My Sweater Canvas Test Knit

by Carolyn Bloom July 28, 2021

My Sweater Canvas

I'm so excited that My Sweater Canvas is ready to be test knitted! This sweater was one of the first pieces I made to explore the addition of embroidery to stockinette. I am quite pleased with how this reversible piece evolved! The photo above shows the embroidered cables stitched into the arms of the knitted side of the sweater. And the photo below shows an intricate cable pattern that was stitched into the purl side of the sweater.

Would you like to give this sweater a go? I'd be delighted to have you join the test!

Here is some information you'll need to make an informed decision:

Sizes

1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9)

To fit bust sizes 30-32 (34-36, 38-40, 42-44, 46-48) (50-52, 54-56, 58-60, 62-64)" [76-84 (84-91.5, 94-101.5, 99-106.5, 106.5-114.5) (117-124.5, 127-134.5, 132-139.5, 139.5-147.5) cm]

Finished Measurements

34 (38, 42, 46, 50) (54, 58, 62, 66)" [86.5 (96.5, 106.5, 117, 127) (137, 147.5, 157.5, 167.5) cm] bust

Yarn

Julie Asselin Fino (75% merino, 15% cashmere, 10% silk; 115 grams / 400 yards): 4 (4, 5, 5, 5) (6, 6, 7, 7) skeins

1365 (1520, 1685, 1830, 2000) (2160, 2355, 2510, 2630) yards [1249 (1390, 1541, 1674, 1829) (1976, 2154, 2296, 2405) meters]

Note: You are not required to use this yarn for your sweater. Feel free to use any fingering weight yarn that will enable you to achieve gauge. However, if you plan to embroider the sweater, I recommend that you choose a yarn with a high twist for both the knitting and the embroidery. Also, if you adjust the length of body or sleeves, you may need to adjust the amount of yarn you purchase.

Needles

One 16" (40 cm) and one 24" (60 cm) or longer circular needle, size US 1.5 (2.5 mm)

Needle(s) in preferred style for knitting small circumferences in the rnd, size US 2 (2.5 mm)

Gauge

28 sts and 40 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in St st

Swatch Requirement

To participate in the test, I request that you knit the following swatch with the yarn you will use for the sweater to the gauge above:

Beginning 120” (305 cm) from the end of your yarn and using the long tail method, cast on 33 sts. The long remaining tail will be used to create anchor stitches on the right side once the knitting has been completed. Tie it into a layered knot to keep it from getting in the way as you knit.

Row 1 (RS): k33.

Row 2 (WS): k1, p31, k1.

On the RS, after you have completed Row 2, place a marker around the third stitch in the row below your needle.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 nineteen more times for a total of 40 rows.

After you’ve completed Row 40, with the WS facing you, place a marker in the 31st stitch in the row below your needle.

Bind off. Cut a 100” (255 cm) tail, which will be used for creating anchor stitches on the wrong side. Tie it into a layered knot. Block your swatch.

Once you've knitted a swatch to gauge, please email me at carolyn@bloomhandmadestudio.com to let me know which size you are thinking of making. The deadline for knitting the swatch is Sunday, August 1st, 5:00 pm EST.

I will send you the pattern for the sweater and the tutorial for reversibly embroidering stockinette. You'll want to practice the steps in the tutorial on your swatch to measure how your gauge was impacted by the embroidery. I'll gladly provide guidance on picking the right size to knit, depending on how you plan to embroider your sweater.

The deadline to knit the sweater is September 15, 2021. You will be asked to complete a survey regarding the sweater pattern when you have finished knitting the sweater.

Once you have completed the knitting, I will send you a code to download all the tutorials and motifs that I have written to embroider stockinette. You will be able to embroider your sweater at your leisure - no deadline! It's my way of saying thank you for testing

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at the email address above. Thank you!