Grey Tweed Pullover: Episode 1
Wow, things are busy here in the land of Molecular Knitting as usual. I haven’t had as much time as I would like to work on my grey tweed pullover, but whenever I do find time to knit on it, I am pretty happy.
I originally planned a cabled pattern for this yarn, but the swatch looked messy. The diamond cables didn’t really stand out with all the dark grey tweediness; I could have done a lot of cabling to very little effect. Paging through every knitting magazine I own, looking for tweed, I found an unlikely pattern, but I think it may work out splendidly. It’s from the Fall ’06 Knitters, and it’s called Hobo Patches. Yes, both those facts give one pause. Theresa Schabes is the designer (reassuring), and except for the actual felted patches I’m supposed to sew on with big stitches, which I have NO intention of doing, it’s a pretty nice pattern for me. I wanted a pattern that was both a pullover but also would work as outerwear more than an indoor sweater. I live in California and I’m 44: I don’t worry much about being cold. Let’s take a look at the back, which isn’t quite done in this photo, but is now in real life.
The bottom edge is rolled, which I wasn’t sure I wanted until I realized a sweater I like very much has a rolled edge. Then there are five spaced purl ridges followed by a whole lot of stockinette. I like the tweed in the stockinette, and now I’ll have no excuse not to learn how to do mattress stitch properly. I’ve only done improper mattress stitch before.
The sleeves are a modified drop-shoulder which is my second favorite sleeve style after a set-in sleeve. I look awful in raglan sleeves with my triangular build, and I have many purchased raglans to prove it (those cute button trims along the raglan line!–I’m a sucker for them). The cut-in for the sleeve is much deeper than I’ve seen before, 3-inches for my size, so I am curious to see how that works for me. As I’m narrow on top, I think it may work well.
To break up the monotony of sleeve knitting, I usually knit the back, a sleeve, the front(s) and then the second sleeve. However, here I’m knitting the back and front, which I’ll join with a 3-needle bind off, block and then see how long to make the sleeves, as I’ve found I am pretty particular about sleeve length. I think the tweed can keep me off Sleeve Island.
So now all I need is a little more time to knit. But as this is the scene outside this past weekend, I don’t think I need to hurry.
That last photo is really cool – you color tweaked it bit?
I like the simplicity of the sweater you’re doing! I can’t imagine it with “hobo patches”… yikes.
I’ve been playing around with the idea of a loosely fitted (ie shaped but I can wear something under it) sweater in the Pinnacle Chevron Rib you showed for the scarf – in a sheep-coloured dark brown DK. Sounds different, but I think it’ll actually be a bit similar to you hobo…
Thanks for the inspiration, twice!
Looks like you’ve made the right decision! I really like the garter rib detail at the bottom of the sweater. I look forward to the finished product.
Thank you for the orchard picture! That’s exactly what my eyes needed to see–lots and lots of glorious pink petals. 🙂
I love the grey tweed. And you have the right idea–keep it simple and let the pretty yarn do all the work for you. 🙂
I’m too lazy to go dig out my magazine to see the sweater you’re making, but it sounds great. I love the purl ridges. And the tweed yarn. 🙂
Those trees were just starting to come into bloom when I came home from Stitches West a couple of weeks ago. I just love it when the orchards are blooming. Ah.
The sweater looks nice. I am in a tweed phase lately. I know what you mean about not being cold. I never knit pullovers, just cardis. I am racing against warm weather to finish my Central Park HoodieLovely trees.
That pattern does seem to show off the tweed nicely. I shudder to think what the “hobo patches” looked like, though.
It is definitely spring here! Our house has gotten up to 80 degrees the past couple days, so I’m thinking I’ll cast on for something in cotton. 🙂
The sweater doesn’t need hobo patches, for certain; the detail at the hem is very nice and subtle. I love the cherry trees!
Brenda- Depending on the yarn, the cables can get lost in a tweed yarn- so you made a great Executive decision not to do
them-
and you’ll have a nice finished sweater when next winter rolls around- as it inevitably will.
The sweater is lovely. Those trees in bloom are beautiful.
That is going to be an awesome sweater! Love the color.
Tweed yarn is so wonderful to knit with, even stocking stitch goes quickly. And I think you made a great choice.
Oh… I see those pictures and I think…spring cannot be too far off.
Love the sweater! The tweed looks great!
You are definitely progressing nicely. Would you mind sending some of those gorgeous spring vibes to the east? It’s the first day of spring and it’s still miserable cold and drab looking. 😛
Thanks for a post full of excellent one-liners, including but not limited to:
“It’s from the Fall ‘06 Knitters, and it’s called Hobo Patches. Yes, both those facts give one pause.”
“I live in California and I’m 44: I don’t worry much about being cold.”
I needed that today. 🙂
I’m liking it…looks like it will be comfy and classic.