For my second EXP Sweater I decided to use 8ply/ DK.
I mean EXP stands for “Experimental”, so let’s experiment.
This was my first jumper in my own yarn.
I love mohair.
So let’s talk yarn.
Given my Inventory the logical yarn make up was
1X DK (Fat Tootsie)
1X Fingering (Tootsie) + !X laceweight (Mr Fluffy) (=DK).
The “Tootsies” are both Superwash sock yarns. Being Superwash they do not have the same “memory” as natural wool.
My Fluffy is a non-superwash but it is such a small component of the mix I was sure it would not affect the fabric’s ability to block out hard!
(In machine-knitting this process of blocking the fabric to a point of maximum smoothness and drape is called “Killing the Fabric”… Machine Knitters tap into some pretty dark urges at time…).
The effect I aimed for was Stained Glass Window…
I wanted to take a highly variegated bright yarn (which my Rockpool is” and I wanted to push that back behind a softer lattice to create a better balance.
I think I got that.

A few words on Swatching and Blocking
Some people hate this stuff. I love it.
Swatching (and blocking that swatch. “HARD!”) was critical for me.
The degree of blocking affects fit and fabric.
The Half Fisherman’s Rib is very stretchy.
If you want a springy fabric don’t block.
But I do advise swatching to ensure you knit a garment that fits!
If you knit this in public, people will ask if you are knitting for a child.
It knits small. It blocks big. Don’t want to block. Knit big!
This was my second EXP so I felt I knoew my stuff.
So I did the same size as my first (Fingering weight) and I used the same size needle.
I was knitting for the middle of a central Victorian Winter for 3 days in an unheated shed (At the Wool show).
I made the sleeves and the body longer.
I was as warm as toast.
ALSO lovely people came up and asked if they could touch me.
3 days as a Teddy-Bear was fabulous.

The Knitting
I thought I could GET AWAY without a provisional cast on.
“Why bother” I thought when I can just marry the cast on into the the live stitches at the join.
WRONG! And here’s why.
Insufficient stretch in the cast on. (again related to this being a rib)
In order to maximise the stretch at the neck (so you can actually et the bludger on) you need the provisional cast on.
Live stitches are stretchier than dead ones!

Dealing with Alternating colours
OK. The fabric is made from alternating colours.
DO NOT twist the yarns.
It is not necessary.
When you come to the end of the row, drop the yarn just used (leave it on the outside of the knitting), pick up the new colour (which will be hanging on the outside of the knitting) and knit on.
The secret? Maintain even tension.
You will end up with a truely reversible beauty!