Design-a-Knit border pattern for Norwegian Style Sweater design

I used Design-a-knit to create a border pattern:

The original version had the blue within the grey on rows 9 and 10. Because they are so close in value, I decided to use the navy instead. I also changed the background colors on rows 14 through 17 which should be more interesting.

I knit a swatch up through row 13 of the original version. I was very happy with rows 1 thorugh 8. When I finish the sample of the revised border, I will post another photo.

The plan is to use this at the bottom of body and sleeves just above the ribbing and in reverse at the top of the sleeve and the bottom of the upper-body pattern. (Lice stitch in between).

Tweet

Norwegian-style design

I'm off to start designing my own Norwegian-style sweater (part of the TKGA level III requirements).

I am going to make it with Bambu yarn though so that I can wear it whenever I want. I rarely get cold enough to need wool here (Portland, OR).

Here is my collection of Bambu (blues and greys).

The Bambu that I have makes a really nice, soft drapey swatch. Trouble is, the swatch is using size 1 needles (US)! So tiny stitches.

Interesting that with the flash the blue on grey in the bottom shows up. Just looking at the swatch with out the camera lens, you can hardly see the pattern there. I also did some playing with which yarn to hold in which hand for more "pop". I'm going to use accent color in my left hand and background in my right, as I normally do.

I did try an unpatterned swatch with doubled yarn and size 4 and 5 US needles. The 5 is drapey-er, but a bit holey and the 4 just seems too tense. An informal survey (of my family) results in the size 1 needle version.

I was thinking cardigan earlier, but now I'm thinking pull-over because the less steeking the better with this slippery yarn!

Tweet

Finished a modified Dale Sweater - Sierra Nevada

This year I finally finished a sweater made for my mother. She picked the Dale Sierra Nevada pattern a few years ago. She wanted a different color-way and a cardigan instead of the pull-over style.



So I used Design-a-Knit and created a zig-zag pattern to move up the front of the cardigan, and used greens and yellows instead of the reds and blues.




In between deciding on the sweater and actually finishing it, she developed a more intense problem with wearing wool. So I completely lined the sweater. (I like having interior pockets on my jackets, so I added some for her also).

So, now its more like a jacket. After I took these pictures, I knit some ribbing for the collar and cuffs out of a matching ivory cotton.

Tweet