Last year I did a series called Start to Finish with my Pomme de Pin Cardigan that went through my decision making and knitting process and I've decided to repeat the process for my next sweater project. I belong to a wonderful group on Ravelry, My Sister's Knitter, and the current KAL is Brooklyn Tweed patterns. Sounds like fun, right? After a whole lot of back and forth - should I join? should I not? - I decided to knit Channel Cardigan.
The cardigan calls for Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, a worsted weight yarn that is woolen spun and therefore very light and lofty. I've knit with Shelter in the past and liked it but I didn't want to break the bank since my size calls for 14 skeins, so I went to Ravelry and looked at what other knitters used for their cardigans. Cascade 220 is a top yarn in that list so I decided then and there that I would use Cascade 220; a yarn with a ton of color options, great stitch definition, and is a reasonable price. The downside to using Cascade 220 is that the finished sweater will be heavier since it isn't woolen spun, but I'm okay with that. There are already several modifications that I want to make: removing the belt, making sure the shawl collar is big enough to snuggle into, and possibly adding another button hole. I'm also contemplating changing the raglan seamed sleeves to set in sleeves since raglan cardigans always slide off my shoulders. I knit my swatch at knit night on Monday.
Guess what? Perfect stitch and row gauge on the recommended needles. It's a knitting miracle! I used a US #7 (4.5 mm) needle and knit my swatch in moss stitch as listed in the pattern and it's approximately 5 inches by 6 inches. A good general rule is to knit a swatch big enough that when you measure over four inches you don't run into selvedge stitches; your stitch count will be more accurate since those selvedge stitches sometimes behave a little wonky. This project is now ready to cast on!
Guess what? Perfect stitch and row gauge on the recommended needles. It's a knitting miracle! I used a US #7 (4.5 mm) needle and knit my swatch in moss stitch as listed in the pattern and it's approximately 5 inches by 6 inches. A good general rule is to knit a swatch big enough that when you measure over four inches you don't run into selvedge stitches; your stitch count will be more accurate since those selvedge stitches sometimes behave a little wonky. This project is now ready to cast on!
That s really cute pattern. This red is terrific. I use Cascade a lot too. It's economical and makes stitches pop. It'll be interesting to see your modifications.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I don't see that anyone else has made set-in sleeves so it's going to be exciting!
Deletewhat is that color!
ReplyDeleteIt's #2425 and on their website it's called Provence. In real life it reads orange sometimes and red others.
DeleteI love that red so much! I haven't used Cascade 220 yet, but I knit my first real sweater from Heritage and love it :) Sounds like you have some good mods planned too-I can't wait to see how it turns out!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kat! I've used Cascade 220 a ton for sweaters and it wears really well and has great stitch definition so I think it'll be great for a slightly over-sized bum around one the weekends sweater.
DeleteOh wow, that's going to be beautiful! It will go with your tweed pencil skirt too :)
ReplyDeleteDude! You're right!
DeleteHooray! I love trusty ol' Cascade 220. That's going to be gorgeous and perfect for cool autumn nights. Love all the texture to that pattern.
ReplyDelete