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Multi-Patterned Wool Knitted In-the-Round Cardigan Sweater
How-to ~ Ideas
~ Inspiration For a satisfyingly warm upper layer there just isn't anything like wool. Just ask "dyed-in-the-wool" cold weather hikers! Or anyone who lives in colder climates. But to get one that suits a particular desire and body "just right" you will probably want to design and knit it yourself. It's well worth it! |
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February 1, 2016 -- Designing and knitting my first in-the-round cardigan sweater ...
February 1, 2020 -- Welcome to February and a Knitting Project We're quite settled into winter with two feet of snow on the ground, plenty of wood in the woodshed, paths that are packed down well enough we don't have to use snowshoes, involved in numerous indoor projects, and enjoying playing a variety of tunes and songs, both new and old. I like this relaxing time of year. While Steve's been working on his bowl, planning additions to his most recent boat, and doing website work I've mostly had two main projects (and, of course, many little ones!) - creating a computer database for my expanding orchard, which will hopefully be easier to manage than sorting through likewise expanding folders and paper; and knitting. Four years ago I knitted an "in the round" cardigan sweater of my own design. It was a bit of an ambitious project since I mostly knit socks and mittens, but it turned out (after a bit of fine tuning). I was happy with it and have worn it often. It had one feature, however, that I thought would be a good idea but turned out to be not so. The initial reasoning was fine but somewhat limiting. What really prompted me to make the sweater initially was the Manistique Farmers Market where we play music every week from May into September. Any place in the U.P. can be chilly any day of the year, summer included. But Manistique's location on Lake Michigan gives it an added bonus of some nice brisk cold winds. I can leave home in shorts and tshirt then have to change into longjohns and wool toque when we get to town. But there are some really warm days, too, so no complaints. After all, there's hardly ever any snow that time of year. That's why I knitted myself a warm wool cardigan. And since my mind (rather narrowly) was focused on something that would work well with playing my guitar I decided I wanted fairly tight sleeves. Both to keep the material away from the strings and to fit comfortably under a windbreaker or another jacket. So that's the way I made it. It was comfortable for both those reasons. But, turns out, it didn't slip on or off so easily over a long sleeved shirt, which is also a common item of clothing worn. And when one is also wearing a guitar on a strap, and connected by one or two cords to various sound equipment, being easy-on-easy-off without having to take everything off (instrument and equipment, not clothes) is a real nice feature for changing weather and comfort. And I did wear it at other times, too.
And one sleeve is done! I'm happy with the design, and the new sleeve
fits well. Tight enough and loose enough. Sigh of relief. The photo
above right shows the initial tight sleeve and the redone looser sleeve. The pattern
on the newly k February 22 - Finally, the last stitch knitted, the last yarn end woven in, the patient project washed and dried, and my sweater is back in business. I added a bit more to the cuffs, another inch to the bottom, and ended with a nickel size ball of yarn leftover. It was a satisfying bit of knitting and I'm happy to have it available to wear once again.
Copyright by Susan Robishaw |
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Have you read "Moving With the Music"? An enjoyable short read. or "Homesteading Adventures" Creating our backwoods homestead--the first 20 years.
and the newest
"Growing
Berries for Food and Fun"
Add berries of your own to your life. |
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updated 03/01/2020 |