Erika in our knitting club, who is a crocheter, came in with a Christmas stocking that she wanted replicated into a sweater for her 6’6” grandson with a 47” chest. The sweater had to have “Fa La La” across it. Initially I wasn’t interested but the challenge tweaked my interest. When I said I would consider doing it, she was off like a shot and came the next week with a bag of yarn and a pattern.

Erika purchased some lovely 220 Cascade Superwash Merino that is very nice to work with and has lovely sheen to it and great stitch definition. I have found that Cascade yarns pill and am hoping this is the exception.

Only revision was German twisted cast on for the neck rather than picking it up, the chart and the length.

The pattern of the stocking, which is machine knit, was a 7 st repeat and the sweater is a 12 st repeat. I charted up some of the elements of the stocking and really had to ponder the “Fa La La” but I think I have something suitable so here I go. I’ve never knit for someone this size so it will definitely be a learning experience. Right?

I wet blocked the project and as you can see the yarn bled. I was very lucky it did not bleed into the neutral yarn. I usually vinegar bath bold coloured regular wool but never have with superwash.

Maybe it is just me but I have never had good luck with Cascade Yarns. I loved working with it, the stitch definition and the sheen but the bleeding is a game changer especially since Erika paid over $200 for the yarn and I had 5 weeks of knitting into it. I would be livid if it had bled into the project.

Finally…….DONE! What a project and a half.

A huge thank you to Hanne for the gorgeous free pattern. I hope to do it once again exactly as it was written.