Laboratory Pullover

I have a new pattern available through Interweave Knits! The Laboratory Pullover was published the other day in Interweave Knits Winter 2019, The Science Issue. There are a lot of fun science-themed knits in the issue, and you can check it out in the Interweave store here.

Photo courtesy of Harper Point Adventures Photography and Interweave Knits

My men's pullover, inspired by Dutch Fishermen's sweaters was given a bit of a modern tweak with the neckline shaping and set-in sleeves, which are worked top-down in the round for a seamless knit. The pullover is worked in Sugarbush Yarns Crisp DK, a gorgeous 100% merino yarn. You can see the excellent stitch definition in the below photo particularly well.

If you noticed during last year's Gift-a-long that I had drifted away from the forums partway through and had trouble keeping up, it was because I was hard at work on this sweater! I'm very pleased with it, and love the pictures that Harper Point Adventures Photography took for Interweave! They do gorgeous work, and the model is handsome too! The sweater looks great on him, and I should add that the same size of sweater (medium), thanks to the stretchy nature of the rope-and-cable pattern, fits nicely up to a 40" frame as well, where it would still have standard ease of 3" in the chest. The full size range of measurements for the finished sweater around the chest at the underarms is: 40 (43¾, 48¾, 52¼, 56)“. For more construction notes as well as details on sizing, materials, notions, and gauge, check out the Laboratory Pullover's Ravelry page here, where you can add this sweater to your knitting queue!

Photo courtesy of Harper Point Adventures Photography and Interweave Knits

Photo courtesy of Harper Point Adventures Photography and Interweave Knits

Hey, look, I'm in a book!

If you're following me elsewhere, you probably already know, but here's the news: I have a pattern in a book!

Last week, Interweave Knits released their 100 Knits: Interweave's Ultimate Pattern Collection, featuring their most popular knitting patterns, and one of the selected patterns is my Mount Robson Pullover!

You can buy the book through your local independent bookstore (if it carries knitting books; sadly, mine tends not to), the Interweave website, and through Chapters and other big bookstores, as you might expect.

Presenting Hank's Pullover in Interweave Knits Fall 2017

Interweave Knits Fall 2017 is out, and I have a pattern in it! I'd like to present to you: Hank's Pullover.

I had originally conceived of this sweater as a casual, relaxed sort of pullover, but when it came to thinking through the finishing touches, I wanted to add a little something special. I spent a bit of time swatching and planning, then decided to dress it up with a welted collar accent that resembles piping. This added touch makes Hank's Pullover the sort of sweater that you can wear dressed-up or dressed-down depending on what you pair it with.

Hank's Pullover is worked in Harrisville Designs WATERshed, which is an excellent woollen-spun yarn, and transfers its properties to this pullover. The yarn has made this sweater marvellously light in weight, yet very warm, as a woollen-spun yarn traps a lot of air within its fibres, providing additional insulation. This makes the sweater an excellent choice for travelling or backpacking, as it weighs less than the same sweater would with the same yardage of a worsted-spun yarn. WATERshed transforms as it is washed, with the yarn blooming to make the fabric more cohesive, yet also drapier and softer to the touch.

WATERshed has a variety of lovely heathered colours; this sweater is knit in Mallard. Which colour would you choose?

As always, I really enjoyed working with Interweave Knits and all their great staff! All photos in this post are courtesy of Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits. Go check out the rest of the issue for more great photos!

Bangor Pullover

I'm proud, pleased, and excited to be able to say that Interweave Knits Winter 2017 is out, and in it you will find my Bangor Pullover! This issue of Interweave Knits is available via the Interweave Store (here: print edition or here: digital edition ), and my contribution was part of the Whiskey and Wool theme, which features an excellent array of cabled knitwear worked in gorgeous wool.

Photo by Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits. Used with Permission.

I'm particularly proud of this sweater, and I've had a closeup of it as the wallpaper on my mobile ever since the day I sent in the sample! I love the yarn; it has good stitch definition, feels great, and looks amazing. Worked in Cascade 220 Heathers, in Pumpkin Spice, the colour has a brilliant amount of depth. Every person who saw the sample in person while I was knitting it exclaimed at the colour and looked closer to see the different shades that worked together to make a great blend.

Photo by Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits. Used with Permission.

My goal with this sweater was to make a comfortable yet stylish pullover. The cables remind me of the grains of rye that are used to flavour Canadian whisky, and the seed stitch works with the cables to add more texture while keeping simple clean lines. The cables on the sleeves continue up into a saddle-shoulder for a handsome finishing detail.

Photo by Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits. Used with Permission.

The Bangor Pullover is worked from the bottom-up, in the round to the underarms, then front and back are worked flat separately. The sleeves are likewise worked cuff-up in the round to the underarm, with the sleeve caps and saddle worked flat, then set-in and seamed, with the collar picked up and worked in the round to finish. This sweater is a good choice for those who are new or newer to cables, as the cable is a simple one worked at regular intervals.

Photo by Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits. Used with Permission.

Finished Size: 36 (39½, 44¼, 46¾, 51½)" chest circumference. Pullover shown measures 44¼"; modeled with 4¼" of positive ease.

The Bangor Pullover pattern can also be purchased individually from the Interweave Store here: Bangor Pullover

Introducing: The Windsor Vest

Sure, it might seem a bit early for Christmas posts and planning for most people, but for any knitters planning Christmas knitting, it's a good time to at least start browsing for your knitting queue. Interweave Knits Holiday, available via the Interweave Store (here: print edition or here: digital edition ), has you covered whether you want to treat someone (including yourself) to a gorgeous shawl or socks, whip up a quick hat or set of mittens, or make something special for a child. I was particularly delighted with the set of designs based on Jan Brett's illustrations in her children's books (The Hat, in which Hedgie the hedgehog has a run-in with a sock that blew off the clothesline of winter woollies, has been a favourite with both my kids), and I'm tempted for the first time ever to knit up a Christmas stocking as a result.

Photo by Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits. Used with Permission.

My contribution to the collection is the Windsor Vest. When I sat down to play with colours and motifs on the computer, I asked myself, what would Ernie, from Sesame Street, favourite Muppet of so many children, wear if he had a traditional Fair-Isle inspired vest and wanted to dress up a little? Certainly he'd still want to wear some of his favourite colours!

Photo by Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits. Used with Permission.

I had some SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock in my stash in the Ginger colourway, and I knew right away that I wanted that to be the colour for the trim. I enjoyed looking through all the delightful saturated colourways available, and set up a palette that I feel works well for a slightly more formal yet still exuberant Muppet, or indeed for a cheerful child who feels that if she or he must dress up, let it at least be colourful and bright.

Photo by Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits. Used with Permission.

The Windsor Vest is worked in the round from the bottom up, with steeks worked for v-neck and armhole openings. Stitches are then picked up around the armholes and neckline for trim.

Finished Size 23¼ (24¾, 26¼, 27¾, 29¼)” chest circumference. Vest shown measures 23¼”

The pattern can also be purchased individually via the Interweave Knits Store here: Windsor Vest Pattern

Photo by Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits. Used with Permission.

Mount Robson Sneak Peek

I am extremely pleased to announce that I have a men's pullover design in Interweave Knits Summer 2015!

Photo courtesy of Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits Summer 2015, used with permission

Interweave is the first knitting magazine that I ever bought, back when I first started knitting, so I am extremely delighted to have my Mount Robson Pullover be a part of it. If you follow the above link, you can check out the issue preview and see lots of great knits. I particularly love the Chesapeake Jacket, where a sea critter and knitwear unite in the best way possible!

Mount Robson Peak

Emperor Falls

I named my men's pullover after Mount Robson, which I hiked back in 1998 with my Karate club. We worked our way up to Berg Lake and back down the same day, with a stop at Emperor Falls for lunch. I had the dubious distinction of being longest on the trail (tip: Break in your hiking boots before your trip!), but had a great time no matter how sore my feet got.

Berg Glacier above Berg Lake

The sweater itself is great for hiking. Lightweight yet warm, it proves that wool is for Summer too! As you're climbing, the weather can shift fairly dramatically as you reach higher altitudes, so a wool sweater like this one is just the thing to carry in your backpack; extra warmth without extra weight to carry.









The slip-stitch rib pattern gives considerable stretch to the garment for ease of layering, and it features contrasting texture with the stockinette saddles. For more photos, the Ravelry preview is also up.

You can buy your copy of the magazine here: Interweave Store

Kinney Lake