Trimmings

“Choose your own adventure” for an utterly fabulous sweater.


Sizes: Ten sizes; intended to be worn with 1-2’’/2.5-5cm ease in the upper torso

Final Measurements:
Bust measures: 30 (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 50, 54)”/76 (81.5, 86.5, 91.5, 96.5, 101.5, 106.5, 117, 127, 137) cm
Length from hem to shoulder: 19 1⁄4 (20, 20 1⁄2, 21, 21 3⁄4, 22 1⁄4, 22 3⁄4, 23 1⁄2, 24 1⁄4, 24 3⁄4)”/49 (51, 52, 53.5, 55, 56.5, 58, 59.5, 61.5, 63) cm

Featured Materials:
Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light [50% Super Fine Alpaca; 50% Peruvian Wool]: 144 yds/133 m per 50 g hank. Cowl shown in 4285 (MC) and 4294 (CC); turtleneck shown in 4275 (MC) and 4277 (CC): 8 (9, 9, 10, 11, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16) hanks MC and 1 hank CC for turtleneck; 7 (8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) hanks MC and 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) hanks CC for cowl.

Gauge: 24 sts & 32 rows = 4’’/10cm in Stockinette Stitch, blocked. Recommended needle size of US 5/3.75mm.

Pattern Notes: All photographs copyright splityarn 2011 and used with permission. Technical editing by Elizabeth Sullivan.

Trimmings is a flexible pattern with many possibilities. The kicky stripes make the perfect edging on a simple, trim silhouette, and the sweater can be knit with either of two sleeve options, paired with either of two neck- lines, combined with either of two hem heights. It’s eight sweaters in one!

The samples shown pair a cowl neckline with 3⁄4-length sleeves and a narrow hem, and long sleeves paired with a classic turtleneck and wider hem. All versions feature easily-customized vertical darts for waist shaping, tailored details, and a fun chance to use up handspun, a favorite sock yarn, or just some of those brightly-colored bits of yarn you have floating about.

I recommend choosing a size based on your upper torso measurement. Take a chest circumference with the tape measure located above the fullest part of your bust, high in your armpit. The turquoise sample is shown in size 38’’, modeled with -3’’/-7.5 cm of ease in the bust with zero ease in the upper torso. Green sample shown is size 34’’ and is modeled with -1’’/-2.5 cm ease in the bust/zero ease in the upper torso on Debbie and 1’’/2.5 cm of ease in the upper torso on Jackie.

Berroco’s Ultra Alpaca Light gives drape, loft, and beauti- fully heathered colors to this wardrobe staple. I absolute- ly recommend it for this sweater. Should you desire to substitute yarn, you willl need approximately 1086 (1183, 1279, 1360, 1484, 1575, 1690, 1864, 2049, 2263) yds/1004 (1093, 1181, 1255, 1370, 1454, 1560, 1722, 1892, 2090) m of MC and 58 (63, 68, 72, 79, 83, 89, 99, 108, 120) yds/53 (58, 63, 67, 73, 77, 83, 91, 100, 111) m of CC for the long- sleeved, turtleneck version. The cowl version will require approximately 930 (1024, 1106, 1176, 1288, 1370, 1469, 1621, 1783, 1953) yds/858 (946, 1021, 1086, 1190, 1265, 1357, 1497, 1647, 1805) m of MC and 115 (127, 137, 146, 160, 170, 182, 201, 221, 242) yds/107 (117, 127, 135, 148, 157, 168, 186, 204, 223) m of CC for the 3⁄4-sleeve, cowl neck version.

Knit from the bottom up in pieces with set-in sleeves, Trimmings offers great options for all body types. The turtleneck is a narrower silhouette; the cowl wider; the long sleeves and wide hem versions are more widening in the hips than the narrow hem and shorter sleeves. Top-heavy shapes might consider matching a narrow neckline with wider hem, as shown; proportional shapes might balance their choices; bottom-heavy shapes might choose a narrower hem treatment and wider neckline, as shown.

Vertical darts enable easy customization to fit your needs. Should you desire less waist shaping than specified, either omit the shaping rows entirely, or omit/reduce only the shaping on the front of the sweater. Bustier women can work more increases on the front of the sweater, and not in the back. Extra stitches should be decreased into the neckline.
As with all patterns, compare the schematic against your own measurements and make alterations as necessary.

Trimmings may be purchased from from my ravelry pattern store for US$7.00 or by clicking here: buy now

Thanks for your support!

1 thought on “Trimmings

  1. […] can find more information about Trimmings on its pattern page, but for this blog post I want to spend some time talking about customizing Trimmings for your very […]

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