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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

The Bulky Sweater Pattern

Child's V-Neck, Raglan Sweater
Bulky Machine - Beginner Level
By Diana Sullivan


This sweater is designed to go with beginning knitting videos on YouTube:
Sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12
Yarn: I Love This Yarn, 355 yards, 7 ounces (100 gms) - solid colors
Quantity Required: 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4 balls
Also available in stripes, 5 oz, 251 yards
Quantity Required: 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5
Make sure all yarn is same dye lot; buy more than you think you need
Machine: Bulky gauge (9 mm) flat bed knitting machine, no ribber required
Tension 4 or tension to get gauge
Mock ribbing is tension 2 (or 2 tensions tighter than garment)

BACK:
Remember, mock rib is 2 tensions tighter
Cast on for a 2 by 1 mock ribbing over 50, 54, 58, 60, 70, 74 needles.
Hem is 7, 7, 10, 10, 11, 11 rows deep (you must knit double that length,
then put up hem) See videos
Change to garment tension
Set row counter to 000
Knit 54, 62, 66, 72, 80, 84 rows
Raglan Shaping:
Bind off 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5 stitches at the beginning each of the next two rows.
Double decrease (2 sts each side) on raglan edges
every 4 rows 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10 times
See video for double decrease technique
Stitches remaining - 20, 20, 20, 20, 24, 24
Row Counter: 80, 92, 100, 100, 118, 126
Remove knitting on contrasting waste yarn.

FRONT:
Knit exactly as back to armholes.
Divide for Neck:
Bind off 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5 stitches at armhole.
Take off all knitting on waste yarn.
Carriage on armhole side
Rehang half of stitches.
Knit, decreasing at armhole edge 2 stitches every 4 rows,
and at the same time, 1 stitch at neck edge
every 4 rows, then when only a few sts remain, dec to 1 & knit through
(see video)
Decrease to 1 stitch, if not at 1 stitch, k1 row and pull end through.

SLEEVES (left and right alike)
Remember, mock rib is 2 tensions tighter
Cast on for a 2 by 1 mock ribbing over 30, 32, 34, 34, 38, 40 needles.
Hem is 7, 7, 10, 10, 11, 11 rows deep (you must knit double that length,
Change to garment tension
Set row counter to 000
Sleeve increases:
Size 2, increase every 19 rows on each side, 3 times (36 stitches)
Size 4, increase every 17 rows on each side, 4 times (40 stitches)
Size 6, increase every 20 rows on each side, 4 times (42 stitches)
Size 8, increase every 17 rows on each side, 5 times (44 stitches)
Size 10, increase every 14 rows on each side, 7 times (52 stitches)
Size 12, increase every 14 rows on each side, 7 times (90 stitches)
RC 57, 68, 80, 85, 98, 98
Knit without increasing or decreasing to row 58, 74, 84, 92, 104, 106

Raglan Shaping:
Bind off 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5 stitches at the beginning each of the next two rows.
Double decrease (2 sts each side) on raglan edges
until only a few (less than 4) remain

Before Neckband:
Mattress stitch front raglan seams (fronts to sleeves)
Mattress stitch one back raglan seam (leave other one open)

Do neckband:
Set up mock ribbing over 22, 26, 30, 30, 34, 36 needles and cast on with waste yarn
Knit a few rows waste yarn
1 row ravel cord, 1 row garment yarn very loose (6, 7 tensions higher)
Knit 14, 14, 20, 20, 22, 22 rows in the 2x1 mock ribbing (see video)
Knit a few rows waste yarn
Take off machine
Do the same thing again, only over 42, 46, 50, 50, 58, 60 needles
Hang the short neck edge, right side facing, over 22, 26, 30, 30, 34, 36 ndls. Push stitches behind latches.
Wrong side facing, ravel cord side up with looser row of garment yarn
hang shorter mock ribbing over the same needles (you have to skip every
third needle), keeping stitches on hooks
Pull stitches in hooks through stitches behind
Pick up mock ribbing hem
Bind off
Hang the longer neck edge over 42, 46, 50, 50, 58, 60 needles, picking up the back stitches from
waste yarn
Proceed as above, but just before picking up second edge of mock ribbing,
put any empty back neck stitches on needles.
Sew final seam
Sew down neckband (see video)

14 comments:

  1. Hi, Diana. What is the gauge on the bulky sweater?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It says tension 4 in the first paragraph

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    2. knit a swatch of 20 stitches by 30 rows. 20 stitches should measure 4-5/8" (4.3 sts/inch) and 30 rows should measure 4-1/2" (6.7 sts/inch)

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  2. Hi Diana,
    What is your gauge on this sweater.
    Thanks, Violet

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  3. Hi Diana!
    I am a newbie knitter. I have made several pairs of your wonderful slippers (everyone I know now has a pair!) I am ready to try something different like this sweater. How do I turn it into a small adult pattern? Your videos are the best! Thank you!!! - Terri

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  4. Well, you would have to measure the person and get the desired length and width. The armhole decrease ratios will still work.

    I have threatened to make a huge book of fast raglans with more sizes and gauge. So many ideas, though, and so little time!

    A really easy way to make adult sweaters is with a Knitleader and a sewing pattern. Just buy a pattern "sized for knits" and trace it on the Knitleader following the seam lines, leaving off the seam allowance. Then follow the manual to knit to that size.

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  5. Thanks Diana! I have the knitleader that came with my bulky machine but haven't been able to find a good video that explains how to use it. I have the general concept of how it works. Maybe I will just set it up, buy a simple pattern and forge ahead!!! Thanks for everything you have given to machine knitters!!

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  6. How do I do the double decrease called for in your child's V neck raglan sweater? Can't seem to find the video.

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  7. Go to the tail end of the beginner course (see the link at the left) for the videos showing how to do the child's raglan.

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  8. Diana, help please! What is the gauge for this pattern (child's bulky V-neck raglan)? I can't find it anywhere! Did you use the same gauge as is listed on the yarn label? This is my first project!--Darlene

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  9. Oh! I finally found where you wrote the gauge! In case anyone else wants to know, it is here:

    http://diananatters.blogspot.com/2009/08/beginner-knitting-project-video-2.html

    Darlene

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  11. Thank you this is just what I'm looking for to use up that mystery yarn in my stash...it is camouflage colours but knits in a fair isle pattern.

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  12. hi Diana hope you are well, im in England i have had the beginners book and video off you,about 18 months ago but i sold it with my machine.i have just took up machine knitting again. and i am after a 3 month old jacket/cardigan pattern or video for my LK100 /zippy 90 can you advise. still a beginner.

    ReplyDelete