Last week I was at my LYS and I saw this some Kelbourne Woolens Scout in the most gorgeous color (Mint Heather). I fell in love instantly and knew I had to make a sweater with it. This is my first time working with Scout and it is an immense pleasure so far. This is a DK weight yarn. It has the same airy lightness and softness as Brooklyn Tweed yarns like Shelter.
This piece is the beginning of the back piece of a Foldlines pullover by Norah Gaughan for the early fall BT set of patterns. Shown below is one full repeat of the cable pattern. It’s been addictive so far.
This is the first time I’ve chosen a drop shoulder pattern. Many of the ones I have seen look ill-fitting, but this one is too gorgeous to pass up and it seems to be a good fit.
However, I’m not so crazy about the recommended positive ease. The recommended ease is 8+ inches, but it’s shown with eleven inches of positive ease. Ok, I think that would be insanely unflattering on me. I went with the size that will be about 4 inches of ease. I’ve noticed most recently Brooklyn Tweed patterns I like have a tremendous amount of positive ease. Maybe that’s just the style, or a clever tactic to sell more yarn. I don’t know. I’m not a bit fan of very oversized items.
What do you all think about that much positive ease in patterns?
Excessive ease makes me look like a potato famine victim. I rarely knit sweaters because so many patterns are designed with quite a bit of ease. I worry that dropping down in size too much will make the sweater look ill proportioned but that knitting with the recommended ease will leave me with a sweater that only works as a cat or dog blanket!
I love positive ease 🙂 but personally I like wearing very baggy tops paired with skinny bottoms, or half tucked into waisted, but loose bottoms. I can understand it does not fit every body type, and it does not always fit mine either, but I just like it anyway!
I generally like there to be some positive ease, but not a lot. Right now, I’m knitting a Weekender, and making a size down so that the 10 inches of positive ease will not be that on my person.
I don’t like that much positive ease either. I’m not a small woman (yet) but I haven’t lost 100 lbs to turn around and spend hours knitting to create something that adds the weight back on.
I’m knitting a Foldlines pullover too, and yeah, BT patterns have insane amounts of positive ease! I always ignore the recommended ease guideline from them, and work a size that gives me 1 inch negative ease in lightweight yarns and regular sleeves, or about 1 inch positive ease in heavy yarns and regular sleeves, or about 2 inches positive ease in lightweight yarns and dropped shoulders. No regrets — the sweaters fit me very well!
I find myself repeatedly frustrated with the trend towards large amounts of positive ease in patterns! I don’t find it flattering for my figure and not many people can pull off 4+ inches of positive ease without being swallowed by the garment. It also requires far more yarn than knitting a fitted sweater and a larger time investment to boot. I’m hoping more fitted silhouettes make a comeback soon.
I can’t wait to see how this sweater progresses because it’s gorgeous so far!
I have a top-heavy figure and positive ease emphasises that in a way I don’t like. I hadn’t thought before that it might be a sneaky tactic to sell more yarn- I already find that a lot of patterns wildly overestimate the recommended yardage. This happens in sewing patterns too and it irritates me because I don’t like to be wasteful. I normally alter patterns to have just a little positive ease for oversized designs and I generally like the results.
Love the stitch pattern! And the color is gorgeous!