Knitting – Neon Goth Sweater

I started this project on March 15th, 2023 with the thought of reverse engineering a pattern that I had acquired ages ago when I worked at a yarn store. It was a pattern that was designed for a specific yarn called Antuco which I did not have nor was I going to look for. I liked the split hemline and bell sleeves on this pattern but it was pieced together and required seaming which I do not like doing. I spent a good portion of an afternoon doing math which turned out to be moot as I shelved the idea of reverse engineering the pattern in favor of taking the elements I liked and translate them to a basic sweater pattern that I am familiar with – a raglan.

The nice thing about a raglan is that there is no seaming and it’s worked top down which means you can try the garment on as you knit and make adjustments.

I used Ashley Lillis’s pattern Fall Bluff as a reference for when I needed to start the sleeve separation based on my math from my earlier endeavors. I opted to start with a rolled neckline rather than the garter stitch or ribbed neckline that both patterns used. And then the knitting began.

For the next few weeks I spent the mornings knitting anywhere from two to three hours, sometimes four, before I stopped. I can recall two days, both Fridays actually, that I did not do any knitting.

Every day, after I finished knitting for the day I would share a progress picture to my Instagram Stories. If you happen to follow me on Instagram these pictures will be familiar. It was a way for me to keep myself motivated. I also sent occasional progress pictures to a friend who was working on his own project (windchimes).

At the mid way point of working on the sweater I actually asked for help from the collective folks from Instagram in deciding on the type of hem I would do – A garter stitch hem or a ribbed hem. The decision was made for a ribbed hem. When I started the sleeves I asked a second question – where to start the bell portion of the sleeve – at the wrist or somewhere above the wrist (like two inches or so). They chose above the wrist.

About the yarn I used – several months ago I ripped back and reclaimed yarn from a reader shawl I made back in 2012 and never used. The yarn – Millie Colori by Lang Yarns is an equal blend of wool and acrylic fibers. I knew that there was a chance that I didn’t have enough of it to make a complete sweater so I made sure I could finish the body of the sweater and then when I ran out on the arms I would supplement it with Tosh Vintage by Madeline Tosh in Onyx which is 100% superwash merino wool.

It worked out really well. When I started the sleeves I had exactly two balls of the Millie Colori that weighed roughly same so I used one for each arm. Because the yarn fibers are different the bells on the sleeve are actually heavier than the rest of the sweater not in how bulky it is but in actual weight. Which is honestly not something that bothers me.

The sweater came off the knitting needles on April 5th. I let the sweater rest for a few days before I wet blocked it out on my blocking mat. It spent two days drying and this morning I sewed up the loose ends. Now the sweater is officially finished and ready to wear. Except I live in Texas so I don’t think I’ll get to wear it any time soon. But I did put it on and have Matt take a picture or two.

I really like how this sweater turned out for my first sweater. I might even make a few more, I certainly have plenty of yarn in sufficient quantities. Oh! The reason I decided to call this the Neon Goth Sweater – the colors in the Millie Colori have always felt a bit goth to me even back in 2012 and that orange is really electric. And well… there are bell sleeves.

Much love,

Charlie