Stripey Goodale

My friend Caryn inspired me to make this one. When I saw her starting, it made me want to knit one too.  Monkey see, monkey do!

Pattern: Goodale by Cecily Glowick MacDonald
available for purchase via Ravelry.

Yarn: Farmhouse Yarns Bonnie's Bamboo (100% bamboo)
2 skeins in colorway Rose (approx. 400 yards)
2 skeins in colorway Natural (approx. 400 yards)

Needle Size: US 7


Initially I thought I would stripe a wool/silk blend yarn from Manos del Uruguay.  But after knitting a few rows, I decided it looked too busy - always a risk with multicolored yarns.  Back into the stash for another day.

After playing around in my stash, I settled on this very silky worsted weight bamboo.  I had just the right amount but I wasn't sure about the drape of the resulting fabric.  However, I loved the color combo so I went with it.  The yarn is easy to knit - smooth like you'd expect and soft almost silky.  And not at all splitty.

Substituting the bamboo for the recommended wool/cashmere made the finished garment very drapey.  (Is drapier a word?)  But I think it works.

Most of the sweater is in plain stockinette.  The lapels and pockets are created when the front is folded back on itself.  Reverse stockinette.

Some modifications:

Instead of the i-cord edging for the lapel, I just relied on the natural tendency for stockinette to curl in on itself and sewed the edges down - kind of like a rolled hem.

Because of the bamboo, I was concerned that the lapels wouldn't stay put so I sewed them down by first basting them into position and then going back with a running stitch that butted up against the hem.  Then I just pulled out the basting yarn.  Of course, I left plenty of room for the pockets - the best part!

The pockets are a very handy feature.  I keep an extra i-cord fastener in mine so I can switch depending on my mood.

A few more modifications:

I added two inches in length for my long torso.

And I did a single crochet edging on the collar.  Crochet is inherently less stretchy than knitting so it works great to give knitting some stay-put action.  With the bamboo, my collar really needed some reinforcement.

I loved knitting this.  The pattern is well written and the design elements add just enough interest.  The stripes give it sort of a whimsical quality and the resulting fabric is smooth and easy to wear.  Perfect for spring.  Although some of us are still deep in hibernation.