From the Mailbox

A Thursday feature, questions from you knitters, answered for the benefit of all.  I encourage you to add your thoughts in the comments below.

One of the things I loved about the Whisper Cardigan was the flared sleeves. I can't seem to get a hold of the Spring Interweave magazine to get the pattern for the Whisper pattern - I can't find the magazine in any store!

I plan on purchasing the Wispy Cardi cardigan later on today when I get home, would it possible to get the part of the pattern for just the flared sleeves to replace the ribbed sleeve? - Irene

A few knitters have asked how to alter the Wispy Cardi pattern to have a flared sleeve like Whisper.

First, determine which size cardi you want to make, and how much of a flare you want.

As a rule, for each extra inch of fabric, you need to cast on 6 extra stitches.  Whisper added about 2" of extra fabric at the cuff, or 14 additional cast on sts.  Of course, Whisper didn't have the range of sizing that Wispy has, so if you are making a child's size you will want to add less and for a larger adult size you will want to add more.

Cast on at the right sleeve as the pattern directs, adding in your additional cast on sts.

You may work the rib at the cuff as directed, or you can omit it (Whisper did not have ribbing at the cuff)

This is the flared sleeve decrease row:

(RS) K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1.

Figure out how often you need to work this row to get back to the original sleeve count, working the last decrease round between 1 - 2" before you have reached the desired sleeve length.

Work across the back of the shrug, then reverse the shaping from the right sleeve for the left sleeve, working this increase row:

(RS) K1, M1L, K to last st, M1R, k1

From the Mailbox

A Thursday feature, questions from you knitters, answered for the benefit of all.  I encourage you to add your thoughts in the comments below. Rather than featuring a question, I want to feature a few nice notes I've received this week.

A few days ago I released the revised versions of Featherweight and Lightweight, and thanks to an awesome service provided by Ravelry, I was able to contact each knitter who had purchased one of the patterns in the past individually to let them know.

The appreciative responses have been overwhelming!  Here are a few fun ones:

Thanks for the update. I have loved this sweater. Made one for myself. When my 26-year-old daughter saw it, she had to have one as well. So I made another one for her. She loves it and wears it all the time!! Thanks for a great pattern! - bikeknitter

Hi Hannah, I purchased your featherweight cardigan pdf pattern a few weeks ago and I just wanted to say thank you so much, I love it. I have knitted a few garments over the last year, but have never felt confident to actually wear them out!  I wore the featherweight today. I didn’t feel self conscious at all, AND I actually had compliments about it.  Thank you so very much. - Kim

Also fun to hear is that many of you plan to make a second Featherweight.  You're obsessed, people!

Thanks for all the love.

From the Mailbox

A Thursday feature, questions from you knitters, answered for the benefit of all.  I encourage you add your thoughts in the comments below. (regarding featherweight cardigan)

Hello Hannah

I am knitting this great sweater of yours.

I did need to rip some out as I tried it on as it seems too tight under the arm. I plan to cast on more stitches then 2 under the arm, any suggestions on the following:

how many to cast on under the arm?

how do I then get the arms to be back at your pattern after I pick up the stitches for arms

should I also add a couple of more row of the raglan but then the body will be bigger or can I add more in the raglan in the front but not the back?

Many knitters have asked similar questions.

I am revising Featherweight Cardigan, Lightweight Pullover and Yoked Cardigan, all worked from the top down.  Included in the revisions will be more stitches cast on at the underarm after dividing the sleeves from the body.

For Featherweight and Lightweight I recommend 6 stitches cast on at the underarm.

For all adult sizes of the Yoked Cardigan I recommend 5 stitches cast on at the underarm, or one more repeat of K1, P4.  Due to the stretchy nature of the fabric worked in the Yoked Cardigan pattern, children's sizes can remain with no sts added at the underarm.

When you go back to work the sleeves after finishing the body, you will pick up these 5 or 6 sts and work them along with the held sleeve stitches.

This change should solve any issues knitters may be having with tightness under the arm.

As far as raglan increases, the beauty of the top down sweater is that you can try it on as you go and work more or less increases if you feel like you need a better fit in the yoke.

Long live top down sweaters!

Has any one else made adjustments that they want to share with the community?

(The revised patterns mentioned above are coming soon.  If you have purchased the PDF in the past, you will be receiving an e-mail from Ravelry that will let you download the revised edition.  All future wholesale and print patterns you purchase from knitbot will be the revised editions.)