Homecoming

Hello, lovely knitters!

Happy fall, and l’shana tova to all of you who celebrate. It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks, but I’m finally back home. The laundry’s (mostly) done, the email is (mostly) caught up, and the boys are thoroughly snuggled. I’m enjoying some afternoon sunshine working on my patio while daydreaming about what sweaters I’m going to knit now that my needles are (mostly) my own again.

The first sweater, I’ve already cast on – an A-line version of Verglas:

I’m loving it. Jen of Spirit Trail Fiberworks made me the most perfect fall denim color of Zalti, and I powered through the back, which is all Stockinette. The front is going more slowly, but I just love knitting the cables – I find them so addictive.

Now that I’m home and things are settling out, I have a few big things to share with you!

CHOOSE YOUR SILHOUETTE IN CUSTOMFIT

The first big piece of news is related to my choice of knitting project: You can now choose the silhouette of your CustomFit patterns, the same way you choose sleeve length, hem length, and fit:

Each design built into CustomFit now has both a primary silhouette, and some number of additional “allowed” silhouettes. When you make your CustomFit pattern, you choose between the primary and allowed silhouettes.

The available silhouettes for each design are represented by icons that appear underneath the design photo (they’re also listed in the text):

As I make samples up in different silhouettes, I’ll add them to galleries to showcase how different a sweater can look as you change the silhouette of the body. Until then, I’ve collected examples of each silhouette on this resource page to help knitters choose what they like to wear.

I’ve also fixed a few things that were wrong with the way body measurements are stored and used. There’s no distinction, now, between an “essentials-only” measurement set and an “hourglass” measurement set. There are also no minimum numbers of the ‘extra’ measurements you need to add in a single go. If CustomFit needs a measurement you don’t have to make a design, it will simply ask for it when you make the pattern. Easy-peasy.

This feature has been a long time coming, and I’m so pleased to finally share it with you.

MWL FALL 2017 RETREAT DESIGNS

The fall make. wear. love. sweater retreat is past, and that means it’s time to release the three retreat designs! For every retreat, I create a design using yarn from each of our lovely vendors. As usual, they’re named after places in and around the resort where I hold the retreat. This year, I managed to snap pictures of them there, too!

CLIPPER

Clipper is the design I worked up in Indigodragonfly‘s yarn – this time, their beautiful DK Matter. I used the colors “Hand of the Herzog” (MC) and “Tapenod” (CC). Kim is intensely creative, passionate about color, and loves asymmetry. So I reached a bit outside of my comfort zone with this design, and created something inspired by her.

I used short rows and a bright pop of CC to make asymmetrical, striped sleeve cuffs and button bands. You begin by working the outermost curve of the sleeve cuff, with little insets of CC. Then, you pick up and work the inner curve of the sleeve down to the wrist, in the CC. I made the sleeves identical, so you’ll get a pop of CC on the front of one sleeve and the back of the other.

I echoed that asymmetry is echoed on the button band by working it in two pieces that overlap at the back neck. Both sides use short rows to shape the band, but only one side uses CC in the short row wedges.



At my gauge of around 6 stitches to the inch, a standard size 30 (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60)’’ sweater will use up 5 (5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10) hanks of MC and one of CC. You can make your own Clipper, in any silhouette that you like, for $12.50 here on CustomFit.

MOUNT MERRITT

Mount Merritt is my design using Spirit Trail Fiberworks‘ yarn. I was excited to work with Jen’s amazing new worsted-weight superwash yarn Luna. Jen does such a wonderful job with shading different colors together, and has also recently been playing with speckled yarns. Thinking of her colors, I wanted to craft a design that was a showcase for her beautiful tonals and an opportunity to play with some brighter, fun colors.

An easy slip-stitch color pattern adorns the sweater body, sleeves, and pockets, and a super-long length keeps this cardigan ultra-cozy. The pockets are patch pockets, sewn on during finishing, and the rest of the cardigan is comfortable and simple. The deep V-neckline and long sleeves makes this sweater perfect for slipping on over whatever when there’s a chill in the air.

I adored working with the Luna – it’s a superwash yarn that feels like a non-superwash. It has a delicious bit of tooth to it, and feels wonderful rolling through the fingers. It’s hardly ever cold enough here for me to wear worsted weight, so I’m now working up a sample in the similar, but DK-weight, Selene right now.



At my gauge of 5 stitches to the inch, and with a super (duper) long length, a standard size 30 (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60)’’ sweater takes 7 (7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12, 13) hanks of Luna in MC and 1 in CC. You can make your own Mount Merritt, in any silhouette that you like, for $12.50 here on CustomFit.

HARBOR VILLAGE

Harbor Village is my design using a yarn from our vendor Yarn Culture. Patti has exceptional taste, and getting to sample her perfectly-curated yarns is one of my favorite parts of designing the collection. This year, we selected the aptly-named ‘Delirium’ from Periwinkle Sheep, in the color “Vintage Blue”.

I rounded out the collection with a cardi for when you need a quick bit of warmth. The weather’s often unpredictable way in Maine, even in the summertime – a bit of wool is a good thing to have with you. This lightweight cardigan is versatile and easy to wear. Roomy, gathered pockets are perfect for snuggling, and am allover vertical lace pattern keeps things light.

The construction is unusual: The cardi is worked in three main pieces from the bottom up. Like a few of my designs in recent years, the sleeve stitches are added in a series of COs, forming a gentle dolman under the arms. I joined the fronts to the back via a simple 3-needle bind-off, and picked up the cuffs to work down toward the wrist. After picking up the button band, you increase stitches for pockets and hold them for later. You work the pockets sideways, out toward the sides, then gather them in at the sides before binding off and seaming. The pockets’ top edges are allowed to roll in toward the pocket.

The result is effortless to wear, exceptionally comfortable, and chic to boot. (It doesn’t hurt that Delirium has a stunning hand. Isn’t it great to be a knitter?!)



You’ll need 4 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7) hanks of Delirium for the sizes 30 1/2 (31 1/2, 32 1/2, 35 3/4, 36 3/4, 40, 43 1/4, 44 1/4, 48 1/2, 49 1/2, 53 3/4, 58 1/4)” / 77.5 (80, 82.5, 91, 93.5, 101.5, 110, 112.5, 123, 125.5, 136.5, 148) cm. You can purchase Harbor Village for $8 by clicking this link, or in my Ravelry shop.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

This fall promises to be lots of fun – I can’t wait to share it with you. Until next time, I hope you have a lovely weekend and fabulous knitting in the crisp, fall air.

4 thoughts on “Homecoming

  1. Will you be adding dolman sleeves to the build your own sweater section of custom fit?
    Thanks
    Karen

  2. I love the silhouette option you’ve added, and can’t wait to try it out! Thinking about an a-line Verglas for myself, in a longer tunic sort of length. mmmmmm. And I’m so very happy you love Luna and Selene; I’m quite smitten with them both myself 😀

  3. For newest news you have to go to see world-wide-web annd on the web I
    found this web page as a best web page for latest updates.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

TweetShare