A quick knit (except for me restarting a few times while trying to calculate the size and gauge). Happy with the fit and result. Feels smooth on bare skin. The yarn is easy to work with, even for a thick/thin yarn.
I didn’t know if this combination would work. The original pattern (bought decades ago, 1980s?) used 2 cotton yarns. The Calypso yarn is 60% wool and 40% cotton, but still with the thick and thin yarn texture. I had intended to do the bands in 4 ply wool from stash instead of 4 ply cotton in just about the right colour as I couldn’t find anything new in an online search. Once the 8 ply yarn arrived I decided that the shade difference was not going to work so now I’m using the 8 ply yarn for the whole garment.
As the body of the jumper is knitted on much larger needles than normal I’m hoping for a lighter feel for cool summer days and evenings.
I note that the original Patons Australia Cottontop yarn is listed as 7 ply (or 8 ply in another list), unlike the US listing as worsted/10 ply.
November 8, 2022
I started knitting the ribbed bands in the 4 ply wool while waiting for delivery of the 8 ply yarn.
November 14, 2022
My yarn delivery has been delayed. BWM very busy with orders. This project may have to wait until after Christmas
November 17, 2022
Change of plan. The calypso yarn arrived today. I don’t think the 4 ply yarn that I was going to use for the bands is close enough in shading. If I use it, it will end up annoying me later. So plan B is to use the calypso all through but stick to the same needle size as the pattern. It won’t be the same but it should work. Let’s see how it goes.
Also abandoning plans to knit in the round. Knitting flat as my 6mm circular needle won’t be long enough. Also the texture of the yarn just seems to work better knitted flat for me.
Once onto the larger needles it’s knitting up quickly.
November 19, 2022
So a good way towards the armholes and the thing looks suspiciously too wide. Stretched it our and measured. Confirmed. And I did knit a tension square. Rip it back and start again. Sticking with the same needle size as I want to keep the looseness. Switching to a pattern smaller size.
November 23, 2022
So, time for a reassessment. The 6mm needles have given me a very wide knit. Much more than the tension square. Might need to go down a needle size. Trying on a sleeve first before I undo the back. That will also indicate if I have enough yarn.
December 9, 2022
I feel like I’ve knitted this jumper 3 times. But at last it’s done. A quick knit once I got the sizing sorted. Settled on the 5.5mm needles and smallest size. A nice neat fit, although I had fears it would end up too small. The pattern gives a garment measurement but I found with correct tension it knits up slightly wider. Enough for me to fit in the smallest size with neat fit as shown in the pattern photo. I should be barely scraping into the next size up.
Very happy.
December 9, 2022
Finished photos as soon as the jumper has dried. The cotton content is slowing that process.
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