Pattern Release: Wintry Mix

I’m thrilled to share my next self-published design, just in time for the crisp fall air.

(Are you hearing that, crisp fall air?)

Wintry Mix: An elegant, comfortable cowl for chilly days.

Sizes: Ten sizes; intended to be worn with 1-2’’/2.5-5cm ease in the bust

Final Measurements: Bust measures:30 1⁄4 (32, 34 3⁄4, 36 1⁄2, 38 1⁄4, 40, 42 3⁄4, 46 1⁄4, 50 3⁄4, 54 1⁄4)”/77 (81.5, 88, 92.5, 97, 101.5, 108.5, 117.5, 128.5, 137.5) cm Length from hem to shoulder: 22 (223⁄4, 231⁄4, 231⁄2, 241⁄4, 241⁄2, 243⁄4, 25, 251⁄4, 251⁄2)”/56 (58, 59, 59.5, 61.5, 62, 63, 63.5, 64, 65) cm

Featured Materials: Berroco Blackstone Tweed [65% Wool, 25% Superkid Mohair,
10% Angora Rabbit Hair] (130 yds/119 m per 50 g ball) shown in color 2607 (Wintry Mix): 8 (8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 11, 12, 13, 14) balls or approximately 932 (1008, 1097, 1165, 1245, 1313, 1409, 1523, 1671, 1807) yds/853 (922, 1004, 1066, 1140, 1202, 1290, 1395, 1530, 1655) m

Gauge: 18 sts & 26 rows = 4”/10 cm in stockinette stitch, blocked. Recommended needle size of US 7/4.5mm.

Pattern Notes: All photographs copyright splityarn 2011 and used with permission. Technical editing by Elizabeth Sullivan.

Finally, here’s the pattern release for the cowl pullover I stepped through designing on the blog this spring. I’m very pleased with the way it has turned out. Wintry Mix is cozy, flattering pullover with an unusual cowl neckline. The wide neckline broadens the shoulders, balanced by a curved garter panel at the hem of the sweater, creating the subtle illusion of (or exaggerating) an hourglass shape. Constructed nearly seamlessly, the body is knit in the round from the hem up; the set-in sleeves are worked in the round from the bottom up; the cowl is also picked up and worked in the round.

Originally, I’d intended for the sleeves to be picked up around the armhole and worked seamlessly down to the wrist; however, picking up stitches in the tweed just didn’t look right. So they’re now done in the round to the cap, and then seamed to the sweater body with smoother yarn. This produced a far superior look, so while usually I am in favor of translating set-in sleeves to be seamless if you don’t like finishing, I don’t recommend doing so for this sweater. At least in a tweed.

Wintry Mix offers a balanced visual impression that works for many figures. As written, the wide neckline and thick garter hem make it a great choice for proportional shapes; minimizing or exaggerating the width of the hips by shortening/lengthening the sweater or narrowing/widening the garter band will ensure that Wintry Mix flatters bottom-heavy and top-heavy shapes, as well.
Wintry Mix is intended to be cozy but not loose–I recommend that you choose a size with 1-2”/2.5-5cm of ease in the bust. If you’re busty, please follow my usual advice and choose a size based on your upper torso instead. (Especially since adding bust darts to this sweater is as simple as it gets!)

Vertical darts allow for extremely flexible shaping, customized to fit your body. Should you desire less waist shaping than specified, you can omit or decrease the shaping rows entirely on the front of the sweater. Bustier women can accommodate their needs by performing more increases on the front of the sweater, and not in the back. These extra stitches can be decreased into the neckline. As with all sweaters, carefully examine the pattern schematic to note potential modifications before you knit!

Berroco’s Blackstone Tweed is a truly luscious blend of wool, mohair, and angora that results in an incredibly luxe sweater. Should you desire to use an alternate yarn, please choose yarn that produces a warm but light fabric to preserve the drape of the neckline.

Wintry Mix may be purchased from from my ravelry pattern store for US$7.00 or by clicking here: . Thanks for your support!

This would make a perfect addition to the fall pattern knit-a-long happening in my ravelry group, so I hope you’ll join us there!

Finally, you might notice that this pattern is a bit more expensive than my other patterns. I’ve learned a great deal about pattern writing over the last couple of years, resulting in patterns of the very highest quality, with professional charts, schematics, layout, and extremely clear instructions. I’ve decided to raise my prices a bit to keep my designs in line with those of my peers. Beyond just Wintry Mix, I’m in the process of updating all of my old patterns to the new format and tweaking the math/creating better schematics and charts/etc. where necessary; as these patterns are updated their prices will also increase. (Don’t worry; anyone who has bought the patterns previously will get the new version as a ravelry update!)

I want to thank all of you for your support and encouragement in this area of my life. I continue to be very excited about all of the projects I have going on behind the scenes here, and am really looking forward to the future.

7 thoughts on “Pattern Release: Wintry Mix

  1. Oh, it’s beautiful, Amy!

  2. Woohoo! I fell in love with this one when I saw it in your projects… can’t wait to knit it! 🙂

  3. So beautiful, pattern and yarn just purchased! I’m thrilled to support your decision to raise your rates. It’s well worth it.

  4. Love this one Amy. Just ordered pattern and yarn. I too fully support your decision to increase your prices – you provide so much more than just a pattern. Its just turning to spring here but I figure if I start knitting now, this lovely sweater will be ready for me by fall!

  5. I am SO in love with this one. You’ve really been inspiring me to make more sweaters lately!

  6. The neckline and fit are PERFECT on you!! Wow! congrats on another great design!

  7. It’s a stunner, and so are you! Congrats on your debut!

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