On today’s Taking Back Friday vlog episode, I want to tell you all about how about I went about finishing my Jethro Cardigan using a knitting machine.
I’ve been working on this cardigan for a number of months now. The pattern is the Jethro cardigan designed by Tanis of Tanis Fiber Arts and it is made from crochet granny squares. It’s actually a mix of crocheted granny squares plus knitting for the sleeves, hem and front edges. All of the knitted parts of my sweater were done on my Silver Reed LK150 knitting machine. It’s perfect for working with this particular weight of yarn.
To finish this sweater, you could absolutely use hand-knitting. However, because I wanted to finish this project so I could wear it for the Vogue Knitting retreat in Sunriver, Oregon, I was under a bit of a time crunch.
I am so wonderfully pleased with how this sweater turned out, and I plan to make another one. I have all of these granny squares from a million years ago, so I’m planning to join those together to make a similar sweater for my daughter Nina. As I do that, I will film a tutorial to show exactly how I do the joining technique because that was a revelation and I loved it.
I hope you enjoy making your own Jethro, too, if you decide to make one!
Notes from this Episode
- I’m wearing the Jethro cardigan pattern by Tanis of Tanis Fiber Arts. I used SweetGeorgia Superwash DK Party of Five sets in Pine Island, Blazing Trails, and Spilling Secrets. These were crocheted with a G (4.00mm) crochet hook. (The only mini-skein I didn’t use from these sets was the Pineapple colourway.) The sleeves, hem and front band were knit with 3 skeins of SweetGeorgia Superwash DK in Birch. I made the size 3 version.
- SweetGeorgia Jethro Yarn Kits at our online shop.
- Online crochet courses at the School of SweetGeorgia, taught by Charlotte Lee.
- My Mattress Stitch Seaming tutorial.
Felicia’s Jethro Cardigan
Equipment
- Crochet Hook (pattern specified Hook F 3.75 mm, but I used Hook G 4mm)
Materials
- 3 sets SweetGeorgia Party of Five Superwash DK Mini-Skeins (one each in Blazing Trails, Pine Island, and Spilling Secrets)
- 3 skeins SweetGeorgia Yarns Superwash DK in Birch
Instructions
- Crochet 36 granny squares using the mini-skeins, arranging the colours as you like.
- Join the granny squares into panels as specified in Tanis' pattern. I joined my squares using the "join as you go" technique.
- Seam the shoulder with a firm chain stitch to add strength.
- Hang the sweater on the LK150 knitting machine to knit the sleeves. Work ribbing on the machine.
- Complete the second sleeve.
- Use "Mattress stitch" to seam the sleeves together.
- Seam the sides of the cardigan.
- Hang the bottom hem on the LK150 and work ribbing for the hem in two parts.
- Hang the half of the front of the cardigan on the LK150 and work ribbing for the collar. Hang the remaining half of the cardigan and work ribbing.
- Seam together the two sections of ribbing for the collar and the bottom hem.
- Weave in all the ends and wear it proudly!
