Here is a photo of my cardigan, full front view!
Showing posts with label Ratana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ratana. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Just this.
As I mentioned here, the yarn is a blend of cashmere (8%), merino (47%), polyamide (15%) and viscose (15%) in an aran weight. The pattern is from the winter 2012 edition of Twist Collective. The colour is dark green, not blue as appears in this picture. More knitting info on Ravelry.
As a sewing audience, you may be interested in the modifications I made to the shawl collar. This is knitted on by picking up stitches all the way from the hem on one side, past the lace yoke, around the back, and down the other side. The pattern states that one knits in k2p2 rib for 3.5", then the fold over shawl collar is shaped by knitting short rows.
For the uninitiated, knitting short rows adds length and shaping by going back and forth on less than the full row. There is an exceedingly good description of the theory of short rows on the TECHknitting blog (which I highly recommend for all sorts of useful knitting information, copiously illustrated and clearly described).
Anyhow the short rows called for in the pattern started around the back of the sweater (even with the outer edges of the ribbed panels on the back) and moved outward slowly (by 2 stitches per row) so that the back width of the collar would increase radically before one got to the intended stopping point for the short rows. The result was a collar that was very high at the CB. I calculated that the collar would be a total of 57 rows high at CB (about 9"). I also thought the collar was a little loose-looking at CB, i.e. it does not hug the neck at all.

My modifications aimed at moving the starting point for the short rows towards the front, to keep the collar visually wider from the front, and to lengthen the collar more gradually.
I also snugged the back neck in by decreasing stitches in a band in the centre back.
In this photo I've marked up where the short rows and decreased stitches are. You can enlarge either one by clicking on it.
See how the collar is a better fit for my neck than the original design?
Friday, February 21, 2014
I'm also knitting...
My Ratana cardigan continues to grow.
The lace sleeves were a giant pain but the ribbing is going quickly in this thick aran-weight yarn.
I have decided to make a slightly shorter cardigan as I like the higher-hip length on me.
If you are curious, the safety pins are an easy way to count rows.
I am almost finished the lower ribbing. The collar and front edges (more 2x2 ribbing) will complete the garment.
I have decided to make a slightly shorter cardigan as I like the higher-hip length on me.
If you are curious, the safety pins are an easy way to count rows.
I am almost finished the lower ribbing. The collar and front edges (more 2x2 ribbing) will complete the garment.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Holy lapels, Batman!
This, people, is a muslin of Burda 7576.
My alterations To Do List (in no particular order):
So I changed gears. I am now making this. It's Ratana by Carol Feller. I plan for mine to have more of an overlap so I won't have to clutch it to myself, as the model is doing.
This pattern calls for aran weight yarn, which is what I have. The other patterns call for worsted weight, which is a smidge lighter.
Here's an in-progress shot of the back and right sleeve. After I wash the oil out of the yarn, it will be a lot fluffier. The lace pattern is not exactly a relaxing knit, but the rows add up fast enough.
- lower bust point
- increase waist circumference slightly
- shorten bodice above waist by about .5"
- shorten sleeves (get rid of ridiculous pointy cuff objects)
- further reduce length at CF by folding a horizontal wedge from nothing at armscye to approx .5" at leading edge of lapels
- lengthen peplum by about 1"
- reduce overall size of collar and lapels
It's looking better already, even though I've only pinned out some of my planned changes.
In other news, thank you so much for your input on my next knitting project. I tallied the votes and swatched away with my chosen yarn and realized that it was too thick for both of the leading candidates!

This pattern calls for aran weight yarn, which is what I have. The other patterns call for worsted weight, which is a smidge lighter.
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