Sweaters • The Knitting Vortex

Amalee

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Feb 282024

A tidy and feminine seamless cardigan, Amalee adds a touch of whimsy with bell sleeve cuffs and a romantic peplum. Worked from the top down using the seamless, simultaneous set-in sleeves method, the silhouette is slightly relaxed with gentle A-line shaping, a flattering hi-hip length, and elegant tubular rib finish. Construction: Amalee uses the seamless, simultaneous set-in sleeve method, which allows you to work the back, front and sleeves of a sweater all at one time from the top down, while creating a tailored, set-in sleeve fit. Stitches are cast on for the back, and the back shoulders are shaped with a few short rows to create the shoulder slope; stitches are then picked up for each front shoulder, and shaped with identical short rows. The back and fronts are united, while at the same time stitches are picked up at the shoulder edges for the sleeve caps, and sleeve cap shaping begins. Body and sleeves are worked at the same time, with a deep V neckline, and tailored armhole shaping. When the armhole depth . . .

Honeydip

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Sep 122023

Deeply textured honeycomb cables decorate the body and outer sleeves of this topdown seamless sweater. Victorian references style the bell shaped silhouette, with a high neck, slim sleeves, and fluted hem. Compound raglan shaping ensures a good fit for all sizes, while waist shaping further refines the silhouette. Construction: Honeydip is knit seamlessly from the top down using raglan construction, in a textured honeycomb cable pattern on the front, back, and along the outer sleeves, with smooth stockinette at the body side panels and undersleeves. Compound raglan shaping, in which the rate of body and sleeve increases varies depending upon size, is used to ensure a good fit across the entire size range. Stitches are cast on in the round at the neckline, the front and back neck are shaped with short rows, then the body is worked to the bottom of the armhole. Sleeve stitches are placed on hold while the lower body is worked with gentle shaping to the fluted ribbed hem which flows smoothly from the cables. Sleeves are then continued to . . .

Chunnel Vest

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Aug 122023

Chunnel Vest features a relaxed modern silhouette worked in textured half fisherman’s rib. European shoulder shaping places the shoulder seams toward the back, eliminating bulk and creating a flattering smooth drape at the front. Fully fashioned shaping emphasizes the neckline, armholes and sideseams above the hem, for visible style lines that contour to your shape. An elegant tubular bind off finishes the ribbing at the hem, armholes and neck. Construction: Chunnel Vest is cast on at the back neck, then the shoulders are shaped with increases to create an ergonomic fit. Once the shoulder width is reached, the upper back is worked with integrated shaping, to the bottom of the armhole. The back is put on hold while stitches are picked up along the shoulder edge for each front, then worked to the armscye depth, with rounded crew neck shaping. Back and front are united, then the body is worked in the round, with shaping above the ribbed hem to emphasize the fitted bottom finish. The hem is worked in K1P1 rib, finished elegantly with . . .

Ikinngut

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Sep 212022

Friends – you go on adventures with them, knit with them, and sometimes just appreciate them from afar in the comfort of your own private space. Ikinngut is the Greenlandic word for friend, and this modern rustic sweater is the perfect thing to wear for comfortable, casual rendezvous of all sorts with your besties. Construction: Ikinngut is cast on at the back, the shoulders are shaped with a few short rows, then the back yoke is worked in a textured broken basket rib stitch pattern. The back is put on hold while stitches are picked up for each front shoulder and worked similarly to the armscye depth, with deep V front neck shaping. Back and fronts are united and fullness is added at the empire line with rapid increases creating gathers, then the body is worked in stockinette in the round to the split hem, which is worked back and forth in K2P2 rib. Slim, three-quarter length sleeves begin with picking up stitches around the armholes, then the caps are shaped with short rows, and the . . .

Fleet Cardigan

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Sep 192022

Everyday, everyway . . . this topdown seamless raglan cardigan is perfect for so many outfits and situations. The cropped and boxy body hits at the high hip to pair well with a dress or high waisted pant, and the roomy full sleeves layer nicely while still being anchored with fitted ribbing at the cuffs. Highly textured seed stitch and a ribbed lapel & collar finished with a rolled edge elevate the style; wear it as a basic or a special sweater every day. Construction: The Fleet Cardigan is knit seamlessly from the top down in allover textured seed stitch, using raglan construction with a compound rate of increase to ensure a proper fit for all sizes. Stitches are cast on at the neckline, then fronts, back & sleeves are worked to the bottom of the armhole. Increases are made on fronts, back and sleeves every RS row initially, then on fronts and back every RS row and sleeves every other RS row until the correct armscye depth is reached for each size. Sleeve stitches are . . .

New Dune

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Aug 302022

A light-as-air tank top, New Dune offers an updated sleek and cropped silhouette for the high-waisted modern moment. The laceweight yarn creates a whisper soft garment, perfect for layering over a cami or pretty underpinning, and suitably sleek under a voluminous blouse or a light jacket. New Dune goes from morning to night, the beach to the bistro, with a figure-conscious yet body skimming fit. The slim tapered straps and dramatic deep back neckline celebrate your skin, while the relaxed body and fitted rib hem enhance and accentuate your shape. Construction: New Dune is an update of my early Dune tank for Classic Elite Yarns, featuring a sleek and streamlined tank strap, and a modern cropped length to wear with all of our high-waisted pants and skirts. It retains the classic architecture of the original, with slim shoulders, a deep V back neck, and smooth stockinette body with a deep ribbed hem. Cast on provisionally at the shoulders, the back and front are each worked back and forth to the armscye depth, then the body is . . .

L’Heure Verte

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Aug 232022

This sweater’s color recalls the silvery green foliage of the artemisia plant, used to make the storied spirit absinthe. Drinking absinthe became so popular in French cafés that by the mid-nineteenth century, happy hour there was called l’heure verte (“the green hour”). Deeply textured waves flow from the neckline of the sweater, expanding along with the yoke until they reach the stockinette body and disappear. The transition gives a slight A-line shape to the cropped body, while short rows shape the back neck and body for a good fit, and create the rounded hems. Simple rolled edges at the neckline, hem, and cuffs are clean and practical. Construction: L’Heure Verte is knit seamlessly from the top down using round yoke construction, with an expanding stockinette-based wave texture on the yoke, a plain stockinette body, and rolled neck, cuffs, and hem. Stitches are cast on in the round at the neckline, the back neck is shaped with short rows, then the yoke is worked to the bottom of the armhole. Sleeve stitches are placed on hold while . . .

Walnut Street

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Aug 122022

A touch of plaid decorates this open front cardigan, with long contrasting lines intersecting on the generous reversible collar. The plaid is created using simple techniques, in which the vertical lines are knit as contrasting stripes, while the horizontal lines are first worked as a purl column in the main color, then the contrast color is applied to the surface later using a crochet hook. Construction: Walnut Street is cast on at the back neck and worked to the armscye depth with a few short rows to shape the shoulders. The back is put on hold while stitches are picked up for each front, and worked separately with a bit of short row shaping to the armscye depth. Back and front are united and worked with gentle waist shaping to the hem. Sleeves are picked up around the armholes and the caps shaped with short rows, then worked seamlessly to the cuffs. Stitches are picked up along the entire front edge and neck, then the reversible collar is worked with contrast horizontal stripes and the . . .

Featherfall

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Apr 132022

Classic stitches and an unusual construction combine to make Featherfall, an open front cardigan worked seamlessly from the top down with modified raglan construction. Featuring shaped waterfall fronts, an undulating feather and fan hem & cuffs, and an elegant applied I-cord finish, Featherfall is both refined and at the same time simple. Construction: Featherfall is worked back and forth from the top down with modified raglan shaping. The back and sleeves are worked in the raglan style to the bottom of the armholes, then the body and sleeves are divided and stitches are picked up along the front raglan lines to create the fronts, which are united with the back. Sleeves are worked in the round from the top down. Drapey waterfall fronts extend from the front raglan shoulder seamlines as the natural angles are shaped further with additional body increases. The body is finished with a wide lace hem; three-quarter sleeves are worked seamlessly in the round to matching lace cuffs. The front edges and neckline are finished simply with an elegant applied I-cord. . . .

Akvavit

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Apr 042022

Tiny bowknots flavor the yoke of this topdown circular sweater, bringing a subtle contrast to the smooth stockinette body and sleeves. Ribbed hem and sleeve cuffs are worked on smaller needles, creating a slight blouson effect; alternate shaping instructions are also provided to substitute traditional tapered sleeves instead. Named for the “water of life”, a Scandinavian distilled spirit, the soft color and gentle halo result from using a strand of silken mohair laceweight along with a lofty wool & silk dk yarn. Construction: Akvavit is worked seamlessly from the top down using round yoke construction, with a simple texture on the yoke and a plain stockinette body and unadorned neck. The hem and cuffs are worked in K2P2 rib on smaller needles to create a slight blouson shape to the body and sleeves. Stitches are cast on in the round at the neckline, the back neck is shaped with a few short rows, then the yoke is worked to the bottom of the armhole. Sleeve stitches are placed on hold while the lower body is . . .

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