Thursday, January 24, 2008

Dancing with the Devil

Edit: to add a Ravelry pdf download button.


Yep......

LOL I had to do that, I realized last night I have begun the last 2 posts with "Yep" so I thought I ought to continue.

OK, maybe not. :o/

Believe it or not, I have pix and a pattern for you! "Dancing with the Devil" is ready. Of course I've already started tweaking it. :o) It's such an easy mindless knit. Absolutely perfect for the days when the Devil is ready to dance.

As a point of clarification, the Devil in this case is a migraine. Yes, I get them. Yes, they last days and days. Yes, they leave me for dead, or at least have me feverishly begging for it. Sometimes though I don't beg for death, just for time to pass quickly, because while the migraine itself isn't that bad (relatively speaking) I still am unable to do many things. Really difficult things like reading, writing, watching tv....sigh. On days like that even counting is likely to be a hardship with much the same accuracy of a 2 year old, "1,2,3,5,4,8,5,6,11", you get the picture. It was one of those days, when the best I could hope for was some big, bulky, mindless, repetitive knitting, "Dancing with the Devil" was born.

Aside from the initial cast on of 68 stitches, (yes, it took several attempts, I was originally shooting for 72 stitches...sigh) and a set up row counting to 45 and then onward to 60 to place markers, there is relatively nothing left to do but to mindlessly knit scads of mind numbing garter stitch. (Mind numbing is a good thing whilst one is dancing)

OK, OK, here are the pix...



This sweater is worked vertically in one piece, from the bottom left front up to the neck, advancing to the side, then the left sleeve, across the back, right sleeve, then right front. The only sewing are the sleeve seams, which could conceivably be done in a 3 needle bind off. (or my personal preference, a 2 needle bind off ala Debbie New) if you use a provisional cast on at that point.

I used this yarn.



"Designer" Homespun Tweed by Tahki. It's coarse, lumpy, over spun in places, and wire-like. Not my fav yarn by a long shot. It softens a tad and blooms a bit after a warm bath, but it is no way near next to skin yarn. OTOH it makes a warm, drapey, swingy, garter stitch, sweater.

Of course, as I said before, I have already begun working on some other versions, a higher neck, (two different version), more swing, and some other variations that include fancy stitch work, and colorwork in the yoke.

I think a nice buky mohair would lend itself well to this pattern. That's sitting in the basket for a real dancing day. I'm playing with the colorwork version now.

Here is the pattern. I hope it's clear and there aren't any errors. I haven't tested it yet, but I'm working on it. :o)



Dancing with the Devil

Size: one size fits small through large(?) (given the nature of garter stitch and the wide neck/yoke it could probably fit a variety of sizes. See End Notes for sizing adjustments)

Finished Measurements:

Circumference of neck buttoned 28”

Length of center back/front 23”

Chest at underarm 44”

Underarm to hem 15”

Underarm to cuff 15.5”

Circumference at hem when buttoned 52”

Materials: “Designer” Homespun Donnegal Tweed by Tahki. 5 skeins (135 yds/skein)
# 8 needles. 2 blue markers**, 6 red markers**, and one large stitch holder (or a length of waste yarn to hold stitches) 5 1” diameter buttons.

***Slip the blue markers as you work the pattern. The red markers are stationary they are only there to aid in counting ridges leave them where you put them!****

Gauge: 11 stitches and 11 garter ridges = 4 inches

Note: Sweater is worked in one piece vertically. Always slip the first stitch of every row, including the short rows.

Left Front: Cast on 68 sts. Work in garter stitch for 16 rows (8 ridges), place red marker.

Begin Short Rows Pattern

Short Rows Pattern:

Row 1: Knit 45 sts, place a blue marker, leave remaining stitches unworked. Turn.

Row 2: Knit across the 45 stitches just worked in row 1, turn.

Row 3: Knit 60 sts, place a blue marker, leaving remaining stitches unworked. Turn.

Row 4: Knit across the 60 stitches just worked in row 3, turn.

Row 5: Knit across all 68 stitches, place a red marker in the last stitch. (This is the neck edge) turn.

Row 6: Knit

[From this point on, slip the blue markers and place the red markers only in the six places mentioned in the pattern and not at the end of every 5th row! ]

Continue working the Short Rows Pattern until there are 12 ridges after the red marker at the neck edge. Place another red on the neck edge.

Left Sleeve: Knit 39 stitches and slip them to a holder or on to waste yarn. Cast on 47 stitches. Next row knit across the newly cast on stitches and up to the first blue marker continuing the Short Rows Patterns sequence. (The stitch count will now be 53 stitches to the first blue short row marker, 68 stitches to the 2nd blue short row marker, and 76 stitches across the entire row.)

Continue working the Short Rows Pattern until there are 12 ridges after the last red neck edge marker. Place another red marker.

Next row: BO 47 stitches (the sleeve) and knit to the first blue marker. Turn knit the 8 stitches on your needle and then knit the 39 stitches being held on the waste yarn or stitch holder. Your stitch count now returns to the original count. The next row will continue with the Short Rows Pattern at row 3 as you now begin working the back.

BACK: Work the Short Rows Pattern until there are 24 ridges from the last red marker. Place another red marker.

Right Sleeve and Right Front:

Work the same as the Left Sleeve and the short Rows Pattern portion of the Left Front, working the 12 ridges for the sleeve first followed by the 12 ridges for the left front.

Center Front Buttonband: Work 5 ridge across all 68 stitches.

Next Row: * knit 11, BO 2* (5 times), knit 3.

Next Row: Knit 3, *CO 2, knit 11* (5 times)

Work 3 more ridges (6 rows) even. BO

Finishing: Sew sleeve seams and sew on buttons.


End Notes:

To increase/decrease the width around the shoulders increase/decrease the number of ridges between the red markers that separate the sleeve/shoulder ridges and the fronts and back. (This will also affect the width of the sleeve)

To increase/decrease the chest measurement, increase/decrease the number of ridges on the fronts and back.

Note that the above mentioned changes will also increase/decrease the neck edge measurement.

To lengthen/shorten the sleeves cast on more/fewer than the 47 sleeve stitches.

To lengthen/shorten the length of the sweater cast on more/fewer stitches and adjust the placement of the first blue marker.

I guess I'm now supposed to do that copyright notice thing as if anyone would even consider making this! LOL.....um....go ahead and use this pattern for your personal use, please link back to this page instead of copying it someplace else. And hey if you want to make this for charitable work no problem, just please don't turn a personal profit on my stuff. Good Karma and all that ya know.

Other modification will be coming…..a swingier design, and two variations of a higher neckline, colorwork etc.

For those of you who actually looked at the pix and read the pattern, you'll see that I goofed the buttons on the sweater. I have 4 buttons on the sweater and have 5 buttons in the pattern...do as I say, not as I do! :o)

12 comments:

  1. I love how this sweater looks!!! Totaly what I would love to wear. I'just skimmed your pattern. Looks like E.Z. style instructions. :o) Can't wait to see the other versions!

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  2. Awesome pattern!! We need to include this in the Ravelry database. :)
    Bunny hugs,
    =:8

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  3. Aww yes, I've had a long "dance" lately. 20 days to be exact. Today would be 21 but I woke up feeling great,and I decided it had ended. Alas, it crept back,21 days it is, but with a slight break... phew...always glad to find some mindless knit patterns for these occasions :-) and by the way...I'm amazed by what you can do with the recreating of coats!!! I ought to bring you into my closet!

    scubaknit

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  4. Hi, delurking here for two reasons, first-great pattern! thank's, it's gonna be next on my to-do list. Secondly, have you tried a drug called Zomig (I'm in Ireland so it may have a different name in the U.S) for migraines? My guy used to get them really bad-in bed for days on end, until his doctor prescribed this drug for him. Turn around time from agony to completely gone is 15minutes, no kidding! Only problem is that they may not suit the type of migraine you get, though they work on a very high number of patients, 80 to 90% I think. Also, they're VERY expensive if you don't have state or private health insurance. If you haven't tried them do please ask your G.P. about them as they have literally changed my partners life. Hope this is of some use to you :)
    Oh and I do not work for am in any way involved with the company who makes these drugs, I just wanted to pass on this piece of info. to you ;)Christina

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  5. wow, this is stunning...I love the lines of this sweater...am wonderingif it would work in stockinette? I'm not crazy about garter stitch but with the right yarn I might be convinced...might have to do some swatches!

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  6. I am completely convinced that all migranes are caused by hormone fluctuations. Two of my four children have had migrane problems both during their teens. I would have your hormones checked ASAP. Migranes are intensly painful. Remedies are usually weak and slow. Hope you're feeling better!

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  7. Well Tracy, I love it! I've been looking for a sweater with these lines (esp. in the back) as a top-down round-yoke pullover...but this one will do!! Of course, even with a migraine, you're a much faster knitter than I am but I think I'll give it a try asap. (Now all I have to do is figure out how you made it...you know old spatially-challenged me!) Thanks much!

    Susan

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  8. Thanks for sharing this pattern. The proportions are entirely civilized, and the collar shaping really lovely. I look forward to making this one soon.

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  9. What a Beautiful Sweater! Thank you for the pattern. I'm a beginner but this might be my intro to making a Cardigan!

    --Bridget

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  10. I really like this, have been desperately trying to find cardigans not worked in the round :) My one error I noticed was where you add the 30 odd stitches back on...you said knit turn and knit 8 stitches, i think you mean 6???

    Also..can I assume that if I just knit what youve written the ridges will form?? I am a bit of a novice!!!
    thanks

    Jazz
    x

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  11. Tracy, I had migraines that lasted 2-3 days once or twice a week. So I know what they are like. Friend had 20+ a month. I asked her to describe one of her headaches. What she was describing was not a migraine. It was this thing called trigeminal neuralgia, a rare neurological disorder wherein the pain can easily last 21 days or 6 months. I've had it since I was 38 (a long time ago). It's treated with anticonvulsants, some of which are really cheap. Ask your doc if this could be causing your pain. It's a total non-threatening problem once you get it treated.
    Best,
    Pat

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  12. Tracy, Have you come up with directions for this fantastic sweater with a higher neckline?? I sure would love it for me with higher neckline... Please let me know.
    Cate

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