26-02-2022

My apparent gauge - not blocked: 20R and 26R in 4”

I’ve opted to use a US8 for the rib and a US10 for the body. My yarn is pretty light-weight for its bulk. Also, I am a small person with narrow shoulders, so if the gauge is a bit smaller, that will likely work to my advantage. Note: Apparently, my gauge is much smaller than the pattern recommends but still big enough to get over my head and I wouldn’t want it any looser - even if it is going to be folded over.

I think I’ll knit the collar to a scant 7” in depth, not the instructed 8.5” (determined by gauge x row count), because 8.5” would be way too long for me, even folded over to 4.25”. I haven’t got a blocked swatch reading for rows in stockinette (I previously worked in garter) but I do know that it doesn’t shrink much. So I’ll get to almost 7” (42R at my “gauge”) and then I’ll also check the depth to confirm that it’s where I want it to be…

Final Thoughts:

• Really good stash buster. You can use up yarn ends of many weights (provided you get to a bulky-ish weight).
• Very practical, esp in Canada. Also unisex design.
• Super quick knit. You can make this in a few hours with a minimal amount of yarn.
• The instructions are entirely clear but I loathe doing short rows in small diameter / magic loop. And the increase rows in the middle of it did take this up a notch in terms of having to concentrate. I wouldn’t recommend this for a beginner or someone who doesn’t like short rows. Next time I make this, I’ll use a 16” cable on the body section in the hopes that it’ll be less fussy. And note that this shaping is lovely.
• I also didn’t love the method for folding down / attaching collar. It was particularly tricky because I was working with navy yarn. But it looks good when complete.
• I think that pulling the increases super tight actually contributes (at a certain point) to stretching the yarn such that it creates holes). I did these increases firmly but not so firm that holes appeared.
• I was kind of hoping that this would use up more yarn than it did (or less). I’ve 41g left and, given that I rarely work with chunky yarn, I don’t know how the remainder will be repurposed. But, though this looks small, it’s a good size. I wouldn’t want the body to be any closer to my shoulder tips. I added in 2 rounds of stockinette but I wish I hadn’t. And given that the yarn did grow horizontally, I wish that I’d gone down a needle size in the ribbing. Of course, every yarn is diff in this respect but I don’t have enough knowledge of working with either this yarn or bulky yarn in general to have known…
• Can’t say I loved the process but I appreciate the finished object.

28-02-2022

Pre-blocked Dimensions:

Circumference at ribbed neck where it meets the body: 17”
Depth of neck rib: 3.25”
Circumference at hem ribbing: 34”
Length from top of neck rib to bottom of hem rib:9”
Length from base of rib where it meets body to the bind off edge at hem - front of neck warmer: 6”
Length from base of rib where it meets body to the bind off edge at hem - back of neck warmer: 3.5”

Post-blocked Dimensions:

Circumference at ribbed neck where it meets the body: 18”
Depth of neck rib: 3”
Circumference at hem ribbing: 35”
Length from top of neck rib to bottom of hem rib: 9”
Length from base of rib where it meets body to the bind off edge at hem - front of neck warmer: 6”
Length from base of rib where it meets body to the bind off edge at hem - back of neck warmer: 3.75”