Potato Vodka

$8.00

Potato Vodka was inspired by the old photo you see included here with my sample pictures. The image features my great-great grandmother Rachel and her sisters, wearing matching sweaters they obviously made themselves. There are a lot of details in this image that I kind of love, but the women really stood out to me - and I wanted to re-interpret this sweater in my own voice.

What I focused on are the strong vertical lines on the body and the light/dark contrast of the cardigans. I especially love the strong white buttons against the dark sleeves and trim.

I chose Nightshades in Cinder as my background, because the subtle orange Harrisville uses against the dark yarn quietly pops my accent colors beautifully. Plus, the Cormo blend in this wool creates a lofty fabric for slipped stitches, something that doesn't stretch out or pull in more than intended.

Against this background, I chose Spincycle Yarns Dream State in Miss Me, which features soft orange, pink and greens. These colors feel similar in hue to the background, but provide a strong contrast in value. The combination is beautifully harmonious, and easy to see in pattern.

Using a textured slip-stitch motif in these two colors, creamy pale buttons, pockets, and my favorite V-neck cardigan silhouette, I created Potato Vodka with the original in mind. I never met Rachel, but l am named for her (both my middle and Hebrew names). This design is a nod to her life in a small Village in Eastern Europe years and years ago - and to the craft that connects us over time.

Potato Vodka is knit in one piece upwards from the hem and separated into three pieces at armholes. These pieces are worked flat from armhole to shoulders, then bound off and seamed together at top. Collar/button band stitches are picked up along the finished opening and worked flat, while adding buttonholes. Sleeve stitches are picked up around armholes and knit in the round to cuff.

There are hints in the pattern for modifying Potato Vodka for your own taste, plus notes on yarn choice and color management as you work. Based on test knitter feedback, l also added a suggestion for my method for picking up stitches along your button band to limit the "bleeding" through of the accent colors at the edge.

Scroll down for more details.

Potato Vodka was inspired by the old photo you see included here with my sample pictures. The image features my great-great grandmother Rachel and her sisters, wearing matching sweaters they obviously made themselves. There are a lot of details in this image that I kind of love, but the women really stood out to me - and I wanted to re-interpret this sweater in my own voice.

What I focused on are the strong vertical lines on the body and the light/dark contrast of the cardigans. I especially love the strong white buttons against the dark sleeves and trim.

I chose Nightshades in Cinder as my background, because the subtle orange Harrisville uses against the dark yarn quietly pops my accent colors beautifully. Plus, the Cormo blend in this wool creates a lofty fabric for slipped stitches, something that doesn't stretch out or pull in more than intended.

Against this background, I chose Spincycle Yarns Dream State in Miss Me, which features soft orange, pink and greens. These colors feel similar in hue to the background, but provide a strong contrast in value. The combination is beautifully harmonious, and easy to see in pattern.

Using a textured slip-stitch motif in these two colors, creamy pale buttons, pockets, and my favorite V-neck cardigan silhouette, I created Potato Vodka with the original in mind. I never met Rachel, but l am named for her (both my middle and Hebrew names). This design is a nod to her life in a small Village in Eastern Europe years and years ago - and to the craft that connects us over time.

Potato Vodka is knit in one piece upwards from the hem and separated into three pieces at armholes. These pieces are worked flat from armhole to shoulders, then bound off and seamed together at top. Collar/button band stitches are picked up along the finished opening and worked flat, while adding buttonholes. Sleeve stitches are picked up around armholes and knit in the round to cuff.

There are hints in the pattern for modifying Potato Vodka for your own taste, plus notes on yarn choice and color management as you work. Based on test knitter feedback, l also added a suggestion for my method for picking up stitches along your button band to limit the "bleeding" through of the accent colors at the edge.

Scroll down for more details.

Yarn:

Background Color: Harrisville Designs Nightshades (100% American Cormo & Wool, 250yds/228m per 3.5oz/100g skein). Shown in Cinder.

Accent Color: Spincycle Yarns Dream State (100% American Wool, 150yds/137m per 1.75 oz/50g skein). Shown in Miss Me.

If substituting yarn, you need a light worsted weight fiber that works to gauge. Swatch in both stockinette and the slip stitch pattern to be sure the motif shows up in your yarn, to get familiar with the motif, and to check gauge. When choosing your color-changing accent yarn, note that some yarns will more harmoniously blend into pattern than

others. This will be especially true along your pickup edges (armholes, button band). If you are worried about “seeing” bits of your accent yarn along these edges, or you don’t trust yourself to pick up consistently and neatly at the edges, I suggest you go for a less stark difference between background/accent and look for less contrast within your color shifts.

Gauge: 20 sts and 32 rows per 4"/10cm in slip stitch pattern. 20 sts and 28 rows in rib and stockinette on collar and sleeves. 22 sts and 28 rows in rib on smaller needle at cuffs. Gauge based on final, blocked fabric.

Needles: US#6/4mm circular needles for sweater body and collar/ button band. US#5/3.75mm for cuff.

Sizes:

36.5(40.5,44.5,48.5,52.5)(56.5,60.5,64.5)”/

92.75(102.75,113,123.25,133.25)(143.5,153.75,163.75)cm

I suggest 2-4”/5-10cm of positive ease at bust for a fit similar to mine.

Yardage:

Background Color: 700(750,800,900,1000)(1100,1200,1300)yds/640(685,735,825,915)(1005,1100,1190)m

Accent Color: 450(450,450,600,600)(600,750,750)yds/410(410,410,550,550)(550,685,685)m