Must Have Knitalong

pictish · Must Have Knitalong

I started one of these last year - pattern here - but my guage was off so I ended up buying the exact yarn as in the pattern - Patons Classic Merino - from a nice lady in Michigan via ebay last autumn and it is lovely!! I am using the shade shown in the pattern too Wink

Natural Mix #229 which is a light marly stone colour. The yarn cost me about £22 (before the $ was so strong) inc postage. It is not a super luxurious yarn but is lovely and soft and shows the cables really well. She is still selling via ebay and has lots of colours - just email her as she sells the yarn in packs of 5 if you want 6 or 7. There are lots of ones on Rav done in Cascade 220 which is easy to get at GK and other places. Or you can use the New Lanark DK on bigger needles or maybe the Touch of Silk from Silver Viscount Cool

I am up to row 18 on the back and am doing size 36" and it is coming out fine so far size wise. It's a lovely pattern to knit. Some people have modified a bit to get mirroring cables and making the cables flow out of the ribs but I am just knitting it as it is!! There is a KAL on Rav which is still fairly active too.

loobyj

I like that. Your cables are lovely and neat, and the stitch definition of the yarn is really good Very Happy

Is it quite a light yarn - or more snuggly?

lj

pictish

It's quite soft and snuggly but fairly light too and springy - I'm trying to think what it's similar too - it's a BIT like Jaeger Matchmaker but softer or Rowan Pure Wool DK but it doesn't feel superdooper expensive IYKWIM. It's a merino wool blend (tho it doesn't mebntion merino on my ball band). It's one of the most popular yarns used on Rav Razz

and comes in lots of colours. It knits at 20st on 4.5mm.

If you look on Rav at the MHC the ones knitted in it tend to have really good stitch definition.

FatCat

wow, you've done loads! It looks fantastic Very Happy

I started on this last year but didn't get past the ribbing before I frogged it. I like the cabley pattern but I'm not sure about the shape of the cardigan itself, it's rather square Confused

I'd have to work out how to make it more fitted and probably longer too before I'd be happy with it, and tbh at the moment it'd be easier just to find a pattern that I liked rather than struggle to alter this one Rolling Eyes

But it's entirely possible that I could change my mind once I've seen a few more OTN and finished Laughing

Yours is looking great! Very Happy

pictish

FC it wouldn't be too hard to add waist shaping as the edge stitches are all double moss stitch - I think 15 each side in my size - so you could just decrease a bit there. Some peeps have done that. I would be wary of making it much longer tho cos I think it is the short slightly cropped shape that stops it looking like something your granny might have made - and worn Wink

Tho there is a GORGEOUS longer one done in chocolate Berroco Ultra Alpaca I think Razz

Jobo

That is looking really lovely Pictish Very Happy

FatCat

Well Miss Pictish, are you casting aspersions of the stylishness of my grandmother's knitting and fashion sense? Shocked

Well how very dare you! Wink

Thanks for the info tho, I might have to do a bit of investigation. The cropped-ness of it is one of the things that I don't like about it, it'd stop right at my widest part I think and not be very flattering Confused

, plus I have a low waist anyhow, so the cropped-ness might end up showcasing my muffin tops beautifully Rolling Eyes

I'm thinking longer might well be better, for me anyhow Very Happy

. I shall have a think about it.

pictish

@ muffin tops Laughing

Well I do have a fairly wide berth myself these days Laughing

and I know what you mean cos short wide things don't suit me either. But I think it isn't as 'square' IRL as in the pattern pic as the cables pull it in and I think it will be a bit fitted in fact. Have a look on Rav as there are a lot on there - I actually thought of making mine deliberately bigger cos I quite liked the slightly sloppy bigger look but have just gone for a fairly fitted one in the end.

Wildpurl

I've been having a look on Rav. I love the cabling on this, it's such a lovely traditional pattern, but it is too short for me and I would want waist shaping. I could modify it quite easily though. I was also looking at Tweedy Aran cardigan from IK, it has the shaping I would like but the cabling is not so nice in my opinion. Mmmm...

pictish

The Tweedy Aran is lovely too. I might make that later Razz

terri

I think I'll join in for this once I've finished my current project. Need to find something in stash that I have enough of Confused

pictish

YAY!!! Hope you DO find something - thickish dk or a thin aran - have you anything that knits at 19st?? That might work if you went down one needle size.

Wildpurl

I was looking for the pattern earlier. Patternworks want to charge $14.90 for shipping Confused

, and elann $8.90, which makes it quite expensive. So I'm hesitating, as I already have the Tweedy Aran pattern.

terri

pictish

Hope you find something!!!! The ASC has good yardage doesn't it.

Wildpurl

I found one on Rav which has been modified to shape the waist by knitting that section on smaller needles. She has also lengthened it, and it looks lovely, I think I could do that.

Yes I might have looked at all 25 pages of Must have Cardigans on Rav Embarassed

. What of it? Yes I might not have made any progress on my cable sweater because of it Rolling Eyes

. I'm doing research! A girl has to do research...

pictish

Absolutely!!! And what a good tip about using smaller needles Wink

melody yarns

Jo028

I've had this one in & out of my rav queue a few times. I keep ending up thinking it's something I need to be 40 yrs older to be able to wear Laughing

But, now I've read about the waist shaping suggestion, I might be back in. I can't wear cropped cardis for the same reason as FC, I need to cover my rib cage at least Laughing

I've got a rather substantial stash of Patons Zhivago that knits at 20sts, machine washes & wears beautifully, no pilling at all. Have I talked myself into it yet?? Laughing

Wildpurl

Well first of all, thanks to those who pmed with offers to help out with the pattern, and I'm pleased to say I'm all sorted now.

I've been thinking about yarn as well (I seem to have fallen in love with this pattern) and I think that an excellent yarn for this would be DROPS Karisma, it is normally 21st to 4 inches, so should be difficult to get 20 sts, it is pure washable wool and comes in a wide range of colours. I have been using it for my Babette balnket and I find it very soft and nice to work with.
I've got one colour in that which is a possible and I also have some Utiku Wools merino possum which I bought in New Zealand last time I was over there, which I think would be about right as well. So I'm going to swatch in each of them and see which I like best. I guess I'll take a teeny break from the BdF while I do that, but I am absolutely determined to finsh that before I start this.
I'll post some photos when I have swatches.

pictish

Great!! Looking forward to seeing some pics of chosen yarn etc Razz

Wildpurl

My swatches are blocking atm and I will post pictures later. I already know which I will choose - I got gauge on the Karisma with no problem and the texture is lovely and clear, so off to SKD to place my order I think. Laughing

pictish

That's great!!! What colour are you going for??

Auntie Noo

Wildpurl

LOL I love Karisma too Noo. It is so reasonably priced isn't it?

pictish, I'm going for light beige brown - number 55
it doesn't look very exciting, but it is a really lovely neutral colour. I had a ball for my Babette blanket, and it just goes with everything and makes the bright and strong colours stand out nicely.

pictish

Lovely!!! I think that colour will show the pattern beautiully Cool

C'mon Noo you know you want to Laughing

Wildpurl

Here's the Karisma - before and after blocking. The before was taken in bright sunshine and the after by lamplight - you can really see the difference.

and here is the merino possum. I really was pleased to try this out - and it's very nice, lovely and soft. It was a bit too dense at the required tension though, I think it is more of a worsted than a DK. Also, it is slightly fluzzy because of the possum, which makes the cables less crisp. I will definitely use it for something, but I think it's not right for this particular pattern. Also before and after blocking.

Glynis

They both look lovely, but the Karisma looks perfect for this project Carola.

pictish

Both nice but the Karisma cabling is fantastic!!!

Glynis

Snap!

Wildpurl

Yes, that was my conclusion too Smile

Annerosemary

Looks like a good choice, we'll await progress.

Wildpurl

OK, first progress pic. I'm about 1/3 up the back,maybe a bit less. It's a lovely knit so far, easy but not boring Smile

cazzie

That is lovely _ I love the cables Very Happy

pictish

That's gorgeous Carol!!!! I'm going to get mine out again - it's about the same and a very similar colour Razz

What yarn did you go for??

It's a lovely pattern to knit isn't it.

Aknita

I saw this irl on Saturday and it is just lovely Very Happy

The cables have real definition, and the yarn is a wonderful colour.

You feel warmer just looking at it Very Happy

Wildpurl

I forgot you were sitting next to it during Meg Swansen's talk Joy! Thank you for your kind comments.
It is a lovely knit - I'm doing it in DROPS Karisma.
I've been reading my EZ book - and I reckon Karisma would match a lot of the yarns she used for her lovely sweaters, I really fancy doing a patterned yoke.
There is also a little EZ touch I am adding to the cabling - no prize, but can anyone spot what it is? It will become more obvious as I continue...

melody yarns

Are you doing a braided cable instead of a cable forward or cable back?

It's looking lovely by the way Carol! The Drops Karisma IS lovely judginig by the sample you sent to me.... I feel another one being added to the To Knit list!! Laughing

I have the pattern, I have the know-how, all I need is the yarn... hmmm....

pictish

Come on Debs!!!! You must have Wink

something that you can knit at 20st in the stash Razz

The NL DK might work you know Cool

I'm going to get mine out again from hibernation and try and stick with it - it's such a lovely knit - seriously - interesting and rewarding while not being too difficult!! Well so far .... cos I'm at the same stage as Carol I think Wink

melody yarns

Well I bought the NL DK to knit it in but I'm not sure I'll get 20sts from it Confused

I'll try a tension swatch when I get round to knitting it I think.

I've got so much I want to knit up for late summer and winter that I will probably start it next year at this rate!!

pictish

I think I got 20st with the Donegal Silk DK on 4.5mm Debs but have a try. Or you could go up a size tho I'm sure you've thought of that already Wink

Mogiebear used it for hers I think.

IKWYM tho - I've wanted to make it for a long time - about 2/3 years - but I'll get there in the end I'm sure Laughing

pictish

Right - just picked mine up again Wink

Haven't done as much as I thought tho - just about 4" Confused

In fact it still looks pretty much like this Wink

I have measured it widthways and it is spot on for size. Carol are you still thinking of shaping a bit with the smaller needles??? Mine is going to be fairly fitted at bust/tummy so not sure cos the cables might pull it in as it is.

Jobo

These look so lovely Very Happy

I am definitely going to try a cable project this year Very Happy

pictish

It's really easy this one Jo!!!

Wildpurl

I have done more rib and am doing a slightly longer body, so I knitted two inches either side of the waist position with smaller needles to just give a little extra shaping there. I do think that the cables will pull it in and cling nicely to the figure anyway though - I just like a fitted look.

cazzie

Oooo I do love the cables Very Happy

pictish

Thanks Cazzie!!

melody yarns

This sounds a silly question, but how can you tell where the waist position is?

pictish

I just measure it on myself - nothing very sophisticated Laughing

- but maybe Carol has a better way. I know where the finished cardi will come to lengthwise on me so holding it up against me it sort of looks at a point at which I need to shape in Razz

If I'm doing a DK or 4 Ply garment and adding my own shaping decreases I generally start about 20 rows up from the rib but this is not a graduated shaping so am doing it a bit higher IYKWIM.

melody yarns

Ah I see - I thought you might know a magic way! I wanted to put some waist shaping into a cardie I'm knitting on the knitting machine at the moment but chickened out cos I didn't know how to work it out properly Embarassed

pictish

Roughly - on a 4 Ply garment I would start about 20 rows after the ribbing then do 5/6 decreases every 6/8 rows then about 10/12 rows straight then similarly spaced increases up to the number of stitches I need for the armholes. With DK I might start about 12 rows in after the rib and do 5 decs every 6 rows, 10 rows straight, then similar increases. That gives a gently fitted look on my size - about 2" less than bust measurement. I do tend to do it by eye/instinct tho plus constant measurement.

That's just based on the sort of decreases you tend to get in patterns I've done so Rowan/Jaeger/DB ones and they seem to work for where my waist is Wink

pictish

PS what pattern are you doing on the machine??

franney

There was an article on adding your own shaping in Knitting Daily a while ago, i don't know if that would help along with Ali's calculations?

melody yarns

Thanks for the info Ali! Wink

pictish

I didn't realise it was that quick!!!! Laughing

Off to have a look Wink

melody yarns

Well this is because it's double knitting yarn on a mid-gauge machine and it's got short sleeves and very little shaping. Long-sleeved raglans take a lot longer Wink

and 4ply takes longer on a standard gauge machine. But not as long as knitting it by hand Wink

pictish

You could still kit yourself out in a week if you worked flat out couldn't you Laughing

Wildpurl

LOL yes I just measure from my arrmhole to my waist and then adjust the schematic accordingly. My little brain can only cope wth really simple things.

melody yarns

Wildpurl

Back finished this week - finally - and the rest on hold while I knit my Queenof the Waves shawl:

This photo was taken just before I did the shoulder shaping.

craftylady

That's just beautiful Carol. I love the stitch definition.

pictish

That looks great Carol!!!

dreamcatcher

That looks lovely, the cables really pop Very Happy

Wildpurl

Thanks! I am really enjoying knitting it, and I think I'm going to wear it a lot Smile

Glynis

It looks wonderful!

murdo

I'm in. Liesl in Fyberspates Aran. Smile