Twist stitch patterns are perfect for adding into a sweater. They don’t affect your stitch count so you can just plug them anywhere you want. I put this pattern down the middle of the front of this top down pullover. I will also add this pattern to each side of the body. I might even add them into my cuffs. Why not? I just can’t get enough of them.
Twisted stitches are a two stitch cable without the cable needle. Don’t you love that!
There are parts of sweater knitting that I enjoy over others. Settling in to knit a raglan yoke is one of the most enjoyable parts of the sweater for me. I love keeping track of the increases, seeing it get bigger and bigger, wider and wider, knowing it’s going to be so great.
Both of my Family Crew Neck sweaters are progressing well. The child size 4 is way ahead.
The colouring of the yarn is a great incentive to keep going. This is Maravilla by Katia, a wool & acrylic blend.
My navy version (Shelridge Yarns, W4 worsted, navy) is coming along. The short rows are done here. I was knitting on a train trip to Ottawa. Perfect knitting conditions: travel mug of tea, audio book and ear buds, hours of quiet knitting time.
Now I’m ready to really go for it. I will be introducing a pattern into the front 20 stitches between the ends of the short rows. Fun, fun, fun. Isn’t knitting just the greatest!
We like a sweater to have a lower front of neck, at least I do. This Family Crew Neck pullover is set up with short rows to give you that.
The Beginning of Round is at the Left Front Shoulder. To work the first short row, work a pair of raglan increases, one before and one after the Beginning of Round Marker. Then knit across shoulder, back of neck and second shoulder, working a pair of raglan increases at each of the markers, ending with a pair of increases worked at the Right Front where you work the short row as written.
Turn and purl across shoulder, back of neck and second shoulder, past the Beginning of Round Marker, work the short row and turn. Here is the first set of short rows finished. Can you see a gap where I turned at the end of each short row?
Every time you work a short row you will close the gap from the previous row, work past it, and turn which makes a new gap. Each short row gets longer and longer, creeping further down the front …
… until the short rows are complete.
Here is the 4 year old size with the short rows and yoke almost finished (because this little one is sooo much faster to knit). The Front neckband is nice and low and the back of neck and shoulders have a lot more rows on them. (Yarn is Maravilla by katia – loving the colour shifting.)
I did a video of my favourite Raglan Increase that I call the Open M1. I have no idea if this has an official name. If you know what it might be please comment so I know too.
Now to get back to my adult Family Crew Neck. It’s only a neckband so far and I can’t wait to wear it.
This will be my first sweater of 2024 and I am so excited to get started. If you want to knit along with me, the Family Crew Neck is on ravely. I am going to make videos for most of the sections of the sweater so you can see how this pattern works. It’s an Any Gauge pattern so I don’t know what yarn or what size you are knitting, that was the challenge of writing this pattern.
I am going to knit a 4 year old size for my grandson and an adult size for myself. I had knit one for my son-in-law, my grandson (both in the photo), one for my daughter-in-law (also in photo), and one for my daughter. I didn’t knit one for myself!!! It’s obviously time.
This is a longish post. Getting started always takes a bit of time. Hang on, there are videos and photos of the Cast On for both sizes.
Here we go. Because this pattern is for Any Gauge of yarn, you do have to do some math. Sorry, but there is no avoiding it. You need your gauge (# of sts in 1″) and a couple more numbers. Nothing your calculator can’t handle.
Here is my cast on. Gauge is DK weight yarn (5.5 sts = 1″), 4 year old size with 5″ Back of Neck (BofN).
Yes, there are a lot of Front sts, that’s totally correct. The extra Front sts will form a dropped front to the crewneck.
Here is my cast on for an adult size in worsted weight yarn (gauge is 5 sts = 1″) with an 8″ Back of Neck.
And now, how can you cast on when you will be beginning with the neck band and it needs to go over your head easily? I learned this from Cat Bourdhi and now use it all the time.
I have a terrible case of startitis. This is the result of a busy week of holiday celebrations and 3 days with a 3 year old. I don’t think there has been that much energy in our place for some time!
I would love to knit a new Family Crew Neck sweater for the little guy. He’s so much bigger now, my grandson that is, LOL.
I want to do videos, so if you want to, you can knit along. The pattern is for all sizes. I might just knit one for myself at the same time. Too much? I know, really bad startitis.
I haven’t forgotten about the other vest ideas. I really have one I want to try, so that’s still in the queue.
How are your plans? Are you also tripping over all the things you want to knit?
Deb Gemmell: Top Down, Gauge Free and more 