OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern: by Kim Hargreaves, from Misty
• Yarn: Bristol Yarn Gallery Lyndon Hill (85 cotton/15 silk) color #106, ~883 yds
• Size, etc: S (1″ neg ease), 7.25 spi on 2.75 mm needles, 2.25 mm for trim
• Time to knit: Just short of a month in July/August 2010

This project was a long time coming… the yarn was purchased back in 2006, if memory serves.  For a long time, the small gauge intimidated and relative difficulty in getting the pattern didn’t help, but I cast on with great enthusiasm after finishing the lovely Arielle, another fingering weight summer top, and of course the pattern was reprinted in “Misty”.  This book was an excellent investment… 4 of the patterns are already knit up.

The pattern is fine, no errata.  The way the stitch pattern distorted gauge and left little holes in the fabric was not to my liking, so I went back with a tapestry needle and evened up the stitches.  This process was tedious but I’m glad I did it.  The neckline construction is a bit unusual, as you knit little triangle pieces that function as “shoulder sections”.  You join the shoulder sections to the back at the shoulder seams (I did short row shoulder shaping then a 3 needle bind off, which is my custom), then you have to seam in the sleeves while aligning the shoulder section to the front piece.  Copious pinning before sewing ensured proper alignment.  Mods… the sweater was turning out tiny, so I did my bust increases every 6 rows instead of every 8, reaching the full width sooner to provide more room in the bust.  I wasn’t happy with the crocheted button loops, especially at the lower sides of the body.  This sweater has negative ease, so it was gaping apart under the buttons- not a good look.  I seamed instead and the buttons are just decoration.  The crystal buttons are from Jewelrysupply.com, as I wasn’t able to find what I wanted locally.  They are 14 mm, but I should have gotten something a bit smaller as 5 did not fit comfortably on the lower sides.  I wish the pattern had stated button size. 

The yarn is perfectly nice, mostly cotton but with a little silk to provide drape and sheen.  I love the color, a dusty lilac.  Lyndon Hill is smooth and fluid, not stiff like some cottons, and the knitting was perfectly comfortable.  The finished fabric is so soft, it’s really cool and lightweight of course, since the yarn has 218 yds/50 g.  It’s also a pretty good value, retailing at $6 for a ball with very good yardage.  The downside would be a somewhat limited color palette.

All in all, I’m very happy with this project, perfect for summer with its lightweight, and so cute with the vintage style and square neck.  Also, I’m quite chuffed to have stashbusted with some of the oldest yarn in my collection!   

P.S. I made the skirt too!  Details next time…