- Pattern by Connie Chang Chinchio, Interweave Knits Spring 09
- Yarn: Mirasol Nuna (40 wool/40 silk/20 bamboo), maya blue,1205 yards
- Size/Needles/Gauge: 33″ chest, 25.5 st/4″ on US 4
- Time to knit: 4 weeks in April/May 2010
So, here’s my first handknit wrap sweater. Overall, I am pleased; the sweater feels both slinky and elegant. It’s a nice light layer for summer, not too warm. However, I find the style a bit of a challenge to wear.
The pattern is well written and clear. I made one small modification- my twisted rib contained twisted purls on the wrong side as well, as this method makes twisted rib neater in my opinion. The only challenging part was maintaining stitch count across shaping- you always need to have an even number of cocoons motifs and spaces in between motifs. I found the knitted ties- 5 stitch 1×1 twisted rib- to be quite tedious, but they do look nice. I chose a size with a bit of negative ease, because I like the FO’s on Rav that fit more sleekly. The downside is, the sweater wants to pull apart from its wrapped position and then looks messy. I used internal snaps to stabilize the sweater; the knitted ties don’t really suffice as they are stretchy. One set is placed at the center front (neck) while the other is at the hems where the underfront meets the outer front. Also, I added two belt loops in the back to keep the belt straight and perhaps I should add another one to the side front, as the tied loop has a tendency to slide down.
The yarn, Mirasol Nuna, is lovely and an absolute treat to knit. Soft, silky, good stitch definition, pretty sheen and beautiful drape; it’s easy to knit by touch alone. I adore the color, a subtle blue-ish grey. It’s 3 plies, round and tightly spun enough that it worked well for the backwards single crochet (crab stitch) around the hem. Overall, I believe it’s a great substitute for Blue Sky Alpaca Silk, which the pattern originally used. Also, with the skinny gauge and being predominantly silk and bamboo, it creates a nice light fabric suitable for warm weather.
My feelings are slightly mixed on this sweater- it feels like pure luxury to wear, but I’m not sure if the style is flattering.
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