Fiber Fool

Pattern: Wisteria
Designer: Kate Gilbert
Source: Twist Collective, Fall 2008
Yarn: Brown Sheep Prairie Silks in Jeweled Moss (18 3/4 skeins ~1655 yds)
Needles: US8 Turbo
Size: 51″ (w/ mods)
Completion Date: December 23rd, 10pm (nothing like cutting it close, LOL!)
Modifications: Many, keep reading for details.

I previously wrote about wanting to put in short rows. I opted to start them at 1 inch below the armholes with the shortest short rows and progress to longer ones. I worked 5 pairs which added ~ 1.75 inches (the average of the various sources and measurements I saw on figuring out how much to put in). I was going to show you a picture with lifelines marking the short rows, but the sweater, light and camera never came together. Perhaps on the next sweater. But, that did put the shortest of the short rows at the crest of my bust which was what I was aiming for. I am quite happy with the addition of the short rows and this was a great pattern for doing so since the center section was all stockinette stitch.

Originally, short rows were the only mod I was going to make. But as I knit on the sweater and looked more and more at the schematic the more I realized that it was going to become a dress on me and that the “waist” would hit at my high hip. I was also worried that it could be even worse if my washed and blocked gauge swatch lied to me as we all know they can do. So, once I finished the short rows I immediately set about recalculating all the shaping of the torso area. The result was to raise the waist by ~1.5 inches (I’m quite short waisted - like my hip bones nearly touch my lowest ribs short waisted - no lie). Then I decided since I was making mods I should take a closer look at the hip area. There was a leap of two chart repeats between the second largest and largest size at the bottom of the sweater. I decided to split the difference and work 18 charts around the bottom rather than the 17 stated for my size. In retrospect, I probably could have skipped that mod, but it isn’t bad as it is either. Doing that also changed my shaping in the mid section.

As I was knitting the bottom chart I realized that if I completed the chart it was still going to be a bit long, so I cut out a vertical repeat. This had the added benefit of lightening the hip area which was a good thing for my shape. I prefer it to leaving the cabling out all together as some people have done. To me what really made the pattern was the repetition of the organic looking cables. I did the same to the sleeves which I’m glad I did as they would have also been too long even though I started the sleeve chart as soon as I was at the proper stitch count. And while I normally would consider the sleeves as they are to be too long they aren’t. They are nice and fitted so they stay put and don’t seem to get in the way at all.

The yarn worked quite well. Despite it being a singles yarn with mohair the stitch definition of the cables is great. I matched stitch and row gauge right off the bat. The 88-yd skeins were somewhat annoying, especially when 4 of the 19 hanks I broke into had knots in them too. The yarn is not next to the skin soft. I do have to wear a turtleneck underneath which isn’t really required as the sweater itself is quite warm. But that mohair in there just gets annoying after too long. But overall the final sweater is great and I am sure will get plenty of wear even with a turtleneck underneath since I tend to run cold in the winter.

I loved knitting this pattern. I loved that it is visually interesting (and the knitting of it was interesting too) yet still allowed for lots of modifications to make it fit my body and its idiosyncrasies. I am no longer scared about making modifications to patterns so that they fit well. As I told my mom, “It looks as though someone knit it just to fit me!” :-) Just what I was aiming for! Nothing is more flattering than a good fit! All-in-all, not a bad FO for ringing out the old year! And, I now can dream about my first sweater of 2009, LOL! What will it be?