January's Sweaters: Slanted Gretel Tee, Goodale, Sibella, and Moira

One of my goals for 2014 was to finish up some old sweater wips. The first up was the Slanted Gretel Tee by Petra Manis, knit in Madelinetosh alpaca sport (50% merino, 50% alpaca) in the color Logwood:

©spdolha

I had almost finished the Slanted Gretel Tee in September 2012, but found the top raglan wasn't fitting me properly. So, I ripped the top part back to above the bust and figured out my own sizing/decreases to make it fit better. I had alternated skeins on the original sweater as well as on the re-knit part; unfortunately, there is a noticeable difference from where I re-started. Knowing myself, I will likely try to fix that at some point... 

The second sweater I modified was Goodale by Cecily Glowik MacDonald. It is knit in Madelinetosh 80/10/10 sport in the Dr Zhivago's Sky colorway and has a turned-back i-cord edge that creates little pockets: 

©spdolha

I originally knit Goodale in March 2012 but it was too short for my liking (seemed to finish halfway up my back whereas I wanted it to at least hit my waistband). So I undid the ribbing and pockets and added a few inches. Being almost 5'8" and long-waisted, I tend to modify the length on most of my garments. 

I then decided to knit a new sweater that had been in my Ravelry queue since spring 2012: Sibella, by Carrie Bostick Hoge. I knit this bottom-up pullover with its patterned yoke (frost flowers) in a dk merino/silk blend, Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool:

©spdolha

I loved the yarn and the knitting, but again I was getting a sweater that was too short. The pattern was written to have 13" in length from underarm, so I added 2". However, after washing and wearing it once, I realized I wanted it an inch or two longer. Because it was knit bottom up, I actually cut the sweater above the ribbing (unweaved the row and placed the top row of stitches on a circular needle), and then I knit a few inches more and the ribbing again. It is not really a very hard process, but this is coming from the perspective of a fairly experienced knitter. When I'm able to find the source that taught me this method, I will add it. 

Another new sweater in January was Moira by Anna Wilkinson. Published in the Pom Pom Quarterly (Issue 3, Winter 2012), a UK magazine. I knit it in Cascade 128 in the Summer Sky Heather color:

©spdolha

This sweater knit up quickly and the cables were very enjoyable to do. I have since gone back and tightened up the neck.