I’m having to add in the second color lot of Malabrigo to this sweater. It is noticeable enough in dye lot difference that you can see in the sweater. But not so much that I’m going to cut and run on this sweater.
I am running now on yarn. I need to decide if I’m going to make full length sleeves or maximize the body. I could stop now and work on the sleeves and just use up whatever yarn I have left to complete the body. I might need to sleep on this one!
I am making the size 2XL but with a smaller gauge to land somewhere between a finished XL to XXL garment. Before dividing I had 500 stitches on the needles! Now I’m just cruising down the body for inches and inches.
The only thing I need to pay attention to is adding in my new yarn, this Malabrigo yarn has BIG differences in color so I am coordinating and alternating skeins to avoid pooling. Still might have some noticeable changes in the finished garment but I am doing the best with what I have.
After finishing my Catbells Cardigan last week, I felt compelled to cast on another sweater. This time I’m doing to the Super Simple Summer Sweater from Joji Locatelli in some Malabrigo Rios.
This yarn was already caked up from my frogged Mycroft sweater so it was easy to get started. I had even left my swatches in with the yarn! Now, Joji’s pattern usually require me to change needles sizes as I’m not as loose of a knitter as she is. Basically I used my swatches to do the math and decide to go up two needle sizes and make XXL size to get the fit I want. I used the pattern schematic to figure out what size and ease would work for me.
So far I have the collar and the first round of increases. This is worsted yarn so I’m hoping my mojo can get this cranked out yet this fall! Happy Knitting!!
Yarn: Briggs and Little Regal 2-ply in Midnight Blue
Needles: US 8 and US 6
Mods: I added 2 inches of length to the body and modified the sleeve decreases to accommodate my strong upper arms.
This sweater was a labor of love and took way longer to make than it should have. I also made several mistakes in the lace that I just fudged back into place because NO ONE will ever notice, lol. This sweater crushed some major stash. I used almost 6 skeins of yarn that equates to 1,500 yards of yarn out of stash!
The finished sweater is super cozy and VERY warm. Briggs and Little Regal is not a next to skin soft yarn but should compensate by being hard wearing, especially on the bottom where I will sit on it. This pattern was well designed and gets high marks from me but I don’t think I would make it again. The all over patterning is just slow knitting for me and probably why it took over a year to finish.
It is starting to get cooler around here so I feel like this garment will come in very handy! Happy Knitting!!
Thank goodness for worsted yarn and large gauge needles, my Catbells Pockets fell right off my needles!
I did opt to make pockets for the next size up in sweater. I like big pockets and I cannot lie. I have pockets washed out and drying near a fan. I’m really hoping I can get these dry while I’m at work so I can finish the assembly on the sweater this evening!
I have poured on the afterburners and have churned out the second sleeve AND the hem on my Catbells Cardigan.
All my ends are woven in and I have dunked this sweater. It is so large that I had to clean out and use my kitchen sink! I did manage to eek out the second sleeve with the original yarn and had more than enough for the hem with the backup yarn I purchased.
Next up I need to knit and block the pocket patches. I should be able to knock out those in an evening if my family cooperates. I am so close to finishing this sweater that I can’t wait!
One sleeve is now complete! My Catbells Cardigan is looking more and more like a functional cardigan.
I did deviate from the pattern in regards to the sleeve. As designed the arms were to snug in my upper arm. So I knit straight for awhile and then mixed in my own decreases. I used light bulb stitch markers to keep track of where I put those in order to duplicate on the second sleeve. I also made the cuff a week bit longer so the sleeves would go all the way to my knuckles.
I have even started the second sleeve and I’m about halfway done with the decreases. I am just about out of my original dye lot of yarn. I *think* I will have enough yarn to finish the second sleeve. That does mean I will need to use my second batch/dye lot of yarn to make the hem and pockets. Honestly, they look close enough in color that I don’t think anyone will notice.
I decided to go big and leave home, so to speak. At PB’s gymnastics lessons this week I took my Catbells Cardigan and lugged to the gym.
I have roughly 40 or 42 rows of sleeve done and I have slipped this on. Based on this fit, I think I am ready to start the decreases. Given the gauge I am working at, I think I need roughly 10 (maybe 12) stitches decreased to fit my lower arms/wrists.
I plan to plot my decreases with light bulb style stitch markers so I can count rows and match my “pattern” on the second sleeve. This yarn is SO DARK, it’s my only hope to be mildly successful!
I feel like I finished a marathon and I have most of my Catbells cardigan is done! I am finished with 24 inches of patterned body.
I didn’t have my needle set with me over the last weekend so I couldn’t start the ribbing just yet. But I didn’t want to lose steam so I decided to start the sleeves. I did have my Chia Goo mini set in my project bag so I could work the sleeves in the round.
This is actually my second start of the sleeve. I accidently picked up the stitches with the sweater inside out. Oops! I do plan to deviate from the pattern on the sleeves. I have larger upper arms and really want to customize for a good fit.
Really hoping this means I am *this* close to finish this long lingering WIP. I started this sweater in June 2021….
The sweater that never ends is ever so closer to the hem! Twenty-one inches is a LOT of sweater body, especially when I will probably have to add length to accommodate my generous back fourty.
I have this ball of yarn and one more skein of yarn from my original lot. I did source three more from the internet last month when I panicked that my yarn was disappearing. Looking at my sweater body I can probably finish the body with those. And I would probably only need a second skein to do the sleeves, but better safe than sorry!