Favorite Thing Friday: Derry Raglan

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It’s official! I finished knitting my first raglan sweater! After receiving the book, New England Knits by Cecily Glowik Macdonald and Melissa LaBarre, I fell in love with the pattern for the Derry Raglan and Cowl. This didn’t surprise me in the least as MacDonald was the designer of the pattern for the first sweater I ever made, (See Knit, Purl, Knit …). I just love her designs! They highlight simplicity with just the right touch of intricate detail.

The Derry Raglan has a plain front, but a beautiful lace pattern runs down the sleeve. Seeing as I live in a mild climate, the idea of ventilated sleeves on a sweater made this the perfect project for me. Plus, it had the added bonus of learning the raglan technique for the yoke and shoulders of a garment. I’m always ready to try something new.

Before doing anything I had to learn how to do a Right-lifted Increase and a Left-lifed increase. Luckily, I found two great videos on youtube for both stitches. It’s rare to find a knitting video that clearly explains every step and takes the time to visually go through those steps slowly and repeatedly. If you need to learn these stitches, follow the links!

Pyrrha Designs: Right Lifted Increase

Pyrrha Designs: Left Lifted Increase

Aside from lifted stitch increases, the hardest part of this sweater was the first round. After casting on, the pattern stipulated lifted increases with only the cast on stitches to pick up.  I had to start over at least four times before I found the right tension!  Once I got that first round, everything fell into place.

The finished project turned out great!

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A little magic math on the gauge lead to a perfect fit!

The yarn is Berroco Remix in Red. Made from recycled fibers and cotton, this yarn is not only soft, but also earth friendly!

When I bound off the final stitch, it was 80 degrees outside. There’s nothing worse than finishing a beautiful sweater and knowing you’ll have to wait more than six months to wear it. However, as luck would have it, a cold front swept through my area for one day this week. I got to wear my new sweater after all!

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What’s your favorite thing this week?

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c.b.w. 2014

24 thoughts on “Favorite Thing Friday: Derry Raglan”

  9. If you want to wear that beautiful sweater more often, come and visit ME! lol As someone already mentioned, your knitting has blossomed. You’ve taken to the craft like a duck to water. 🙂

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  11. Well done for knitting your own sweater!! I use to love knitting in my late teens, it was very fashionable in the 80’s to wear knits of various kinds, and I’ve noticed it has made a real come back recently, lots of shops springing up selling yarn again. They all disappeared in the late 90’s, not many seemed interested in knitting any more – including me. I went off it in my early 20’s, and have never knitted again, just don’t have the patience for it these days. I do for writing – loads of patience, but not knitting! Great idea for a You Tube video! I was always running to my dear Mum with my mistakes – she was so good at unpicking and sorting it out where I’d gone wrong. I could have done with those videos! 😀

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    • I run to my aunt when I can’t figure something out and after making a huge mistake! I think what I love about knitting is the challenge. Every new project means learning a new stitch or a new technique. I like the learning curve and having something to show for it at the end. 🙂

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  12. Pingback: Favorite Thing Friday: Summer Knitting | C.B. Wentworth

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