We are getting excited about the start of our next knitalong, the gorgeous Brigid Jacket, found in the Vintage Modern Knits book. It is a modern twist on a traditional aran sweater – featuring two gorgeous cable panels on its front.
We are starting this week with yarn selection and swatching. Knitted at sixteen stitches over four inches, it is a quick knit that you can have in time for St. Patrick’s Day! You need to know how to knit, purl, increase and decrease for this project. We will help with reading the chart and working cables.
A bit about fit and choosing a size:
The sweater is intended to be worn with some positive ease. The size options are: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52).” I am 34″ around the chest so will be knitting the 36″ size. The sweater is also cropped, so if you intend to make it a tad longer, be sure to purchase extra yarn. The schematic will help you to determine if this is necessary. You can hold a tape measure to the top of your shoulder and get a good idea of how long the finished sweater will be if made exactly as the pattern indicates. We are happy to help with measuring! Here are the yarn requirements: 784 (882, 980, 1176, 1274) yards of worsted or aran weight yarn.
Come by the shop and let us help you choose yarn. I went ahead and chose a few for myself…now which one to pick?
Some yarn options
The original jacket is knitted in Terra, which if you are not familiar with you must come see it for yourself! The colors are lustrous in this single-ply Merino/Baby Alpaca/Silk blend. (sweater cost: $144-$234) Or try Silky Wool XL, an 80% wool, 20% silk blend in a saturated color range. The silk content adds unique contrast to the wool, and it will catch the cables beautifully. (sweater cost: $80-$120)
For an animal-free and eco-friendly option, we have Berroco Remix. This special yarn is 100% recycled fabric! Just arrived are new cheerful, spring colors. (sweater cost: $44-$66) We have solids in lovely bright colors from Spud & Chloe Sweater, a soft organic cotton and wool blend. (sweater cost: $78-$124)
Looking for something 100% wool? Brooklyn Tweed Shelter would knit up nicely at a looser gauge, and we have the full color range! (sweater cost: $75-$112) For those who want a more dense jacket, Eco Wool is an excellent option. This yarn comes in several color ranges, from undyed to heathers to rich hues. (sweater cost: $33.50-$50)
Once you have your yarn picked out, be sure to swatch! We will then meet up on Thursday, February 24th during our Stitch in Space to get started on the sweater. If you are knitting from afar, no worries! I will post lots of guidance right here on the blog.