Inspiration Strikes!
April 28, 2013 in Patterns
I recently had something happen to me that has never happen before. I was asked to test a yarn base. It is a lovely summery base. I was crazy excited about this. I poured over the Ravelry pattern database looking for the perfect pattern for this wondrous unknown yarn.
Silk and linen blend in a light fingering.
I looked and looked. I just couldn’t settle on a pattern. I started complaining to my friends regarding the lack of great patterns to suit this yarn. Finally one of them looked at me and said ‘Uhm. You design patterns, right? Why don’t you design something yourself? I was stunned. I have designed accessories before but never a garment. I must say I am really pleased with the result!
I love how this fits! Bonus You get to see my bright blue hair.
I am not comfortable (yet) working out the measurements for a range of sizes. However, I thought I would post how I made this shrug in case anybody wanted one of their very own. First, I decided that I wanted a top down raglan shaping. I went to a vest pattern I had previously made that fit me well and got the measurements. You can do this with any top down raglan sweater you like the fit of. Just be sure to note which are the sleeves, back and front. Of course for a shrug you will just omit the front measurement. For me this worked out to be 2 inches per sleeve and 9 inches across the back.
Then you will need pick out a stitch pattern for both the body and the edging. Now you need to work a gauge swatch. I know we all hate swatching but when you are cobbling together a project you have to know how many stitches per inch before you start.
This is a dropped stitch cable. I got a gauge of 7 stitches per inch.
Now you will need to do some simple math. Based on my gauge here it how it worked out. 1 st +14 sts(sleeve)+ 1 st + 63 sts(back) + 1 st + 14sts(sleeve) + 1st = 95sts. I added the single stitches as a design element. I put my yarn overs on either side of the 2 back ones. you need the 2 front ones when you work the edging. I would suggest the you center the body stitch pattern across the back and sleeves. This gives it a more polished look.
I just worked a basic raglan shaping using yarn over increases until the sleeves were as big as I wanted them to be. Keep in mind that if you are using a stitch pattern similar to ribbing, it will be more finger hugging than another type of stitch. You will want to take this in to account when you decide how big you want your sleeves.
Then I worked the first stitch; placed all the sleeve stitches include the last yarn overs on a scrape of yarn; worked across the back; placed all the sleeve stitches include the last yarn overs on a scrape of yarn; Work the last stitch. See why I added those extra stitches? Now I want you pick-up and knit stitches along the front of the of the sleeve, across the neck and down the front of the other sleeve. How many stitches? What
ever looks nice. Begin to work in the round in your edging stitch pattern. I worked about 5 rounds. You can work as many or as few as you like. When you are to a point that you like bind off very loosely.
Here is a view of the sleeve shaping.
Place one set of your previously set aside sleeve stitches back on the needles and begin working in the round in stitch pattern. Just keeping going a round and a round until your sleeves are the length you want them minus the edging. Work the edges and bind off! Very simple really. It is all in the choice of yarn and stitch patterns.
