Flint Knits

Meet Pickadilly.

Pickadilly’s tweedy appeal is saved from being too stuffy by her raglan seams, asymmetrical lines, and kicky (jaunty? saucy? cheeky?) crocheted edging.

And, because the sweater is knit in one piece from the top down, each knitter can adjust length, sleeve length, and waist shaping for a custom fit.

The pattern includes instructions for knitting the sweater, with waist shaping options for decreases ranging from 1 to 7 inches, instructions for crocheting the edging, and alternate instructions for a knitted edging. ETA: There is also a separate PDF that explains how to modify the sweater so that the button placket runs down the center front (my gratitude to the curvy friends who suggested that, gee, not everyone wants a big white line over her left breast).

The sweater pictured uses a simple crocheted edging that’s manageable even for novice hookers. I chose a crocheted edging because (1) I like the look of it, and (2) the pattern requires quite a lot of edging, and even the slowest crochet is faster than the fastest knitting. If you prefer to knit, rather than crochet, your edging, there’s a knitted option too.

MATERIALS:

• Rowan Felted Tweed (see yardage requirements below)
• 1 skein (220 yds) Morehouse Merino Lace, or other one-ply laceweight yarn
• US 3 (3.25mm) double-pointed needles and 24-inch circular needles
• US 4 (3.5mm) double-pointed needles and 24-inch circular needles, or size needed to get gauge
• 1 size D (3.25mm) crochet hook
• 10–12 ½-inch buttons
• 4 stitch markers
• tapestry needle
• scrap yarn for holding stitches

SIZES: Taking a page from Ysolda’s clever, clever book, I’ve divided the sizes into three separate files.

• Small size range: finished bust measures 28 (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) inches. Requires approximately 850 (900, 960, 1030, 1110, 1170) yards DK-weight yarn.
• Medium size range: finished bust measures 40 (42, 44, 46, 48, 50) inches. Requires approximately 1230 (1320, 1400, 1480, 1570, 1670) yards DK-weight yarn.
• Large size range: finished bust measures 52 (54, 56, 58, 60, 62) inches. Requires approximately 1770 (1840, 1930, 2000, 2090, 2160) yards DK-weight yarn.

(Please note that the yardage requirements are approximate, since each sweater will be custom-fit to the wearer’s specs. If you have a long-ish torso or arms, be sure to have extra yarn on hand.)

GAUGE: 6 sts and 8 rows per inch in stockinette stitch with larger needles, after blocking

All photos in this post © Caro Sheridan (otherwise known as splityarn).

It turns out nothing welcomes Fall like Rhinebeck. I went to my first New York Sheep and Wool Festival last week, and not only did I have a great time with good friends, but I also met some new folks, saw loads of lovely handknits, and got to hang out with Caro’s kitties.

I also got the chance to take advantage of Caro’s superior photo skills — along with the crisp New England weather, striking Fall scenery, and gorgeous afternoon light — to document Pickadilly, a sweater I designed and finished knitting just in time for Rhinebeck. (Literally. I made my carmates stop at WEBS on the way to the fairgrounds so I could buy buttons.)

Pickadilly will be for sale here, and on Ravelry, starting November 1.

In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek:

 
[RAVELRY LINK]

All of which fun has lead up nicely to what is clearly the bestest thing about Fall: Halloween. And while I’ll be playing a music fest in Florida over Halloween weekend, I had a chance to get crafty all the same — on behalf of my niece, who (with no encourgement or intervention from me) has decided to dress up as a lamb this year.

Lamb Ears tutorial (Ravelry link)

MATERIALS:

• chunky boucle yarn
• approx 20 yards of pink sport or fingering weight yarn
• small amount of pink flannel fabric
• tapestry needle
• embroidery needle

STEP 1: KNIT AN EARFLAP HAT! (Use the chunky/bulky boucle yarn. Thorpe is a great pattern for adults; Sandi’s Ear Flap Hat is good for kids 2 and up.)

STEP 2: EARS (make 2)

Cast on 16 stitches.
Work 5 rows in stockinette stitch.
Row 6: k1, ssk, k 10, k2tog, k1 (14 sts)
Rows 7-13: stockinette stitch
Row 14: k1, ssk, k8, k2tog, k1 (12 sts)
Rows 15-21: stockinette stitch
Row 22: ssk, ssk, k4, k2tog, k2tog (8 sts)
Bind off all stitches purlwise.

STEP 3: FINISHING:

Cut 2 matching pieces of pink flannel large enough to cover the ears, with about 1/2 inch of white showing around the edges.

Using the embroidering needle and pink yarn, affix the flannel to the wrong (purl) side of the left ear with a blanket stitch or whip stitch.

Using a tapestry needle and an 18-inch length of the main yarn, tack together the two bottom corners of left ear. Sew the ear to the hat as pictured.

Repeat the two previous steps for the right ear.

Happy Halloween!