So honored to be test knitting this incredibly beautiful pullover by Irina. I absolutely love her design aesthetic.

This pattern really goes the extra mile because not only does Irina include the usual charts (my preference), but she actually went to the trouble to write out ALL of the instructions for people who don’t like working from charts!

This was a quick and easy project. I knitted mine in 2 weeks, but it would have taken even less time if I had not completed this pullover during the same period.

I held 2 strands of yarn together throughout. Tubular Bind Off (Kitchener Bind Off) is used for the bottom edge of ribbing in this pattern. However, I used Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off for the lower hem because the 2 yarns I used would have gotten tangled with the Tubular Bind Off. I did a regular bind-off in pattern for the sleeve cuffs.

Neck ribbing - size 3 US needle
Body and sleeves - size 4 US needle
Lower hem ribbing - size 4 US needle
Sleeve cuff ribbing - size 3 US needle

Separating sleeves from body round:

I cast on 6 sts under each arm rather than the 12 sts specified in the pattern. So I started out with 210 sts at the bustline rather than 222 sts.

I did some body shaping due to my triangular shape (shoulders wider than hips):

Decreased 1.5” inches below underarm (2 sts each side) and every 1.5” thereafter 8 times. (8 x 4 sts = 32 sts decreased = 178 sts). At this point, body measured 12” from underarm. Knitted stockinette another 1/2 inch, increasing 2 sts (1 each side) on the last round = 180 sts. Started 2 x 2 rib band at bottom = another 2”. Total length from underarm = 14.5”. Note that you must have some multiple of 4 sts before starting the bottom ribbing.

I wanted long sleeves rather than the 3/4 length sleeves shown in the pattern. Therefore, I did my sleeves differently:

• I only picked up 6 sts under each arm rather than the 12 sts specified in the pattern for my size. This is because I have very skinny arms. So I started with 60 sts total for each sleeve (54+6).

• Starting 2.625” below the underarm (20 rnds), I decreased 1 st (59 sts)

• 5.5” below underarm (20 more rnds), I decreased 2 sts (57 sts)

• 8” below underarm (20 more rnds), I decreased 2 sts (55 sts)

• 10.5” below underarm (20 more rnds), I decreased 2 sts (53 sts)

• 13” below underarm (20 more rnds), I decreased 2 sts (51 sts)

• Next round: K15, pm, 21-stitch sleeve chart, pm, K15. If you match row gauge, the 25 rounds of the chart will measure 3” high upon completion.

• After finishing the sleeve chart, sleeves measured 16” from underarm and I had 52 sts on my needle. You must end with a multiple of 4 sts for the 2 x 2 ribbing which follows.

• Did 14 rnds of 2 x 2 ribbing for the sleeve cuffs following directions in the pattern. Sleeve ribbing measures 2 inches. Total length of sleeves from underarm = 18 inches. Yes, I have long arms …

The Berroco Comfort yarn has 5 strands plied in a chain construction. The weight is somewhere between heavy fingering and sport. This super soft yarn is definitely not a DK weight by my standards.

Ravelry does not have this mohair blend lace yarn in its database, but it’s a good quality and only cost me $2.59 per 25-gram ball (about 230 yds per ball). There is no manufactuer/brand name on the label. It just says “Import Mohair.” Note that there is no silk in this yarn. The fiber content in written in Chinese. It says:

Mohair 30%, Wool 20%, Artificial Fiber 50%

The washing instructions are:
Warm water wash, medium heat, dry clean okay.

Here’s a link to the web site, and it comes in 41 colors with free shipping! (No minimum order required.) Apparently it comes on a slow boat from China, so you’ll have to wait at least a month if you want free shipping. But what a deal! The color I bought is called “Ballet Pink”, but its actually a very pale peach color. Note that “A108” appears on every ball label. This is apparently NOT the color number. Ordering it from here is even cheaper, though you’ll be limited to 31 colors. Here’s another source offering all 41 colors with free shipping.

I’ve also used this mohair blend lace which is very similar but a bit more expensive because it comes in a 50-gram ball with approximately 410 yards - so twice as much as the lace yarn I used for this project. I don’t think that it contains any silk though.

How to do 2/1/2 RPC cables without cable needles.

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