20.08.2015

Size

Garter stitch tension 2.75mm needles
Before washing:
6.5 sts per inch
No change after washing

Cable stitch tension 3.5mm needles
Unblocked:
11,5 sts per inch.
2 pattern repeats (24 rows) = 3 inches/16 rows to 2 inches.

Gauge after blocking: 7 sts per inch
With this tension you’ll open up the diamonds, but there’s still quite a lot of give to the fabric.

The swatch should be knitted rather large, and only the middle part measured. Ideally it would be have been best if the pattern had given the tension in stockinette instead of the cable stitch pattern, as it’s very hard to get an accurate measurement of the cable stitch tension.

There’s rather a large difference in tension between the garter stitch and the cable stitch pattern. Basically one has to cast on for a tension of 7 inches for the main stitch pattern, and either reduce number of stitches for the garter stitch yoke, or change to a needle size that will give you the desired gauge.

Pattern repeat:

12 rows
8 stitches (the cable travels 4 stitches)+ 2.

If I’m to knit the jumper in the round I don’t think I’ll need the extra 2 stitches. There is no side shaping in this jumper, so I should be able to keep the pattern flowing all the way around.

Yarn
Garments made in this yarn will grow quite a lot when wet, but as it dries it pulls back to more or less the original size. I’ve read that some people have had problems with garments made in this yarn growing in size, but as I understand this is not likely to happen if you knit at the recommended gauge or tighter.

23.08.2015

Cast on for the torso :)
Knitting the jumper in the round.

01.09..2015

At the moment the jumper measures approximately 21 inches circumference. That’s a whole lot of negative ease! 17 inches. Makes me slightly nervous.

The garter stitch at the yoke of the jumper came out a tad wider than anticipated. It’s hard to measure properly, but I’d say it’s approximately 14.5 - 15 inches. This is fine. If it’s too wide I’ll make adjustments when I stitch the sleeves in place.

11.10.2015

Had to unravel the sleeves down to the ribbing (7 inches). They were too tight. I can’t stand very tight sleeves. Recalculated and hopefully this time they will come out right. I’m doing the increases closer together, at every 7th row. Arm measurements: 10 inch circumference around the thickest part of the forearms, and 13 inch around the biceps.

28.12.2015

Re-knitting the torso as the first attempt came out too tight. Soaked the yarn after unravelling, and it straightened out nicely.

Have reached the armscye, almost time to start the garter stitch section. Will have to decrease by 18 sts when I do. The garter stitch tension is approx. 6.5 sts per inch (2.75mm needles), whereas the cable stitch measures in at around 7 sts per inch (3.5mm needles). It’s a pain to measure the cable stitch tension and the first time I knitted the torso I got it wrong, but I tried on the jumper and it fits comfortably :) I’ve been thinking I ought to knit up a tension square in stockinette on 3.5mm needles for reference at some point, but not until after the jumper is finished.

When I knitted the first version of the jumper I noticed that the neck comes out very tight, so this time around I’ll make the neck approx 1 inch wider. Hopefully that will do.

01.01.2016

The neck came out too tight, so unravelled back to the shoulder shaping and re-knitted it. Shoulder shaping:
8,8,7. Used an elastic bind off for the neck. Left the left side of the neck open for a couple of inches, added buttons and crocheted loops closures.

I measured across the bust of the jumper, and it’s 26 inches in circumference. 12 inches negative ease when relaxed, and it fits nicely.

02.01.2016

The jumper is done, and it’s lovely. It’s a shame it was such a bother to find the right gauge, but I still consider the considerable work laid down in the jumper to be worth it :)

If I were to do anything differently I’d add more stitches to the sleeves. The pattern says to cast on 60, I think I’d probably cast on 70, just to make the sleeves a little more roomy.

16.01.2016

A final note just to tell that this jumper is very warm and cosy as well as pretty :) It’s kept me warm in the very frosty weather we’ve had recently.