February 11, 2010

Adagio, a Tunic Vest Pattern


Feel at ease in Adagio, a fitted tunic vest in a luxurious blend of Merino and Alpaca. The braided cables in the center panel are graceful and elongating. The drapey cowl keeps you warm while creating a lovely frame for your neck and face.

Adagio, in Knit Pick's City Tweed, is rustic when layered for a rainy afternoon at the beach. It is refined when worn on its own as a sleeveless shell. Versatile, simple, elegant, Adagio is relaxing to knit and to wear.

Adagio is worked in the round from hem to armhole, then separated at the yoke and worked in rows. The shoulders are joined with a 3-needle bind off. Cowl collar and armbands are picked up and knit in the round. There are no seams to sew in this tunic.

This pattern is available for $4.99 as a pdf download.*

You may also purchase a copy through Knit Picks.

Sizes: 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46

Finished bust size: 32.75 (35, 37.25, 38.75, 40.75, 43.25, 45.25, 47.5) in/83.5 (89, 94.5, 98.5, 104, 109.5, 115, 120.5) cm

Choose a size that will give you from 0 to 3"/7.5 cm positive ease. Sample shown is worn with about 1"/2.5 cm positive ease.

Techniques and stitches: 2 x 1 rib, 3-needle bind off, cables, decreasing, increasing, knitting in the round, stockinette stitch

Gauge: 22 st and 28 rws over 4"/10 cm in ST st. Center panel is 6.25"/15.5 cm for sizes 32 through 40, and 8"/20.5 cm for sizes 42 through 46.

Yarn: Knit Picks City Tweed DK, 7 (8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10) skeins in Plum Wine, 55% Merino wool, 25% superfine Alpaca, 20% Donegal tweed. I recommend buying 1 extra skein to accommodate gauge differences and swatching.

Substitute yarn of similar weight and composition in the following approximate amounts: 827 (884, 940, 978, 1028, 1091, 1142, 1199) yds /756 (808, 860, 894, 940, 998, 1044, 1096) m

Needles: US 5/3.75 mm and US 7/4.5 mm, 24" and 16" circulars, US 6/4 mm, 16" circulars. You will need a third needle in US 7/4.5 mm to work the 3-needle bind off. If needed, change needle size to get gauge.

Misc: cable needle, stitch markers, tapestry needle

* The buy now button will take you to PayPal. After entering your payment information, you'll receive an e-mail with a download link, or if you're a ravelry.com member, the pattern will be placed in your library.

Click image below for larger view of schematics.



February 3, 2010

More Runner's Mittens

After knitting Don's mittens, I cast on for my own pair. Wool mittens are so cozy to run in. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to use them for their intended purpose. It's been too warm to wear mittens while running. I did wear them while walking around Cannon Beach.

The pattern is improvised, just basic mittens with an offset thumb for a good fit.

The yarn is self-striping Regia sock yarn. My sister gave it to my mom who gave it to me. None of us are big sock knitters. It was in the family stash for several years before I went digging around to find mitten yarn.

In a skein, the variegation was nothing to look at. But when the self striping worked its magic, it was beautiful to behold. It was only later that I realized my mittens would coordinate well with my Garmin and Buff. It's highly satisfying when things effortlessly align.