Knit the Look: Elin Kling’s little black turtleneck

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how to knit Elin Kling's little black turtleneck

Apart from being an irredeemable minimalist, I’m a great lover of sweaters paired with lighter-weight clothes and some bare skin. It’s one of my favorite things about living in the Bay Area: We get to do that all year. Elsewhere, of course, this is what’s known as transitional dressing. All of which means I’m obviously gonna love Elin Kling’s minimalist, trans-season ensemble of a little black turtleneck sweater with Audrey-style trousers and flats. Of course, a little black turtleneck (LBT, anyone?), being a timeless wardrobe staple, isn’t generally expensive or hard to come by in stores, but by knitting your own you can customize the fit and use whatever fiber you like. I’d suggest a pattern that has a tiny bit more interest (both in the knitting and the wearing) such as Julie Hoover’s Hudson, which you could knit in anything from the hardworking Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in Cast Iron to the luxe Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere in La Nuit.

See Vanessa’s recommendations for the rest of the outfit.

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Street style photo © Vanessa Jackman; used with permission

7 thoughts on “Knit the Look: Elin Kling’s little black turtleneck”

  2. I’ve purchased that pattern and I’m keen to make it. However, having just worked with both Brooklyn Tweed and the Jade Sapphire cashmere, I don’t know that either would be optimal. The BT is pretty scratchy up against the skin directly, IMO. And the cashmere (while I coveted it forever before I bought it) is extremely elastic and does not hold its shape well at all. I think it’s better for an accessory than a sweater (which is what I’ve used it for).

    • Hi, K. The pattern is designed for the BT, which has such great stitch definition and really shows off that twisted ribbing. My thinking is that a cashmere version wouldn’t have the same crispness about it, and would make for a fuzzier (as in less defined) version. But that’s interesting about your experience of the Jade not holding its shape. Do you mean it actually bags out over time like a rayon or bamboo would do? Or just that it doesn’t have that level of stitch definition. I’ve never knitted with cashmere, and would also love to know how you think it compares, in that regard, if you’ve used others.

    • Hi Karen: The cashmere actually bags – and more or less on first wearing. It also doesn’t have the same level of stitch definition that, for example, a halo-free merino would. But the stitch definition isn’t bad, it’s just a bit fuzzy. I do think that BT Loft has lovely stitch definition but, because it’s a bit nubby, the definition isn’t as crisp as some other yarns I’ve used (I haven’t worked with the Shelter yet). I’ve written about my experience of the Loft on my blog – I do find it to be a very special yarn (if one I don’t think I’d want right near my skin). I’ve also written about the Jade in the context of a vintage sweater I knit (Princess Jumper). The feel of the cashmere was awesome to work with, but it didn’t yield a particularly structural end result. Neither fibre is particularly strong, intriguingly. They’re both fine with a light hand, but I imagine a tight knitter would have some trouble with either. You can easily break either yarn with your hands, with barely any effort.

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