#27

I have a new sweater!

Most of you probably remember my post about my dear friend, Nichole, and the excitement surrounding her first pattern in Vogue Knitting: #27, Fair Isle Collared Jacket. Well, I have just finished my very own #27!

• Pattern: #27, Fair Isle Collared Jacket by Nichole Reese from Vogue Knitting, Fall 2009
• Yarn: Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Chunky, 4 skeins 01, Charcoal; Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran, 2 skeins each #15 charcoal and #16, maroon, and 1 skein each #07 natural, #19 deep violet, and #21 fuschia
• Needles: US 10 1/2 and US 8 from my Click set
• Size: 36" finished chest
• Mods: longer sleeves - read below
• Note: Don't forget to check VK's errata for this - they WAY overstated the yarn requirements.

First up: let's talk sleeve modifications. Nichole's version is short-sleeved and super cute. I, however, didn't want my sleeves to end at the widest part of my upper arm, so I brainstormed ways to elongate the sleeves but keep the knitting interesting. I decided to make a 3/4 length sleeve, and add the same fair isle motif from the collar around the cuff.

The change was an easy one to make since this is a top-down pattern (thank god for top-down patterns, right???). I just returned my held sleeve sts to the needles and kept knitting, putting in 2 decrease rounds as I went to bring them in slightly. Just past my elbow I put in the contrast color edging from the bottom of the sweater, increased sts and change to the size 8 needles, worked the fair isle chart (center bolded repeat only), then decreased back to the bulky sleeve stitch count and size 10 1/2 needles and worked the contrast edging once more. Voila!

I love everything about this sweater. The yarn is delicious and worth every penny. The pattern is great and the perfect mix of straightforward, fast, easy knitting and colorwork entertainment. The swingy shape is dead-on for fitting my big 'ole hips but staying flattering around my waist and chest. This whole project was a big fat WIIIINNNER in my book!

 

Comments

[Sharon Lamvik]

This is drop-dead gorgeous, Sarah!! I love your mods!! I'm currently making the pattern as is from Vogue, but am excited to try another one with these changes - yes, I said another one :) Thanks, Nichole for a fabulous pattern that is so fun to knit!