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I hope you're all ready to go with Brutach clue 1!
You can listen to me chat all about clue 1 here:
This sweater is worked from the top down so you will begin at the top on the back.
When we start this sweater we will have all the back stitches cast on at the same time. The first and last stitch will be knit as this makes it easier to maintain the brioche pattern.
Now you will do two things:
Once the back is complete (you'll knit the depth needed for half the sleeve circumference), it's time to start on the front. This starts by picking up stitches (from your marked neck edge on the back) for the left front.
You will then work German Short Rows, just like for the back, but this time just on one side.
The difference with the front is that you are also working an increase along the side of the neck. Because it is brioche this is a double increase.
When you have finished the Left Front you will begin working the Right Front. This starts by picking up stitches from the right armhole edge from the Back to the right neck edge (that was marked on the back of the work).
You will then work German Short Rows, just like for the Left Front, just on the other side.
You will again be working neck increases after the short rows but this time they will happen on the other end, again on the neck side of the work.
Time is moving along so quickly these days. While this does mean that it's hard to keep up, the great thing is that it's already time to launch our autumn KAL! This year our autumn sweater is a top down, brioche sweater. If you're new to brioche then this is a great time to jump in!
I fell in love with brioche a few years ago when I tried it for the first time. It creates a super squishy fabric with lots of stretch. This makes it ideal for a looser fitting, cropped sweater. The cropped length prevents it from getting too heavy and when its loose fitting you can really allow the brioche to behave as it wants to!
This is knit from the top down, starting with the upper back as far as the armhole. Then you will come back to pick up each side of the front and knit each side, while also increasing along the neckline. The beauty of brioche is that even a simple increase looks amazing!
Now if you're new to brioche this KAL is a great way to learn it. The pattern is on presale right now but the first clue will not be released until the 7th of October. This gives you lots of time to learn the basics in our free brioche basics class here.
Then you'll be ready to jump into this sweater. If you purchase both the pattern and yarn kit together you will get a 5% discount. All KAL pattern purchases will come with code to access the video workshop. If the technique is new to you you will have step-by-step guidance while you knit the sweater. (The class is yours to keep but if you wait until after the KAL is over it becomes a separate workshop purchase!).
The timing of the KAL clue release is as follows:
If you're new to our KALs you can find our general KAL intro here.
I'm really looking forward to this!
We're getting very close to finishing the Laminarus cardigan now! The final step is the sleeves and front edging. I enjoy this part as each knitting section is a little smaller, so you can see your progress quickly!
This cardigan creates set-in sleeves that are worked from the top-down seamlessly. You begin by picking up stitches all the way around the armhole opening (starting at the underarm). I usually use Magic Loop to work in the round, but you can also use double-pointed needles.
The sleeve cap shape here is created using German Short Rows. You work back and forth across the top section of the sleeve, adding one more stitch each time you turn. Working these short rows creates a curved shoulder cap that is similar to the shaping on a heel.
If you want to change the size of your upper arm, it's very easy with this type of sleeve construction. You just need to pick up more (or less) stitches around your armhole.
If it's not a large change, it will work just fine. You can then work more (or less) short rows to match the number of stitches you have changed. So very little calculation is required!
Once the sleeve cap is complete, you will join your sleeve to work in the round and work down to the cuff, adding decreases on each side of the bottom to reduce the size at the cuff. The sleeve as written is 3/4 length. If you want a shorter or longer sleeve, you can adjust your sleeve shaping also.
Once your sleeves are complete, all you have left to do then is the edging. You will begin by picking up stitches around the neck edge. I used a smaller needle size to avoid the neck spreading out, and I worked the bind off tightly.
The neck is often the spot where you will get the most stretching out of shape in a garment, so it makes sense to ensure it's got a firm edge.
The front edges are worked in the same way and worked in Double Garter Stitch.
I've used my favourite buttonhole method, the single row buttonhole. If you haven't tried it before, I'd suggest giving it a shot!
I hope you've enjoyed the KAL. If you haven't had a chance to join, come on in! All clues are now available, and you can knit at your own pace!
So it's now time for us to move onto the body of the Laminarus cardigan. This is works from the top down, you'll start by joining both fronts with the back by adding underarm stitches. This makes it a great place to tweak the sizing a little if you need to, adding more or less stitches.
Next will will work in stockinette stitch to just below the fullest bust point. If you're new to top down knitting the easiest way to check you length is by slipping half of your stitches onto a second needle so that you can stretch them out. This will allow you to try the cardigan on easily without having your stitches pop off the needle! (And yes, I've done this before......)
Now if you're happy with the length you can move onto the waist shaping. If your bust size is lower or higher you can adjust where you begin your shaping to suit your own body. You can also opt to change the type of shaping now as well. The pattern is written with a-line shaping, slowly increasing as you go down the body length. However I've give the option of adding a more fitted shape by first decreasing stitches towards the waist and then increasing below the waist. Or even if you would prefer working no body shaping at all.
Once you've worked a little further you will now begin to introduce the double garter stitch pattern and then the cables. Initially with the cables you will have 4 mirrored and then after one increase you will add 4 more cables. You can see how the cables are mirrored on each side of the body. If you want to move the position of the cables around you can also easily do that by moving the stitch markers to a different location.
Have fun knitting the body of the Laminarus, those 2 colour cables are VERY addictive!
It's time to get started with clue 1 of our Laminarus KAL now. This clue is all about the yoke.
The cardigan begins with the striped shoulder saddles. They are worked in double garter stitch and start at the inner sides of the neck, and work out (with decreases) to the edge of the shoulder. From there you will pick up stitches along each side (adding stitches to the centre of the back) and work the back of the yoke. You can see that initially you will be working in double garter stitch and that will then become stockinette stitch in the lighter colour. You will then work straight until you need to start increases for your armholes, bringing the bust size to the width you need.
Once the back is complete you will do the same thing for each side of the front. There are two differences though, first you will be only working in stockinette stitch and secondly you'll also be adding some shaping in for you neck.
A big part of knitting for yourself is modifying the shape to fit your body. Before you begin knitting make sure you take your body measurement, that way you will be able to check your dimensions against the schematic. You can add the two shoulder widths together with the neck width to check that it matches your shoulder width. If it varies you can change the width you are knitting but then you will need to adjust the armhole shaping to ensure that you also get the bust width that you want.
If you wish to change the shape of the front neckline you can work more rows straight before increasing to create a 'scoop' neck or alternatively even work increases every other right side row to create a 'v-neck' option.
Will you make any modifications?
Remember to join the Teachable class to get video tutorials and ask any pattern questions.
You can still join the KAL!
Pattern here
Yarn kit here
Anyone ready for a brand new KAL?
I always love this time of year, the weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer and now it’s time to knit ourselves a brand new cardigan!
A few years ago I designed a shawl, SiOG Stripes for a mystery KAL. In it, I used a stitch that I called the Double Garter Stitch where you work two rows on each side, one with each colour. I really liked the effect it created and I was very eager to use the stitch pattern in a garment.
Well, it took me a little while to get around to designing it but Laminarus is the end result. It’s a stretchy stitch pattern and very dramatic so I just added in a few places; at the saddle and at the bottom half of the body.
This cardigan starts from the top with a small double garter stitch triangular saddle on each shoulder. From there you will work the front and back separately until you reach the underarm where it joins together for the body. Below the bust, you’ll begin working in Double Garter Stitch again and some cables are introduced as well. Finally, the sleeves are picked up around the armhole where we will use short rows to create a seamless set-in sleeve.
This style of cardigan is really great for modifying. You can fairly easily change any section without having a big impact on the other parts of the design. I’ll be giving lots of tips on the KAL tip page that will help with modifying. Do you need your shoulders wider or narrower? Do you want to add waist shaping instead of an a-line shape?
If you haven’t done a KAL with me before you can find lots of information about how they work here.
In a nutshell what we do is create a pattern that comes out in small chunks as a series of ‘clues’. This is supported with access to a full video workshop on Teachable (free for KAL members, and you keep access after the KAL is over), and finally you’ll get the support of other knitters in our Facebook Group.
So with the KAL you’ll have fun learning with other knitters AND a finished cardigan at the end of the process!
You can buy the pattern here or on Ravelry here.
Initially you will get an introduction and basic sizing information. Each section of the pattern will be released on the clue schedule:
Want a kit?
Come add a yarn kit here as well and when you bundle both you can get a 10% discount until the KAL starts!
KALs are always very exciting but each member knits at their own pace. I hope this post answered most of your questions about the KAL and you enjoyed meeting my latest design.
There is really only one questions left.
Will you join us?
Welcome to the Taboluli KAL!
I've just introduced the cardigan here in this video, showing you the construction and suggesting sizing and possible modifications.
Clue 1 covers the upper part of the body. You start with a provisional cast on across the middle of the upper yoke and then you work the right side of the upper yoke. When the right saddle is complete you undo the provisional cast-on and repeat for the left saddle shoulder, putting the stitches on a holder at the end for the left sleeve. When the saddles are complete you will pick up stitches along the back of the saddle and work straight down to the underarm increases. Increases are worked at each end to create the armhole shaping. These stitches are then put on a holder also. Finally you will pick up stitches on each side of the front of the saddles (with 2 balls of yarn) and you will work neck shaping (shown in the front charts). When the neck shaping is complete you will work straight down to the armhole increases and then they will be worked in the same way as the back.
In clue 2 we work on the body of the cardigan; first joining the front and back and then working the body from there down. In the video I'll talk about the pocket directions and how the back increases happen. I'll talk through a few of the problems knitters are encountering along the way as well.
We move on to the sleeves now; first picking up stitches, then working the short row sleeve cap and finally working from the top down with decreases.
It's time to finish your cardigan off now, this clue is all about pockets, front bands and of course blocking!
The Camira KAL (Autumn 2017) is for a sweater that is knit in two different directions. It starts with the back panel, then moves on to the shoulder and sleeves worked out from each side of the panel and finally the body is picked up from the bottom of the yoke.
You can see an overview of the sweater in this video:
Clue 1 is for the back panel. With this you need to take care that your slipped stitches don't get too loose.
It's now time for the video for clue 2:
On clue 3 we move on to the body, see a chat about this clue here: