It’s been a while since my last post, and in the meantime I started and finished a jumper:
That is pretty fast knitting, by my standards. From cast-on to cast-off was exactly six weeks. The design is Bella Blocking by Anne Ventzel. I knitted it as part of a KAL (knit-a-long) organised by Carmen Schmidt of A Yarn Story. The KAL was for any pattern by Anne Ventzel and we were a really nice bunch, about 30 knitters who met on-line once a week to knit and chat, while learning new techniques (for some of us), comparing yarns and colours, giving encouragement and advice, and just hanging out. I’ve had mixed results with KALs but this one was nice, very low-key and not too big.
Carmen had brought her Bella Blocking to the retreat, which she knitted with her own yarn, Fluff by Walcot Yarn and Les Garcons. I tried it on and was impressed with the fact that it wasn’t itchy (it isn’t mohair), and weighed next to nothing. She had brought along bags full of Fluff in every colour, so I grabbed some in Cinema and Shadow, and signed up for the KAL.
I have mixed feelings about the resulting jumper, however. There is a lot to like and also things I don’t like about it. To start with the good things, I am crazy about these two colours in combination. They are really my colours, and they look great with this pattern. The yarn doesn’t itch (I already said that, but it bears repeating). The sweater is amazingly light (it weighs 220 grams) and is also very warm. It is comfortable.
The fact remains, however, that the jumper is pretty shapeless. I am unhappy with the dropped shoulders, the extra bunching under the arms, and especially with the sleeves, which just don’t sit right. I have tried to use artfully curated photos here so that I show off its best features, but you can see what I mean with the photo below.
I actually re-knit the sleeves multiple times trying to fix them, but I never got them to a point where I really like them. I also tried very hard to knit this with the 2 skeins of each colour I had purchased, but in the end needed more of the Shadow. I could totally have made it with only four skeins if I had made it an inch shorter and made the sleeves shorter, but after trying it on and ripping, and re-knitting umpteen times, I ended up with this. I think the root of the problem is the drop shoulder. The pattern calls for significantly more ease, which would have had a much greater dropped shoulder. I didn’t want all that ease around the chest, so I knitted a size 5, which with my slightly tighter gauge, gave me about 4 inches of ease. I ended up with a shoulder that was dropped enough to look sloppy and totally un-shapely, but not enough of a dropped shoulder to look intentional.
Doug’s comment on this jumper was: “I think the fact that it’s shapeless is kind of a feature.” Hmm. Enough said.
The result is a lightweight, easy, slouchy sweater in beautiful colours that looks and wears like a sweatshirt. Not a bad choice for lounging around the house, or going for a walk in the woods. It’s not something I would wear to work, though, or when I was trying to look put-together. Cosy is not a bad thing, so I am going to enjoy slouching around in this, while trying to pick patterns which suit my shape and style better.
It is a beautiful sweater, Kelly! And the colours look great on you, especially the pinkish-red near your face. I know what you mean about excess fabric at the underarm but it actually doesn’t look that pronounced on your sweater. I abandoned knitting the Beckett pullover due to this problem after trying different ways to solve it. It is nice to have a lovely sweater for casual outings or travel. Enjoy wearing it!
Thank you. I thought about re-engineering this sweater and knitting it bottom-up in pieces and then seaming it, but I decided to follow the pattern. If I did it again, I think I might try that. On the other hand, as you say, a casual sweater is nice, too.
I love “sweatshirt” sweaters, but can see why you regret that this one doesn’t have a more sophisticated fit. Still, the colors are perfection, so that worked to plan, and after all, you can use the occasional casual sweater in your wardrobe. Mixed results, but not a total disappointment, I hope.
(Btw, what is the fiber content of the yarn? I love mohair myself, but am always on the look-out for fluffy or haloed yarns).
I love the label on this yarn. It says:
55% Baby Alpaca
18% Fine Merino Wool
17% Mulberry Silk
10% Yak
100% Dreamy
Isn’t that cute?
Mmmm . . . dreamy!
I think it looks great and it is nice to have a variety of jumper styles. That said, I do avoid dropped shoulders for exactly the issue you stated. I also find most patterns have too much ease for my taste. I end up knitting 1-2 smaller sizes than the pattern suggests for me.
I love the colours, but like the previous commenter noted – I avoid dropped shoulders for exactly the reasons you give. I’m impressed with your persistence though!
I adore those colours together and love the casual fit and drape of the jumper. It’s nice to have one throw on jumper that’s a fluffy hug.
So many patterns have dropped shoulders which certainly don’t work on me. I always end up going back to a yoke style which fits neatly round the shoulders.
It is very cute and looks so cozy! It is always good to have a sweater just for lounging in 🙂
The colours really are perfect. It’s a shame the fit isn’t quite what you wanted, but it still looks good!
This is such a striking sweater, and the colors — wow! but I hear you on the dropped shoulder sweater thing. So often they look sloppy in real life, and were certainly not meant to be worn under a coat. I think much narrower sleeves can help the look, but then my elbows are claustrophobic. I’ve given up on dropped shoulders as there are too many other great patterns out there.
I’m late to this party, but I’d wear the bejesus out of this!
Ha ha! I think I’ve changed my mind on this one, Susan. I’ve been wearing the bejesus out of it!