I don’t usually choose blue, but this one-color Noro I found in the Romni Wools weaving section in large unmarked rolls was just too exciting to pass up! I just love the earthy texture and feel of Noro- I know it has so many annoying eccentricities, but I can’t resist!

I decided to work it loose for a faster and drapier knit. I have been experimenting with knitting some designs a bit off gauge. I think I am inspired by the many Sydney cardigans I am sample knitting for Americo Original (2 down, 4 to go), which has their Dehaired Baby Llamma yarn knit to a super relaxed tension.

I love EPS, but it’s really just a starting point for me now as I can crunch numbers with some proficiency to check fit of various parts. Everything up to waist was bang on my sketch numbers- that was very exciting. I started at the bottom, knitting a bit of ribbed hem before short rowing the “tail” on the back. After this, back to in the round and decreasing slowly on both side seams for an a-line shape to the waist. The yoke is completed in standard every-second-row-decrease raglan, without short row shaping to drop the front.

The yoke on this sweater was fraught with some challenges, however. I didn’t wash my swatch, which I knew was lazy at the time, especially when knitting loose because one needs to account for the vertical drop. I got a little wishy washy with the numbers too- big stitch yarn makes it tempting to fudge because you can reknit in no time anyway! I originally worked the yoke with all the short rows and such, but found they add little due to the huge stitches and that I wanted a fairly large neck opening anyway. I reknit it without the short rows and was very pleased with the result!

I love how well this sweater fits my shape, especially for a fabric so thick! It really emphasizes my backside, a feature which I embrace about my March Mullet Sweater!