Pattern Tip: Start with the Sleeves

Here’s a great tip from the knitting blog over at WEBS: when starting a new pieced sweater pattern, knit the sleeves first.

If you’re trying out a new technique, want to see how colors work together or just want to skip swatching (not that I’d recommend that!) starting with a sleeve gives you a quick way to see if you like the pattern or want to change something. And of course if your gauge is off it’s easier — meaning less heartbreaking — to rip out a couple of inches of sleeve rather than a couple of inches of body.

Speaking of WEBS, their annual anniversary sale is going on right now. It runs through the end of May, but there are some specials that are only available this month, and you’ll want to stock up early to get the best selection. This sale is the reason I have so much Cascade 220 in my house; it’s on sale for $5.59 a skein down from $8. There are tons of great yarns on sale form Berroco, Debbie Bliss, Rowan, Plymouth and WEBS’ own Valley Yarns, in addition to some needle sets. Check it out.

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I feel like a lot of the patterns I have been sharing lately are sweaters that you can use for layering. Maybe that’s because it stayed warm for so long this year where I live that I’m still thinking about lighter weight sweaters.

I love this kind of garment for wearing over a T-shirt when it’s cool in the morning but warm in the afternoon. They’re great for throwing on top of a dress to get more use out of them when it’s cooler, or wearing under a warmer sweater when it finally gets cold.

The Sunset Sweatshirt pattern from Jessie Maed Designs is an oversized, boxy, cropped pullover with slightly dropped shoulders for a cozy fit that’s almost like your favorite sweatshirt. Worked in worsted weight yarn, it will keep you warm through several seasons, and is a great one to throw in your bag to slip on when it’s cool for part of the day.

The pattern comes in nine sizes, to fit a chest from 28 to 60 inches, or 71 to 152.5 cm. It’s designed to have 9 to 12 inches, or 23 to 30.5 cm, of positive ease, so the fit is quite relaxed. There are optional bust darts if you want to add a bit of shaping. The pattern recommends knitting a smaller size and adding darts if you have a full bust in relation to your upper chest. Jessie Maed is known for their size inclusive patterns so I’m sure it’s well explained in the pattern how to do this should you want to.

The design is worked from the top down in one piece with short row shaping for the shoulders and slightly tapered sleeves. To make this one you should be comfortable with working in the round, increasing, decreasing and working German short rows.

You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Jessie Maed Designs]

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