theraineysisters knitting and so much more

March 29, 2008

From Susan — Miter, Miter, Pants on Fiter

Filed under: Susan's Mitered Cardigan — lv2knit @ 11:10 am

I finished the back!  Woo Hoo!  It took longer than expected, of course, but I am pleased so far.  The front will be shaped differently than the pattern, too, with traditional neckline shaping (for notched collar) and added pockets.

The following picture shows the elements of this cardigan that provide structure.  The red, crossed lines run along cast on edges, which I did using a cable cast on for a firm edge.  If you follow the bands of color, you can see that the knitting is multi-directional as well.  This provides additional support for the garment that plain garter stitch does not.  Garter tends to stretch.   I know of some people who made this jacket and experienced stretching.  I think if you follow the instructions in the magazine and use a regular knitted cast on, there may be an increased tendency to stretch.

One of my peeps just finished her Mitered Cardigan and went to block it by soaking it in her washing machine and then spinning out the water.  She has done this many times….BUT, she had purchased a new washing machine.  Ruh Roh!  The new machine goes directly from soak to wash.  She was upstairs when she realized she was listening to the familiar (and unexpected!) whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of the wash cycle.  She said she screamed and bolted so fast her hubby thought she was on fire!  Anyway, the jacket was lightly felted.  I must say, it is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous in its felted state.  It does still fit her, but not in the generous, over-sized way she had planned.  Bummer!

I really enjoyed reading all of your comments about knitting and sewing.  I, too, love to sew and do agree that HAND sewing is portable.  Quilting has always had a strong social component and has been a major source of community networking for many years.  The StarTribune article was focused on sewing garments by machine which is a different story.

 

5 Comments »

  1. I’m loving the construction of the cardigan so far — it works so well with the yarn. I can’t wait to see the front!

    Comment by Soo — March 29, 2008 @ 2:19 pm

  2. When I saw this picture I thought ‘oh that is nice!’ then
    read your post and saw that it is by my favorite designer…
    there you go! Lovely indeed. Thank you for sharing.

    Comment by Aline — March 29, 2008 @ 5:20 pm

  3. LOL! Re: “it took longer than expected…” you wrote, about
    something that took **6 DAYS** and would take me….6 weeks???

    Love the site!

    Comment by Lisa — March 31, 2008 @ 10:08 pm

  4. Ooh, frustration. I am reading your mention of using a cable cast-on, rather than the knit-on cast on, as directed in the pattern. I was wonder how the looseness of the wavy edge would be absorbed, when picking up for the next square. I guess the answer is – rip, rip, rip.

    Comment by Judith — April 9, 2008 @ 9:14 am

  5. I am trying to located this pattern. Cn you help me?

    Comment by kali — February 6, 2009 @ 3:02 am

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