Carden Pullover (Test Knit)
Finished
February 2, 2020
March 1, 2020

Carden Pullover (Test Knit)

Project info
Carden by Jennifer Wood
Knitting
SweaterPullover
Me
37.5"
Needles & yarn
US 6 - 4.0 mm
US 7 - 4.5 mm
US 8 - 5.0 mm
US 9 - 5.5 mm
14 stitches and 22 rows = 4 inches
in Stockinette Stitch
Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Tweeds
5.9 skeins = 855.5 yards (782.3 meters), 501 grams
76248
Gray
Michael's Arts & Crafts
Notes

This is another absolutely gorgeous top-down, seamless design by the talented Jennifer Wood. I love everything about her style and the easy-to-understand way she presents her patterns. All of them are thoroughly tested.

Needles:

I started out with size 8 US for the neckline. After a few rounds, I switched to size 9 US because of my wide shoulders and the fact that I’m using lighter weight yarn than Jennifer’s sample. Halfway through my 3rd repeat of Chart 1, I switched back to size 8 US needle. This was to give some subtle waist shaping (without any decreases) and because I have a triangular shape (shoulders wider than hips). I also used the size 8 US needles when I picked up the sleeves from their holders because I have thin arms.

I did 4 repeats of Chart 1 because I’m tall and because my row gauge was a little off as usual. Then I finished with Chart 2 and the ribbing. I did two extra cables for the ribbing to lengthen it a bit. So the ribbing measures about 4.75”. The fit is perfect.

For the bind-off, I used Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off and size 1 US needle.

Sleeves:

Jennifer gave me permission to change the sleeve cuff design a bit. Here’s how I did mine:

Rnd 1: (K1,P1, 2/2 RC, P1, K1) 5 times
Rnds 2-4: (K1. P1, K4, P1, K1) 5 times

Repeat above 4 rounds for the desired length of cuff, ending with a Rnd 1. Before binding off, knit one final round where you K2tog in the center of every cable. Use a stretchy bind off.

Before the final decrease rnd, I had 40 sts on the needle for the entire cuff - all knitted with size 8 US needle. I tend to be a loose knitter, but not terribly loose.

The other sleeve has left leaning cables (the opposite). On the round preceding the bind-off, do an SSK in the middle of each cable. This results in a final stitch count of 35 sts for the bind-off.

This sleeve cuff design is a repeat of 8 sts - total 40 sts for my size. Larger sizes could use 48 sts or 56 sts, etc. I think that even the smallest size could use the 40 sts as I did because the cables pull the cuff way in. 40 sts makes a fairly snug cuff - especially if you transition to smaller needle sizes as you proceed down the long cuff. (I didn’t do this because I prefer looser fitting sleeves.) When I knit the other cuff, I did only 2/2 LC (instead of 2/2 RC) in order to have a mirror image of the other cuff. I always use a very stretchy bind off such as “Jeny’s SSBO”.

If anyone else wants to try doing their cuffs like this, I urge you to try on (at least the sleeve cuff) as you knit it. You may find that you need to go UP a needle size or 2 for the cuffs - especially if you’re a tight knitter or someone who prefers looser fitting sleeves. I’m a continental knitter with tension a little on the loose side. I also have thin arms.

Prior to starting the sleeve cuffs:

I followed the pattern sleeve directions, decreasing as specified until I had reached 42 sts. Then I switched to size 7 US needles (1 size down) and knit 8 more rounds straight. Then I switched to size 6 US needles and knit an additional 7 rounds. For the following round only, I switched back to size 7 US needles and decreased 2 more stitches per the pattern directions. This brought me to the required stitch count (40) to start knitting the sleeve cuffs. I then switched back to size 8 US needles for the remainder of the cuff, including Jeny’s SSBO.

Final Measurements:
(I’m almost 5’-8” tall)

Neck opening circumference: 18.75”

Bust exactly per pattern: 37.5”

Total sleeve length from underarm = 19”
(11” stockinette + 8” cuff)

Total body length from underarm = 15.75”
(11” stockinette + 4.75” ribbing)

Test Knit Forum

viewed 1291 times | helped 29 people
Finished
February 2, 2020
March 1, 2020
 
About this pattern
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About this yarn
by Lion Brand
Aran
92% Acrylic, 8% Rayon
145 yards / 85 grams

3689 projects

stashed 1678 times

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  1. Aran weight, soft
  2. Tweedy
  3. Machine wash and dryable
  • Project created: February 1, 2020
  • Finished: March 1, 2020
  • Updated: March 17, 2020
  • Progress updates: 5 updates