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Sep 16, 2013

Monday Knit Picking



Feeling considerably better today, I decided to head uptown and get fabric for my next Mood project, most likely a knit sweater.

As you probably know, I don't have a lot of experience sewing with knits, though I've tackled them a few times with mixed results.  Since ready-to-wear knit cotton T-shirts are so easy to find (and cheap, especially second-hand, which most of mine are), it's hard to justify sewing my own.  I have never sewn a sweater, but that's the challenge I've set for myself, for better or for worse.

There were tons of knits to choose from, but one huge bolt standing in the wool knit aisle, apparently freshly-delivered and waiting to be shelved, was impossible to miss.  I was immediately smitten with this over-sized gray and maroon Italian houndstooth, likely a wool and mohair blend.



For a few minutes I also considered this leopard-print boiled wool, but from a distance it appeared muddy.

 

Luckily, I was in a decisive mood, so I followed my gut.  Ta da!





The second challenge was to find a suitable gray ribbed knit I could use for waistband, neckband, and cuffs.

These three swatches are actually different knits.   They're all a smaller gauge than the houndstooth but this was what was available.



I chose this one (the lowest one above -- or was it the top one?):



I probably have way more than I need of the houndstooth and the knit rib, so with what remains I may make a sweater vest for Michael and/or coats for the dogs.  Matching outfits!

The question that remains is whether my houndstooth would look better as a raglan sleeve or a regular sleeve sweater.  I found a photo online of this Billy Reid sweater, which is cut like a raglan sweatshirt.  What do you think?  (I won't be using a coverstitch so sweatshirt-like stitching is not an option for my project.)



I can definitely see Willy in something like this.



And speaking of Willy, guess who got a bath yesterday?  Chihuahuas are quite clean as dogs go, but they're still dogs.







In closing, any thoughts about how best to use this houndstooth?   Of course, I do have some experience with houndstooth, back in the day of my $2/yd. polyester double knit finds...







I miss Cathy's ye-ye girl phase, don't you?

Have a great day, everybody!

20 comments:

  1. Love your sweater knit, Peter; what a great find! I think I'd drape both a set-in and raglan sleeve to see which you'd prefer. As for sewing, emmaonesock's website has just published a wonderfully thoughtful and thorough treatise by Kathryn Brenne on working with sweater knits. It gave me some fresh ideas for dealing with hems and such for a sweater knit that I just unearthed from my old basement stash.

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    1. Thanks for the emmaonesock referral....although I am happy to say I knew most of it. Nice to have a confirmation

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  2. Raglan style, definitely, Peter. Poor Willy, he looks like he is so mad at the indignity of a bath - LOL

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  3. I vote raglan as well. I rarely see raglan shirts/sweaters and would like to see more. I'm rather inspired to make me a knit raglan sweater, hmmm. The dogs would look too cute for words in their matching sweaters!

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  4. Whatever sleeve you choose, i love the banded hem and contrast triangle. And I love the dog coat. And the dog. :)

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  5. go here and watch her knit lessons. she is very good. http://www.silhouettepatterns.com/html/media/livestreamchannel/index_replays.htm

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  6. Nice sweater knits. You should go over to Emmaonesock and read the article Kathleen Brenne wrote on sewing sweater knits. It's excellent.

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  7. I vote raglan sleeve too! It seems they are hard to find right now and I think they're pretty flattering to most people. I am way too big a scaredy cat to sew knits!

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  8. Raglan would be my vote. Possibly with a fold of ribbing like cording in the seam for contrast?
    A.

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  9. Beautiful fabric . I was just going to add the refrral to Emma One Sock but you already have . Have fun!!

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  10. Puppy in the sink! Too cute!

    And I generally prefer set-in sleeves, but that raglan version you found does look quite nice . . . I am sure whatever you decide will be fabulous.

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  11. Your inspiration is amazing! Please go the raglan sleeve route - think of the fun you can have playing with the direction of the houndstooth with a raglan sleeve! I don't have any advice to offer, but I look forward to the result.
    (And if you ask me, Cathy looks fab!)

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  12. OMG OMG OMG I love it! My eyes will be peeled when I go to Mood in two weekends. They didn't have a blue colorway, did they? I keep eyeballing the knits I bought, biding my time. Your questions have made me question myself! In a good way, of course, there's just lots of inner dialogue about the course of construction I will choose. I hope you post as-you-go so I can consult.
    Have you picked a pattern yet? I love the 70s mens sweater patterns with the buttons up the side of the neck. I've got a copy of Butterick 6324 from the 70s?80s? That's not bad for a sweater.
    Our dog also got a bath this past week because we were going to have a dinner party and she had previously gone swimming in two rather smelly ponds. However, since I'm the one who doesn't work and has all the free time, it was me hoisting a 60+ lb. dog into the tub.

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    1. I was going to use Simplicity 9993:

      http://malepatternboldness.blogspot.com/2013/09/experimenting-with-terrycloth-knit-with.html

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  13. What machine are you planning on using? Your Bernina or Kenmore? One thing I know is that Singers hate knits!! I've tried every method under the sun to get my Rocketeer to sew some fleece fabric and it just won't co-operate! I can't get it to make anything that remotely resembles a zig-zag stitch. Luckily I have a Kenmore and it takes to knits like a duck to water! I just don't understand what the problem is with Singer. Keep us posted on how your stitching is.

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  14. I love your сap! Do you have a pattern, please?

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    1. It's from the thrift store, but Vogue 8893 makes a hat that's nearly identical.

      https://picasaweb.google.com/101177577152766699680/PeterSPatternStashMensPatterns#5849737730996928082

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  15. Cathy looks so "THAT GIRL"! Could she coaxed into this genre again?

    Willy is a thief of hearts, wet or dry.

    Your knit bravery is admired. Awaiting the travails and outcome.

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