Knitting A Sweater

from JoeUser Forums

While I've been busy doing laundry and assorted other odds and ends I've spent a little time here and there knitting my first raglan sweater. As I prefer to create my own stuff instead of following someone else's pattern, I did all the measurements and calculations needed to create a sweater.

I'm knitting it from the top down on circular needles so that it's basically knit in one piece without having to do any seaming. Once I get the body finished I just have to go back and pick up stitches at the arm holes and knit the sleeves. The great thing about knitting one this way is that I can try it on as I go and make any adjustments needed to ensure a proper fit.

I'm using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes yarn in the Sapphire Heather color. It's a very nice blue color and will make for a great looking sweater.

I started the sweater at the neck on 16" circular needles and have now transferred it twice to longer cables to accomodate the increasing diameter. It's now on Knit Picks Options interchangable needles with 32" cable. I am still working on the raglan increases that create the top of the front and back, the shoulders, and beginnings of the sleeves.

Last night when I transferred it to the 32" cable I tried it on for fit. The neck fits perfectly and the raglan section lays exactly as it should. So far so good. While I did all the calculations for this sweater to fit my build it's a lot of fun to see it actually taking shape and looking exactly as I had intended.

I had considered putting some cable stitches into this sweater but have decided instead to just create a plain sweater without any fancy pattern in it at all. Since it's my first one I decided that it would be better to keep it simple. A true guy sweater LOL

Right now it's just a neck and a bit on the shoulders, front and back, but when it reaches the point that it actually looks like something I'll try and post some progress pics.

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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

What color is the sweater?

I can never shape nicely on circular needles for a sweater and I'm horrible at sewing stuff that I knit.  I can do basic sewing but not with knit stuff.

Make sure you post a picture when you finish.

What is raglan?  A ribbed stitch?

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes yarn in the Sapphire Heather color. It's a very nice blue color and will make for a great looking sweater.
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I'm using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes yarn in the Sapphire Heather color. It's a very nice blue color and will make for a great looking sweater.
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I prefer knitting on circs over straight needles and pretty much everything I knit is done on them. It's much easier once you get used to it.

Raglan is a style of sleeve that extends in one piece all the way to the collar and leaves a diagonal "seam" from the armpit to the collar. If done in sections it's an actual seam, if done in the round as I am doing the 'seam" appears from doing the increases.

The pic below is a good example of a raglan style garment as the contrasting colors makes it easy to see.
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Sounds like it is going to be a great sweater.  I like that color too, is that a reddish gray blue since it's heather? 

 

You know you have become an expert knitter?!  You'be done so many things, socks, hats, scarf!  I'll place an order for one of those hippy looking bags, the one that you throw across your shoulder and lands a little below the hips?  Yeah, how much?  I had one for years and it got damaged...  BTW, I really like your new picture!

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sounds like it is going to be a great sweater. I like that color too, is that a reddish gray blue since it's heather?
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Nope, it's just blue. I have no idea where the heather part comes from, that's just what they call it.



You know you have become an expert knitter?! You'be done so many things, socks, hats, scarf!
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Far from it. I just figure things out as I go, make a lot of mistakes, and try again until I get it right. I'm still learning.

I'll place an order for one of those hippy looking bags, the one that you throw across your shoulder and lands a little below the hips? Yeah, how much? I had one for years and it got damaged..
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I've never tried anything like that.

BTW, I really like your new picture!
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Thanks
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

That sounds like it will be neat. Oh by the way, did you ever finish that alpaca vest or did you just let it go after you had to frog it?

I crochet myself but I  have mostly made afghans. I have two lap size ones for laying about on the couch in the winter.  A queen sized afghan for my bed with length wise stitches. I have started another one for my bed with the strips going width wise , but it is not completed have not been able to find the time to work on it the last couple of winters. I only work on them in the winter as you have quite abit of yarn on your lap as the afghan grows. lol I have also mad a small sausage shaped neck pillow and a pillow cover for a standard size bed pillow. My daughter's grandmother could crochet beautiful dolls and stuffed animals. I am not that talented.;P  I will stick with the afghans they are simple enough for me but they still are pretty.  

 

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
That sounds like it will be neat. Oh by the way, did you ever finish that alpaca vest or did you just let it go after you had to frog it?
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Thanks. I am going to use the alpaca for something else. Once I got a lot of the vest done I could see that the alpaca just doesn't hang well enough to look good as a vest. Maybe I'll use it for a nice hat and scarf set, I haven't decided yet.

I will stick with the afghans they are simple enough for me but they still are pretty.
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Afghans are nice and I think crochet is especially suited to that sort of thing as it's a lot faster than knitting. I wouldn't even think of trying to knit an afghan :LOL:
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

That is a gorgeous blue color.  It will look good on you, too.

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
That is a gorgeous blue color.  It will look good on you, too.
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Thanks, I hope so.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Maybe I'll use it for a nice hat and scarf set, I haven't decided yet.
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That sounds like a good idea. Have you ever tried to knit some mittens? That sounds like it would complete the set if you added some mittens.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Maybe I'll use it for a nice hat and scarf set, I haven't decided yet.That sounds like a good idea. Have you ever tried to knit some mittens? That sounds like it would complete the set if you added some mittens.
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Yeah I was considering adding a pair of mittens, perhaps convertible ones. Thanks.