Pattern Review - Marja Jumper for Me

DESIGN: Very loose fitting jumper by Japanese designer Junko ???. The jumper has a very wide neckline.

GAUGE: The recommended gauge is 24 stitches and 36 rows to 10cm. My gauge was 25 stitches and 38 rows to 10cm.

Therefore, 1 stitch of the recommended gauge is 0.42cm wide (one of mine is 0.40cm) and 1 row of the recommended gauge is 0.28cm high (one of mine is 0.26cm). 

Over a circumference of 200 stitches my jumper would be 4cm (1.75") smaller (0.02 difference x 200 stitches) and for a length of 50cm my jumper would be 3.6cm shorter.

I could go up 0.25mm in needle size and see if that gives me the correct gauge but I don't want the fabric to be any looser -  even on 3.5mm needles the fabric feels quite loose. I therefore chose to go up a size and make size M-L which had 7 ½" of bust ease but really only 5 3/4" after allowing for the gauge difference (the S-M has 3 ½" ease before the gauge difference).

As I was planning to make the jumper longer anyway, I didn't account for the gauge difference in length.

SIZE: I chose the size M-L which has a finished bust measurement of 51" (5 3/4" ease after allowing for the gauge difference).

YARN: Natural Fibre Arts 4 ply, merino/yak/silk in colour Natural Grey, 100g = 366m.

ALTERATIONS:

• I chose a larger size due to my (tighter) knitting guage
• I did a provisional cast-on because I wanted to come back and modify the neckline at the end.
• I lengthened both the lower two sections by ???

Pattern Review - Hobblebush Jumper for Me

Pattern:

Hobblebush from the This and That pattern book.

Overview: Bottom up Fair Isle jumper. It has no bands but I added 2 x 2 rib to all. There are German Short Rows at the back neck.

Size:

The pattern range is 12 sizes from 31 to 75" bust. I made the 5th size for a finished bust of 47" (gives me 3 ½ " ease).

Yarn:

The Fibre Co, Cumbria, worsted 10 ply, except the Mustard which is Biches and Birches 10 ply. The main colour is Scafell Pike with other colours Barrow, ...in Saddleback Slate (grey) and Catbells (copper). The yarn is a mix of Masham wool, merino and mohair and is beautifully soft with a fair bit of loft. I purchased it from the Hunter Valley Wool Store.

1 skein = 100g = 216m

4.5 skeins of main colour

Gauge:

10cm = 16 sts and 24 rounds in the single colour on 6mm needles. I used 6mm needles for the hem band but 5mm needles for the sleeve bands and neck band.

Reflections:

The sizing seems 

The yarn was divine

The Verdict:

Pattern Review - Noux for Claude

Pattern:

Noux by Suvi Simola through Ravelry.

The jumper is knitted trop down in the round. I made the waist band in the same colour as the body rather than the contrast. There are German Short Rows at the back neck.

Size:

The pattern range is XS to XXL. I made Claude a size M to fit bust 36" with 4" of ease.

Yarn:

The Fibre Co, Cumbria, 4 ply, in Saddleback Slate (grey) and Catbells (copper). The yarn is a mix of Masham wool, merino and mohair and is beautifully soft with a fair bit of loft. I purchased it from the Hunter Valley Wool Store.

1 skein = 100g = 300m

1249m in main colour = 4.2 skeins

397m in contrast colour = 1.3 skeins

Gauge:

10cm = 22.5 sts and 34 rounds in the single colour on 3.5mm needles.

I used 3.25mm needles throughout

Reflections:

The sizing seems 

The yarn was divine

 

Pattern Review - Hobblebush Jumper for Paul

Pattern:

Hobblebush by Pam Allen from the This and That booklet through Ravelry.

The jumper is knitted bottom up, in the round which means that you decrease around the yoke rather than increasing with top-down. It has raglan sleeves. There are no waist, cuff or neck bands, short rows for extra upper back shaping, and a long tail cast-on.

Size:

The pattern range is huge, there are twelve sizes. I made the 8th size for a finished chest measurement of 59".

Yarn:

The Fibre Co, Cumbria, worsted weight 10 ply, in five colours: Barrow (brown) for the main colour, Saddleback Slate (grey), Blencartha (white), Scafel Pike (bone) and Windermere (blue). Very little of the bone colour is used. The yarn is a mix of Masham wool, merino and mohair and is beautifully soft with a fair bit of loft. I purchased it from the Hunter Valley Wool Store.

1 skein = 100g = 218m

The pattern doesn't give meterage for each of the colours, it just lists the no. skeins needed for the yarn used in the pattern.

Gauge:

10cm = 16 sts and 24 rounds in the single colour on 6mm needles.

I used 5.5mm needles throughout

Reflections:

• I like the bottom up approach, I prefer to decrease rather than increase. Not sure why.
• There wasn't enough definition between the white and bone colours, they blend together
• The sizing seems 
• The yarn is divine
• I prefer to have bands
• The Fair Isle pattern is not just different colours but also a mix of plain and purl stitches, gives the pattern texture.
• At BOR, need to take care to twist new colours so there isn't a gap.

The Verdict

I enjoyed knitting this jumper and would definitely make it again.  I like the high contrast colours and texture.. I would add bands next time.