Wednesday, January 15, 2025, Issue 377: What is on your needles?

What sweaters come to your mind to wear at this time of year? Here are a couple of new sweater weather patterns.

The Checkerplate Sweater by Lily Kate France is an allover textured raglan sweater inspired by the patterns of metal checkerplate flooring, after my friend Naomi accidentally created a similar print by blocking a sweater on the back of a truck. The Checkerplate Sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down using a raglan construction.

The Original Checkerplate Sweater’ short story by Naomi is included with the pattern as a little extra!

YARN
Worsted weight yarn, approx. 1267 (1352; 1492; 1553; 1671) (1738; 1849; 1993; 2113) metres / 1386 (1479; 1632; 1698; 1827) (1901; 2022; 2180; 2311) yards.

GAUGE
20.5 sts and 26 rows to 4 inches / 10 cm in Checkerplate stitch, blocked. Suggested needle size 4.5 mm.

NEEDLES
4.5mm circular needles for body & yoke
4mm & 4.5mm needle(s) of your preferred length for working small circumferences in the round (ie. DPNs, short circulars, magic loop) for sleeves and neckband

SIZES
1 (2; 3; 4; 5) 6; 7; 8; 9 detailed below. Sample shown is a size 2 worn on a 34” bust. There are slightly varying amounts of ease across the size range; this is due to the large scale pattern repeat.

To fit bust: 28-30 (32-34; 36-38; 40-42; 44-46) (48-50; 52-54; 56-58; 60-62) inches / 71-76 (81-86; 91-97; 102-107; 112-117) (122-127; 132-137; 142-147; 152-157) cm.

Finished bust: 37.5 (42; 46.5; 51.5; 56) (56; 60.5; 65.5; 70) inches / 95 (107; 119; 130; 142) (142; 154; 166; 178) cm.

SUGGESTED YARN
Berroco Ultra Alpaca, Cascade 220 Heathers, Garnstudio Drops Lima

The Juri Sweater by Susanne Müller is a simple raglan sweater with a stand-up collar, a basic piece that is easy to combine and belongs in every wardrobe.

The sweater is worked seamlessly top down in the round in Half Fisherman’s rib, with the “wrong” side of the HFR-pattern being the front. First, the double stand-up collar is worked. Then work is continued in the round and increases are made for the shoulders, body and sleeves. After the raglan increases are completed, the work is divided and the body and sleeves are finished separately. Since the sweater is knitted top down, it is possible (and advisable) to try it on while knitting, so the length of the body and sleeves can be adjusted individually.

Techniques used: Provisional CO, Half Fisherman’s rib worked with yarn overs, left- and right leaning increases (knitwise and purlwise), double decreases, binding off acc to the ‚Italian BO Method‘.

SIZES
XS (S) M (L) XL (XXL)

Measurements:
Chest circumference: 98 (104) 110 (122) 128 (136) cm / 38.6 (41) 43.3 (48) 50.4 (53.5)”
Length (without collar): 51 (53) 53 (56) 56 (59) cm / 20 (20.9) 20.9) 22 (22) (23.2)”
Length underarm: 41 (42) 43 (44) 44 (44) cm / 16.1 (16.5) 17 (17.3) 17.3 (17.3)”

The sweater must have a ‘positive ease’ of approx. 10 - 15 cm in relation to the body. If you like it oversized, you can plan for a little more positive ease and knit a size larger.

YARN
1342 (1464) 1586 (1708) 1830 (1952-2074) yards of worsted or DK weight yarn

NEEDLES
4.0 mm (US 6) circular needles in 50 cm (20”), 80 cm (32”) and 100-120 cm (40-47”) 
3.0 mm (US 2.5) circular needles in 80-100 cm (32-40”) for bottom border
3.0 mm (US 2.5) DPNs for sleeve cuffs (unless the ‚Magic Loop Method‘ is used)

GAUGE
HFR pattern worked flat, using 4.0 mm: 18 -19 sts x 38 -40 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4” square, measured lying flat, after washing, slightly stretched.
Please adjust needle size if necessary, to obtain correct gauge.

SUGGESTED YARN
Schoppel Wolle Admiral Starke 6, The Fibre Co. Arranmore Light, Garnstudio Drops Lima, Garnstudio Drops Sky

Eun Sweater by Ane Fiskum Sunde (@novemberknits) is a raglan sweater with a high side split that is worked top down. The neckband is knitted in rib and folded in half, and short rows are worked to shape the neckline. The body is worked in stockinette stitch in the round before being divided into front and back pieces, which are worked flat in rib, one at a time. See recommended video tutorials at www.novemberknits.com.

SIZES
1 (2) 3 (4) 5 (6) 7 (8)

Sweater circumference
115 (118) 123 (128) 138 (148) 158 (168) cm

Sweater length
63 (64) 65 (66) 67 (68) 69 (70) cm

SUGGESTED NEEDLES
4.5 mm circular needle (40 cm)
5 mm circular needle (40 and 80 cm)
4.5 mm double-pointed needles

GAUGE
16 stitches x 24 rounds on 5 mm needles = 10 x 10 cm in both stockinette stitch and 2 x 2 rib

YARN
1096 (1233) 1233 (1370) 1370 (1507) 1507 (1644) yards held together with 1150 (1380) 1380 (1380) 1380 (1610) 1610 (1610) yards of mohair

The sweater is worked with two strands held together, and the pattern gives the total yardage needed.

SUGGESTED YARN
The Fibre Co. Arranmore Light, Berroco Vintage DK, Garnstudio Drops Lima held double with Garnstudio Drops Kid Silk or Garnstudio Drops Air

FOs and WIPs

It has been so cold out that I would rather have been sitting and knitting but I finally finished doing inventory so I was able to work a little on my Mokosh by Teti Lutsak. I am very slow at knitting 1x1 ribbing but I plan to work two more rows of ribbing before binding off.

This is turning out to be a very fluffy and lightweight sweater with an amazing halo!

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

Teri is wearing her Coffee Bean Cardigan by Elizabeth Smith. Yarn is Berroco Vintage.

Kay (83krobbins) is wearing this beautiful Monte Rosa by Isabell Kraemer.

Sandi (sandima) finished her January Gnome - Gnorri by Sarah Schira.

Marie (thecatsmom) knit this pair of socks as a Christmas gift using Regia 6 Ply Tweed which I no longer carry.

Emma (emmlaporte) knit this pair of Basic Sock No. 2: The Afterthought Heel by Summer Lee.

Emma (emmlaporte) knit this perfect basic Hibernate Pullover by Aimee Sher.

Ellen (EllenDiane) knit this lovely Simple Sweater by tincanknits.

Ellen (EllenDiane) knit herself this striking and fun Halibut Cardigan by Caitlin Hunter.

Elaine (emayea) knit herself this cozy Snuggler by Laura Nelkin.

SHOP UPDATE

The Lykke Craft Works Pendel is sure to become your most useful and flexible accessory for holding your yarn, allowing your yarn to unwind as you knit. Choose either the Acacia or Rosewood finish.

A new shipment of Thread & Maple has arrived! Discover your favourites from their most loved and thoughtfully designed tools and accessories for makers, by makers. They are a Canadian women-owned small business based in Montreal with their artisan-crafted leather from Ukraine.

The Little Acorn Stitch Marker Keeper is back in stock along with other NNK favourites!

Happy Wednesday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!