Posted on 36 Comments

September Sweater 2013

20 sweater

19 sweater 03

19 sweater 05

Sometimes I think that maybe September is the wrong month to finish knitting a nice wool sweater. Why? I am finding myself wishing away whatever remnants of Summer weather are still remaining. That’s kind of a shame, when you think about how many months I spend eagerly anticipating that exact weather!

Here it is, 7:30pm on the first weekend of fall, and I have the back door wide open. Several windows, too. It’s a lovely, lovely night. But I can’t help but wish that maybe it could be a teeny weeny bit chillier so I could put on my new sweater.

I’m stubborn, so I’ve worn it a few times anyway. And of course I was too warm with it on. But hey, it makes me feel good to be out and about in a new garment that I made myself! Especially one that involves so many bits that I designed myself. I can’t really say that this is a Tea Leaves Cardigan anymore, when I’ve replaced so much of it with my own ideas. It’s kind of a hybrid. A stepping stone to a fully Lisa-designed sweater (oh, yes, it is coming, my friends – I already have ideas for further customizing this bad boy).

This was the fastest sweater I ever knit. Usually, they take me about a month. This one? 18 days. Whoa. I wonder if I’m a speedier knitter than before? Whatever the reason, I’ll take it.

19 sweater 07

19 sweater 06

I am enjoying comparing it to the other two. Notice how the first two have the same yoke? Or how the last two have the same hem and cuffs?

How about a tour of some details?

I’d love to share the entire pattern for this sweater, but since there are big sections of it that are just the exact Tea Leaves Cardigan pattern, I really can’t do that. What I will do is share the changes I made to that pattern. If you already own it, you can just plug my changes right into it. If you don’t own it, but want to, here is the Ravelry link.

Details

YARN
Cascade 220 (100% Peruvian Highland wool, 220yds/100g): 5,(5, 6, 6, 7, 7, ) skeins in “Persimmon.”

NEEDLES
One set of 5 US #7 double point needles.
One US #8 (5mm) 32″ circular needle.
One US #7 (4.5mm) 32″ circular needle.
One US #6 (4mm) 32″circular needle.
One US G (4mm) crochet hook.
Change needle size if necessary to obtain gauge.

GAUGE
20 sts and 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch with #7 circular needle.

SIZES
Chest: 34 (36, 40, 42, 46, 48)”. (I made the 40).

The Yoke

19 sweater 04

263/365: Sep 20 - Successful sweater-knitting makes me happy :-)

I eliminated the ruching, and replaced it with two rows of 2×2 rib. To accomplish this, replace the entire YOKE section of the pattern with the following:

  • With #6 circular needle, cast on 90(90, 96, 96, 102, 102) sts. Do not join.
  • Rows 1-6: Knit all sts.
  • Rows 7-11: With #7 circular needle, purl all odd rows and knit all even rows.
  • Row 12: (RS) (yoke increase row) *k1, k1f/b repeat from * across entire row. 135(135, 144, 144, 153, 153) sts on needle.
  • Row 13: Knit.
  • Row 14: With #8 circular needle, *k2, p2, repeat from * across entire row. (It is alright not to end on a purl).
  • Rows 15-20: Knit all knit sts, purl all purled sts.
  • Row 21: With #7 circular needle, knit.
  • Row 22: (RS) (yoke increase row) *k2, k1f/b repeat from * across entire row. 180(180,192,192,204,204,216) sts on needle.
  • Row 23: Knit.
  • Row 24: With #8 circular needle, *k2, p2, repeat from * across entire row. (It is alright not to end on a purl).
  • Rows 25-30: Knit all knit sts, purl all purled sts.
  • Row 31: With #7 circular needle, knit.
  • Row 32: (RS) (yoke increase row) *k3, k1f/b repeat from * across entire row. 225(225,240,240,255,255) sts on needle.
  • Row 33: Knit.
  • Row 34: Purl.
  • Row 35: *K9(9,9,4,4,4) k1f/b* repeat from * to * across entire row. 247(247,264,288,306,306) sts on needle.
  • Work back and forth in stockinette stitch until yoke measures 7.5(8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 9.5) inches.
  • On next RS row, separate sleeves.

Body and Sleeves

261/365: Sep 18 - Binding off the September Sweater!

Where you are instructed to do a number of rows in garter stitch, disregard and work 10 rows of k2 p2 rib.

Finishing

Before working this section as written do the following: with G hook, sc into each stitch across neckline.

Buttons

19 sweater 02

19 sweater 01

261/365: Sep 19 - Making buttons for the new sweater

I made these from polymer clay (as usual!) but they’re much simpler than the last few times. I mixed up an orange to match the sweater, and swirled in a little bit of yellow, since there is also a bit of yellow in the heathered yarn. I used small cutters to cut these out, poked pilot holes, and rubbed a small amount of gold metallic powder over the tops of them.

After baking, I drilled more uniform holes, lightly sanded off much of the gold powder, and buffed them on the buffing wheel.

I’m happy with the results, although they might be a smidge brighter than I wanted. I would rather learn to love them, though, than have to sew on a new set (I hate sewing on buttons!) so they’re staying.

And that’s that! My new September Sweater. I am in love.

Basking in the glow of this sweater, I have already started thinking about the next one. Gray and black stripes would be kind of cool, don’t you think? Maybe I need an October Sweater. Hee hee!

P.S. Here’s the Ravelry link, if you like.

UPDATE: I started from scratch and wrote up an entire pattern/tutorial for a sweater very similar to this one. You can get it in the Download Shop. Thanks for your interest!

LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!

Sign up for occasional Polka Dot Cottage news and get a coupon for 10% off your next order!

Don't worry, we won't bother you more than once or twice a month!

Posted on 36 Comments

36 thoughts on “September Sweater 2013

  1. I have to say, I think I like it best with your yoke.

    1. Really? Thanks! I like it a lot, too, but I know I’m a bit biased 🙂

      1. Yes, really! I think it lays smoother and looks more “natural”

        1. Cool. I don’t think this is the last time I am going to make one like this 🙂

    2. Lisa, when you rewrote the pattern with the new ribbing in the yoke (instructions above), why did you not include the button band?

      1. Oh, sorry….found it in your link 🙂

        1. No worries 🙂 Happy knitting!

  2. I agree with Kat, I much prefer the look of your yoke. I must do this sweater!

    1. Well, that’s cool to hear. If you do try it, let me know if you have any problems with my changes!

  3. I love it and really love the color. When you said the next one might be gray and black I thought “noooo”! You look so good in this beautiful, bright color! There are so many gorgeous yarns out there that would look so good on you and black sweaters are a dime a dozen!!! Just my opinion. 🙂

    1. Thanks for the complement! I do love the Fall colors on me…
      As for the gray and black idea, I feel like I need a neutral in my closet. I have this great gray wool that actually, when you look at it more closely, has about a million other colors in it. I thought I’d make a sweater that was mostly that, but had a black stripe or two in the yoke. And maybe the cuffs.

  4. Great job, Lisa! I like this yoke a lot. Plus, I really think this is your color. You look radiant in this sweater. Ditch green and go bright! HAHA. But then again black & gray stripes sounds pretty cool, too.

    1. Ditch green? Never!! LOL! Thanks for the complement, though, and I do really love the way this color looks on me. I had forgotten how much I love the Autumn colors. I used to wear a *lot* of oranges before the green craze hit me somewhere around 15 years ago.

  5. It turned out beautiful! Love the color, perfect for fall and winter. What is next on your knitting radar?

    1. I scored 10 skeins of Donegal tweed at the thrift shop this weekend, and I cast on for a Shalom cardigan, but it looked terrible after 10 rows. So, I’ve put that away for now. I have some gray wool that I think will become an improvised cardigan soon, providing I don’t get sidetracked by lots of little projects (which might just happen, with Christmas right around the corner).

  6. Stunning!! I love the colors and the buttons work really well. They really make the sweater pop.

    1. Thanks! The buttons are growing on me, I’ll admit 🙂

  7. Very nice, a job to be proud of, congratulations! If you’d like to enjoy your sweater more during the warm weather, I suggest using a padded hanger to display it in, say, your bedroom or even the front hallway. Why not?

    1. That’s in interesting idea. I could swap it out, even, for whatever handmade garment I happened to be ogling at the time 😉

  8. It is absolutely gorgeous! The red one is my favorite, but it is nice to have a variety in color and style, too. Very nicely done on the design! 🙂

    1. Thanks, Jamie. I have to admit, I haven’t worn either of the other two since I finished the orange one. Maybe it’s the lure of the brand new, or maybe I just like it better. It’s hard to say!

  9. Turned out great!!! Great color, and I do like your changes to the pattern better. Continues to motivate me to not give up on learning to knit.

    On a side note, I’m almost done with the lake forest blanket! Yay!

    1. Lakeside Forest Blanket (oops!)

    2. Aw, thanks! I am so glad I decided to try the ribbing!
      How exciting about your blanket – I always love that “almost done” phase! I hope you’ll share images when you’re done 🙂

  10. I love it. It looks great on you and I love the color. While you enjoy the fall weather, enjoy your sweater as a piece of art until you need it for warmth.

    1. Thanks! We’re actually having a slightly chillier day today, so I’m getting a chance to wear it. On the off days, I can sling it artfully over the back of the couch 🙂

  11. […] to want to spend another month knitting another sweater any time soon. And yet, hot on the heels of my September Sweater, I found myself casting […]

  12. Lovely cardigans…I am tempted to knit one too!

    1. Thank you! I seem to do one every year – it’s an addiction 🙂

  13. […] of those things set it apart from my previous September Sweaters. See 2013, 2012, and […]

  14. I haven’t seen the pattern to which you referred, but I LOVE this sweater. I already have the right amount of yarn I purchased on yarn.com for “some future project” – but it was on sale – so I am printing up these instructions and will begin promptly after my Christmas knitting is finished. That would be 2 more hats. Love this pattern. Thank you so much for sharing.

  15. I can’t wait to make this sweater! And it will be even more special since I have a niece who is named Lisa Clark. She was Miss Honolulu when Miss Hawaii won the Miss America contest! Maybe I will make one for her. Thanks for sharing your talents with the world!

    1. How fun 🙂
      I hope you love it! My version is still one of my favorite cardigans to wear.

  16. […] a nice pile of sweaters by now (as you can probably imagine) in a plethora of green shades (and one orange anomaly), and they have served me well. This season, though, I’ve found myself unhappy with my […]

  17. […] I ignored the instructions for body length and just stopped when it was similar to this sweater, which is one of my favorites. I didn’t measure, but it might be an inch shorter or […]

  18. […] I’m thinking robot fabric for the dress, and leftover September sweater wool for the cardi. (And now I’m wondering why I never wear that skirt and the sweater […]

Leave a comment!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.