With a little break in the snowing action, I took the opportunity for a bit of thrifting. Unlike my last Radiant Orchid haul, this interlude was all about the greys.
Look at the pieces de resistance – the Carlos Santana heels! I’m putting them on as soon as I dont need snow boots anymore. Some nice knits, too; a curvy black sweaterdress with huge ribbed portrait cowl, an open-front long cardi from Old Navy with silver metallic bling, and a cashmere crew with black contrast sleeves. Add a couple tops and some really nice White House/Black Market black and white tiny check pants, and it’s a wardrobe. With snow leopard!
A modern take on the fisherman sweater, The Fisher Queen blends classic cable and rib elements with a non-traditional shape and construction. Heavily textured Mistake Rib, along with Honeycomb and Snake cables cover the front and back, while the fitted sleeves are worked in Rib. The slim modified dolman sleeves, scooped neck and curved hem bring updated details to the silhouette, mixing traditional and modern in a contemporary classic.
Construction: The Fisher Queen is worked seamlessly from the top down; the shoulder saddles are knit first, with stitches picked up for front and back and worked flat to below the armhole, then joined to work in the round. Long, skinny sleeves are picked up and worked in rib, then finished with twisted rib cuffs, matching the hem and neckband.
Techniques & Skills Used: backwards loop CO, knit/purl, cables, decreasing, short rows, picking up stitches, grafting. Body stitch patterns are both written and charted.
Size: 31 (35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55)” bust; shown in third size worn with 4” of positive ease. For a similar fit, choose a size with several inches of ease; the cables and rib will conform gently to the body, while still maintaining a relaxed silhouette.
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ecological Wool (100% wool; 478 yards/437m/250g), shown in 8014 Vanilla; 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) skeins, or approximately 875 (965, 1115, 1200, 1375, 1475, 1650) yards of heavy aran weight yarn. The yardage requirements for sizes 35, 47 and 51 are very close to requiring an additional skein of Eco Wool; consider purchasing an extra to be sure you have enough.
Other Materials: US 9 (5.5mm) 32” circular needle or size to match gauge; US 8 16” circular needle for picking up stitches; Cable needle, Stitch markers; Stitch holders; Yarn needle.
Gauge: 16 st and 22 rows/4” in stockinette stitch and in slightly stretched rib, with larger needle, after blocking. The central cable panel is 5.5” wide.
See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.
A woolly mantle knit as a simple rectangle with sleeves, Loops at the Fireside features seamless construction in light-as-air alpaca blend yarn. The textured top edge is worked in a dimensional, garter-based loop stitch, and becomes the collar of the sweater; the body is a canvas of pure stockinette stitch with purl ridge details along the fronts, hem, and sleeve cuffs. Together, the comforting shape and modern bulky yet featherweight yarn come together in a new-fashioned garment to wear both at home by the fireside and out into the chill.
Size: 30 (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64)” bust; shown in third size worn with no ease. The sizing of this blanket sweater is designed to be as flexible as possible; the open front ensures that any shape and size can find a good fit within the wide range, depending on amount of ease desired. As a starting point, choose a size with 0-2” ease at your cross-back, and size up from there for a more generous fit.
A cozy sweater with ample tucked funnelneck, Tucked in Snug is knit in one piece from the bottom up with ergonomic shoulders. Gentle waist shaping and short dolman sleeves flatter the body, while grafted shoulders and an integrated slouchy funnelneck ensure uncomplicated seamless knitting. Short rows shape the sleeves and shoulder comfortably, eliminating excess fabric at the underarm. The substantial cowl frames the face with a series of narrowing tucks at the front neck, gently pulling down the front edge below the chin. Wear it alone in the transitional seasons, and as a Snug extra layer in the depths of winter.
Techniques & Skills Used: Cable CO, knit/purl, short rows, increasing/decreasing, picking up stitches, tucks. This pattern includes written instructions, links to my short rows and grafting tutorials, as well as a photo and video tutorial for the tuck stitch.
Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; US 8 (5mm) 16” circular needle or dpns for tucks, cowl and grafting; US 6 (4mm) 16” circular needle or dpns for cowl hem; Stitch markers (2); Removable stitch markers (2); Stitch holders (3); Yarn needle.
Gauge: 16 st and 22 rows/4” in stockinette stitch, after blocking.
See it on Ravelry, to read more or purchase the pattern.
