Comments on: Arggggh, bloody jumpers!

by: t-bird

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 20:38:08 +0000

you can definitely knit in the sleeves, off the top of my head I can’t *quite* remember how but yes, it’s a good way to do it as the seams are much, much smoother.

For raglans the other option is rather than decreasing for the shaping, just slide all the “decreased” stitches onto a circular needle then you can do a “3 needle bind off” with all your “decreased” stitches, actually it gives a fairly nice finish although I’ve not explained it at all well!!!

Final option (which seems a lot of work but I know a few ladies who swear by it) is to knit from the neck down as a sort of yoke increasing for your sleeve/armhole shaping either side of a marker then work the body and sleeves on circulars so there’s pretty much no sewing up at all. I’ve got a pattern like this on my “to do” list, I’ll blog it sometime in teh next few years honest….

by: dottyspots

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 11:02:36 +0000

Awww, thanks Jules

I also sew sleeve seams flat and certainly dropped shoulders aren’t so much of a problem - but I like my jumpers to be more ‘fitted’ and that’s where the problem comes in, I can’t seem to get them to ‘fit’ the sleeve space.

I’ve recently bought a really helpful book which gives patterns for multiple yarns and gauges (so rather than get the yarn to fit the pattern, you can use what you have). It also has multiple sizes, from child (no baby sizes) through to large men - so it should cover most eventualities. It has some patterns for yoked sweaters which I think I’ll have a bash at.

One day I think I’d like to treat myself to one of Rowan’s finishing workshops (a nice residential weekend ) Not going to happen for a couple of years yet I think…

by: Jules

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 09:11:57 +0000

I love seeing your creations. Very inspiring

by: rosie

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 00:21:23 +0000

Hi Nikki
It’s ages since I knitted a jumper, but I usually do the sleeves straight- ie, start with sewing the shoulder seam, then sew in the sleeve opened out flat, then sew the side seams and sleeve seams in one go. Then you are sewing the top of the sleeve in a straigh line. I remember doing this by not casting off the sleeve, but having a couple of rows of ’spare yarn’ in a different colour at the top. Then back stitch through each stitch, pulling out the spare yarn as you go. (This has got to be *called* something!)Of course it will only work if you have drop-shoulder, or straight sleeves, I think.
Otherweise you could undo body and sleeve pieces to the armhole and knit it all up together on a circular needle (in a yoke)- not sure how often to decrease with this one, but it sounds I great idea.
Have you ever seen “the Opinionated knitter” by Elizabeth Zimmerman?- it’s great for this kind of thing and has some really good patterns.