Friday, February 06, 2009

Edward

I used 2/28's, twofold, of Mongolian Cashmere. This works out at approximately 700m per 100 gram, Laceweight. I used a Silver Reed 830 to make it. The tension dial was number 5 (2 and 2 for ribbing). The gauge I got was 38.5 sts and 61rws per 10cm (4ins) or 9.6 spi and 15.25 rpi.

This is photographed straight out of the tumble dryer. It has been washed in washing soda first to get the oil out. A 40c wash that took 48 mins. I then washed it in a liquid wash delicates on a 30c wash for 42 mins. It was then tumble dried for an hour. I then washed it again, and tumbled it for 30 minutes which is how long it took to dry completely. (All three wash cycles include a 1200 rpm spin for a few minutes.) This sweater can now be washed and tumbled forever with no further shrinking. I tend not to tumble any more though, just machine wash and leave to dry naturally.

Treating cashmere as outlined above really brings out it's wonderful handle. It is how the garments from the top cashmere sweater manufactures treat theirs.


I used a folded stocking stitch band.

The sleeve head I worked out a a couple of years ago. It is a 'cut off' raglan basically. After I spent ages working this out and test knitting, I discovered another bright spark had already done it! I used fully fashioned shaping, by moving the outer 3 stitches in by one stitch. I increase by moving the outer 3 stitches out by one stitch and filling the empty needle with the heel of adjacent stitch.
Above is the side seam and below is the sleeve seam. I use mattress sttich for sewing up all of my garments.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Colin

Thank you for showing Edward. It is truly lovely. Well done.



Vera

Anonymous said...

Colin:
The sweater is beautiful. The finishing details are exquisite.

Lovely!

Anonymous said...

I love, love, love that sweater. It must feel incredibly soft and smooth. I do so love Colourmart cashmere.

Anonymous said...

Colin,

Edward looks perfect. Once again we can admire the perfect neckband and other finishing details!

Anonymous said...

I don't know where you get knitting energy! You must have a knitting fairy around you LOL I want one!! The sweater is gorgeous, flawless!!!
I love the way you did the collar too.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful sweater, and wonderful attention to detail.

If you ever decide to make another one, I take a ladies' size medium. Just saying... !! (LOL)

knitwych said...

Colin, that is absolutely beautiful! I can only imagine how cuddly soft it is. You did a wonderful job, and you inspire me to want to get over my fear of knitting sweaters! :-)

Spike said...

Colin--

Two words here: YUM MY.

You are dearly tempting me to order some laceweight cashmere, you dangerous enabling man, you. *grin*

kshotz said...

Gorgeous! I'll bet it feels lovely too!!

Kim in IA

Anonymous said...

Dear Colin -

I can do nothing but repeat what others have said. Your attention to exquisite detail is so inspiring! Thank you for taking the time to share your work with the rest of us and give us all the motivation to do our own best work!

Marie

Anonymous said...

How much did it shrink from your original knitting? I ask because I once found a cashmere sweater that had shrunk from a 38" chest to about a 24" chest (it had a lovely texture). How do you judge how big to make it before the shrinking process?

FuguesStateKnits said...

Colin, I think my favorite thing about the beautiful knitting work you do (hand or machine) is by far your finishing. You are truly a professional! Just awesome work! I aspire to knit as you do, but I really really aspire to finish as you do!

SYLVIE said...

What a gorgeous sweater! such a lovely color.

Katherine C. said...

I'm in absolute awe - the seams, the collar - wow...

Not that I could hope to have your talent, but I'm thinking I need to pull my machine out of storage... I'm handknitting a man's XL sweater for my DH right now...and I'm already dreading the seaming :)

cindy said...

Stunning! I'm so glad to see you are machine knitting again.

Lydee said...

very nice! good work!

Anonymous said...

that is a lovely sweater, and thanks for describing how you make it
"shrinkproof" - fascinating!>

Anonymous said...

Colin that sweater is delicious!

BTW....interesting links above that!

I'll just be quiet for now! LOL

first, that it harm no one (wink)

Anonymous said...

Just beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous - and I love the color!

Amy in MN

Anonymous said...

Edward was very well done --- and thanks for the instructions on how
your washed and dried it.

Jan

Anonymous said...

Colin,
That is absolutely beautiful, I would imagine it feels as good as it
looks.
Thanks for sharing,
Allen

Anonymous said...

Hello Collin,

Beautifully knitted as usual. How generous of you to include the
detailed instructions for washing the oil out of cashmere yarn. Thank
you for sharing your expertise with us.

Anonymous said...

That is a very gorgeous sweater, Colin! Do I understand correctly that
you machine knit this one?

Anonymous said...

Hi Collin,

I always admire your beautiful work. What a talent you have.

Thanks for the link.

Borie

Anonymous said...

Colin,

Wonderful, too bad we can't touch, too, I'm sure it's terrifically soft. Thanks for posting all the details with the extra photos as well.

Lara

Anonymous said...

Colin,

That sweater is BEAUTIFUL. I love the modifications you made, and the detail on how you washed and dried it are very helpful.

Just amazing work.

Suzan

Anonymous said...

Colin, high 5 times 100 to you and your fantastic work. It looks absolutely fantastic... your fingers must be hurting from knitting it.

greetings from Switzerland... we have no snow here in the valley....

Sheila said...

A wonderful sweater. Very professional.

Sheila said...

A wonderful sweater. Very professional.

Anonymous said...

The finishing is brilliant.

Thanks for explaining how you handle cashmere. I would have been terrified to treat it that way having seen destroyed commercial sweaters. But now I understand if you make it with that in mind it can be a very practical garment as well as lovely. :-)