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Yarn Requirements and Notes
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Notes originally posted to the Ample-Knitters list on December 22 and December 24, 2003, by Susan Esser. These notes are intended to supplement the pattern sold by Sue. You will need to purchase the pattern to knit the sweater. As you wait for your pattern to arrive, you can begin collecting the yarn to knit your sweater. This jacket is a super STASHBUSTER! Choose 4 different colors (even different weight yarns.) Call them A, B, C, and D. Color A will be your cuff yarn and will be used for the neck treatment. So choose color A as one that looks good next to your face. Remember that each yarn might have a different gauge so you'll have to work at them to bring them all to the same gauge; some can be doubled to make 3.5 sts to 1 inch or, in some cases, you just might have to use a larger or smaller needle to reach the correct gauge. Techniques To Be Learned
Notes for Cuff-to-Cuff Class 1. Keep good notes. Write down everything you do, so the other half of the sweater will match. 2. When a color will be used again in a few rows, do not cut it, but carry it loosely up the side. 3. Be sure to mark the beginning (such as your first sleeve as the LEFT SLEEVE) using safety pins and notes etc. Before you start: 1. Do gauge swatches of all 4 yarns you will use. Be sure they all come up to the bulky weight gauge of 3 1/2 stitches to 1 inch. These swatches will be used to practice the techniques - such things as the buttonhole, picot edging, and the "add on" method of casting on. 2. Choose the neck treatment that will look best on you (or the recipient of the jacket). Do you prefer a ribbed collar, a picot or garter stitch stand-up collar? 3. In picking the color of the cuff and collar yarn (A), choose the one that will look best next to your face. 4. Pick out your buttons, so you know how small or large to make your buttonholes. Measuring notes When knitting from side to side, the number of rows to the inch become much more important. But if you use your ruler as you go along, it will help prevent ripping out or frogging, and allow you to wear something that is exactly the dimensions you wish. First, measure your sleeve length - from the back of your neck to the wrist bone. Write that dimension down. Now write down 1/4 of your desired finished chest measurement ("finished" means allowing about 4 inches of ease). My example: My sleeve length is 29 inches. 1/4 of my finished chest measurement is 11 inches (my total chest measurement is 44 inches. So I subtract 11 from 29 inches and that leaves me with 18 inches for the sleeve length. (This includes your cuff too). So as you are knitting from the cuff towards your shoulder, you keep using your ruler, and add or subtract rows of stockinette to match your own body. A fail-safe method!! Yarn Requirements My listing of yarn requirements is enough to make a finished chest size of 44 inches. Please note this! I don't have the formula for how much yarn you will need for your size - maybe someone else does!
Before you begin - make 2 equal piles of your yarn. (So your 2 halves of the sweater jacket will look the same, and your fronts will match. ) Place them according to what colors you think will look best near each other. This is the fun part - like a puzzle. Remember to write everything down - colors, amounts etc. Keep good notes. If you're braver than I am - don't bother with matching - I saw one gal at a Stitches convention who made a similar sweater and she just randomly knitted any color. It was unique - and truly hers, I'd have to say! These notes copyright © 2003, Susan Esser, and intended as preliminary information to be used with her Cuff-to-Cuff Workshop Knit-a-long for Ample-Knitters. |
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Copyright © 2004
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