Tag Archives: brooklyn tweed

Synthe: Needs Minor Alterations

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My Synthe sweater has dried nicely. And PB helped me take some preliminary photos. I really like the overall fit but it could do with some alterations….

I knit the 44 1/2 inch bust size and altered the body increases as well as added length. I really like where it falls on my hips. The sleeves blocked longer than I had hoped. I will give it a few wears or think on it a bit before I decide to rip them back and shorten them.

I do not love how wide the neckline is with the raw cast on edge. I plan to find a crochet hook and “tighten” up the opening to make it less wide and showing so much of the undershirt. I really like how it feels with the underlayer and I don’t mind the feel of the yarn at all.

I am going to carefully and lightly bury my ends in to make future changes easier. Happy Knitting!!

Blocking: Synthe Sweater

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Home from travel and my sweater off the needles, my Synthe got a bath and is drying in the 70 degree windy spring weather.

I left my markers in both the body and sleeves, just in case I am not happy with the finished/blocked measurements. There are only two increase rounds in the body as I wanted to maintain a straighter body line versus the called for a-line in the pattern. I also did not weave in the ends, partly for that same reason but also because I finished this in the dark and didn’t want to lose them.

I will let this dry and then try on before I either make final finished or rip back for changes. It did soften with the first wash and hoping that continues as this yarn is quite rustic. Now I just need this to dry faster!

Happy Knitting!!

Casting Off Synthe

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Spring break travel was just the concentrated time I needed to get through the body of my Synthe sweater. I am casting off now!

We took a couple of days this past week to see my sister in Colorado. Not a bad way to work over 300+ stiches on my needles. The views did not disappoint! I did decide to add some length to the body not contemplated in the pattern. I didn’t want the sweater to end at my widest part.

I’m really hoping I don’t regret the extra length post blocking. My swatch didn’t grow terribly but I have been fooled by swatches before!

Happy Knitting!!

Synthe Body

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I am in the slog of the body of my Synthe. But I have made measurable progress!

I am several skeins in now and have zero fear of running out as I have 12 in my stash. I will definitely have yarn leftover unless I make this a dress. I have added one rounds worth of increase and totally ignoring the pattern. I don’t want an A-line shape as its not flattering on me. But I also don’t want negative ease either.

It’s my plan to work in three total increase rounds before the hem for a gentle increase to fit my hips, which are larger than my bust. This sweater is still incredibly light with this woolen spun yarn. Should end up warm and lightweight!

Happy Knitting!!

Synthe Sleeves

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Over the weekend and thanks to one gymnastics class and full evening of bounce house fun, my Synthe has sleeves!

I didn’t have US 9 needles on short circulars to make the sleeves so I decided to make due with US 8s. I also almost completely ignored the sleeve instructions. My arms are full near the shoulder and then taper past the elbow.

I worked almost six pattern repeats from the body and then added three decreases across the next six repeats. I then worked five more plain repeats before doing one last decrease at the “cuff” and then cast off. These are going to 3/4 sleeves. The yarn is very rustic and I don’t want to feel the fabric on my wrists. For SURE I am going to wear and undershirt under this garment.

Happy Knitting!!

Dividing For Synthe

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My Synthe sweater is moving right along despite how many stitches I am adding each round.

I had to stop several times and measure frequently to make sure I was getting proper length. My gauge is close but not 100% correct. I really like when patterns have measurements and schematics. This pattern, at my gauge, required a full extra repeat of the pattern to get my full yoke depth.

I have divided for sleeves and worked an inch down past the divide. And then I think I will start both sleeves. It is easier to turn a small sweater than a full body!

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Synthe

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I finally knuckled under and cast on my Synthe sweater. My swatch told me I was on gauge and I am making the 44 1/2 size.

This starts at the neck and appears to not have a neckline. Just cast on and get straight to stockinette. The pattern shows no rolling but I don’t have confidence in my version. I may have to add some reinforcement to my neck opening.

So far the knitting is fast as the stitch count is still increasing. The yarn, Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, has a lot of veg matter in it that I am picking out as I go. I am not alternating skeins yet but I may do that as I get to the main body. My biggest hurdle is keeping the stitch markers from opening and falling off.

Happy Knitting!!

Swatch Yes!

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I kind of forgot I had a swatch drying in the laundry room. And I grabbed it yesterday after folding a load of towels. Good news….I got stitch gauge!!

I am short a couple of rows on row gauge. This means I get to use the size/stitch count I want but I need to be careful on the parts that say “Knit to XX inch length”. Shall we take on odds on if I remember this whilst knitting?

Now I just need to plan my cast on…heheheheheh!

Happy Knitting!!

Synthe Swatching

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As I promised myself after finishing my huge crochet blanket, I want to start a sweater with some of the sweater lots I own!

The post Christmas germs finally got me so this swatching process is brought to you by cold medicine, duke snuggles and hiding in my guest room. I wound a skein of my Brooklyn Tweed Shelter and got started.

The Synthe sweater is worked in the round with a purl row breaking up the stockinette. So I decided to swatch the proper way….in the round. I knit my swatch and then moved the work around my circular needle to leave a span of yarn across the back. This means that I should get a truer picture of my pattern gauge in the round.

Once I had my swatch done, I gave it a good wash/rinse in the sink and then bravely cut the strings in the back to get a flat swatch. That was nerve wracking!! The tails are long enough and the yarn is “sticky” enough that they didn’t go anywhere.

The swatch is now pinned out and drying. Once it dries, which should be quick, I can then measure my gauge and determine how close I am to the pattern. I know what size I want to knit based on my bust measurement. I’m hoping I don’t have to adjust too far!

Happy Swatching!!