In 2023, I decided to knit a pullover using leftover yarn. It’s a DK weight yarn that’s very warm, making it perfect for the cold winters we experience here. The lime colour inspired me to create a zesty, striped pullover, which could lift anyone’s mood on dreary days.
An exhilarating color combination made up of a large quantity of leftover yarn.
I was very excited about the colour combination at first, but once I started knitting the second sleeve, I began to doubt whether I would ever wear it. It was starting to look loud, which for a 20 or 30-year-old could be a ton of fun, but for me? So, I stopped knitting it and set it aside. I didn’t want to suddenly rip it out, and then what? What if I changed my mind about ripping it out after I ripped it out? Every thought about it was quite nebulous. I started another project to give me time to think about it, and the experimental pullover sat in my closet for about nine months.
By the time the Summer 2024 Olympics in France began, new ideas started to surface. I was still considering stripes, without the lime green yarn as part of the mix. I must admit I was more in love with the deep purple than the other colors. I’m a porphyrophile, didn’t you know? I ripped back all the way to the collar, as I realized I had also messed up on the sleeve increases. Shoot. That’s what I get for knitting late in the evenings.
Here’s where the fun begins. The pattern is both intriguing and experimental. I worked with the Pink Onyx by Ayako Monier, which I had previously knitted, and I added a collar, longer sleeves, and omitted the side faux cables. This time, I chose fewer stripes in similar purples, along with the hot purple yarn, to add some pop.
My second stab at the Experimental Pullover using fewer stripes and more purples.
Around the same time I finished the pullover, it’s as if the universe said, “Oh, there’s more to explore and add to this experimental pullover, look here!” My local yarn store announced a class in their newsletter about embroidery on knits. As you might know, it’s not new; it’s been around for many decades. Since I already knew most embroidery stitches, my curiosity was more about how to embroider on a knitted surface than the stitches themselves. Every knitter knows you shouldn’t hoop a knitted garment, yikes! The class was exciting, and everyone focused on their embroidery for a couple of hours! Here’s my sample.
Working on my embroidery on a knitted swatch.
And it’s easy to get carried away with this…
So, what is the trick to embroidering on knits using embroidery floss? It’s a Sulky product…Join me tomorrow, I’ll tell you all about it!
This is part 1 of 2 in this series
Go to part 2: Stick, Stitch, Soak: Transforming a Pullover with Sulky Fabri-Solvy
