Based on my Myrtle block
The sample from the original pattern in the Myrtle Revisited yarn shows that the dye scheme works, but the motifs are larger than ideal.
Tried carrying a strand of Wooly Nylon Extra behind and using it with the doubled stitches, didn’t like it. It could be used as an outline embroidery stitch after?
Try the larger diamonds with a center knit stitch width of 9 rather than 13? And the smaller ones 3 rather than 5? …keep 5 for now.
Centers of diamonds could have a pattern, such as moss stitch. …not moss, needs to be an odd number.
Alter doubled stitches and YOs so that internal diamonds are bordered by the YOs May not be possible, standard look…
trial pattern, with purls between the Diamond motifs.
Sample worked of Myrtle Revisited yarn, then photocopied over that one to see if the pattern might work. Partway into this, I was much taken with the Low Tide saddle shoulder pattern, but think I’ll defer it for the next sweater (soft blue/gray?) as there’s still ample raw yarn.
Bodies of Myrtles were knitted on US 6 – 4.0 mm, with ribbing on US 3 – 3.25 mm: 30 stitches = 5.75”
Diamond swatch was worked with US 2 / 2.75 mm: 40 stitches = 5.75”
40 stitches = 1 small Diamond + 1 large + 1 small
Multiply Myrtle stitch count by 1.33 to get diamonds’ gauge. Myrtle body = 80 + 80, so Diamond = 105-ish
Try 120 + 120? Should be multiples of 39, not 40! So 117+117
Six hundred-gram skeins of Plymouth Sakkie dyed in two lots of three and then wound in double-strand cakes: one front, one back, one for sleeves split halfway but remaining connected.
Myrtle began with JMCO of 80+80, which gave a line across the back of the shoulder wedges and back neck edge. The wedges were worked individually and each increased until they met at the front.
Myrtle’s neck edge was 36×4 k2p2 stitches = 144 stitches on US3/3.25 mm needles for 5 rounds. Fiddled with it, not sure of what I ended up with.
Diamond Pattern Sweater
U.S. 3 / 3.25 mm needles
22” red mini cable, 22” clear
JMCO 109 +109 Red cable on top
Pins every 9, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 9 stitches both sides
Put Front stitches on clear cable.
Rework pattern table for knitCompanion
(Do back first and then do shoulder wedges and down front)
Knit one row back.
Begin knitCompanion chart (I began at Row 33 – repeat is 32, as it moved the directions to the middle of the kC page)
Work a dozen rows to be sure transitions between 39-sections are right, finish chart in Procreate and add to knitCompanion
There will need to be a short row adjustment (aka a small dart) at the front lower bust so that the diamonds reconcile at the join at the armscye.
Work pattern straight down for 32 Rows (one full repeat). Work next set of 10 rows, which is the start of the armscye increases.
The paper pattern pinned to the back (front and back are drawn together). The sweater back runs straight across under the back neck ribbing; there is a wedge across the tops of the shoulders that brings them into sync (shown on the Myrtles).
Back
Actual flare on back:
Begins on Row 43 (knitCompanion chart 1-32, then 1-11):
Add 1 stitch to each side (all increases are worked plain as they’re rolling into/under the armpit) = 109 + 2= 111
Row 44 (12) = 111 stitches
Row 45 (13)
Row 46 (14)
Row 47 (15) +1 each end = 113
Row 48 (16)
Row 49 (17)
Row 50 (18)
Row 51 (19) +1 each end = 115
Row 52 (20)
Row 53 (21)
Row 54 (22)
Row 55 (23) +1 each end = 117
Row 56 (24)
Row 57 (25)
Row 58 (26) +1 each end = 119
Row 59 (27)
Row 60 (28)
Row 61 (29) +1 each end = 121
Row 62 (30)
Row 63 (31) +1 each end = 123
Row 64 (32)
Row 65 (1) +1 each end (+8 +8) = 125
Row 66 (2)
Row 67 (3) +1 each end (+9 +9) = 127
Row 68 (4)
Row 69 (5) +1 each end (+10 +10) = 129
Row 70 (6)
Row 71 (7) +1 each end (+11 +11) = 131
Row 72 (8)
Row 73 (9) +1 each end (+12 +12) = 133
Row 74 (10)
Row 75 (11) +1 each end (+13 +13) = 135
Row 76 (12)
Row 77 (13) +4 each end (+17 +17) = 143
Put back stitches on a cable loop. Put lifeline across (inactive till now) front stitches.
Shift to other end (neck edge) and work shoulder wedges and front down to armscye join
Diamonds back stitches: 9+13+13+13+13+13+13+13+9=109
Working forward, left shoulder wedge: 37, neck stitches: 35, right shoulder wedge: 37
Create template for shoulder wedges and work to that (solid purls on each side), shaping with short rows
Diamonds’ shoulder wedges are worked from the front half of JMCO and one of the sleeve balls.
Neck stitches are put on a separate cable as soon as accessible
Right wedge is worked, capturing stitches over the neck cable
Then Left Wedge is worked with the end of a sleeve ball
The wedge patterns are not reversible as the right is worked from shoulder in and the left, from neck out
Right Wedge, Rows 1, 2, 3 (short rows):
Row 1: Slip first stitch, purl 37 (to neck edge).
Put 35 neck stitches on shorter cable with stoppers on ends (for easier wrapping of yarn); there will be a gap for neck in working front cable.
Row 2: Purl backwards to 5 stitches before shoulder, shadow wrap, turn.
Row 3: Purl to 2 stitches before neck, work together. Wrap yarn around neck cable (always do this). Turn.
Row 4: Purl backwards to shoulder, picking up shadow wrap as one.
Row 5: Slip first stitch, purl to 2 stitches before neck, work together. Wrap yarn around neck cable. Turn.
Row 6: Purl backwards to shoulder.
Row 7: Slip first stitch, purl to 2 stitches before neck, work together. Turn.
Row 8: Purl backwards to shoulder.
Row 9: Slip first stitch, purl to 2 stitches before neck, work together. Turn.
Row 10: Purl back to 10 before shoulder, shadow wrap (short row), turn
Rows 11-14 work straight in established pattern.
Row 15: Slip first stitch, purl to neck, lifted increase. Turn.
Row 16: Purl backwards to shoulder.
Row 17: Purl back to neck, lifted increase. This leaves this yarn at neck edge.
Change to a sleeve ball.
Skip neck area, duplicate shoulder wedge on left
Join yarn from a sleeve ball. Capture neck cable as above.
Row 1: Slip first stitch, purl 37 (to shoulder edge).
Row 2: Purl backwards to two stitches before neck, work together.
Row 3: Purl to 5 stitches before shoulder, (short row) shadow wrap, turn.
Row 4: Purl backwards to two stitches before neck, work together.
Row 5: Purl to shoulder, picking up 2 shadowed stitches as one.
Rows 6-10, in pattern with decreases at neck edge.
Row 11-12 short rows 10 from shoulder edge.
Row 13-14 work in pattern, lifted increase at center front.
Row 15 plain
Row 16 lifted increase at center front.
Row 17 This leaves yarn at shoulder
Left Wedge:
17. 16 15 14 13 12 11 10
Back neck, 13
Wedge, at neck, 9 (x2) CHECK THIS
Front neck, 36? Total 13+18+36=67
***********
Lifeline.
JMCO: Cast on XX stitches over a short cable, work 2×2 neck ribbing to (depth), trying on for specs
Stitch count and pattern are Myrtle: adjust!
Right Row 7: work 2 tog at neck edge (pattern with LI rather than YO at start), (pattern), YO, k3, k3tog, k2
Right Row 8 capture neck cable on first stitch, k2tog, k to shoulder = 10, 10, 3
(Original Horseshoe pattern Row 3: k1, YO, k2, k3tog, k2, YO, k2)
Right Row 9: (pattern), (pattern), k3 = 10, 10, 3
Right Row 10: Work 2tog at neck edge after capturing cable, work to 10 from shoulder, Twin stitch, turn
Right Row 11, Short row: (k2, YO, k1, k3tog, k1, YO, k3) (k3).
Right Row 12, capture neck cable on first stitch, k2tog, k to shoulder = 10, 10, 2
Right Row 13: (k3, YO, k3tog, YO, k4) (k2tog) = 10, 10, 1
Done with first ball from tail of sleeve!
Right Rows 14-15 CC: knit across & back as per established pattern, LI beg of neck = 10, 10, 2
Change to Front Ball, continue to work front using patterns given below, extending neck edge each time by 2 st until total of 40. Use old tail hanging out the front for the cast-on stitches at the end of each pattern row.
Main Color:
Round 1: move running marker to the back yo, k3, k3tog, k3, yo, kl
(k3tog: slip 2 sts together knit wise, knit next stitch tbl, pass slipped sts over)
Round 2: knit move running marker forward
Round 3: kl, yo, k2, k3tog, k2, yo, k2
Round 4: knit
Round 5: k2, yo, kl, k3tog, kl, yo, k3
Round 6: knit move running marker to the back
Round 7: k3, yo, k3tog, yo, k4 move running marker forward Round 8: knit
Contrast Color:
Round 9: slip first stitch knit
Round 10: knit
Ready for Left Wedge
LeftWedge Row 1/2/3 Short Rows:
Far end of Sleeve Cake
(original horseshoe pattern, Row 3: k1, YO, k2, k3tog, k2, YO, k2)
k3tog = slip first two sts knit wise, k 3rd through back loop, pass slipped stitches over
LeftRow 1 (27 stitches) k7, (pattern), (pattern) ends at shoulder.
LeftRow 2 sl1, work back to neck
Left Row 3 (short row) capture neck cable, k2tog, work back to 5 sts before shoulder, twin st, turn.
(Original horseshoe pattern, Row 5: k2, YO, k1, k3tog, k1, YO, k3).
Capture cable, k2tog, k4, (k2, YO, k1, k3tog, k1, YO, k3) (k2, YO, k1, k2tog) = shoulder end of short row.
Twin next stitch, turn.
Left Row 4 work back to neck.
(Original Horseshoe pattern, Row 7: k3, YO, k3tog, YO, k 4)
Left Row 5: capture cable, k2 tog, k3, (k3, YO, k3tog, YO, k4) (k3, YO, k3tog, YO, k4) = shoulder.
Left Rw 6: sl1, work back to neck edge
(Original Horseshoe pattern Row 1 – skipping contrast rows –YO, k3, k3tog, k3, YO, k1)
Left Row 7: capture cable, k4, (YO, k3, k3tog, k3, YO, k1) (YO, k3, k3tog, k3, YO, k1) = shoulder
Left Row 8: sl1, work back to neck edge
(Original Horseshoe pattern Row 3: k1, YO, k2, k3tog, k2, YO, k2)
Left Row 9: capture neck cable on first stitch, k2tog, k2, (k1, YO, k2, k3tog, k2, YO, k2) (k1, YO, k2, k3tog, k2, YO, k2) to shoulder = 4, 10, 10
Left Row 10: sl1, work back to neck edge
(Original horseshoe pattern, Row 5: k2, YO, k1, k3tog, k1, YO, k3)
Left Row 11: capture neck cable, k3, (k2, YO, k1, k3tog, k1, YO, k3) (k2, YO, k1, k3tog, k1, YO, k3)
Left Row 12: sl1, work back to neck
(Original Horseshoe pattern, Row 7: k3, YO, k3tog, YO, k 4)
Left Row 13: Short Row – capture neck cable, k2tog, k1, (k3, YO, k3tog, YO, k 4), twin next stitch, turn
Left Row 14: sl1, work back to neck
Left Row 15: capture cable, k2, (k3, YO, k3tog, YO, k 4) (k3, YO, k3tog, YO, k 4)
Left Row 16: sl1, work back to neck, LI next to last stitch. = 10, 10, 4
Tie on CC and Change to Front Ball, continue to work front using patterns given, extending neck edge each time by 2 st until total of 40. Use old tail hanging out the front for the cast-on stitches at the end of each pattern row.
Myrtle armscye front increases, from bottom of shoulder wedge (= first row of upper back):
CF of neckline = Round 8 of pattern, Row 18 (running total at right sidebar of knitCompanion)
Round 2, Row 32 (return) + 1 each side = 82 stitches
(Lifted) Increases are 1 stitch in from end of row
Round 4, Row 34 (return) + 1 each side = 84 stitches
Round 6, Row 36 (return) + 1 each side = 86 stitches
Round 8, Row 38 (return) + 2 each side = 90 stitches
Round 10, Row 40 (return) + 2 each side = 94 stitches
Round 2, Row 42 (return) + 2 each side = 98 stitches
Round 4, Row 44 (return) + 2 each side = 102 stitches
Round 6, Row 46 (return) + 2 each side = 106 stitches
Round 8, Row 48 (return) + 2 each side = 110 stitches
Round 10, Row 50 (return) + 1 each side = 112 stitches
