the ANGRY KNITTER: Not Cashmere

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Not Cashmere
Wednesday, December 08, 2004

This is my version of Teva Durham's Unisex Kick-Around Cashmere Pullover from Weekend Knitting : 50 Unique Projects and Ideas. I didn't have several hundred dollars to drop on chunky cashmere tweed, so I settled on Lion Brand Homespun in "Shaker". I love Homespun. It's really soft and comfy to wear -- not to mention cheap.

This sweater was hard to knit. At least it was hard when I knit it last year. The construction is weird. You knit the middle panels first, then pick up stitches along one side and knit the top and arms in one piece. Of course, it didn't fit me well. Nothing I knit fits well. I'm petite so the arms are always too long or things look weird. Originally I knit the bottom as specified by the pattern, but this year when I took the sweater out of storage, I decided it looked too long and stupid on me, so I removed the bottom and knit a smaller border in reverse stockinette stitch. It doesn't look like much in this picture, but it actually looks good on me, not withstanding the monkey arms.

posted at 5:51 PM . link .

. (3) comments
3 Comments:

Hi.

I am trying to knit this sweater as well. "Trying" being the operative word. Did you have trouble picking up the stitches from the middle section and knitting the body? I have picked up the stitches, but then when I follow the instructions, the k is on the p side and vice versa. Did you make any changes to the pattern?

Amy

By Anonymous, at 12:47 PM

You know, I had a lot of problems with this one. And I don't think there are book corrections anywhere. I do remember having problems picking up stitches there and getting confused. Are you sure you're holding the purl side of the center panel facing you when you pu the sts? Reading the directions again are confusing me too! I think what they want you to do is pick up the sts then co 10 sts then turn and then follow the directions for "ROW 1" (knit the newly co sts and picked-up sts and place markers). You should turn the piece *after* you pu and cast on the 10 sts.

I hope that helps. This is the kind of pattern where a little improvisation is required. Btw, Teva Durham (who designed Not-Cashmere) has a new book out with great patters. At least, they look great, I haven't tried to knit any of them yet! It's called Loop-D-Loop.

By Unknown, at 11:25 AM

Hmmm..I really wanted to knit this sweater for my husband and myself. I'm abeginning kniter though, so it sounds like I shouldn't try it.

I was looking for cashmere blend yarns on eBay and found some, but I didn't really know what kind of weight yarn this was. It looks good in your photo in the homespun. The color matches up from the book really well.

Kristi

By Anonymous, at 1:58 PM