Grumperina

Always up to something

Get this thing off of me!

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It is so HOT, I cannot believe I’m prancing around in this thing:

Yarn: ONline Linie 76 Cup, color 06 (52% schurwolle, 48% polyacryl). Total of 9 skeins (with only a yard or so left over!). I absolutely adore this yarn, it has such personality. As I was knitting, I found myself looking forward to funky yarn sections, and crossing my fingers that they would end up front and center, not at the edge :).

Needles and gauge: US 9 Addi Turbo, 15 sts/22 rows per 4” square.

Finished measurements: 37” bust, 22.5” shoulder to hem.

List time!

I made up the pattern for this wrap sweater myself, but I think the result would have been identical if I were to take some wrap pattern, and adjust it for my gauge and size. I decided to keep everything very simple in this sweater for three reasons:

Sweater wrap simplicities:

  • The edging at the hem and sleeves is 1 row of purl on the right side. That’s it.
  • The edging along the sweater opening is a modified i-cord designed by Annie Modesitt (more details here).
  • The neck opening in the back has just a little bit of shaping and no edging – I picked up some stitches, and then bound them off on the next row.
  • The right and left fronts are mirror images of one another. So are the two sleeves ;).
  • The sleeves are hardly shaped: 1/2″ decreased at the forearm, then 1.5″ increased to the armpit.
  • There is no hip/waist/bust shaping. At all! Because the wrap fits snugly around my body, I didn’t think it was really needed. Now that the wrap is done, there’s only one place where just a few decreases would have been an added bonus – above my beeee-hind ;).
  • I didn’t wet-block this as I typically would. Instead, I ironed it on high with high steam through a thin pillowcase. Let me tell ya, if there’s one thing I know, it’s how to iron (thanks, Mom and Grandma!). The fabric stretched slightly after ironing (my sleeves are a bit longer now), but it’s not a big deal at all considering that in a chunky garment like this, flat seams take off the 10 pounds the camera adds and then some.
  • There is one button securing the “under” front, and no other buttons or ties.
  • Even the pin is simple! I did buy a few fancy pins at department stores downtown, but will return them all in favor of this little DIY number I made at Beadworks:

    I know, not very creative – it totally matches. I did play around with other color arrangements, and I must say, dark green looks great against the color of the sweater, but I was tired, hot, and cranky, and the store was amazingly crowded (with tourists, toting around huge shopping bags, I just don’t get it!), so I caved in and matched.

Do I love it? Yeah! I mean, I think so… ask me again when the weather has cooled down by at least 20 degrees ;).

Seriously, the ironing made all the difference.

   

Before, the wrap just sort of sat on my body with every seam protruding half an inch into the air. The hems and edgings curled slightly in an unflattering way, and the doubled fabric on my belly really stood out. After, the fabric is thinner, the seams are flat, and the wrap really follows the lines and curves of my body instead of just sitting there.

P.S. Always fill your iron with bottled or filtered water – the mineral deposits in tap water clog up the steam vents and cause nasty white chalky crap to be spit up all over your stuff. And it’s hell to get out of handknits ;).

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  2. I am totally giving you a standing ovation on this sweater! I must admit, it is one of the most flattering, beautiful sweaters I’ve seen on someone’s blog! To color is wonderful and I love the pin. All that added to the fact that you made it up yourself? BRAVO!!!

  3. SG, once again you’ve scored a winner! It’s a lovely color on you and the fit is just great! One of these days I will *actually* get started on a sweater or cardi for myself out of all the projects on my WIMs list and in my stash. I hope your consulting rate isn’t too high. LOL!

  5. I love it. You look so slinder and beautiful in that color and shaping. I would love the pattern. Maybe you would be willing to share it sometime????

  8. Wonderful job! I can’t believe you could knit this in all this heat, you are amazing. Very flattering pattern and the colorway is beautiful.

  10. Oooooh, I like, I like! You look fantastic in this color and shape. Well done, you. And thanks for the tip about the water in the iron; I’ve been wondering why my iron spits white chalky stuff out. Ta da!

  16. I have been waiting for the finished results, and it is breathtaking. I love it. I love the added touch of the pin. It is a hit! I hope you enjoy it.

  17. Your wrap is really cute! The color really compliments you. And the yarn is beautiful with its’ flecks of color here and there.

  19. Your wrap turned out beautiful! I love the DIY pin–a perfect match. The color and the style are just lovely.

  22. I have to echo everyone else’s comments: wonderful job, very flattering, the pin is perfect…and so on. And I love your P.S. I thought I was the only one who did that. (Though actually, I use distilled water from a lab if I can get it or similar water in a gallon jug from the grocery store!)

  24. I have to agree … the colour is absolutely lovely! I know you are happy with the sweater … you smiled! Keep on smiling, girl!

  25. Woo! It really does look nice.. and I totally know what you mean about the weather.. That’s the only thing that’s been stopping me from modeling my sweater for a picture.. I just can’t see wearin it for more than 2 seconds in this heat. Can’t do it!

  28. The sweater came out really nicely! It looks great on you. The ironing really paid off, I guess, because it hangs very nicely and, as you say, doesn’t look bulky or curl up at the hem. And I love the pin you made. Green might have been nice too, but I like the matching color. But maybe you could make a second pin and have a whole pin wardrobe to go with the sweater.

    I’m impressed that you designed this yourself!

  30. I had the exact same experience at Beadworks! Tons of people, all with big bags and backpacks, sweltering heat. Bleh. If you ever need to go to a bead store again for any reason, let me know – I know a super one on the ocean, huge with no crowds. It would be a great “field trip”. Ok, now I am inspired to rip out the shoulder seams, frog the fronts and do it all over! It’s not so bad when you love the yarn.

  31. Love love love this sweater! Want to make it for myself – and I never find a wrap I like. When the weather returns us all to a normal orbit, will you consider writing up the pattern for us less talented types? Pleeease (said with a whine. its too humid not to whine).

  32. The cardigan is great, the best quality it is the fit. Your work inspires me, I made the same front edging in my recent project and it´s perfect. I´ll send you a photo, and I have finished my tivoli too. Your designs are really great.

  34. Gorgeous! That is really so flattering. The color is perfect for you and the fit is so nice. Cardigans usually end up looking boxy and frumpy on me — maybe because I have never made one for myself. Yet another thing to put on the “to-knit” list!

  35. Such a beautiful sweater! It looks like it fits just perfectly. And the color is fantastic. I never cease to be amazed at your knitting skills!

  37. it looks great! i love the lines of the wrap and how they fall in just the right spot so they’ll stay where they should. nice work in figuring that out.

  38. Omigosh Kathy, it’s gorgeous! Very flattering — you did a fantastic job on the design and shape. I bet you can’t wait for fall to come….

  39. Very pretty! That yarn is so neat. I have a sweater in it in green and sometimes I just stare at it, cause there’s so much going on. What a fun yarn for such a simple, elegant sweater.

  43. Fabulous. Another winner by our fabulous Grumperina! Be careful, you’re gonna be a famous knitwear designer before you know it! I think the pin is perfect and am awed by the fit. I bow down to you, my knitting goddess 🙂

  47. Oh MY! It’s finished! And it looks GREAT!

    You know, it just looks like such a satisfying knit. Know what I mean? Like, it all just came together.

    Oh, and I’m a huge fan of the steam blocking. 😉

  50. WOW!!!! Love it! You have out done your self again! Will you be sharing this pattern?? Perhaps a submission to one of the magazines? I agree with you on simple patterns.

  52. please post additional pictures. it is a little hard to see the finished shape of the sweater…. great job.

  60. Wow, it looks great! I love the fit, the sleeve length, and the yarn color. Very sophisticated. Congrats on another beautiful pattern.