OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern: by Ysolda Teague, Twist Collective, Fall 2008
• Yarn: Plymouth Tweed (wool), in dk. ocean teal, almost 11 balls
• Size/Needles/Gauge: 34″ (0 ease), 4.25 st/” in stockinette on US 8
• Time to knit: 10 weeks, off and on (October-December, 2009)

 Here’s my last FO of 2009, sneaking in just under the deadline for SKC’s 4th quarter KAL.  I sewed the zipper in on New Years Eve.   I love this sweater, and it is very warm, but it certainly wasn’t the easiest to execute.

 The pattern is fine, it’s ingenious the way the shaping is incorporated into the cabling, and it’s easier than it looks because most of the cable crossings occur on the same rows.  I made quite a few mods, however.  I changed the back, to break up that large panel of seed stitch that would call attention to my rear.  I redid the shaping for the sleeves, which was necessary for a good fit.  I followed Felinity’s hood mods, after realizing the hood as written would be way too short.  One quibble- I believe that the yardage specified for the 34″ size is insufficient.  I used about 100 yds extra; the only part of the sweater I made bigger is the hood and I don’t think that accounts for all the excess.

 The yarn, Plymouth Tweed, is a rustic wool with some variation in thickness, and a fair amount of veggie matter.  It’s not the softest, but I believe it will wear well.  The knitted fabric is firm, with body, though it did soften with blocking.  The sweater is insanely warm and definitely suited to outdoor wear.  The tweedy bits are tonal and cohesive with some lighter green, navy, and maroon on the dark teal yarn (this color is discontinued).  I might use this yarn again, for a jacket-type garment.

 This project was a lot of work.  The seed stitch background and copious cabling made for slow progress.  The one piece construction limits its portability.  I started the sleeves several times, before going up a needle size to maintain my gauge for seed stitch in the round and deciding how to redo the increases.  I liked the pattern from the first time I saw it, but knew from the beginning that I would need to rework certain aspects. With the various challenges and setbacks, I definitely owe the KAL for the motivation to finish in a timely manner.  Nevertheless, I do think it’s pretty spectacular and this is the first sweater I’ve knit with so many cables.