After your suggestions and the lovely new patterns (thank you!), I have significantly lengthened my list of future shrug projects. In the meantime, however, I’ve gone with the Cropped Raglan Sweater from Lion Brand.
Pattern: Cropped Raglan Sweater, Lion Brand free pattern #70111, size Large
Yarn: Lion Brand Pound of Love 100% acrylic, 4-ply worsted, color 099, Antique White, dye lot 34787
Needles: Susan Bates size 7 straights, KnitPicks Options size 8 circulars
Modifications: none planned
Started: April 23, 2007
I may try to make another before I leave (probably the Fiery Bolero), but in the meantime I think this pattern is the one I’m most likely to successfully complete, and it fits all of my requirements. It’s also simple enough that I can knit and read, which is essential in these final crazy busy weeks of the semester.
I’m a few inches in already, at 9 of the 28 initial raglan repeats, and I really like it. I think that it will be really versatile, as it will probably be large enough to wear pinned shut as well as open.
I’m using very soft off-white acrylic (I’ll explain why I usually use synthetics in a future post), and I absolutely love the way it feels against my skin.
It’s almost surprising how much I enjoy the eyelets on the raglan seams.
I am hopeful that this will turn out really nice, and I am excited thinking about wearing it in Italy!
Hi Vicky,
My name is Louise. I have visited your blog and found this beautiful pattern for the Cropped Sleeve Bolero. I am interested in knitting the bolero and I have a question. This is my first knitted sweater of any style.
In the pattern it states http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/70111.html?r=1
“Continue in St st, working yo before and after marked k 1 st as established on every RS row for a total of 24 (26, 28, 30, 32) times – 280 (302, 324, 346, 368) sts.”. Does this mean that the total # of rows up to that point is 24? I’m a little confused with the increase of sts.required as I think that there are more than 24 rows in this body area. I have discovered that there is an increase of 8 sts per row in the size that you and I are interested in.
Thanking you in advance,
Sincerely,
Louise
dlferris@shaw.ca
I hope that this email is clear. I would appreciate if you would respond to my home email mentioned above.