I’ve knitted a jumper 🙂
I’ve knitted jumpers before but this one felt different because I didn’t feel like I was knitting an actual real entire jumper, a process that can sometimes feel a bit never-ending while you’re so engaged… this rather unusual and innovative design is essentially a patchwork comprised entirely of plain and identical triangles. So all you’re doing is knitting is a whole bunch of very quick and simple triangles, separately, one by one… you knit a triangle, toss it on the pile, knit another, whenever. The triangle itself is a super quick n’ easy pattern that you’ve memorised after the first couple. Making it a fairly mindless and terrifically painless project. Once you have enough you stitch them together into a jumper shape. So really it’s like, the jumper to knit when you don’t want to knit a jumper!
I bought the pattern pamphlet from Spotlight, thinking about the awkward quantity of fiddly diddly leftovers in my collection that were not enough to do anything with on their own but that were too much to throw away. Mission: Use Up Leftovers; and I think I’ve accomplished that quite successfully, ahem *smug self back pat* I used several different shades of grey, chocolate, beige, black, navy blue, mustard, natural and white; various Patons 8 ply and Rowan tweeds and several others too, basically a small collection of disparate leftovers I’ve held on to for forever. I also had to buy some new, don’t you always?! I bought some of the recommended Cleckheaton Country Naturals 8 ply from Spotlight. Which is where I bought the pattern pamphlet too 🙂
The pattern can quite easily look like a, er, regular jumper too if you aren’t keen on the multi-coloured harlequin look; you can always just use one colour for all your triangles. In the pamphlet there’s also pictured another, rather chic and stylish version made up in deep flecked charcoal which looks quite classic and mainstream and normal, and not patchwork-y at all!
But, as an interesting way to make good use of little bits and bobs I reckon this is a pretty good design idea, and is a nice and easy project for beginners too 🙂
Details:
Jumper; knitted by me from various 8ply yarns, a Nikki Gabriel design for Cleckheaton
Shorts; Burda 7723, made from an old charcoal gabardine skirt, details here
What a beautiful sweater! I love the colors you've chosen. It looks oh-so-comfy, as well as flattering.
thank you so much Diana! 🙂
Don't you love it when you have completed something just in time for the next season which is just on the doorstep! I can feel the change in the air at night. Nice use of all the leftovers.
Love the top photo with the beloved pooch!
thank you so much Rianna! as always for your kind thoughtful comments 🙂 Yes, it was quite cool on the beach and I was glad to have my jumper!
Oh my goodness! How amazing is this! I love it!!!!
thanks Carlee! 🙂
Gorgeous! I find it a bit of a chore to lug a large project with me for knitting while I'm travelling to and from work, but this would be perfect.
thank you! yes, it was the most portable knitting project I've ever had, I think 🙂
Great sweater – looks wonderful on you! I do so love that you find ways to use your scraps like this. It speaks to me of true stewardship.
thank you so much Shelley! as always for your lovely thoughtful comments too 🙂
Oh my god, I'm getting hives just thinking of all the seaming.
What approximately are the dimensions of the triangles? I don't really knit, but I do crochet… And perhaps I could figure out a "granny triangle" of sorts? Although, I'm sure my scraps won't coordinate nearly as well as yours do! Very nice sweater and creative way to put those ends to good use!
That's gorgeous! And a great way to use up leftovers.
thank you very much Liz ! 🙂
Amazing jumper and what a great way to use up the scraps.
what a fun jumper that is! and a great way to use up all the wool leftovers.. i really like it a lot.. and, i also had a similar sweater, that i got as a present way back in highschool, but mine was made out of rectangles instead of triangles.. thank you for reminding me of it, i'll have to look where is it, and can it still be worn 🙂
What a cool project! I love that it's made mostly from leftover yarn. Beautiful!
thank you lisa g.! I cannot claim it is "mostly" from leftovers, sadly, haha! Probably 3/5… but still, I did use up quite a bit of my leftover part-balls 🙂
Love the triangles. And the colors look so good with your beach background!
I really like your sweater and admire how well placed all of the triangles are.
By the way, I love your dog. You two must be great friends.
thank you patsijean! yes, we are. she's my cutiepattootie 🙂
ooh likey very much especially the neckline – how clever to use the triangles in that way. Jo x
Hey, great idea! I love the look. Especially in the front you placed the triangles really clever. I mean the lighter triangles give a slimming effect – not that you would need it 😉 – a bit like in some of these panelled dresses with dark and light colours creating a fake body shape. I wonder if you did it on pupose and if the effect could be enhanced?
Sorry for sidetracking, it's really really nice work.
thanks Kathrin! I did place and replace and replace the placement of the triangles, still not sure it turned out "perfect" in my mind but I'm fairly satisfied. Thank you! 🙂
What a striking jumper and what a bonus that it is made mostly of leftovers! I love your colour combinations. Your timing is perfect unlike my current project which is still on my needles while the first polar blast is blowing through.
thank you so much, fabric epiphanies! Haha! unfortunately I cannot claim it is "mostly"made from leftovers, maybe 3/5?! but well, I still did use up quite a few!
A fabulous use of your leftovers, Carolyn! Because your wardrobe is made up of cohesive colors, these really go together well! (Forgive the parenthetical, which I know you hate, but I just love seeing your cutie patootie doggie. 🙂 )
A jumper pattern that doesn't require lugging around a whole jumper = possibly perfect. Your version and styling is, as always, very stylish.
That looks like a lovely warm and snuggly jumper. I love the colour palette. Gorgeous.
Sienna and the jumper – I'm loving both of them! Carolyn, you are so inspiring, what a creative way to use up materials that you already had, and it looks fantastic!
aw, thank you so much Angela! yes, it's always a good idea to hang onto those seemingly pesky leftovers, they might just prove very useful down the track!
wow!! I love that jumper!! I have never attempted to knit myself anything because it just seems like waaaayyy too big a project!! But I think I could handle small triangles!!! I may have to go to spotlight and give that pattern a go!
Jessica
This looks gorgeous, very "you"! And it is indeed a very stylish and smart way to use your leftovers. Win-win!
There is nothing you can't do!!
haha! thank you Kyle! I guess the same goes for all of us 🙂
Fabulous idea and your colours work very well together.
That looks lovely! Just one question, or actually two: Didn't it take forever to sew all those triangles together and don't the seams create less stretchy lines in the jumper (although I realize that probably only happens to me when I sew up my knitwork because I don't know well enough what I'm doing…)?
It's a really clever way to use up leftovers and I like how they used those same triangles for everything, even the way the sleeves are set.
thank you Lauriana! and yes, it does take forever to sew the triangles together 😉 and also yes, stitching the seams does reduce the stretch-factor in the jumper. It's a fairly roomy jumper though so the lack of stretch is not a problem while you're wearing it 🙂
A brilliant way of using up all those leftovers.I believe the pattern companies actually devise patterns to ensure we have most of a ball left! You can thumb your nose at them now whilst wearing a great sweater.
I stand in awe of your talent! Very 70s vibe here.
Gorgeous as always Carolyn and very much your style.
Very nice sweater and great for trying out different colour combinations. You have nice colours here. I might give my knitting needles this assignment, too… 🙂