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$7.00
How
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How
to Buy
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Total Maze Cardigan
PATTERN DETAILS
RELEASE DATE:
September 2003
DESCRIPTION:
This heavyweight garter stitch woman’s cardigan sweater is designed in an
unusual manner. It is worked outward from the neckline and center front.
The cast on edge starts at the lower right center front, moves up and
around the neckline, and ends at the lower left center front. You work the
back-and-forth stripes outward in a technique that I call garden maze
garter stitch (a name coined by a sister knitter – thanks, Barb!). The
sweater shown in the photos is the largest size and has a straight bottom
edge. In the smallest sizes there is a slit at the center bottom back
edge. Fitting to the name, the patterning on this sweater is designed as a
maze that encompasses the entire sweater – all of the main color stripes
are connected to other main color stripes, and the only "end" of a main
color stripe is at the center of the shoulders near the heart of the
wearer. The sleeves are worked circularly from the shoulders down. I-cord
edges the pocket slits and sweater body, and forms button loops. The
I-cord edgings and pocket linings are worked last. Because of the stretchy
garter stitch nature of the fabric, this sweater design is typically very
forgiving as to sleeve length and layers of clothes worn underneath it.
SIZE:
Sized to fit chest size 32 (40, 46, 52, 58) inches. Finished
chest size is 36 (44, 50, 55, 60) inches. See the schematic drawing. The
neckline and sweater length are the same for all the sizes. See the
schematic drawing for details.
SKILL REQUIRED:
Definitely advanced or very adventurous intermediate. Despite the seeming
simplicity, there are several unusual knitting and shaping techniques
included.
MATERIALS:
- YARN: Two or more colors of worsted
weight yarn. An animal fiber is a good choice for this project. The
sweater in the photo is 100% wool and is made of a combination of "3
Ply" (cream and mauve) and "2 Ply" (mauve) from Lone Cone Mountain Wool
and a sport weight single ply wool from Plain and Fancy Sheep and Wool
Company.
- Main Color: Approximately
715(800,900,940,1100) yards (660,740,830,870,1015 m). In order to make
the maze work, use only one color for the main color. I used natural
color wool.
- Contrast Color: Approximately the same
yardage as the main color. You can use more than one color for the
contrast color as was used for the sweater in the photo. I used a
black wool and a natural color wool which I dyed mauve with
unsweetened grape flavor soft drink mix (brands appropriate include
Kool-Aid and generic store brands).
- NEEDLES: US Size 9
(5.5 mm) or size to achieve gauge (critical) – you’ll need:
- Two long circular needles, one of which is no
longer than about 32 inches (81 cm) while the other can be longer (I
used two 32-inch needles) - you need to be able to hold up to 450 sts
for the sweater rows, and the I-cord edging of more than 500 sts will
probably require using both circular needles. AND you will also need:
- One set of double point needles to circularly work
the last rows of the sleeves.
- MISCELLANEOUS
- Darning needle
- 6 stitch markers
- 6 small safety pins
- 4 long flexible st holders (waste yarn works well)
- 5 buttons about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter (I used
sterling silver buttons inscribed with the Native American "man in the
maze" design).
GAUGE: In
garter stitch the gauge is 17 stitches per 4 inches and about 19 garter
ridges per 4 inches. You’ll notice that the gauge is approximately square
(the same number of stitches and garter ridges per inch) – it is this
symmetry that makes this garter stitch technique work. What is most
important for this garment is that the stitch gauge is quite exact (so that
the sweater neckline and length are the size shown), while the row gauge can
be slightly off, AND the garter stitch fabric must NOT be droopy – it needs
to be dense, but not stiff.
Labyrinth at back of shoulders (shown as worn)
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