I feel like I’ve had so little time for knitting lately and yet I’ve made progress on my black top-down cardigan (just the hem ribbing to finish before I turn to the sleeves), knitted the sample for a pattern publishing in October that I can’t show you yet, and have quickly taken a big bite out of the new sample sweater for the top-down tutorial in preparation for the upcoming Fringe and Friends Top-Down Knitalong.
What have I still not gotten to do? I can’t even say it out loud again. But the minute the new tutorial sweater is done, and before the knitalong begins, it will be cast on. I’m hellbent on having it to wear to the Knitting With Company retreat in October, so I better make inroads before the knitalong begins!
Both sweaters pictured are improvised top-down raglans; top yarn is Purl Soho Linen Quill in Kettle Black (a gift from Purl Soho); bottom yarn is Lettlopi in Color 1413
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The purple yarn is such a wonderful color. Can you share what it is?
It’s Lettlopi, color 1413
okay so I have a question about your quill cardigan. it’s top down and to me, it looks like you are going to add a vertical button band when you are done with the structure, is this correct? and if so, did you subtract the width of the button band x 2 from your cast on sts? can you share your math? for example, if you wanted a 1.5″ band and are working to get a 6.75 ” opening (I got this number from your back of the neck measurement, I understand that it will most likely be wider than this) would you cast on enough stitches to make 3.75″? that doesn’t seem right to me….
if you are not doing a seamed button band, can you share what you are doing instead? and I’d still like to see your math because it doesn’t make sense to me until I have some numbers I can plug in but without my own swatch, I don’t have any to play with.
This is top-down, not bottom-up, so there’s nothing to subtract from the cast-on count in either regard. For a top-down raglan, you always start with just one stitch at each front and increase from there as desired. In this case, I increased every fourth row until I liked the V and had an equivalent number to the back stitches (with the two front counts added together) minus however many for the width of the band.
As far as the band, I haven’t decided yet but I think I’m going to do a picked-up band and work it in garter stitch, just because I’ve never done garter bands before and think it might look good on this. And once that’s knitted on at regular band width, I’ll see if I like it or want to keep going and make it a shawl collar.
“until I liked the V and had an equivalent number to the back stitches (with the two front counts added together) minus however many for the width of the band. ”
THAT’S IT!!! okay, that’s where I was going in circles trying to figure out what the deal is when adding a band or stitches later. it will probably make more sense once I start too right?
I remember you posting about whether to make it a kimono jacket with garter bands or a vertical button band. This seems like a great solution! for what it’s worth, since doing the cowichan style kal, I’ve been digging the shawl collars. they have an interesting construction and shape. can’t wait to see the FO!
Hi Karen, this has nothing to deal with your blog post, but did you see the last post on the Miss Moss blog ? It’s all about crafting in the 60’s !
http://www.missmoss.co.za/2016/07/21/old-crafts-find-new-hands/
I have not yet read the LIFE article where the pictures come from, and I’m not sure I could, but the images Diana shares are stunning.
I hope you will like it.
Oh wow! I haven’t been keeping up with her blog lately, so thank you so much for pointing out that out to me — what a trove.
i like both but the purple one is really a lovely looking yarn.
Hey Karen! I’d like to know how you made that V shape on your cardigan and progressed with it even after separating the sleeves and how you continued to make it plunge. I must admit, it is interesting.
I just increased at the front neck every fourth row until I had an equivalent number to the back stitches (with the two front counts added together) minus however many for the width of the band.
Thanks! Interesting design though, very chic and modern.
I absolutely love watching the progress on your cardigan. I have realized that summer time is the perfect time to knit black/darks because the light is so good. In winter, I find myself totally frustrated with dark knits. I’m so looking forward to the next knit along and I’m madly scribbling out my ideas… now to choose a (dark) yarn…
I love that you can try these on the dress form in order to step back and look at the WIP from afar/critically. Is it’s measurements yours? I don’t sew but it would seem that a dress form, especially if I could give it my measurements, would be a great thing to have!
No, it’s really different, but still helpful! And much easier to photograph. ;)
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