OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern by Glenna C. available via Ravelry
• Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes, “Winter Night”, 1004 yards
• Size/Needles/Gauge: 33″, 5.25 spi on US 7’s, 6’s for trim
• Time to knit: 5 weeks in February/March 2011

I’ve lusted after this pattern since it was first published (I love a shapely, s*xy, aran sweater) and thought the KAL would be a good opportunity to tackle a challenging pattern.

The pattern is fine, no errata, written with lots of detail.  It’s not actually that difficult, and it’s addicting to watch the cable pattern emerge.  However, once I had the cable pattern memorized, it became a bit tedious.  Between the copious cabling and background twisted moss stitch, progress felt slow.  I shortened the hem-underarm length to avoid “big butt length”, added short row shaping for more room at the front bust and moved up the deep scoop neck, beginning the neck shaping at the same as the undearam.  I ignored the instructions about picking up certain number of stitches for the neckband, instead using the ratio method.  I did a sewn tubular bind for the neckband.  The scoop neck is front and center, so it must be pretty. 

I used Knitpicks Wool of the Andes.  It’s a basic yarn that I chose mostly for the color.  Winter Night is a deep royal blue, sophisticated and perfectly regal in my opinion, just right for “Royale”.   The yarn is an economical choice, 100% wool, medium worsted weight, four plies with moderate twist, reasonably soft, improves with washing, and spit-splices perfectly.   I’ve used it before and will likely use it again, though as Knitpicks keeps jacking up their prices, who knows.  I spent $17 on the yarn for this project last fall, but if I ordered it today, it would be $25.  I acknowledge that even $25 is still fairly cheap for a handknit wool sweater, but Knitpicks is no longer quite the bargain it used to be.

My favorite aspects of this project are the lovely color, deep scoop neck, and delicate, intricate cabling. I’m not entirely thrilled with the fit.  It’s rather loose in the stomach area and the shoulders are a bit too wide.  Still, I like it.