My pattern is a simple drop shouldered pullover, knit with DK weight
yarn (I used Hayfield
Grampion DK, a very nice quality machine washable/dryable wool blend),
with a gauge of 5.5
stitches per inch. The handsome heraldic lion that adorns the
front of the sweater was designed by
Kim Brody Salazar, and you can obtain the chart from Sarah Bradberry's
website by clicking here.
The sweater was knit in scarlet and gold. I couldn't find a DK
weight
gold wool locally, and ended up using a fingering weight yarn for the
lion, which I doubled. The
effect of using the thinner yarn doubled actually turned out to be
quite pleasing, as it 'raised' the lion
slightly, giving it a bit more oomph.
New! Sandi Rosner has generously shared her vest variation---
a cotton
v-neck vest. Thanks, Sandi! If anyone
would like to contribute a photo of the vest please contact me.
Here are the instructions for the sweater.
"Heraldic Lion" Sweater Pattern
Size: 34" finished chest measurement
Materials:
6 skeins Hayfield Grampion DK yarn, color "Brimstone" (red) Each
skein approx. 164 yards.
Estimated total yardage of MC: 927 yds. 1 skein DK weight yarn
in gold (note: I used fingering
weight yarn, doubled, that I had in my stash. I used much less
than 1 skein in the CC yarn).
Needles: US #4 and 6; 16" circular needle in US #4.
Gauge: 5.5 stitches/7 rows=1" using US #6 needles.
Back:
with MC and #4 needles, cast on 86 sts. Work in k1, p1 ribbing
for 2", inc. 8 sts evenly across last
row of ribbing -- 94 sts.
Switch to #6 needles and stockinette stitch, and work even until
piece
measures 13" from beginning.
Place underarm markers here (I just used a short length of scrap yarn
for the markers). Continue in
stockinette stitch until piece measures 21" from beginning. Bind
off 94 sts. across back.
Front:
Work as for back, including marking the underarms AND AT THE SAME TIME:
when piece measure 6" from beginning, starting on the right side
(knit
row): knit 20, work Lion chart
over next 54 sts, knit 20. Remember to twist your yarns when
you change colors, to prevent holes.
To help avoid that hopeless tangle of yarn when doing intarsia,
alternate
the direction you turn your
work at the end of each row---this really works!!!! Work chart
through Row 61.
Continue with MC and stockinette stitch until piece measures 18"
from
beginning, end ready for a
right side row.
Neck Shaping: Knit 37, attach a 2nd ball of yarn, bind off center
20 stitches, and work across row.
Working both sides at once, decrease 1 stitch at each neck edge, every
other row, 7 times (30
stitches remaining on each side). Continue in stockinette stitch
until piece measures 21" from
beginning. Bind off 30 sts. across each shoulder.
Sleeves (make 2!): With #4 needles and MC, cast on 44
sts.
Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 2:, inc. 4
stitches evenly across last ribbing row. Change to #6 needles
and stockinette stitch, and increase as
follows: increase 1 st each side of sleeve every 4 rows 12 times
, then every 5 rows 8 times -- 88
sts. total. Continue even until sleeve measures 15.5" from
beginning.
Bind off all sts.
Finishing: Weave in all ends. Seam shoulders. Sew
in sleeves, using underarm markers to place the
sleeves. Seam sleeves and side seams.
Neck Ribbing: with #4 16" circular needle, pick up and knit 86
stitches evenly around neck
opening. Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 1.5" or desired length.
Bind off loosely in ribbing.
Sandi's Vest
Variation
I've finished the cotton vest. Here are the
instructions.
I appreciate your offer to add
them to your website for others to use. Let me know if you have
any questions.
I've figured for a vest 22" long and 42" at the chest -- my eight
year
old is a big guy and he doesn't
like his clothes tight. If you want to make it smaller, Laurie's
original pattern is for a 34" finished
chest. Laurie's gauge with wool is the same as mine with cotton,
so you could use her measurements
and adapt the armholes and neckline.
I also did the cast on and first row of ribbing in gold, as well as
the last row and bind off the neck and
armhole ribbings. I just happen to like the look of tipped
ribbing,
but it's your sweater, so do it your
way.
Materials: Tahki Cotton Classic Red #3488 - 7 skeins, Gold #3549 1 skein
Needles: 24" circulars size 3 and size 5, or size to obtain gauge
Gauge: 5 1/2 sts to the inch and 7 1/2 row to the inch on
larger
needles in
Stockinet stitch
BACK:
Cast on 114 stitches on smaller needles. Work in K2 P2 rib (or
whatever rib
you like) for 2" - about 15 rows. Switch to larger needles and
work even in
stockinet stitch until the piece measures 15" (about 94 rows).
On next
right side row, bind off 5 sts for armhole, knit across. On next
row, bind off 5
sts for armhole, purl across. Decrease 1 at each side edge every
right side
row 6 times. This should leave 92 stitches. Work even until
the piece
measures 21" long (about 44 rows).
Neck and shoulder shaping: bo 8, k 15, k2 together, k1. Attach
new ball of
yarn, bo 40 for back neck (or put on a holder if you prefer), k1, ssk,
k to
end. next row: bo 8, p 17, move to other side of neck, p to
end.
next row:
bo 8, k 6, k2together, k 1, move to other side, k1, ssk, k14.
next row: bo
8, p 8, move to other side, p 8. Last row - bind off remaining
stitches.
FRONT:
Work as for back except work chart beginning after row 40 of stockinet
stitch, with 30 stitches on each side of 54 stitch chart. Don't
forget to
do the armhole shaping just like the back when you get to the
appropriate
number of rows. You'll have a couple of rows of chart left while
you do the
armhole shaping.
Neck shaping: In the row after you finish the armhole
shaping,
split the
piece for the neck: k 43, k2tog,k1, attach new ball, k1, ssk,
k 43. Purl
across every wrong side row. Continue to decrease 1 stitch each
side of
neck on every right side row until 24 sts are left on each side.
This produces a
relatively shallow, wide v-neck. It will look too wide until
you get the
ribbing in. Work even on 24 stitches until the front measures
the same as
the back. Work shoulder shaping same as back.
At neck edge and armholes, pick up stitches at the rate of 2
stitches
for
every three rows, or whatever seems to work for you. Mine was
96 stitiches
for each armhole, and 134 stitches for the neck. Work in k2 p2
rib for
about 1 1/2 inches. I usually do V-neck ribbings back and forth
with both ends
free, than lap one over the other and sew them down. I like this
look.
Other people work them in the round and miter the V - your choice.
Sandi Rosner
Sebastopol, CA
sr041091@aol.com
"Heraldic Lion Sweater" pattern © 2000 By Laurie Kynaston; http://www.vintageknits.com. You may share this pattern on your on-line knitting pattern collections or in newsletters, providing this notice remains attached. (I would appreciate notification if you use this pattern!) This pattern is intended for personal use, or for charitable donations/sale. Please contact me at lavs@vintageknits.com for permission to include this pattern in any written collection or to use it for commercial purposes.
Updated October 23, 2001