yarn that I want to use. To make my life easier, I'm knitting from a cone of Heathers. I just get to knit and not worry about having to work in ends.

When you have a moment, stop by and I will show you the progress and explain how I'm making this work.

Nora's design works up from the 'ribbing' right into the cable pattern. It is a well thought out approach.

Now if I can just get this done by Christmas......