Sylvi’s done!

Short post today, but I can’t not share. Sylvi is DONE! Knit, seamed, flowers sewn down, lining made and sewn in, pockets knit, lined, and crocheted down, buttons and toggles attached, done.

16 skeins of ruby red Cascade 220 Superwash (color 893), 2.5 yards of Amy Butler Full Moon Polka Dots in Cherry, 4 horn toggles, 2 horn buttons for the cuffs, and a few months of work.

The knitting on this took no time – I was working on size 9 needles with the yarn doubled, and it knit up quick. But, the pieces were large, so it wasn’t a very portable project most of the time, and for those of you who know me, I like to work on the go. Then, the lining was a hurdle that, while easy enough to execute, kept me guessing for some time.

Eventually I just traced out the pattern, spent an afternoon sewing, and voila, it was done! I was most nervous about the arm holes, as raglan shaping isn’t something that translates well to the rigidity of woven fabrics. To compensate, I added a 2″ box pleat in between the shoulders along the back (similarly to the way many men’s jackets are lined, or the way men’s shirts have a pleat under the yoke). This way, when I bend forward or reach my arms out, I’m not worrying about putting undue stress on the arm seams, or restricting my movement. Along with sewing the lining to the knit jacket along all the outer edges, I’ve also tacked the knitting to the lining in several places – at the center of the flowers, along the edges, at the armpits, and at the peak of the hood. This helps keep the knitting in the right shape, and prevents the lining from bulging over the edges as it’s tempted to do.

Some comments on the pattern. I lengthened the back (redoubling the small oval section of the middle back chart) and added an extra flower to compensate for the gap. I didn’t like the doubled leaves in the mid-back of the original, and I was concerned about row gauge. In the end, the weight of the knitting helped the project stretch, so it’s longer than I had planned, but the lining adds the extra stability and shape to it. I changed the direction of the cross of one of the early cables to enhance the symmetry, but otherwise, I mostly behaved and followed directions.

I’m really happy with the results – all 5lbs of them!

More details and photos of the jacket in progress, with link to the pattern, are available on my Ravelry project page: http://ravel.me/gnochistickate/s1