It's no secret that I love Quince and Co. yarns (seriously, they can do no wrong!). And as we head into the warmer months, I knew that I wouldn't be able to give up my new-found love of knitting sweaters. Enter Kestrel linen yarn and my summer is complete.
Kestrel is a heavy worsted weight - i.e. fast knit - that's been spun into a ribbon texture. The flat, tape-like yarn takes a little getting used to when you first start working with it, but it creates a beautiful texture. Definitely make a swatch for this yarn, even if it's just to practice your tension!
The 3/4 sleeve variation of the North Fork sweater on Ravlery decided it for me; this would definitely be my first attempt at a linen pullover. At first, I thought that I would just change the sleeve length, but as I started knitting, I decided on a few other variations as well. Luckily, this pattern is easily adaptable...
I knit a size M (40"bust). I was nervous about fit when it came off the needles as it seemed tight, but the linen loosens up an amazing amount after blocking.
Alterations:
- Obviously, I only used two colors instead of three. I used 6 skeins of Aegean (truly, all 6 skeins with nothing left over) and 3 skeins of Senza.
- The pattern calls for 10 rows per stripe. I kept my MC stripes (Aegean) at 10 rows, but increased the Senza stripes to 12 rows.
- I added an extra row in the contrast color, Senza. The sweater was too short for me without it. Because of this, and the extra couple of rows each stripe, I needed an extra skein in the CC than the pattern called for.
- Instead of a curved hem, I just did a simple 1x1 rib for 6 rows in my main color.
- Sleeves: pick up stitches as written in pattern, placing a stitch marker at beginning of round, on the underside of the sleeve. Knit for 2 inches. Decrease 2 stitches every 9 rounds, 4 times (k1, k2tog, knit to 3 stitches before marker, ssk, k1). Knit 1x1 rib for 5 rounds. BO.
