brainstorming for ideas

[bulieb]

Hello advanced knitters! I have a mess of black Elann worsted weight alpaca that I want to knit up into a short-sleeved jacket -- and I have a list of some concrete details I like, but I'm hunting for some examples of garments to inspire me. So I bring you guys some of my ideas and wonder if someone has noticed something similar. Possible

Comments

[craftygryphon]

Are you on Ravelry yet? If so, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search?query=short+sleeve+jacket#r=&query=short sleeve jacket free brings up quite a bit.

If you don't, the best free ones are:
Drops Design Short sleeve jacket, and this other one by Drops Design, based on your criteria.

[bulieb]

I am on Ravelry but I confess I haven't yet taken full advantage of the pattern search features. Thanks for reminding me!

The Drops patterns are quite good. And free to boot! Thank you for the links.

[lynedd]

What ever you decide, remember that alpaca is a very soft yarn, and has a tendancy to "migrate south" at an alarming rate - make judicious use of seams to stabalize your garment to prevent the hem winding up at your knees by the end of the day ">

Happy designing!

[bulieb]

Ah yes -- a good reminder. In fact, I have two alpaca sweaters I need to pass along to tall friends for that very reason. Truth be told, I don't knit much alpaca for that very reason -- but I bought this a long time ago when I was a much newer knitter.

[sjeknits]

yep, cables will help to stabilize this a little, but you may want to avoid seams and knit the body in one piece without seams. That way, stretch will be uniform across the back and both fronts. Otherwise you can end up with seams shorter than the rest of the body of the sweater, and a sort of "scalloped " effect. Knit -on edges in garter stitch may stretch more consistently than ribbed or applied or stitched on edges.

[laurenpburka]

I recommend looking at a copy of 'The Knitters Handy Book of Sweater Patterns," which you might be able to get out of the library. I enjoy using it rather than a specific pattern, because it gives you general ideas and how many stitches to cast on, but doesn't dictate the exact design. Once you work out the general shape of the garment and write down some notes and figures, you can gleefully toss in cables and other patterns.

Also, remember that black might mute patterns, so instead of going with subtle cables, go with nice chunky ones. Matter of taste, of course.