We’ve all had those knits, the ones that absolutely fly right off the needles for no apparent reason. These also never seem to be strait stockingknit projects either do they?
(OMG It was so BRIGHT!)
This was one for me.
Pattern: Rachel by Debbie Bliss
Yarn: Cascade 220 colorway 8400 (the perfect grey)
Needles: Us 7 & 8’s (circs because that’s how I roll)
Mods: Where do I start?! I upped the gage because this sweater isn’t meant to be knit or worn by bigger gals. So I did the math for the designer, chopped off 3 whole inches off the bottom and started knitting. The biggest mod is that I made this a cardigan. In the picture I love the sweater, but I have to admit that with the length, & styling it feels a little 80’s work out wear to me. I haven’t sewn in the closures yet, but I am doing hook & eyes. That way it will be seamless looking & still close when I need it to. More complete step by step mods can be found on my ravelry project page
Verdict: I absolutely love this sweater! LOVE LOVE LOVE. The color makes it go with everything else I own so I’m sure it will get quite a lot of use this winter.
This pattern creates a ribbing effect & thus the sweater is super stretchy. There’s basically no shaping & it was my first run in with drop style sleeves. The shaping on the whole thing is ridiculously easy. I didn’t realize that the collar was knit separately & then sewn on, I thought about just picking up the st count & running with it, but realized that this was flawed. There is major shaping going on in that collar, don’t cheat you will regret it.
(In which I dare you to inspect my seaming job) Actually this is the first sweater where I feel I really did the seaming justice. I’m a product knitter. Yes yes yes, I LOVE the knitting, but I love even more the end product, the finish line glory, the rush of completing something that is quite beautiful.
I will tell you though, that there was a little bit of drama when I was knitting this. See, I can knit almost any sweater for 1400 yd’s. Seriously. I know all the directions for us big girls want us to buy 5 billion yards of yarn, but I realized quite soon after buying the required amount that I would have 2 or 3 skeins left over. This sweater though. This sweater almost sunk me. It’s a yarn hog. That AND I for some reason only bought 6 skeins of cascade for it. OK people that’s, what? 1320. Do we see a problem here? Convinced I had a 7th skein I knit & knit & knit. Then I ran out.
Thankfully! Lois at Anacapa Fine Yarns (my LYS) had a skien in my colorway & dye lot!!! SCORE! & so I knit some more, knowing I would probably be still cutting it close. How close I would soon find out.
That’s two 6 inch strips. That’s literally all I had left. Yes I did steal from the tails of cast on edges to finish my seaming. Yes I’ve learned my lesson.
The photos of the knitting are great. The color seems so vibrant. The last photo is certainly humorous. It made me laugh.
By: Matt George on September 2, 2008
at 4:42 pm
Yikes, that’s really taking it down to the wire, yarn-wise!
I did a similar thing with my Clapotis this weekend — I just hate having leftover yarn (especially pretty, hand-dyed yarn), so I crossed my fingers and knit like the wind. It all worked out.
The sweater looks AWESOME, especially with your hair — congrats!
By: Katinka on September 2, 2008
at 5:40 pm
Lovely sweater! Great color and fit on you! I’m a 1320 sweater gal myself, but if it has cables or a hood, I need that extra skein of 220 or whatever yarn I’m using. Can’t wait to get started on sweater knitting myself!
By: Beatriz on September 2, 2008
at 5:48 pm
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait to see it with the closures too! It’s great
So, on a side note, I’m really putting your package completely together tonight and getting it out to you tomorrow
I’ve been that girl.. you know which one I’m talkin about too 
By: Secret Summer Love Swap Pal on September 2, 2008
at 6:03 pm
I would have been sweating bullets and chomping on my fingernails if I thought for a moment that my yarn supply would only leave 12 inches of yarn leftover. I don’t know how you did it!
It does look fab.
By: Marie on September 2, 2008
at 7:56 pm
Awesome sweater! It looks so comfy and wearable! Those are my favorite kind of sweaters.
Wowie, on the close call with the yarn too! I hate it when that happens! Good thing it worked out!
By: Alli on September 2, 2008
at 9:41 pm
I’m a product knitter too - what a great versatile sweater!! I can also relate to having JUST enough yarn to finish and sweatin it! In my opinion, it just adds to the excitement =)
By: April on September 3, 2008
at 1:54 am
Beautiful! Cables are such yarn hogs
By: Michelle on September 3, 2008
at 1:17 pm
Best. Picture. EVAR.
By: k8 on September 4, 2008
at 2:39 am