Fun and pretty test knit for Mary Annarella, marymealittle here on Rav. Lots of goodies in this pattern: I loved the I-cord bind off and always appreciate a top-down pattern. At first I made it long-sleeved, then frogged them back to keep the 50’s look.

Mary includes an excellent tutorial on horizontal bust darts. While I have done short rows before, I have never understood them, not really. Mary does an excellent job explaining not only how to do them, but why, when and where you would use them. The extra rows at the bust line give some room and allow you to make a sweater with some negative ease and not be tight across the bust.

The pattern uses a “princess seam line” on front and back of sweater for the hip increases, very nice. The pattern also incorporates a scoop neck technique done in-the-round. I loved learning all these new-to-me techniques.

Here are my mods: Even tho I used the recommended yarn and needles, my gauge after blocking is 26 sts. per 4” instead of 24. I added more waist increases. There are 3 sets of horizontal bust darts. I decreased the sleeves to 49 stitches instead of 66. I also made them a bit longer and added length to the body as well.

The yarn is wonderful, my first madelinetosh experience. Very bouncy while knitting and soft next to the skin. It’s also machine washable. But I have to gripe about the hideous tangles; winding into a ball took almost an hour each, ridiculous for the price of this yarn. Also, I did not alternate skeins and had no problems with the color pooling or not matching or whatever happens when you don’t alternate skeins

The pattern is very well written and there will be no head scratching, I promise. Love it! Pattern will be available in Sept. and then I’ll link it.

Sweater # 11 for 2010