I’m enjoying some good timing. My internet is back, yay. The month without it was very weird. We got into reading which was great but because we don’t have cable, we usually stream our tv watching, very little knitting got done.
I am working these sleeves slightly differently just to try something new. I’m working the sleeve decreases in the stockinette section on the underside of the sleeve instead of decreasing in the garter stitch panel on the top, as I did in the first two Saddle Up pullovers.
I worked some short rows in the garter stitch section to compensate for the different row gauge. I’m not sure I like it as much as decreasing the garter stitch panel.
As I was knitting down the body of my last Saddle Up pullover, I was thinking about the Bottom Edge. I find they are always a bit tricky. I don’t want this Bottom Border to pull in. It’s for my son and he likes his garments loose, like an over-sized hoodie.
I could work it in garter stitch, round and round, which is what I did in the pattern but, well, I just did that, so what else could I do? I could work it in ribbing to match the ribbed neckband but I had a lot of time to think about it, and this is what I came up with: garter stitch worked back and forth with an SSK to attach to the open stitches at the bottom of the pullover.
I really like how it looks and it’s not pulling in.
As you know, garter stitch is worked back and forth and can be a real pain if you have to turn a garment over and over again to work the right and wrong side rows. Knitting back backwards to the rescue. No turning. The right side of the fabric is facing you all the time. Have you ever done this? It takes some practice for sure.
Knit the right side rows as usual. For the wrong side row you need to work purl stitches on the right side of the fabric. Here we go. With the right side facing and the yarn at the front …
… insert left needle into the next stitch, from back to front.
The left needle is sitting in front now. Wrap the yarn around the left needle counter-clockwise. Take the yarn under the left needle to the back, over the needle to the front again. I’m a continental knitter so the yarn is coming from my left hand but this can also be done with the yarn in your right hand.
Now, to finish I flip the part of the stitch on my right needle forward over the tip of the left needle. If you have the yarn in your right hand, you might push the left needle back through the stitch to finish up.
Ta, da, one purl stitch made.
I have to pay attention to do this but it is getting easier and easier as I work around the bottom of this Saddle Up pullover.
I’m on my last Saddle Up. I’ve made some progress on this one and am almost to the bottom border. Don’t sweaters look oddly proportioned at this point? I did a fitting with my son and he’s happy with it.
I think the big centre pattern is very impressive. It’s Cable #119 in the Knitted Cable Sourcebook by Norah Gaughan. It’s as complicated as it looks, but so rewarding to knit. My son is a skate- and snowboarder. I think this pattern reflects that – at least it does for me.
Next I’m going to do the neckband and then on to the sleeves, which will take a little while. As I do that I’ll be thinking about my next project.
Hmm, should I do a shawl or finish the striped V-neck cardigan? I’m leaning towards the cardigan, since shawls feel like a spring project to me.
I am coming to you from my local library since our internet at home went out before Christmas and now won’t be up for another couple weeks. We’ve been reading lots of books. Not a bad thing but it’s somewhat unsettling to be without the world wide web.
But look, I finished my Saddle Up pullover. Yahoo.
I would have liked to make the neckband deeper but I ran out of wool. I bought it in Scotland about 30 years ago so … there is no more. Yes, it was a deep dive into my stash but I’m so glad to finally have a sweater out of it. Ha, ha, about time, wouldn’t you say!
Did you make a knitting New Years resolution?
This is my New Years resolution for 2022: knit only from my stash. I’ve unfollowed all wool dryers from my Instagram account so I won’t be tempted. Ugh, that was really hard to do. How about you? Do you have knitting plans for the new year?
It’s a new year. All the best to you and yours in 2022. Cheers, Deb
Deb Gemmell: Top Down, Gauge Free and more 