Cozy Sweater on the LK150

 I don't wear sweaters a lot anymore--mainly cardigans--but I still like a cozy sweater. After the successful crochet sweater, I decided to take its measurements and make a sweater on the LK150, using some Paton's "Lace" that I had been hoarding for quite a while. First step was to swatch.

I decided on T4, 21st and 29 rows for four inches (5.25st, 7.25rows per inch) for the body, and T7 for the sleeves, 16sts and 22 rows for 4" (4st, 5.5 rows per inch). I liked the idea of looser gauge on the sleeves, to maybe help not get too hot. I didn't want the body too sheer so I can wear it to work.

Here is what I did. It didn't work out entirely, but this was my starting point and I'll get to the issues after.

Back:

Cast on 116 for the back, using waste yarn. 

Over 58 rows, decreased 5 sts on both edge:  every 10th row, dec 1 each edge; on 58th row, dec 1 each edge. 

On rows 66, 76, 68, 96, 106 and 111 (?) (so, you actually do the decrease on the row before, then knit the row to complete the decrease). Knit 1 row RC 112.

Cast off 5 sts on each edge for underarm.

Knit 47 rows. 

Take off centre 30sts for neck. Knit 12 rows on either side of the neck, decreasing 4 sts on neck edge over those 12 rows.  There should be 34 sts for each shoulder.

Short row two times for each shoulder (1/2 the stitches each time). Take off each shoulder on waste yarn.

Front:

Cast on 120st with waste yarn. Knit 1 row with main yarn.

Short row to add 1" (8 rows): notes are confusing, but it seems to be 3sts on each side for 7 times (maybe 4 on the first short row, then 3).

Reset RC000.

Decrease each edge every 10th row (do the decrease on rows ending with 9), and then row 58. 

Starting on row 66, increase on both edge, as for back. At same time: 

On RC80: short row as on the bottom. 

Between Rows 84 and 107 (keep doing the edge increases), decrease at midpoint of each side of centre, every 4th row.

On row 107, start neck decreases:

Decrease 19st each edge over 43 rows (aprox 1 stitch each side every other row).

At same time: when RC112, cast off 5 stitches at each edge for armhole.

Knit straight after neck decreases for 22 rows. There should be 34sts for each shoulder. Short row as for back. 

Sleeve:

T7, cast on 44sts with waste yarn.

Increase each edge every 10th row for 4 increases, then every 6th row for 8 increases. There should be 68sts. 

Knit to RC99 and cast off with waste yarn. 

When I took the front of the machine, I thought the neckline was huge. Putting it up against me, and it looked scandalous. I considered knitting a lace panel, like the crochet sweater, then remembered I had some lace in the light brown that I could sew in. I decided to wait until it had rested and assembled all the pieces for a more accurate look at the fit.

The sweater was too long. Way too long. I removed the waste yarn, and unravelled the bottom short rows on the front. This is NOT easy to do as it doesn't unravel the same as it does from the top. 

I cast off loosely, after unravelling two rows stitch by stitch and putting it on needles, to make sure it was all the same row. Then I counted up 8 or 10 rows, and used a blocking wire to mark that row. Then I pinned down the cast off row, and loosely stitched it to the front body. I also did this for the back. It didn't have short rows, but I needed to equal it up to the front piece.

Tip--steam well, but take the blocking wire out first! I didn't do that one time when I was doing a custom Christmas stocking, and it heated up the wire and it left a mark on the yarn.

I grafted the shoulders and examined the neck. The back neck was too low! It was weird! I grabbed a pair of needles I had nearby, picked up the stitches at the bottom edge, and knit a panel, attaching at the sides as I knit upwards. I didn't go all the way to the shoulders. I do think the needles were a smidge on the small size, but really, my hair will usually cover this.

The front neck was next. It wasn't as bad once the shoulders were attached. I had liked how the edges were sort of self-edged, slightly curled under from the decreases. I decided a small ribbed band would help snug it up and fill in the bit that was a bit low.

Unfortunately, there wasn't a centre stitch to match up with the centre knit column of ribbing. I thought I might go back and snug up the stitches on the right to try to make it look more centred. I haven't yet.

This was enough to finish the neckline perfectly!

I grafted the sleeves on next.

Take your time, and ensure you are attaching at the same point. See the nice column of knit stitches on the body? A full stitch.

I hadn't decided what to do with the sleeve hems. They were a bit long, but I just cast off loosely. I thought I might hem them, but I was done. I wore it to work, just to see how it would act. The sleeves did roll a bit, but they weren't too long, and I could push them up easily.

I dressed it up with some faux leather pants I haven't been able to wear for a long time, for a night to the big city and the symphony for Rob's birthday. It was very warm!

It was nice and cozy at work, though a little warm when we were active!!

Perfect neckline, school appropriate!!

Waiting for Lucy in the lobby of her office building. 

Obviously, this pattern isn't finished, but I think I have enough info to use some more Paton's "Lace" that I have. Knitting the pieces was quick although I spread it out over four days during March Break. It did take me a bit of time to assemble, but it still wasn't too bad, as I wore it to work on April 9. Now, do I do the next one now, or wait until the fall?

I'll be putting together a video of this sweater, in particular, the hem fixes. Another "how not to ...." type video LOL.

There was a LOT of waste yarn I unraveled from the sweater--not the waste yarn to cast on and off, but the parts of the sweater I unraveled. I didn't weigh all that, but I rounded up the total for the sweater.

Yarn In: 500gr

Yarn Out:200gr + 2543gr = 2743gr

Balance:  2243gr more OUT than in

Costs:  $15.81