A New Wool Sweater (In 85˚ Heat)

Well, Howdy. And Thanks for all the wonderful comments on my Hoodie. I do love it so. I’ve been basking in the finished-ness of it for the last little while now, and finally decided it’s time to start a grand something new.

I love the shape of the Aprés Hoodie so much, that I’m cobbling together a button up cardi pattern with the same kind of hour glass shaping, and set in sleeves, but no lace, and a very woolly yarn. I’m using Knitpicks Telemark for this one, a yarn I’ve been curious about since knitting Jared’s Red Light Special. I knew I wanted a nice charcoal gray for this one, I think I caught it from Ashley’s recent parade of gray sweaters.
So I ordered up some color cards, and a skein to swatch with. I really do like this, though I checked it out on Ravelry, and some did feel it was a bit rough, and yes, but that’s what a good woolly wool feels like to me. I like it, and it does soften a bit after washing.

I do have a bit of a gripe though- just one about misinformation. The recommended needle size is a US3 or 4, and I first swatched on a US3, the fabric was ridiculously tight, and it really kind of hurt to knit. Then I tried US4, and it was better, and it turned out to be what I’m knitting this sweater on, but that got me curious, because this is supposed to be a sport weight yarn. So I got out my trusty Wraps per inch (WPI) tool, a must have item for all serious fiber folk, and came out with a light DK reading for this yarn. That really does make a big difference, because a fabric made from this yarn on US5 or 6’s would be heavenly. Though for the sturdy hard wearing winter sweater I had in mind, I really like the US 4’s. To each her own I guess.

The first thing I calculated and knit were the sleeves, because jebus I hate knitting sleeves last, they always seem to take longer that way. I didn’t think I was ever going to get through the ASH sleeves, and I knit them after the body. So I wasn’t going to make that mistake again. Now I’m happily knitting the body, knitting it flat, but all in one piece. Almost mindless, except for when I have to do some shaping calculations, but loving it all the same. About 6 more inches on the body and I’ll divide for the upper fronts.
I don’t have the same frantic want to have it done, like I did with the hoodie, so it’s really just kind of nice easy knitting. Hopefully it’ll be a great sweater!

* PS, I updated the shop today, there is a ton of Vesper Striping Sock Yarn. Next week, there will be more Wee kits, and finally, some more Vesper Variegated!