#dil9

My alpaca-linen sweater shrank vertically after washing, so I wanted to add some length.

The first step is, in many ways, the hardest: cutting away the bottom ribbing 😱. (I thought I might be able to pull out the stitches and save the yarn--alas, the yarn was too felted.)

This was an exercise in emotional regulation, because even though I knew (with my thinky parts) that I'd be safe to cut the ribbing, I still felt (with my feely parts) irrationally scared that I'd damage the rest of the sweater somehow.

Feelings: Maybe I made a mistake and somehow attached the ribbing wrong! Brain: The ribbing yarn is literally a different colour, you can see what you're cutting. Feelings: But WHAT IF??

Anyway.

I worked another 8 rounds of HDC to add about 5-6cm (after washing), then made more ribbing.

I like how you can really see the difference in the fabric before washing (bottom) and after washing (top)!

Yet another pullover. Evidently I will not rest until I have a sweater for every mood and occasion--and a few extras just in case!

Linen lace held with alpaca lace makes for a structured but fluffy fabric. The linen holds the stitches open, but the alpaca floof closes some of the gaps slightly. The sweater is warm but breathable. It's also not very elastic--which has its benefits, and limitations. I'm never taking it off 🥰

Pattern: modified from Done In Love Pullover, paid pattern by Katy Petersen

I modified the armpits to make larger gussets because my partner's sweater needs them and I'd rather practise on something me-sized before working on something him-sized. The gusseting makes the sweater yoke lie better when my arms are down (compared to the original), and I think there's better range of motion in the arms. But it honestly feels a little weird to have, like, little armpit baggies.

This gusset also allows me to start the sleeves higher, which also means the colour transition lies higher on my chest (instead of lying on the extremely awkward position of exactly on my bust line!).

My alpaca-linen sweater shrank!

But thankfully I own a dressform and was able to stretch out the body. But the dressform doesn't have arms. Luckly, I am a problem-solver, and have a box of condoms!