Believe it or not, I finished a project – the very unimaginatively named “Quick Work in Thick Wool“, short-sleeved jumper.
I’ve been working on this one for about six months. I promised myself I wouldn’t cast on any new projects until I finished at least two UFOs and I actually did it! It’s amazing how quickly you can power through a pattern when you focus.
Quick Work in Thick Wool is a vintage pattern that was originally published in Stitchcraft, August 1936. I used the reprinted version of the pattern from the second Stitch in Time book.
I used Rowan Hemp Tweed in the colour Cameo. It’s a light-ish 10ply yarn made from 75% wool and 25% hemp. It’s a fairly loosely twisted yarn, and I did pull out quite a few weird, straw-like fibres as I worked. The yarn is soft enough to wear next to my skin and it’s got a nice drapey feel.
I chose the colour Cameo almost on a whim. I tend to choose blue or green for tops,, but I really didn’t want to make yet another blue jumper (although the pale blue “Duck Egg” colour is lovely). The colour turned out to be a good choice and I think it suits me.
The original pattern used large, square buttons and I intended to make my own Quick Work in Thick Wool the same, although I had some alternative options lined up.
I bought all of these buttons at the Sheep Show in Bendigo last year. Because I made some changes to the neckline, the square buttons didn’t look right. I ended up using the woven leather-look buttons instead. They just seemed to work better than the others.
I made two changes to the pattern – one planned and one unplanned.
The pattern is made in four pieces – front, back and two sleeves – but they are all put on stitch holders while the raglan seams are joined. Then, all the pieces are joined by knitting the neckline in the round.
The individual pieces don’t have any selvage so the first change I made was to add a selvage stitch to each end of all the pieces. This made seaming a lot easier.
The second change I made was out of necessity rather than planning. After casting off the neckline I discovered it was huge! It sat off my shoulders which just wasn’t going to work for me.
To fix the neckline I but it back on the needles and knit another six rounds of garter stitch with decreases on every second round. I also changed down a needle size.
The result is a well-fitting neckline – although it changes the style of the finished garment the position of the buttons I think it works.
Overall I’m happy with this top and I give it an eight out of ten. Points are lost because it turned out too big, so it kind of “pools” at the bottom.
I”m happy to wear this top but I won’t make it again. Ribs radiating out from the neckline are a better look on the flat chested or slight framed knitter – I think on me it’s just a bit too matronly to be really stylish.
