The Spin-Off 25th Anniversary Sweater

Pattern Source: Spin-Off Magazine  Fall 2001
Designer: Sarah Swett
Yarn: 2 ply handspun (by me)
Fiber: 100% merino top (colored fiber) & 70% merino/ 30% tencel top (uncolored fiber), both distributed by Ashland Bay Trading Company and available on the web from Woodland Woolworks in Oregon.
Finished Size: 44" bust/chest

Project Notes:
Believe it or not, this is my first handspun project.

Summer 2003 I started getting interested in spinning after receiving a fleece and started spindle spinning. When I was asked by a family member to fill out a Christmas wish list, I listed this fiber kit and received it that Christmas. I thought that I would spin all the fiber using a spindle but quickly figured out that I might also enjoy spinning on a wheel and that the project might go a bit quicker if spun on a wheel.

Spring 2004 I took a beginning spinning (with a wheel) class at The Weaving Works and shortly after purchased a Schacht spinning wheel. I then spent the next year practicing spinning with merino fiber and taking several more classes at several venues.

Once I got enough confidence in my skills to produce a fairly even yarn, I started working on spinning all the fiber from the kit. Spinning the pure merino top was not too difficult although the first few skeins were a bit inconsistent (the dark blue and horizon blue skeins were a bit thicker than the others). The blended top proved to be much more difficult to handle due to the smooth texture of the tencel. Although, once I got it mastered, I really enjoyed spinning it and appreciate the luster added to the top by  tencel fiber.

This past summer I took several spinning classes from Rita Buchanan that helped me master the ability to match yarn thickness and was able to use her "loop" technique when spinning some of the blended top.

Knitting of the sweater began Spring 2005 with a couple of trips back to the spinning wheel to replace fiber that turned out to be too thick. From this experience, I learned that it's very important to knit swatches before spinning all the fiber. While your yarn might look good, only a knitted swatch will really tell whether it's acceptable for the project.

Knitting Adjustments:

The body of the sweater has been shortened a bit to avoid having the bottom stop at the widest part of the hips.

The sleeves are one inch shorter than specified in the instructions. I followed the instructions for knitting the sleeves until the honey colored part was 14 inches long and 74 stitches were left on the needle (also half of a cable pattern was completed). On the last row of the honey colored yarn, I decreased one stitch in the middle of each cable so that there were 72 stitches on the needle. I then started knitting the cuff following the instructions for the medium (51" chest) sweater.

I also found one error in the pattern. Under Neck band section it says, "Rnd 5: K with plum, decreasing 16 sts evenly around ..." but it should say, "Rnd 5: K with plum, decreasing 12 sts evenly around ..."

Project Archive: Spin-Off Sweater (blog entries)

Comments

[Samina]

Amazing. The sweater looks exquisite. You should wear it often & proudly. I bow at your feet. Hell, you might want to print up a label & slap it on the sweater so everyone else around you knows. I'd consider it...

[Kristin]

What a stunning sweater! I love that it was designed by Sarah Swett. I just had a class with her at this year's SOAR and found her to be a fascinating person. I'll have to look for that issue of Spin Off.