My First Sweater

No, it's not my first sweater in the sense that it's the first sweater I've ever knit. I've knit sweaters before. And it's not the first sweater I've radically modified. I've modified sweaters before. No this is my first sweater in the sense that I used no pattern. I didn't even use part of a pattern, no frankenknitting on this one. For better or for worse I did this all on my own. My first sweater.



Pattern: Mine

Yarn: Brunswick Germantown Knitting Worsted, 100% Pure Virgin Wool (from the stash of doom)

Needles: Size 7 Addi Turbos

Review: I was inspired by this ad for a sweater in the Fall Interweave Knits.



I thought to myself "Hey, I like that. It's the only thing in this magazine I want to knit." So I looked all over the internet for the pattern. But alas, I came up empty handed. Then I looked at the picture some more and thought to myself "Hey self. You can make that. It's just 2x2 rib with a 1x1 rib collar. And while your at it, make it one color with a belt."

So I did.

I made gauge swatches, and schematics, and did math. I counted rows and did waist shaping. I read this article in knitty for help with the sleeve cap. And it was very helpful. Usually I have a bit of fancy sewing to do to make the sleeve cap match the armscye. But this was the easiest sleeve cap I've ever sewn in. All in all I'm really happy with the results. I had beginner's luck on my side. So what if the sleeves came out entirely too long. I simply cuffed them and I think they look fancy that way. There is a seam in the middle of the collar in the back, but hey, I can't see it, it's in the back. I'm sure there are better ways to make the collar, but this is the way I did mine, and I'm comfortable with my choices.



I may have to tack the collar down to get it to lay exactly where I want it and not shift when I move. But that's not such a big deal. All in all I'm very happy with it.

I do think I'm going to have to go back to asking Pork Chop to take pictures of me in my knitwear. I asked the Greatest to take a picture and this is what I got.



Men.