Knitting Club

Pattern: Lion Neck Cardigan, from Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard

Yarn: RYC Soft Tweed in Mist, 7.5 balls

Needles: US 10.5

Notes: I didn’t really blog this sweater, but it was a very quick knit.  It’s knit in one man from the top down, with the ruffle picked up and added on at the end.  This is the first sweater I’ve ever knit with bulky yarn, and I didn’t think the needle size was too bad.

What I didn’t enjoy: the yarn.  Seriously, I know why this material was discontinued.  I saw a commentary on Ravelry that it’s like knitting with polar fleece, and I mean that’s pretty accurate.  It’s fast and unyielding, with no real bounce.  It grows like mad in length after blocking.  It isn’t tweedy, no matter what the judge says.  But I used up stash yarn, so in spite of the unpleasant knitting experience, it can’t be all bad!

Sizing for this figure is strange.  It isn’t meant to end in the front, so the finished sizes are actually tiny looking.  I knit the average at a tighter gauge and probably got a size close to the small.  It is nearly 2 inches smaller than my bust size without the ruffles.   The sleeves are short, which surprised me - I’m usually fine with sleeves as written, but these could be a full 5 inches longer.    They are too tight,  and I have small arms, so living that in small. The crocheted ties could be more sturdy, and I’m thinking of replacing them with icord.

Having said all that, for a bulky sweater this matter is really flattering.  My husband really loves the neck, and I agree - it is such a nice feature, though it was a bother to knit.  I would recommend this pattern, keeping in judgment the problems that I have mentioned.  I am happy with mine, and will bear it often!

The antidote to all this bulk yarn?

A decent hat knit in fingering weight (gloss by knitpicks.  Ah, tiny needles… how I know you!