Becky

So last post I was struggling b/c part of me really wanted to cast on a sweater for me that wouldn’t be worked on size 3 or smaller needles since my 3 main projects right now are on size 1 (Dale baby dress), size 5 with sock weight yarns (Chevron Scarf), and size 2 or 3 (Mermaid), plus socks.  I went into the knitting room to see if I had any inspiration and saw the bag of Ultra Alpaca Light I won at the Knit Out.  Perfect!  I’ve been looking at the Sahara pattern for quite some time now, and there was never any doubt in my mind that I would make one. 

It is just so me!  It calls for worsted weight knit at a gauge of 20 st/4".  But when I got on Ravelry, I saw that several people had made it in a DK weight.  So I knit up a gauge swatch of the Ultra Alpaca Dk on size 6 and 5’s.  With the 5’s I got about 22st /4".  On the 6’s, I am getting 20 st/ 4" and I think I am happy with the fabric.  You want it to be a little flowy, plus Alpaca can be so hot that I think having it a little more open will be good.  I’m sure this will require a tank top underneath, but that seems to be part of the deal with this pattern, especially if you are on the bustier side (which clearly the models are not).

I do plan to get some fancy yarn for the edgings, probably one of the Tilli Thomas yarns, but I won’t need that for awhile so I’m not worried about it.  HCW carries a small selection so hopefully I can find something there.  And since I don’t need it right away, I will probably wait a few months to see if any of their sales include it.  No idea what color I will go for. 

Now, before casting on, I need to figure out the sizing.  I’m thinking I will be making a large, but probably go with some of the medium length measurements.  The tricky part with the sizing is the 3" of negative ease in the pattern.  A large hsa a suggested bust measurement of 41".  This would make the garment bust measure 38", although the schematic looks to me like it is really 37".  This should work for me.  But then you have to add in the gauge issue.  The pattern used silk yarn which it says was knit at a gauge of 22st, but b/c it stretched, became 20st after blocking.  My yarn will likely not stretch very much, I don’t think.  But honestly, even if I did block my swatch, it wouldn’t tell me very much because the stretching will really occur when the whole garment is done and the weight makes it stretch.  See how confusing this is!?!  I’ve emailed a few people who have completed a Sahara that look to maybe be around my size to get their thoughts on sizing.  But I think I’m just going to have to cast on and see how it goes.  Since it is knit top down without seams (yippee), I will just try it on as I go, and I think (hope) I will be ok.  Should be fun!

But I will also keep working on the Dale baby dress as the due date is quickly approaching.  I am almost done with the skirt and then I can start on the bodice.