Steeks and Stones by Mandy Powers

Steeks and Stones

Knitting
November 2010
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
24 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches
in over charted pattern using larger needle
US 3 - 3.25 mm
US 5 - 3.75 mm
2.75 mm (C)
Child S (M, L) to fit child age 6 (8, 10)
English

Sizes: Child Small (Medium, Large)
Finished Chest: 30 (32, 34)“
Finished Length: 18.75 (20.5, 21.5)”

Materials
Cascade 220 in the following colors
MC: 3 (4, 4) skeins #4002 Charcoal
A: 2 (2, 3) skeins #8010 Cream
B: 1 (1, 1) skein #8894 Green

Needles
24” Circular needle in size US 3 & 5 (3.25 & 3.5 mm) for body
Set of 5 DPNs in size US 3 & 5 (3.25, 3.5 mm) for sleeves
Crochet hook in size C-2/2.75mm) for steek reinforcement

Notions
3 yds smooth waste cotton yarn
6 stitch markers
1 - 20” separating zipper in black
Sewing needle and Matching Thread
Tapestry needle

Pattern Description from the book:
My son wanted customized sweater, and he was very specific about it: zipper, skulls, and, of course, green snake eyes. I began the design with some ideas and a pencil, but when I knit a swatch using the scribbled chart, Jerry said it wasn’t scary enough. Back to the drawing board. Then I came up with this creepy skull design that please both me and him. I decided to use steeks because they are terrific for colorwork. The steeks are placed where the openings will later be cut, and you always knit in the round, so no wrong-side colorwork rows have to be knit. The only downside to this method is that you can’t try on the garment before cutting, and once you snip the steeks, there’s no going back. This technique is not for the timid knitter, but I’ll let you in on a little secret -- steeking isn’t as spooky as it seems.