Tag Archives: Magic Loop

Summer Leaves Sweater Published in Familien

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Cover familien 017The Norwegian pattern for the Summer Leaves Sweater has finally been published in Familien in their latest issue. The photo is from the first, of three, photo shoots and taken by Esten A. Borgos (see them all on the link above). A deep rich wine red shade was a perfect choice for a leaf vines stitch pattern in lace, which makes up the sleeves of this summer sweater. The A-shape is created by the frame to the lace pattern and worked in twisted rib, while the rest of the body is made up of stocking stitch. The bottom hem is knitted double and folded while the v-shaped neckline is single and rolls up to the purl row. The sweater is knitted in a pure mercerized Egyptian cotton called Luxor, available in more than 60 stunning shades from Hifa, see here: ull. The yarn was kindly sponsored by Hifa for this design.

Familien CoverThe test knit was held in my Ravelry group from May to September 2013, you can see all the results on the pattern page, as well as Siv Jorunn’s beautiful photo here on my blog: Summer Leaves Sweater by Siv Jorunn Hjellbrekke. The sweater is available in sizes S to 2XL, with bust measurements from 90 cm/35.5″ to 124 cm/48.75″ while the hip measurements are from 110 cm/43.25″ to 144 cm/56.75″ and length from  74 cm/29.25″ to 79 cm/31″. Above is the cover of Familien which in this issue has 40 pages of knits. My sweater is not on the cover this time, only on the contents page, and across two pattern pages, see below.

ContentBoth the body and the sleeves are knitted using a 3 mm/US 2.5 and worked in the round to the armholes, then flat. The lace pattern is demanding but the shape guides you through it after a few repeats. Hence I found it satisfying to knit both sleeves at once using magic loop, see my post magic-loop-two-sleeves-at-a-time. I also preferred a simpler body stitch pattern to highlight the intricate sleeves. That also means that the body is quick to knit, and a nice rest after working the sleeves. The neckline needed a bit of pondering and I ended up with a different solution than I initally had planned. As most designs it had a life of its own and did not want a double neckline but a softer simpler one. You can read more about my design in this blog post (and see me wearing it): New Design: Summer Leaves Sweater. The English pattern is available in my Ravelry Store and on LoveKnitting.

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Magic Loop – two sleeves at a time

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I have finally mastered knitting two sleeves at a time using magic loop. Double pointed needles I can handle but I have never loved it as I love the magic loop. First, I were frustrated by the ladders I accidentally made when using DPNS, second I became fed up of hunting for a lost needle especially on double decker bus without any friendly knitters on board – if there were I did not have to look at all – it would be given back a few seconds later by a fellow knitter who can spot it very quickly indeed! But I digress, I have used the magic loop for years now, and would recommend it warmly. Using a good quality circular needle is essential otherwise you might end up with just a needle tips without a cord or a kink damaged cord (read: I have done both). It needs to be a minimum of 80 cm/32″ long, since you need to pull out a loop at each end, in a figure 8. Now, I have managed to knit two at a time with the aid of Liat Gat’s brilliant YouTube video – she demonstrates knitting both the English way and the Continental way here: Two at at time.

I found it hard to solve the cast on issue on my own and needed a teacher to show me which method of cast on I should use so that the yarn would be in the right position, and the fact that you actually first cast on half the amount of the first sleeve, then the full amount for the second sleeve. Next, you pull out the cord in the middle and join second sleeve then work half of it before casting on remaining stitches for the first sleeve and repeat the join on the first sleeve. I also find it easier to work in a lace pattern across a magic loop, since I only work half a sleeve at a time instead of a quarter of it and hence do not need to move stitches from one needle to the other, when I end on a knit 2 together for instance. So I am knitting my lace sleeves a lot quicker than I thought I would and it is pure bliss!

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