I finished up my Pepin Cowl Chunky test knit for Aly of @Alythreads on Instagram a few weeks ago (read about it here) and have been blessed with a few wholesale and some Etsy orders. I promised myself I wouldn’t do any more test knitting until January so I could take some time to focus on my own designs and trying to get my items in more stores.
When I saw Destiny of @kniftyknittings post a tester call for her Raglan with a Twist, I had instant regret for making a promise to myself that I was going to break. BUT DO NOT WORRY- it was very well worth it!
I’ve been following Destiny since I created a knitting account on Instagram and have always loved her designs! They always strike me as simple while still being sophisticated and unique. I had been seeing her progress photos on her feed of this design but couldn’t imagine what it was going to turn into when she was done. Let me tell you- this design did not disappoint.
Let’s talk about the logistics.
You can make this sweater using a few skeins of Lion Brand Yarn Touch of Alpaca. How many you need depends on what size you knit. I knit a size 6 and used five skeins. But hold on a minute- size 6? I LOVE when designers use numbers for their designs. It’s just something small that makes them seem even more size inclusive.
I knit a bit looser than Destiny so I had to go up a needle size to meet gauge. Since this is a category 4 yarn that seems more like a category 3 light worsted yarn, I thought this sweater would take FOREVER. But I was pleasantly surprised! I think having the applied hem to look forward to made the body of the sweater fly off my needles. The applied hem did take a bit longer than I anticipated but I wasn’t mad because it’s something I don’t do that often and I found it fun!
Let’s talk about DAT TWIST THO. I’ll be honest, it was my favorite part of the pattern in pictures but I was not looking forward to actually figuring out how to make it happen. Thankfully, Destiny has made a video that goes through every technique in the pattern you could possibly have questions on- including the twist. After watching the video, making the twist was a breeze and I cannot wait to incorporate it in other patterns!
This sweater is designed to be cropped but would be so easy to add length to. I normally don’t wear cropped sweaters because #insecurity BUT I took a leap of faith with this one and I’m so glad I did! I don’t know if it’s the applied hem or the fit or what, but it is so flattering. I think having it cropped actually made it look better on than if I would have added the 4 inches I normally would.
I would say this pattern is for an adventurous beginner/intermediate knitter. It probably shouldn’t be your first sweater but if you want to add a twist (hehehe) to your regular stack of sweaters, this is a great choice!
There are only two things I would change about this design: one is how you work the collar and the other is the yarn. I don’t love picking up stitches. And I won’t go into much detail because you should buy the pattern, but though it’s not personal preference, it really isn’t bad. Just not personal fave and honestly the only thing I would change (and I am very particular about my knit sweaters).
The yarn is high quality and has great colors. I love Lion Brand and have had this particular yarn for about a year, just waiting for the right pattern to come along. But my skin is very sensitive to wool… and I guess alpaca too! Normally I can tough it out and with this sweater, it’s well worth the slight itch. But if you’re sensitive like me, I’d recommend looking into other options that are wool-free or merino.
The pattern goes live around November 12th, so make sure you keep your eyes out, follow Destiny on Instagram (@kniftyknittings), and snag this pattern. You’ll also be able to get it as a kit with Lion Brand which is a GREAT option!
Happy Knitting!
Samantha
Called by Name 