A Sweater Throwback

Since 2020 just started I don't have any new projects completed at this moment. So, I thought that I would do a throwback post. Back to a project that I worked on before I had a blog.

Back in 2018 I stumbled across Loin Brand Yarn's "Mr. Roger's Neighborly Cardigan" knitting pattern. I passingly showed the patterned to my husband. Who responded more enthusiastically than I expected. He loved the look of this sweater and told me what color he wanted it in for himself.

Now I was stuck. I had liked the look of the sweater and the idea of it, but it was a bit out of my comfort zone. I have made other sweaters, so that wasn't the problem. The problem for me was the construction of the sweater. This one is knitted flat in six different sections that are then pieced together in the end. I tend to knit sweaters that are knit in the round in one piece. I find them easier to adjust when working and I have a better idea of the finished project. Also once taken off the needles the project is usually finished.

In the past, the sewing up at the end had been a struggle to me. One of the fist sweaters I ever made ended up as an unwearable disaster. I now wish that I had a picture of it just so you can see how ridiculous it looked. But, at that time I would not have been caught dead actually wearing it. It was simultaneously too short and too wide. The sleeves were also too wide and gave me wings. It was just not a good look. I think I tried it on once and then never ever again.

Not only was this new sweater pattern knitted flat and sewed up later, but is also had a zipper. I didn't even know how to even begin with that part of the project. But, I am almost always up for a challenge and if Mr. Roger's mother could make the ones that he wore on the show then I guess I could attempt to make one for my husband.

Not long ago the New York Post had an article about the sweaters that were made for the recent Mr. Roger's movie "Tom Hanks' sweaters for Mister Rogers movie took 9 weeks to knit" by Raquel Laneri. The producers for the movie wanted to be authentic to the sweaters in the original show and insisted that some of them had to be hand knitted. It was important to them that these sweaters be a bit imperfect to reflect the originals that were made by his mother. Like my mom says mistakes are how you know that it was handmade. I couldn't imagine making six sweaters in nine weeks. I think it took longer than that for me to just finish this one.

One of my favorite parts of this project is the collar. While I was knitting it I didn't understand how exactly it would attach to the body of the sweater. Once it was attached I loved the finished look that it gives. It pulls the whole sweater together and makes it look so polished. 

All in all I love the finished look of this sweater and although there might be a few imperfections that just makes it a one of a kind sweater. The end result was easier to put together than I thought. That zipper was more intimidating in my head than in actual completion. I find that more often than not this is the case. More than half of the battle is just overcoming my doubt.     

           

This Tie Had Me in Knots

A few months ago I was looking for a knitted tie pattern. I found a few ties that were being sold, but not a pattern. After a while of going down the internet rabbit hole of knitting websites and blogs I finally found a pattern, but I didn't love it. There was nothing wrong with it, but it wasn't the image that I had in my head.

However, I went ahead and started on this pattern. I assumed that it would grow on me and maybe it would look better in person than it did online. But, I was wrong. I still didn't like it. This tie pattern was a rectangle and did not look enough like a tie to me. Personally I think that ties should always come to that point at the bottom. Without that point can I even call it a tie? It looks more like a very narrow scarf. As a hand knitted scarf it would have the tendency to look more like a scarf, so I wanted to move away from that.

Snake Tie

I decided at this point that I would use this pattern, but I would make it my own and start it as a point. This was an utter disaster. In the end it looked like neither a tie or a narrow scarf. It most closely resembled a snake or an extremely narrow tube sock. It just ended up being a funny looking puffed up tube that had a pointed end. My husband had pointed out while I was knitting that it needed to be flatter, but I had stubbornly pressed on. 

Back to the drawing board for me and my tie idea. My husband was right I needed a flatter design. But, how to accomplish this was the problem. I didn't want to do it in straight stockinette because then the edges would roll and that would be just as bad as the snake tube.

I wanted the tie to not only look good, but to also be recognizable. I don't often wear ties, so obviously this would be a gift for someone else. There is nothing worse than to gift a handmade item and to have the receiver be confused about what it is or how to use it.

I started brainstorming some ideas, but nothing was working out the way that I was planning. It was then that I took a step back and decided to take a break. Sometimes ideas come to me the quickest when I am not thinking about them.

This is exactly what happened this time. It was during this break that an idea hit me and all the pieces seemed to fall into place. I had made some pot holders a few years ago using a technique called Double Knitting. Basically with this technique you knit both sides the project at the same time. Often with two contrasting colors. In the end both sides are stockinette, but the item lays flat.

As soon as I thought of this technique I realized that I could adapt it to be pointed at the start and widen out to whatever width I wanted (I made my first one a little too wide and have corrected this in the pattern). After several attempts I finally got the look that I was desiring.

One of the best part of using Double Knitting is that I was able to easily add color. All the color changes are done in the middle, so they will never see the light of day. This is how the Reversible Men's Tie pattern was created. Look for this and other patterns on the pattern page of this blog. You can also find this pattern by following this link Reversible Men's Tie.

It works with variegated or striping yarn too.

In this pattern I have included the charts for making the same design. Adding a little bit of color to each side. However, I have also included written instructions without any color changes. This would produce a tie that is solid on either side, but has a border of both colors.

The main reason for including the written instructions is that I hope others adapt it and use what ever design they want. I want these instructions to be used as a blank canvas because that is how I view most patterns. They are a guide and not the law. I like to make my own changes and adapt them whenever I feel like it.

I am excited to finally put this pattern out there for others to see. Let me know if you have any questions or comments. If you try it put a picture in the comments or post to my Facebook page  Joy with Yarn.

Also if you do try this please check your gauge. Don't be like me and end up with a tie that is too thick and unwearable. The knot on one of the ties that I made is just ridiculously large.

Now I'm off to knit some more. I'm thinking that in the future I'll make a tie and sock set. Maybe I'll even see about adding some texture. We shall see. My list of project ideas and things I should make keeps getting longer and longer.