last year's Sweater Wizard basic plan, OR
you can just draw it out on paper if you
KNOW YOUR GAUGE
Let's see, 38"@4.5sts/in - I will need about 172sts (+4 for seams =176),
that's 88 each back and front (may have to be adjusted for rib pattern). 
If I want it to taper I'll have to start out with fewer and do a couple increases
along each side on the way to the armhole.    To decide how big a bind-off
for the armhole I measure one that fits well, bind off the umber of inches
(because I know my gauge) then decrease every other row X-times for the
curve.  Work straight up to the shoulder - it's a boat neck - no shaping! 
Trim neck & armholes.  That's the idea, but you have to have the numbers: 
your stitches per inch and inches of garment to fit YOU.
O - just one more tank top for this summer, please?

Had to see how this new
fantasy naturale color worked up.
 

Knitted at 4sts/in for lighter weight,
Sweater Wizard-ed the pattern,
40" finished, 21.5" long, back and
front the same, jewel neckline and
skinny shoulders (3.5" across including trim)

Took a little time to choose and plot out
the fish scale pattern for hem (only one
repeat in the shoulder), with garter trim
everywhere else.  Easy, fast, no sleeves.
Took 4 hanks - that's $21!  Works for me.
now we have THREE Baby Surprise models!
3 different yarn weights, 3 different sizes,
same pattern and number of stitches -
- fascinating   ...   and conveniet!

upper left:   sport weight 150gm, chest = ~17.5",
(note:  pictured in a discontinued sport sock color)

upper right:   worsted weight, chest = ~18",
made in Poems, 3 balls, striping 100% wool.
other yarn possibilities - Mochi Plus, Boku
or  any solid worsted

lower:   heavy(-ier) worsted, chest = ~20",
made in Fantasy Naturale (3 hanks) all cotton.
other yarn possibilities Raggi Print or solid,
Lanaloft, Lanaloft Handpaint, Lamb's Pride
Worsted (try the variegateds), and Peruvia (solid).

as always, size depends on how YOU knit and with what!
what next?
top-downs are so much fun because after you find your yarn, do your gauge,
and find the pattern that fits your gauge, you can start designing your not so
plain sweater (not to mention the not having to sew it together aspect).
for example, plan a different stitch pattern for the sleeves, add other yarns in the
body and remember to think about your neck trim or collar when you begin.
The base yarn in this top-down is Creative Focus Linen (50/50 linen & cotton 5sts/in), and from
the cast on row to joining into round at the bottom of neck opening only took 1 ball!
The sleeves were bound off 7 rounds after joining in round and so become capped sleeves for a perfect summer length. 
Once it was joined in the round I was glad to know it was going to fit and was free to start 
cookin' up stitch patterns and yarn combinations to make it really fun. 
This is  a very comfortable summer weight, and Creative Focus Linen is easy to work with (not as stiff as
100% linen, and not as heavy as 100% cotton), though it is best worked with slippery needles. 
We have CF Linen in 6 colors plus natural, and lots of other cotton/cotton blend and silk summer yarns for you to try.
 summer sweaters are great.  not so much yarn and lots of ideas!
okey-dokey,  got'er done. 
fits, fun, feels great  and nothing like the so-called plan.   3 HANKS CREATIVE FOCUS LINEN
50 yards each of Nova (tan) and Bamboo Silk (white), 10 yards of Sari (for ties), and 25 yards of the cream . 
Now that I can wear it without a long sleeved t-shirt, it's PERFECT for June!
on to the next top down capped-sleeve  already  -
Same Pure & Simple pattern as linen top above (#265 -midweight long sleeve neck down pullover, 5sts/in).   As long as you swatch the stockinette to the required 5sts/in you can plug in your charts and about halfway through the first chart repeats, you can determine the number of stitches you'll need for the sweater body (stst gauge and panel gauges combined).  How to do the cap sleeve?  Stop increasing on sleeves at least 2 rounds before binding off sleeve stitches (instead of holding stitches for long sleeves). Got 'hold of Barbara Walker's Third Treasury and tried out a
few charts for fun.  Her book on order again if you don't already have one  .

KNIT in Brown Sheep COTTON FLEECE - 4 skeins, 42" finished
Cotton Fleece is ALWAYS available by ORDER.  There are 60
beautiful colors to choose from.  This way, you have the entire
palette from which to choose instead of the 10-12 colors we
could display in the store.
REMINDER -  you can use any yarn at any gauge to make a cap sleeve
top-down as long as you use the correct pattern for your gauge. 
Pure & Simple offers 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5 and 5.5sts/inch (adult) patterns, most
of which are long sleeved, but - who cares? - you're in charge.
Nancy Lindberg's new pattern for adults is here!!
5sts per inch, knitting worsted, 1150-1750 yards.
finished measurement choices:  38"-42"-46"-50"
one-piece body worked from front hem over shoulder to back hem, then
pick up stitches around armhole, knit sleeves down, sew side and sleeve seams. 
 
options for neckline:
collar or band (pictured) -
optional neck closures
I-cord tie,
button and loop, or clasp
 

I know the pics look like amateur night
at the photoshop, but I was surprised to
find how difficult it was to avoid a moire
pattern on knitted fabric with a digital camera.
So, best option -
come see our wonderful model!
 
Berroco's spring 2010 WEEKEND
cotton/acrylic blend from book #296.
Versatile, lightweight 4-ply worsted,
205 yards per 100gms,
and book 296 is filled with v-neck,
crew neck all-around summer designs,
short sleeve, long sleeve, lace edged.

new from
Tahki 2010 ----->

This is the High Line Cardigan,
knitted in K1P1 rib for body
hugging and casually styled.

finished measurements in the
pattern are given for the
garment laid flat (sans wearer),
so it is best to see the model
and examine the stretch factor
before deciding on which size
you want to make.
Good Earth Cotton

naturally colored
100 organic
cotton tapes soft, smooth, lustrous,
and light weight
for 3.75sts #10 in stst

NEPAL PRINT is the newest additon to the solid NEPAL line.  A dreamy organic cotton
base yarn dyed to stripe.  Two bright colors pictured here, the third is a (very) rich earth tone.

the raglan cap sleeve combines Nepal solid and 2 balls of
Nepal Print.
MIA is a new thick and thin cotton
(and the model is too small for our mannequin)
like MAYA but in a smaller gauge 4sts/#9,
soft hand, lots of texture		  
  Nicky Epstein designed and donated the pattern for
this lovely and unusual chemo hat with one ball of
Berroco Comfort worsted.  Pick up a complimentary
pattern with a ball of Comfort and you may donate
your hat to Gilda's Club of Minneapolis at
depth of field yarn.

more spring knitting - mountain colors'
Silk 'n Ewe in a short sleeved diagonal
cardigan.		  Our shop model
directions are available in a
"KNIT THESE SHAPES" ,
do-it-yourself format so any size
can be made.
 
a simple boat neck tank top in
SPROUT, a 3.5st/#10 organic
cotton, dyed, about 375 yards.

 		 shop pattern is finshed 39" and can be adapted
to other sizes, using the 10+1 multiple border
pattern.
remember this lopi bulky pattern? 

knit with double stranded Lopi or Mauch chunky (right)
it's a fast knit at 2.5sts/#13.
 
after having made 3 others, I opted to put colorwork in
the gansey section this time.  a great basic pattern you
can play with to make it your own.
oceanside organic dk cotton, grown in colors - natural, sage, sand and darker sand.  beautiful hand, lovely to knit with.
this Tee was an experiment in fairisle.
I recommend less colorwork (maybe just
one band of cotton bolls - though it looks
fine, I lost the light weight advantage of the
dk weight by carrying 2 strands)
 

in creative focus mohair and eros glitz.  it's just plain (& simple) fun!		 back at it -
remade the cowboy mohair
sweater.
(thus named for the fringed collar)

basic pattern is Pure & Simple top down weekend cardigan.

 

     
Below is the PRESTO COLLAR, 2-50gm balls of warm that buttons around your neck,
and extends just to your shoulder line to give you that extra layer.  Wear it inside or
on the outside of sweaters, jackets, coats.
10/09
another day, another yarn.  this is nashua's SITAR, so colourful, changed the upper
rib to 1x1, did a K5P3 stitch pattern, increasing in the K's on the same collar idea (2 balls)		  
10/09
another day ... this is Lanaloft worsted handpaint.  finally figured how close the
opening at the front neck (that's where I get cold), and used YO increases on the
back to see how it looked - this took more than 100gms, so I will also get a
headband out of the deal!

WOOL PAK BLAZE is back
8-ply dk, 10-ply worsted and
14-ply chunky, 250gm hanks!


doublemossa model hat in dk
Model sweater now for sale .
This beautiful yarn has been
discontinued  - go figure.
Tweedy Alpaca is in the loft - june 2010
Fall 09 Tahki design (for Donegal),
done in Tahki's Tweedy Alpaca
Followed pattern small size and
produced a medium, due to gauge
difference between Donegal & Tweedy AL.
Lengthened sleeves and body a bit too,
customizing for the knitter, who is not 
a 20 year old model.

(pattern book pic)
Fall 09 Tahki design (for Savoy),
done in Tahki New Tweed,
transferred right to gauge.
              (pattern book pic)