I Couldn't Help Myself...
Since I finished the poncho I couldn't help casting on a more zen-knitting project. Something that's just "knit", no purling and it doesn't knit up as garter stitch - really! - and it makes a jacket - and it's not Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket. It's called the Pinwheel Sweater and it won a knitting contest at Elann a while back. Here's the link for it: Pinwheel Sweater. I have had this pattern for a long time and I even started it once in a coarse boucle wool - and ripped it out just before I got to the sleeves - the boucle knit up like thick sandpaper. I think it was the "knit-only" aspect that had me get so far before I quit.
You may recognize this yarn - it's Tahki Stacy Charles "Bunny Print" - it was on the title banner of my blog for nearly a year! It is a soft-spun single ply merino-alpaca blend with nylon (ugh! I know but it really is bunny-soft!). What inspired me to use this yarn is a pattern from Berocco (which isn't free and I didn't buy after discovering the pinwheel pattern!) called Fleur from booklet #247. I'm sure you've seen it on their website or in their email newsletter:
I realized early on that the colors in the Bunny aren't long enough to actually make stripes. This month I finally made the effort to track down a few balls of Bunny solids in rust and dark brown (thank-you eBay!). It began to dawn on me that since Bunny is discontinued, the probability of me finding compatible colors was shrinking rapidly! LOL!!
The only change I've made to the pattern (of course you knew I'd change something!) is that I am not making yarn overs to do the increases because it makes holes. Yes, I know the holes are why the sweater is named "Pinwheel" - my sweater just won't have a pinwheel, that's all! I mean, why make a sweater in bulky yarn to stay warm and then make holes in it on purpose? Isn't that kind of counter-productive??
Anyways, more pics soon because, as I said, it's a super-lazy zen knit and I didn't waste any time casting it on!
You may recognize this yarn - it's Tahki Stacy Charles "Bunny Print" - it was on the title banner of my blog for nearly a year! It is a soft-spun single ply merino-alpaca blend with nylon (ugh! I know but it really is bunny-soft!). What inspired me to use this yarn is a pattern from Berocco (which isn't free and I didn't buy after discovering the pinwheel pattern!) called Fleur from booklet #247. I'm sure you've seen it on their website or in their email newsletter:
I realized early on that the colors in the Bunny aren't long enough to actually make stripes. This month I finally made the effort to track down a few balls of Bunny solids in rust and dark brown (thank-you eBay!). It began to dawn on me that since Bunny is discontinued, the probability of me finding compatible colors was shrinking rapidly! LOL!!
The only change I've made to the pattern (of course you knew I'd change something!) is that I am not making yarn overs to do the increases because it makes holes. Yes, I know the holes are why the sweater is named "Pinwheel" - my sweater just won't have a pinwheel, that's all! I mean, why make a sweater in bulky yarn to stay warm and then make holes in it on purpose? Isn't that kind of counter-productive??
Anyways, more pics soon because, as I said, it's a super-lazy zen knit and I didn't waste any time casting it on!
Hi there, I love these Pinwheel Sweaters. I've done a few, in different yarns and they always turn out beautiful. I'm doing one now in Panda Purla. You will have to do some purl rows, as there is garter stitch aroung the edge! Enjoy it, you'll end up doing lots of them..on ravelry I'm ashcab4444
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There IS??? Rats!! Hrrmph!
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I haven't tried a Pinwheel Sweater yet, but I do have extra yarn I know what to do with now. It looks like fun. I am looking forward to pix of your "holeless" pinwheels. thanks.
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I am SO glad I took the time to check the link I had saved because the Elann site had changed since I saved it. It is such a classic pattern the only thing that could ever out-date it would be fake fur yarn, I think! LOL!! My pleasure to share a great (free) pattern! I am finding, as I knit, that without the holes it really doesn't make much of a "pinwheel" - no matter, it's still a gorgeous sweater!
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I've always wanted to try this pattern. I cant wait to see what you do with it!!
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It knits up so fast (when the yarn is nice!) LOL!! I'll be posting pics soon!
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