Linen stitch cowl

Pattern/Technique: Jessica Jones Cowl by Handmade by Smine

Modifications: n/a

Materials: 1 skein Cece’s Wool Sock (3 ply fingering weight, 88% SW merino, 12% nylon, 490yds / 115g) in Rhinebeck 23 colorway

US9 24” ChiaoGoo SS circular knitting needle

New skills: EZ Sewn Bind Off

Lessons/Notes: While knitting the main fabric I held the tension in my working yarn fairly tightly so that I would have a nice structured fabric. I probably also could have achieved this more consistently by going down a needle size. I think there was some slight increase in tension toward the middle/top of the cowl vs. the bottom, but nothing overtly noticeable given the subtle variation in the variegated tones.

The cowl pattern called for 100g of fingering weight wool, so I knit until I had a small ball left then started weighing the ball and stopped knitting when my ball was 15g. (I certainly could have knit that remaining 15g but I love this colorway and would like to use my remnant as a pop of color on another knitting/weaving project.)

This is a very long cowl, which ends up having a really nice height and proportionality even as it slouches down around the neck.

What I'd do differently: The bound off edge looks a little bit rustic, so if I make this again I might research ways to get a more even finish when binding off linen stitch (e.g. perhaps 1 round knitting all stitches to have an even row of loops before binding off?)

Care: hand wash, dry flat

Purl Soho Lightweight Raglan Sweater

Pattern/Technique: Lightweight Raglan Sweater by Purl Soho in size 48.

Modifications: No mods, but used the following measurements:

Sleeve:

  • Cord stitch: picked up purl bumps from above

  • Knit until sleeve measured 1” from cast on edge: 7 rows

  • Knit until 17 3/4” long: 27 rows

Body:

  • Armpit to waist distance - 12”

  • Difference between middle & side seam length - 2.5”

  • Therefore knit until center is 14.5” from CO edge

Materials: 3 skeins Purl Soho Linen Quill in Green Turquoise

US 4 circular needles

New skills: n/a

Lessons: I started knitting a year+ before I learned about the importance of gauge or intended ease (Jacqui Cieslak’s Sweater & Knitting Math for Curves classes were both fantastic resources) in obtaining a desired fit—I didn’t knit a gauge swatch for this sweater and basically winged it. What I did learn in Jacqui’s class is that row gauge—in particular the ratio between row and stitch gauge—is actually quite important for raglan sweaters due to the diagonal “seam” where the sleeves are joined to the body and decreases create the chest and shoulder shaping.

What I'd do differently: Despite my lack of fitting knowledge I managed to avoid any massive pitfalls (no sleeves 9” too long ;) but the fit ended up being more oversized than I what prefer to wear, and I wasn’t a fan of the curved bottom hemline given that I prefer to wear bottoms that hit me at my natural waist (and tend toward more cropped silhouettes on tops). I also noticed that the hemline construction resulted in a hem that tended to curl upward (something pretty common with stockinette stitch, and why many sweaters have ribbing along the hems).

Given what I’ve learned about sweater fit and my personal style since knitting this, I don’t think I’ll remake this particular pattern (I ended up giving this FO to my mom), but I’m excited to try another raglan sweater (e.g. Cozy Classic Raglan by Jessie Mae) with different hem design elements.

Care: Hand wash, dry flat.