So here it is all in one post, and each subheading links to the post that describes the steps in more detail, but for an advanced knitter, this should cover the most important points. If it does not, please let me know, and I will amend accordingly.
Materials
- About 1/3 of a skein of Aldi or Regia 4-ply self-striping superwash sock yarn
- Most of a skein of Aldi or Regia 4-ply superwash sock wool in a complementary color
- 2.5mm and 3.0mm circular needles
- 8 stitch markers
- A tapestry needle and a length of quilting ribbon to act as a stitch holder.
- A crochet hook for the cast-on and bind-off is optional.
Using the
provisional cast on of your choice, cast 80 stitches onto a 2.5mm circular
needle.
Work 16
rounds of 2x2 ribbing.
Round 1:
change to a 3.0mm circular needle and knit each stitch together with its base.
Round 2:
place a stitch marker after every 10th stitch. Color changes will occur
at the center back, but rounds will be counted from the center front.
Round 3:
knit to the third marker after the center back marker. Slip the marker, wrap
the next stitch, and turn. Purl back to the center marker and then continue to
the third marker after that. Slip the marker, wrap the next stitch, and turn.
Knit the full round, working each wrap in with the stitch it wraps.
Round 4:
increase 4 stitches in each section, as evenly spaced as possible.
Rounds 5
& 6: work even.
Round 7:
knit to the second marker after the center back marker. Slip the marker, k7,
wrap the next stitch, turn. Purl back to the center marker and then continue to
the second marker past that. Slip the marker, p7, wrap the next stitch, and
turn. Knit the full round, working in the wraps.
Round 8, 9,
& 10: work even.
Round 11: knit
to the second marker after the center back marker. Slip the marker, wrap the
next stitch, turn. Purl back to the center marker and then continue to the
second marker past that. Slip the marker, wrap the next stitch, and turn. Knit
the full round, working in the wraps.
Round 12: increase
4 stitches in each section, as evenly spaced as possible.
Rounds 13 –
19: work even.
Round 20: increase
4 stitches in each section, as evenly spaced as possible.
Rounds 21 –
27: work even.
Round 28: increase
4 stitches in each section, as evenly spaced as possible.
Rounds 29 –
32: work even. Consider changing back to the base color in one of these rounds.
Also, move the markers: keep the center back marker. K 27, place a marker (right
back); k 45, place a marker (right sleeve); k 28 (right front), you should be
at the center front marker. From the center front marker, k27, place a marker (left
front); k 45, place a marker (left sleeve); k 28 (left back), and you should be
back at the center back marker.
My way of doing this may be somewhat idiosyncratic, but you may find these instructions useful if you've never done this before.
Knit 45,
make 5 for an underarm gusset, join to work in the round. Work two rounds even,
decrease out two of the gusset stitches. Repeat twice more. You will have
decreased 6 stitches.
Work 9
rounds even, decreasing two on the tenth round. Repeat this once more. You
should have 40 stitches, at which point you work ten more rounds even, then
switch to 2.5mm circular needles and 2x2 ribbing for 8 rounds. Bind off
stretchily.
Knit around
the body stitches, picking up 5 stitches at each underarm, in the base of the
sleeve gussets. Decrease these stitches out in the same pattern as for the
sleeves: two rounds even, decrease two stitches, repeat twice more. Then work
even until there are 80 rounds from where you joined the collar. Switch to
2.5mm needles and 2x2 ribbing for 16 rounds. Bind off stretchily.
Work in the
ends. Wash. Block. Hug.
Here is a sample square I made a few days ago: the center bit represents the low temperature (below 0°C), the middle ring is the color of the sky that day, and the outer bit is the high temperature (I think it was 4°C that day).
The color card (click to embiggen) shows my temperature scale, and down there on the left is the plan I finally came up with for how to sew the squares together. I initially thought of starting at the center and working out in a spiral, but no I don't think so. And below is the whole project fitting in a box! Clearly this is a project to do at home, not on the go, which will be difficult on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I leave the house at 7:30 and get home Very Late Indeed and Also Quite Tired, but I think no one will be surprised to find me crocheting a granny square for each day, but not necessarily on each day. One of my resolutions for the coming year is to learn to recognize and work within my limitations.
