Cabaret Raglan

And now, for something completely different, a knitted FO:

This is the Cabaret Raglan, by Norah Gaughan. Looks like it was originally published in Interweave Knits back in summer of 2004. Apparently, I don't like to jump right on a knitting pattern when it first comes out. I like to let it marinate for a bit; let a few hundred other people work out the kinks for me.

This is Norah's version from back in the day

I have always liked this pattern though, so a few months ago I decided to dive in. A recent tossing of the yarn stash has reminded me that I have a few sweater-length lots of yarn that I really like and it would be swell to convert them into something useful.

I used some Rowan All Seasons Cotton that I got at the Yarn Dogs closing sale many moons ago. It's nice and soft and sweat-shirty; just right for this top, I think.

I made the smallest size (36.5 bust), which just about used up my 650 yards. The yarn was just a little bit beefier than worsted weight. Does that translate to aran? Anyways, it produced the 17 stitches to 4 inches that the pattern called for.

This was my first time knitting a bottom up raglan. I deviated from the instructions by knitting the body in one piece up to the arms, then dividing and knitting the front and back. I went ahead and knitted the sleeves flat though; I think I'd rather seam than fiddle with two circulars or magic loop or whatnot for  those two stinking little tubes. I've been converted by a recent Mason Dixon Knitting post. I also added a little bit of waist shaping.

Here's a closer look at the pattern on the front. I kind of like it. There's a bit of yarn-overing and a few tiny traveling cables. Enough to liven up the stocking stitch a bit. I was worried that the lacy bits would be low enough to put my bra on display, but it sits just high enough to save me from that embarrassment.

This was a pretty quick knit. It's a straightforward pattern at a pretty large gauge. If you're looking to bang out a sweater, or if you want to give a first try to a bit of cables or lace, I recommend it!