OTN - April 12, 2013

Golly, a whole week has slipped by. Where has the time gone? I have a good one for you this week. The last time we were together I showed the #73-Top Down Woman's Sweater. I did not like the neck as it was really too wide and the sleeves were going to be too tight. That sweater got frogged: rip it, rip it, rip it. I did a gauge swatch with this bulky yarn and then cast on for my version of #73. This one is knit from the bottom up, but it still has the short (but wider) sleeves and the raglan shoulders. One big difference is that I am knitting the whole thing in the round. This sweater was knit in 7 days and proved how much faster it is to knit in the round than back and forth.

Can you see the indentation up the center front that looks a bit like a seam? That is the one purl stitch in an other wise stockinette sweater. And these photos show what I am going to do with that one purl stitch:

A row of single crochet will be worked down one side of the purl stitch. I'm working on my gauge swatch with a contrasting yarn so you can see.

And then another row of single crochet will be worked down the other side of the purl stitch.

And finally, I will cut that purl stitch. Yes, cut my sweater. It is called steeking and it is my first attempt. After doing the test on the swatch, I can see using it not only to make a cardigan out of a pullover, but to add pockets after-the-fact, buttonholes, neck holes and armholes. Oh the possibilities!

For more on/off the needle posts visit Judy at Patchwork Times.