Sunday, August 28, 2011

Amie Cardigan

Introducing my newest cardigan: 
Amie

I love knitting from the top down because there is not seaming involved. Once I am finished knitting, the garment is pretty much ready to be worn.
Amie Cardigan
This beautiful cardigan can be worked in a lace yarn that is doubled, in a sport or DK weight yarn. It is knit at a looser gauge so that the result is a cardigan with beautiful drape. The cardigan features a pretty and simple lace design.

The overall length can easily be adjusted because of the top-down construction. Sleeves are set-in and are worked top-down, knit in. This cardigan has absolutely no seaming! 

The pattern features, step-by-step instructions
with photos and website links to teach you how
to knit top-down sleeves that are set-in.



Size: S (M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL)

Chest Measurement:  to fit 36 (38, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56) inches

Gauge: 18 sts & 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette on larger sized needles, wet blocked.  1 lace pattern repeat = 1 inch in height.

Materials:
2 ply lace yarn - 1,550 (1,600; 1,660; 1,800; 1,900; 2,000; 2,200) yards
4 ply sport yarn or DK yarn – 775 (800; 830; 900; 950; 1,000; 1,100) yards
1 set of US # 5 (3.75 mm) –32” circular needle or needle size to obtain gauge
1 set of US # 6 (4 mm) - 32” circular needle 

Optional: 1 set of US #0, #1, or #2 (2, 2.5, or 3 mm) – 32” or 40” circular needle (to pick up sts for shoulder seam, sleeves & neckline ribbing)

Tapestry Needle
Stitch Markers 
Scrap Yarn (to hold stitches)


Short Rows

Many knitters are afraid of knitting short rows. Trust me, they are simple to knit and once you have "gotten your feet wet" (so to speak), you will always use them.

Here is my explanation that I put into my patterns:




w&t (wrap & turn):  




To wrap and turn on a RS row, knit to point specified in pattern, bring yarn to front of work between needles, slip next stitch to right-hand needle, bring yarn around this stitch to back of work, slip stitch back to left-hand needle, turn work to begin purling back in the other direction.

To wrap and turn on a WS row, purl to point specified in pattern, bring yarn to back of work between needles, slip next stitch to right-hand needle, bring yarn around this stitch to front of work, slip stitch back to left-hand needle, turn work to begin knitting back in the other direction.

Working Wraps Together with Wrapped Stitches: When working rows which follow short rows, work the "wraps" at the turning points of the short rows, together with the stitches they wrap, as follows:

When working a RS row: Knit to wrapped stitch. Slip next stitch from left needle to right needle, use tip of left needle to pick up "wrap" and place it on right needle, insert left needle into both wrap and stitch, and knit them together.

When working a WS row: Purl to wrapped stitch. Slip next stitch from left needle to right needle, use tip of left needle to pick up "wrap" and place it on right needle, slip both wrap and stitch back to left needle, purl together through back loops.

Kelley Petkun from Knit Picks has a great tutorial video available:

CoCo Knits has a great explanation on how to do work short rows using the yarn over method: