I think of NEW SUIT as a suit jacket that can be worn with anything, any time, any where!

I love loose fitting, easy clothes with very simple, yet modern lines. NEW SUIT is roomy with up to 12” of positive ease (I have reduced the amount of positive ease as the sweater goes up in size), NEW SUIT’s fit is not oversized but what I would call comfortable! The drop shoulder construction of NEW SUIT is simple, but I have sloped the shoulder tops significantly, so that the extra ease drapes beautifully along the sides rather than bunching up. The sleeve top is also shaped, so that the shoulder-to-sleeve line is contiguous from the shoulder to the wrist. And my favorite detail is the sleeve shape! After perusing last fashion magazines, I decided that a “not quite full length” loose fitting sleeve falling to just above the wrist looks fresh and modern, and is exceptionally comfortable. And, of course I included a small side vent!

I chose to knit NEW SUIT in a heavy DK weight yarn at a gauge of 20 sts per 4”, so that it would be easy and fast to knit, while at the same time, easy to wear.

Continuing my quest to work with indie dyed yarns that I admire, I chose House of A La Mode’s Dreamy DK (color: The Smokey Semi Collection – Alpine; 100% Merino Wool SW; 250 yds per 115g skein). I have to say that when the yarn arrived, it was all I could do not to start knitting immediately! Winding and knitting with the yarn did not disappoint! While I am sure that I alternated skeins, the variation in the dying was not overpowering and the amount of variegation is just so pleasing to the eye. And the color is simply divine, sometimes looking smokey grey and sometimes bright blue and black. And now that I have worn my NEW SUIT for nearly 6 months (yes, it took me far too long to actually get this design from finished sample to publication), I am amazed that there is still virtually no pilling!

That having been said, there are plenty of wonderful yarn options for NEW SUIT. Certainly take a moment to go look at the lovely choices of the 10 ladies who test knit for me. And check your stash. Substitute yarns include Miss Babs YOWZA, Madelinetosh Tosh DK, Malabrigo Arroyo and Cascade 220 or even Woolfolk FAR. Oh yes, and just because we chose to use semi-solids doesn’t mean that NEW SUIT wouldn’t look great in a speckled choice or even a fade! Perhaps La Bien Aimee?

NEW SUIT is an easy and fast knit! It is the perfect first sweater or, for the experienced knitter, a great binge TV watching knitting choice. Whether a first time sweater knitter or an old salt, come join the NEW SUIT KAL in the VERSACIKNITS knitters ravelry group. While we don’t have hard and fast rules, the KAL will kick-off in earnest on September 7th!

SIZES XS-S (M-L, 1X-2X, 3X)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
CHEST (Approx 8-12”/20-30cm positive ease when buttoned)
43 ½ (49, 55 ½, 62)“/110.5 (124.5, 141, 157.5)cm (buttoned)
LENGTH
24 (24 ½, 25 ½, 26 ½)”/61 (62, 65, 67.5)cm

YARN

• House of A La Mode Dreamy DK (color: The Smokey Semi Collection – Alpine; 100% Merino Wool SW; 250 yds per 115g skein): 5 (6, 7, 8) skeins or
• DK/ light worsted weight yarn: approx 1250 (1400, 1650, 1900)yds/1150 (1275, 1500, 1725)m

GAUGE
20 sts and 30 rows = 4”/ 10cm in Stockinette St on larger needle (blocked). Take time to check gauge.

NEEDLES and BUTTONS
Sizes 6 US (4mm) and 7 US (4.5mm) 32”/80cm circular needles or sizes needed to obtain gauge
8 or desired number of (3/4”/19mm) buttons

CONSTRUCTION
BACK, FRONTS and SLEEVES are worked bottom-up, then sewn together. After seams are sewn, bands are picked up and worked.