Projects
Spectra Sweater: I Think She’s Got It!
Dear Kay,
You know that moment when you get the hang of something? It’s such a great feeling. I’ve got it now: I’ve got the hang of my Spectra Sweater pattern. It’s a simple design, for sure, yet it has some bits and bobs that have kept me on my toes.
Cecelia Campochiaro’s Spectra Sweater from Field Guide No. 19: Marls is very, very simple in its construction, almost paper-doll simple: it’s two flat pieces, a front and a back, that join with seams down the top of the shoulder and sleeve, and up the side seams and across the underside of the sleeves.
And yet! It’s knit so that the stripes are vertical. This means I need to knit sideways, a construction that I’ve definitely never tried before: cast on in the middle of the body, then knit to the cuff of the sleeve. Then: pick up along the cast-on edge of that first piece, then knit in the opposite direction to the cuff of the other sleeve.
Do this twice, and you’ve got yourself a sweater.
See the seam in there? That’s the center of the back.
There’s a bit of Rub Your Head While Patting Your Stomach: the shaping along the shoulder, the V neck, the side seams all happen at overlapping moments. Vigilance is rewarded!
If this all sounds wildly exotic, it’s actually not. But it’s new to me, so I’ve taken my time with the pattern, writing out the decreases, counting, being careful.
The result:
I’m having a marlvelous time watching these colors of Isager Tvinni meet each other. This yarn is so good. (We’ve got 20 colors in the Shop, endless possibilities for this sweater.)
Garments can be tricky to visualize. Making a three-dimensional object out of yarn is one of the magic tricks in the creative world—it always astonishes me when I look down at, say, a shoulder of a handknit sweater and see stitches going in all directions, with textures and colors all aligning. It’s one of the great I-Am-A-Genius feelings in knitting.
Love,
Ann
PS Lots more info on color choices and my start on this project can be found right here.
That sideways marled rib! So good.
Spectacular!!!!! Brava!
It is lovely Ann! Truly! it’s not possible to quite imagine how one’s color choices and marling combinations will come together in the whole piece, but this has a wonderful coherence to it – so great, so worth your persistence and attention to details.
Beautiful! The Color Pop Sweater by Julme Conradie is a delightful crochet pullover with a very similar design — worked from cuff up and then sideways along the body, all in a fun linen stitch. It also has the option to make it a fade, which makes for similarly delightful color surprises along the way. And then a centered vertical seam in front and back. Mine is a WIP (I have to redo a bit of the fade) but it is SO enjoyable, I totally get why you’re enjoying yours!
Beautiful
I love the color combinations! Beautiful!
Since this sweater is down the line in my personal queue I’m now thinking doing it in cotton, maybe Summerlite, as I don’t think I’ll get to it til March. Then perhaps for next fall, the Tvinni. Thoughts?
When I get to it (Color Explosion Throw, you’re crazy addictive!!) I’m going to use an alternate “Texas Sweater” weight. The Tvinni is gorgeous, but I want to be able to wear this beautiful creation more often than our climate + Tvinni will allow!
Fascinating! I hadn’t even gotten to thinking about the alt yarn possibilities. Do it! Would love to see such a thing.
Ann, the colors have come together in such a lovely way! I can’t wait to see is it to see the finished sweater!
Awaiting the yarn for my Spectra Sweater, I am wondering why not a provisional cast on for the center seams? I probably think that because I am not very good at picking up stitches and having them look right.
Totally your call! It will work with provisional cast-on. It just means you won’t have the raised seam that is a design feature. I have provisional cast-on dread (!), so picking up is easier for me.
As my dad used to say; de Gustavus! Thanks.
Your color selections are wonderful–better than the sample!
The sweater is beautiful and the colors are amazing.
Given the construction, I’m thinking it would be super easy to turn this into a cardigan by just adding button bands in the front instead of joining the 2 halves– knit on like the border of a shawl, perhaps…. (Musings from someone who is still working on a sweater from 2014, so probably not going to happen any time soon, but it’s fun to dream!
Hmmm. Might try with JMCO.
I love the color pairings, and I especially like that it’s all marled.
The more that I “marl” the more fun I am having ! It’s very addictive
I love the way the reverse side looks. I think I might consider it the right side (if I get time to make this sweater). Too many sweaters, so little time!!
That mint and gold did NOT disappoint. Love it!
The mint and mustard are amazing together —- now there’s the kismet that happens while marling!. Your colors are just beautiful, Ann. I’ve been curious how a sideways construction sweater feels when worn — will it be as comfortable as well as great looking? Maybe I just need to order Tvinni and do my own research project!
I absolutely love your color choices! I am about halfway through my first side (left back) and it is certainly keeping me on my toes, but it’s a fun knit. I’m using Tvinni, all the colors of the sample in the Field Guide because I fell in love on sight.
This is gorgeous and I’m glad it’s not TOO terrifying!!
With regard to the sweater. …Oh my! I would not have imagined it so. With regard to you both, and the site, you got me through the pandemic so far with spades. I look forward to Saturday morning. I prepare to open MDK Lounge. I am rewarded every damned time. It’s like popcorn..ice cream, chocolate…. many thanks.
Have finished left back, all good. Now to picking up to continue with right back. Have tried a few different ways and can’t seem to get it. I either get too much “ridge” or not enough. Is there a video that demonstrates what Cecelia intends?
I have finished the left back and lengthened the sleeves but the sleeve seems awfully narrow. will I be able to get my arm through? will I be able to wear a light layer under the sweater since this is rather itchy wool?