Wednesday, January 22, 2025, Issue 378: What is on your needles?

Simple but cozy sweaters are certainly welcome at this time of year!

Giddy Up by Heidi Kirrmaier has saddle shoulders, and modified drop shoulders. It is meant to fit with some ease (approximately 2-7 inches), but exactly how much is up to you! The pattern includes a schematic diagram with detailed measurements to help you decide.

The measurements shown above are the finished sweater circumferences. (So if your actual chest measures 42 inches for example, the Size M2 would have 2.5 inches of ease on you.)

Construction:
It is worked seamlessly from the top down. The collar is knit in the round first, then each saddle shoulder is knit flat. Stitches are picked up along the sides of the saddle shoulders, and short rows are used to shape the shoulders and front neckline. The front and back body stitches are joined at the underarms and knit in the round.

Stitches for the sleeves are picked up along the vertical edges of the front and back and short rows are used to shape the sleeve caps, and then the sleeves are knit in the round.

The pattern includes diagrams to help visualize the construction.

Sizes:
Finished body circumference (inches): XXS (32¼), XS (34½), S1 (36½), S2 (38¾), M1 (41½), M2 (44½), L (47¼), XL (50); 2X (53¾), 3X (57¼), 4X (61½), 5X (65¾), 6X (69½) 

Yarn:
Any DK yarn (or multiple strands of thinner yarns) that knits to the pattern gauge can be used.

Estimated Yarn Requirements:
930 (985) 1040 (1095) 1175 (1285) 1395 (1475) 1560 (1695) 1805 (1940) 2025 yds
850 (900) 950 (1000) 1075 (1175) 1275 (1350) 1425 (1550) 1650 (1775) 1850 m

Gauge:
22 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches in St st

Needles:
3.00 mm (US 2.5) 
3.50 mm (US 4)

Yarn Suggestions:
The Fibre Co Arranmore Light, Estelle Eco Tweed Worsted, Rowan Felted Tweed, Garnstudio Drops Lima

The Cloud Sweater by PetiteKnit is worked from the top down. First the back yoke is worked back and forth while short rows are worked to shape the shoulders. Then each shoulder is worked separately, back and forth and with short rows. The shoulders are then joined to form the front yoke. The front and back yoke are joined at the underarms to form the body, which is worked in the round on a circular needle. The sleeves are worked from stitches that are picked up and knitted along the armhole openings. The sleeves are worked in the round. At the end, the stockinette stitch funnel neckline is worked from stitches that are picked up and knitted along the neck opening.

Size guide
Cloud Sweater is designed to have approx. 25 cm [9¾ inches] of positive ease in the smaller sizes and then gradually less positive ease in the larger sizes. The sizes XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL) are designed to fit a bust circumference of 75-80 (80-85) 85-90 (90-95) 95-100 (100-110) 110-120 (120-130) 130-140 (140-150) cm [29½-31½ (31½-33½) 33½-35½ (35½-37½) 37½-39½ (39½-43¼) 43¼-47¼ (47¼-51¼) 51¼-55 (55-59) inches].

The measurements for the finished sweater are listed on the front page of the pattern. Measure yourself before starting your project, to determine which size will fit you the best. For example, if you measure 90 cm [35½ inches] around your bust (or around the widest part of your upper body) you should knit a size S. A size S sweater has a bust circumference of 113 cm [44½ inches] which in the given example would give you 23 cm [9 inches] of positive ease.

Sizes:
XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL)

Bust circumference:
102 (108) 113 (118) 122 (127) 136 (146) 153 (162) cm [40¼ (42½) 44½ (46½) 48 (50) 53½ (57½) 60¼ (63¾) inches]

Gauge:
17 sts x 26 rows in stockinette stitch on a 4.5 mm (US7) = 4 inches

Needles:
Circular needles: 4.5 mm (US 7) / 40, 60 and 80 or 100 cm [16, 24 and 32 or 40 inches]

Material:
Aran weight yarn held double with mohair
959 (959) 1096 (1096) 1233 (1233) 1370 (1507) 1507 (1644) yds 
875 (875) 1000 (1000) 1125 (1125) 1250 (1375) 1375 (1500) m

Yarn Suggestions:
Noro Rittou, Garnstudio Drops Air, or Rowan Fine Tweed Haze held double with Garnstudio Drops Kid Silk. Garnstudio Drops Air can also be used held single.

I have knit the Step by Step Cardigan but here is the Step by Step Sweater by Florence Miller is a simple raglan sweater with no complicated techniques, perfect as your first garment knitting project. It has a relaxed fit and two options for the neckline.
This sweater also has an associated video demonstrating all the tricky steps in the knitting process.

Optional short row shaping is included.

Sizes:
A (B, C, D) (E, F, G)

Measurements: Approximately 90 (100, 110, 120) (130, 140, 150) cm finished garment bust measurement after washing and blocking.

Needles:
4.5 mm (US 7) circular needles (40 cm and 80 cm lengths)
5.5 mm (US 9) circular needles (40 cm and 80 or 100 cm lengths)
It is possible to use the magic loop technique to avoid the need for 40 cm needles.

Yarn: Nepal by DROPS (75m/50g)
For the striped version:
574 (676, 738, 902) (984, 1066, 1230) yds or 525 (600, 675, 825) (900, 975, 1125) of the main colour
246 (246, 328, 328) (410, 410, 492) yds or 225 (225, 300, 300) (375, 375, 450) m of the contrast colour
For a solid coloured version:
738 (820, 984, 1066) (1230, 1312, 1476) yds or 675 (750, 900, 975) (1125, 1200, 1350) m

Yarn Suggestions:
Garnstudio Drops Air, or Rowan Fine Tweed Haze held double with Garnstudio Drops Kid Silk

FOs and WIPs

I have been doing a lot more knitting again but I still have quite a bit to go! Yesterday I took this progress shot of my Mokosh Pullover by Teti Lutsak and I am definitely on sleeve island.

I am almost finished the two repeats of the sleeve charts that I have decided are all I will knit before knitting the remainder of the sleeve in the lighter grey. I am loving every stitch despite all of the 3 colour rounds with six balls of mohair.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

Jean (jean091) came to Knit Night wearing her Dreyma by Jennifer Steingass.

Jean (Jean091) finally took photos of some of her projects. This one is The JazzaGal by Mary Annarella.

Here is another The JazzaGal by Mary Annarella knit by Jean (jean081).

Angelina makes up her own patterns as she goes using a mix of stash yarn from her trips to Italy and yarn she has purchased from me. Here she has included Drops Kid Silk and Flora.

Marilyn finished this stunning mosaic Marques Cowl by Jesse Molzan using Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace which I no longer carry and a mix of other yarns.

Angie (KnittinGrapeVines) knit this pair of shortie socks using Timber Yarns Twin Sock in Gingerbread.

Brandi (@thegreenbuttonjar) finished this pair cozy Wide Rib DK Weight Socks by Erica Saint. Yarn is Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Starke 6.

Carol (knittoatea) knit herself this Thea Top by Susanne Müller that she knit using Sandnes Garn Line.

Emma (emmlaporte) finished her gorgeous The Throwover by Andrea Mowry. Yarn is Cascade 220 and Lang Frida.

Debbie (debsnubs) knit this adorable Toadstools Cardigan by Julie Taylor.

Here are both sides of Debbie (debsnubs)'s finished Musselburgh Hat by Ysolda Teague.

Happy Wednesday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!