The last instalment of my Funky Grandpa knit.
Having had to take a sleeve down because I had knitted it on the wrong needle, I've sped on and finished the cardigan. It was a really relaxing knits with just a few things done differently to the pattern. Because the bottom welt is done with the yarn doubled, i also did the wrist welts and button bands with doubled yarn too. The pattern says to use single yarn but I prefer symmetry. Interestingly the three ribs are all different -- the bottom rib is 1x1, the wrists 4x1 and the button bands 3x1. I went with this even though it offends my sensibilities that they are different and it does look quite nice. I really like the i-cord edge on the cuffs and button bands, it's time-consuming but gives a really neat finish.
The new technique for this jumper for me was afterthought buttonholes. They are done this way so that you can place them perfectly -- all too often knitted button holes aren't quite where you thought they were and it can spoil the look of a garment. Essentially, when you've finished the buttonbands you work out where the buttonholes should be placed and then cut them ... ulp! Anyone who has steeked a jumper will feel relatively comfortable with this idea -- possibly.... As the button bands are not part of the main garment but knit on separately I thought I would give this idea a go. If the holes were a disaster I could always re-knit the bands.
I've put photos below of how to cut the button-holes. Fortunately, I re-read the instructions before I cut the loops (plural) as I noticed it said cut loop (singular) and unravel back so I saved avoided disaster. As we have said before, measure twice, cut once! Elizabeth Zimmerman's 'Knitting without Tears' describes this technique really well here
https://blog.loveknitting.com/elizabeth-zimmermans-afterthought-buttonhole/
I sorted out some buttons from my button box -- these came from an old blouse but I thought they suited the cardigan really well.
Finally, the yarn quantities are way out. We worked the amount out based on yarn weight and meterage but I have four balls left. The yarn packs will be amended and re-priced to take account of this -- if you've already bought one, let us know and we'll sort out the discrepancy.
Having had to take a sleeve down because I had knitted it on the wrong needle, I've sped on and finished the cardigan. It was a really relaxing knits with just a few things done differently to the pattern. Because the bottom welt is done with the yarn doubled, i also did the wrist welts and button bands with doubled yarn too. The pattern says to use single yarn but I prefer symmetry. Interestingly the three ribs are all different -- the bottom rib is 1x1, the wrists 4x1 and the button bands 3x1. I went with this even though it offends my sensibilities that they are different and it does look quite nice. I really like the i-cord edge on the cuffs and button bands, it's time-consuming but gives a really neat finish.
The new technique for this jumper for me was afterthought buttonholes. They are done this way so that you can place them perfectly -- all too often knitted button holes aren't quite where you thought they were and it can spoil the look of a garment. Essentially, when you've finished the buttonbands you work out where the buttonholes should be placed and then cut them ... ulp! Anyone who has steeked a jumper will feel relatively comfortable with this idea -- possibly.... As the button bands are not part of the main garment but knit on separately I thought I would give this idea a go. If the holes were a disaster I could always re-knit the bands.
I've put photos below of how to cut the button-holes. Fortunately, I re-read the instructions before I cut the loops (plural) as I noticed it said cut loop (singular) and unravel back so I saved avoided disaster. As we have said before, measure twice, cut once! Elizabeth Zimmerman's 'Knitting without Tears' describes this technique really well here
https://blog.loveknitting.com/elizabeth-zimmermans-afterthought-buttonhole/
I sorted out some buttons from my button box -- these came from an old blouse but I thought they suited the cardigan really well.
Finally, the yarn quantities are way out. We worked the amount out based on yarn weight and meterage but I have four balls left. The yarn packs will be amended and re-priced to take account of this -- if you've already bought one, let us know and we'll sort out the discrepancy.
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