This is a sweater I designed. It’s named Rennes after the French city I lived in briefly while in college, and it is the first sweater I designed from scratch. It is knit in Bainin, one of the Broad Bay yarns from Alice Starmore. (Unfortunately, that yarn is no longer available.)
The front and back are identical. As you can see, it has a square neck, bold cables, and a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap is a traditional one, and was the inspiration for this design. A shoulder strap means that when you get to the top of the sleeve, you bind off all of the sleeve stitches except for a thin strip or band. You then join the front to the back by continuing to knit this band, incorporating the shoulder stitches into the band as you go.
The technical challenge is to get the number of stitches right (through planning, decreases, and luck) so that the shoulder drapes correctly and doesn’t balloon or pull. Here is a close up of the shoulder:
Although in the photograph the lines of stitches going between the sleeve and the shoulder strap don’t look straight, that’s because of my poor photography. The lines are straight, especially when the sweater is on.
Here is a more detailed view of the neck and sleeve:
I’m very fond of this sweater. It brings back memories — not only of Rennes but of knitting it while Susan and I traveled in London.
Sigh.
This is a truly lovely sweater.
Comment by Deborah Robson — December 3, 2007 @ 12:43 am
It reminds me of days at Needle Point of View. You guys have taken it so beyond that. Gorgeous.
Happy Holidays,
Blast from the past
Love,
Shawn
Comment by Shawn — December 17, 2008 @ 1:28 am
Stunning. I would love to try this. Can I buy the pattern?
Comment by Mandy Rainey — February 14, 2018 @ 2:51 pm