Original Pattern: Sipila
Knitter Extraordinaire: Stephanie (Ravelry ID, Website)
Mods: Added decreases through the body for less of an A-line shape, modified the sleeve decreases and the sleeve colourwork charts. Details can be found on her project page, here.
What Makes This Awesome: The original pattern has a breezy oversized A-line cut, and Stephanie’s mods to slim down the fabric through the body work great for her frame.
I think every knitter who does colourwork will, at some point, mix up the colours they are using with the chart. Especially when you are using a dark yarn on the light part of a colourwork chart! When Stephanie found that happening to her on the last sleeve, she decided to go with it and then switch it back when she got to a point in the chart where she could do so easily. Check out the photo below to see the mirror images of the chart. I love that she kept it – it is surprisingly difficult to pick out unless someone has pointed it out, and it doesn’t detract from the beauty of this sweater at all!
Wabi Sabi at it’s best!
I just finished my Sipila and wish I had removed some rows of the sleeve dots as well or knit 4” plain rather than 6”. By the time I got down to the end it was way too long and I have long arms. I ended up finishing sleeve where it fit best and still love the sweater very much.
I’ve been admiring Steph’s Dorsett sweater pattern and may tackle it.
I wanted to add after reading Steph’s details about sleeves and magic loop:
I gave up dpn’s a few months back after ordering Chiaogoo 9” fixed circulars in sizes 3-9. I am able to do most of a sleeve and switch to 16” when I have over 60 stitches. So nice when there is a pattern and you need to add markers. Has saved me dpn frustration!
Thanks for the tip, I totally hate DPNs for sleeves, especially after my last sweater. I swore to knit my sleeves flat from now on, but I might give a try to the 9″ circs. My only fear is that they might be hard on the joints. Anyway, good to know it works fine for sleeves.
I have tried and tried to use 12″ and 9″ circs but I just can’t seem to get the hang of it. I suspect it’s down to the way I hold my needles. I was demonstrating them to a class recently and it seemed like the English style knitters had an easier time, though it wasn’t universal. I’m jealous you can use them – I wish!