Hallett’s Ledge
Didn’t I tell you twist collective’s Fall 2010 issue would be amazing? If you have not yet seen the 30 beautiful patterns, I encourage you to check them out! I feel so honored that my latest design, Hallett’s Ledge, is included among them. Allow me to share some of twist’s photos, taken by the talented Jane Heller. Hallett’s Ledge is a modern interpretation of a fisherman-style sweater. It takes its name from a shoal in Nantucket Sound, off the southern coast of Cape Cod.
Copyright Jane Heller
Knitted in Rowan Felted Tweed Aran, Hallett’s Ledge is a tailored and textured women’s cardigan that will prove both interesting to knit and easy to wear. The garment employs ribbing below the empire waist, garter eyelet rows marking the empire waist and echoed at the elbow, and an interesting cable pattern at the bust, upper back, and upper arms. It is intended to be worn with about 2″ of positive ease at the bust.
Copyright Jane Heller
The body is worked in one piece from the bottom to the armholes, after which point the fronts and back are treated separately. The close fitting sleeves are knitted in the round to the armhole, and then the sleeve cap is worked flat and sewn into the body. The neck band and button bands are picked up and knitted onto the body.
Copyright Jane Heller
This was another project I swatched last fall, hoping to create a modern, flattering interpretation of an aran sweater for women. As you may know, it is my firmly held opinion that heavily cabled garments should be trim fitting, with as little excess fabric as possible, due to the weight and bulk of the cabled stitch pattern. After all, there is nothing worse than a heavy, droopy, bag-shaped, boxy sweater. Nothing!
Copyright Jane Heller
I received my yarn only days after learning we would be moving 800 miles away in less than a month’s time. Consequently, I did all of my math and worked out pattern sizing before we left, and knitted the bulk of the garment on the road between Kansas and Ohio. Let me tell you, this was the most compelling sight along the interminably dull trek!
The sweater itself knitted up quite quickly, although blocking took forever (DAYS!) because our washing machine had not yet been delivered to our new house. Who blocks the old-fashioned way? The spin cycle reduces drying time a hundred fold!
Of course, as with any ribbed garment, blocking is key. Look at the difference between the shriveled up in-progress body and the neatly blocked one.
Because the ribbing shrunk up so much on itself, I also aggressively pinned down the button bands.
The design element I love most about the garment is the centered cable running down the top of the sleeve. I love the symmetrical look of centered sleeve cables; consequently, I use them frequently.
As with the sleeves, the cabling on the upper back is also centered.
This requires a bit more math to set up the stitch pattern, but I feel it’s math worth doing. After all, I did not suffer through 7th grade algebra for nothing! Why didn’t anyone ever tell me algebra could be so handy?
Although I intended 2″ of positive ease at the bust for this cardigan, I had to try on my sample despite it being a size too small for me! As you can see, this is a much closer fit (roughly 1″ of negative ease at the bust) on me.
I do think the drape is better with positive ease, although your mileage may vary.
For more information about the pattern itself or to purchase a copy, please see the pattern page at twist collective. I hope you enjoy it! Please be sure to check out all the other lovely patterns, articles, and photos in the Fall 2010 issue. There are stunning works from many of my favorite designers in this issue!
It’s really gorgeous. Congratulations!
This is my favorite pattern from this issue! It’s beautiful and SO wearable. I’m a little worried about the gauge/yarn/needles. To get a decent fabric with Rowan Felted Tweed, I’d have to knit it on size 4 or 5 – which would probably give me a gauge of around 5-5.5 st/in. I’m a pretty loose knitter! I might try for a worsted weight that’ll give me that gauge. I guess a few swatches are in my future, because I MUST knit this sweater!
It’s beautiful. I’ve just decided not to buy any more pattern but now I must take a discussion with myself. Thanks for sharing.
Ummm…never mind! I just saw that you used the ARAN version. I’ve got just the right yarn!
E this is just GORGEOUS! I hope my arms feel better this fall so I can make one of these for myself. I MUST have it!
I love this, Elinor! I’m checking through my stash right now for some suitable yarn.
This is awesome! Congratulations on your design. And I agree with you, the spin cycle on a washing machine works wonders for blocking!
This is just so gorgeous and has me considering knitting it! I have not knit a woman’s sized sweater in ages. Gorgeous! And you’re totally right – the whole issue sort of blew my mind. I haven’t been so excited about an issue of anything in a while.
This is a stunning pattern, I am going to order some yarn today so I can get started on it. I love everything about it, the cables, the ribbing, the sleeves, ahhh beautiful!
Definitely among my top favorites in a very strong issue. Congrats!
This is beautiful! There aren’t many fitted arans out there and this one has such wonderful details! It’s obvious how much effort you put into the details. I’ll be adding this design to my Rhinebeck yarn shopping list.
Thanks for sharing the design story too – it’s so nice to have that background.
Gorgeous & I love the fit. It’s so interesting reading about your designing process while you are on the move.
wow. elinor! it is FANTASTIC! i absolutely LOVE it!
Congratulations on a wonderful design! I love the details. I know Kate styled the farm shoot–there were so many beautiful pictures from Jane Heller.
This is a beautiful sweater ! My favorite out of the whole issue…although there are many other lovely things. I’m hoping that I have a suitable yarn and can start right away ! Wonderful work !
This is GORGEOUS. I’m in love with it, and I’m dying to make it out of handspun. (Must get spinning, then….)
It’s really stunning, E. I wanna knit it! Now!
That shot with the eggs in hand is perfection.
Gorgeous design! Congratulations! Classic, yet modern
.
I love, love, love the arm cables.
Love, love, love it! I even have yarn in my stash that would be perfect. Do you have any photos of it worn open? I would be interested to see how it looks. Thanks!
Wow! This pattern is yours! It’s so beautiful! I too love the arm and back cables. Congratulations! This is an amazing pattern!
I was drawn to this pattern immediately when I saw the new twist! I think it will be perfect for some aran wool I’ve been saving … Love it and your background on the design is really interesting.
What a beautiful sweater! I may have to give it a try–it’s way more ambitious than anything I’ve ever attempted, but it’s so beautiful…
This is stunning! I love the fitted waist, not something one associates with arans.
I downloaded the pattern this morning and am going to swatch this afternoon. I can already tell this is going to be my go-to sweater for fall 2010.
E, this is gorgeous! i love it! i also love the symmetrical and centered cabling. congrats on a beautiful pattern! also, your hair looks FABULOUS.
That was one of my favorite patterns in the Twist magazine, and I never noticed it was yours until I read your blog!
(Btw, I think I like it better on you than the model)
Each issue of TC is a treat…..and after a thorough browsing I pick the garment that appeals to me and I would actually knit and wear
and yours was it with out question.It just had all the elements of a fun and fashionable fall cardigan.
Screw Autumn Rose–this is my Rhinebeck sweater!!
I gasped when I saw this sweater. It is gorgeous! I don’t know if I have the skills for this, but I may have to try it anyway.
Your sweater is gorgeous, one of my favorites from this fall. Congratulations and well done!
Oh, it’s lovely! And I’m glad you’ve posted photos of yourself wearing it–much easier to “trust” photos of garments on “actual people” than on models. I agree with you on the Algebra. Had they used real-world problems in class, such as using algebra to do knitting calculations or the geometry and physics of yarn storage space, I might have done better!
I really like this pattern. I feel it is one that I would wear. Having the sleeves worked in the round, good idea. I hate seaming garments. I am going to look through my stash and start this soon.
This is hands-down my favourite pattern from the new Twist issue. SOOO beautiful on you! A classic.
It’s beauteous! Congratulations!