How I came to buy my first pattern
The Stockholm sweater is the first knitting pattern I've ever purchased in my entire life! I used to rely on free patterns from Garnstudio for a while, or very rarely, I would buy a magazine from Phildar. But I must admit that I've always been a bit disappointed with these two brands, especially because I found that the sizing adjustments rarely suited my body shape. I always ended up with knits that were too tight, or I had to knit models in sizes that were psychologically unacceptable to me!
I tried PetiteKnit's Stockholm pattern after purchasing and loving the Sunday Cardigan, and it won me over just as much. After making two of them in different materials, I felt like giving it a twist by trying to apply a motif. Indeed, in my sustainable consumption approach, I'm not too keen on accumulating pattern purchases. We tend to make them once and then forget about them at the bottom of a drawer or a computer folder. With some basic knowledge, you can simply adjust construction or material details to achieve very different results from patterns you already own.
A good way to use your leftover yarn
When you start a project, you always hope you've purchased the right amount of yarn needed to complete it to avoid shortages or excess skeins. It must be said that it's never easy to find a use for the overstock.
Previously, I tended to buy too much and ended up with quite a few leftover skeins. The fortunate thing is that I was able to use them for this project, which required little yardage per color (4 skeins of burgundy and brown, and two of beige). I made it in mohair by doubling the yarn for a fluffy appearance.
Apply a motif on an existing pattern
Before starting my project, I already had a visual of the final result in my mind, which helped me choose the base pattern suitable for applying the motif (a raglan model, for example, wouldn't have worked).
Applying the motif to the pattern then went relatively smoothly since the model is knitted from top to bottom. I began the color change at approximately 10 cm from the top, which is about 30 rows, making sure to note the exact number of rows to ensure the change occurred at the same point on the front and back. With each row, I changed the color on an additional stitch on each side to ensure the motif aligned correctly in the middle. I applied the same principle to the sleeves, making sure to use the same color as on the body when picking up stitches. My beige stripe is 20 rows tall on the body and 18 on the sleeves due to short rows (this difference is invisible).
The final result is very convincing, and applying a motif truly gives a more modern look to this classic model.
My takeaways from this experience :
- It's really easy to customize a basic pattern by adding a motif of your choice. It makes me want to go further by working on more complex patterns, for example.
- Making jacquard sweaters is a great way to use up surplus yarn stocks, provided the materials are compatible and the colors harmonize with each other.
- Repeating the same pattern several times really increases efficiency and the quality of the final product because you already know it and can overcome any pitfalls!.
What you'll need :
Knitting pattern : Stockholm Sweater, PetiteKnit
https://www.petiteknit.com/en/products/stockholm-sweater-2
Yarn : KidSilk, color Burgundy 36, Light beige 20 et Dark brown 15, Drops
https://www.garnstudio.com/yarn.php?show=drops-kid-silk&cid=8
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