While knitting the body and sleeves of Jerry’s striped sweater, I pondered how I would finish the top. I love going seamless, because you can pretty much leave those big decisions ’til the end. After much thought I ended up going with a Seamless Saddle Shoulder Shirt Yoke Sweater.
The shirt yoke refers to this horizontal patch of knitting across the back of the neck.
Yesterday morning I cut the tiny v-neck steek and opened up the sweater, which finally allowed me to see if everything “worked.”
Phew. Having never knit this style of seamless sweater, and adjusting EZ’s pithy directions for an adult size sweater down to a kiddo sized sweater, I wasn’t really sure if my calculations would be right. But after looking at my own math and sketches a million times over, I ended up going with my gut and hoping for the best. It’s really hard to be light and breezy about it when there’s a steek involved.
But it all worked! Yay! The neck opening was really large before adding the ribbing.
So last night I sat down and finished the neck. I had left two stitches at the bottom of the v live, and made sure to pick up stitches evenly around those two. After working the stitches in pattern for one round, I decreased on both sides of the center on every round (including the bind-off round).
(looks funny without a shirt underneath – and with unwoven ends flying about)
Then, instead of waking Jerry up at 10 pm (I really, really wanted to know if it fit!), I waited until this morning to try it on him. It fits!
I know he likes it, too (he has repeatedly and enthusiastically told me throughout the knitting of this one, “I love the design!”), but he probably won’t wear it much, being the warm natured creature that he is. That’s okay with me, I told him, as long as I get good modeled shots after it is all the way done and blocked. I can sense that he is really pleased that I’m making something just for him, even if we both know he won’t wear it.
Jerry is at Ju-jitsu camp today (hence the yellow belt). We’re missing him. But I will be busy with my darning needle.
And that’s just the sleeves!
Nice sweater. He looks good in it!
Wow… that’s all I have to say. I am reminded how there is so much I have yet to learn with knitting when I see things like this!
shirt yoke = *very* nifty – and your wee boy looks great in it.
That is definitely a labor of love – knitting a sweater you both know he won’t wear!!!
)
love your new site!
I always trust nothing but my calculations and my gauge – can’t remember I’ve ever followed instructions (mostly because here in Croatia can’t be bought recommended yarn) – except maybe fro baby booties!
And totaly understand urge to wake your kid up just to try it on – I used to sneak into my daughters’ room and try hats on while they were sleeping!
Sweater turned out great!