Engaging With Gauge
Opening up a whole world of drape with open knits
It’s a trio of loose-gauge lovelies for you, this week!
They knit up fast (relatively speaking), they don’t eat much yarn, and the effortless way they drape is second to none. Seeing your project take shape so quickly is a great reinvigorator after a knitting slump, and their lighter weight makes them a bit more portable if you like to take your in-progress knitting out and about.
My own knits tend to be of the cast-iron variety, as they’re often used in place of a coat (all Geordies are immediately turned into a pillar of salt if we dare to put one on), but I am being gradually seduced by the allure of the open knit!
Agave by Yumiko Alexander
The kind of top Yeavering Bell was made for! Samples were knit with plant fibre, but in spun mohair it’d be a floaty, gauzy dream, while still draping beautifully. The same lace pattern is repeated across the garment at different scales, and there are options for both regular and lacy flutter sleeves.
It’s available in five sizes and in three different lengths, with finished bust circumferences from 42”/115cm to 58”/145cm.
To knit in Yeavering Bell DK, you’ll need:
Flutter sleeves - 18 ½“ long: 3 (3, 4, 4, 4) 100g skeins, 21” long: 3 (4, 4, 4, 4) 100g skeins, 23 ½” long: 4 (4, 4, 4, 5) 100g skeins
Regular sleeves - 18 ½“ long: 3 (4, 4, 4, 4) 100g skeins, 21” long: 4 (4, 4, 4, 5) 100g skeins, 23 ½” long: 4 (4, 4, 5, 5) 100g skeins
If you’re a die-hard lambswool lover, Cheviot Marsh is still in the running, but to get the kind of drape that makes the top work, I’d recommend it in 4 ply weight to offset the fuller, springier fabric it creates. If you wanted it to be extra floaty, you could always use Yeavering Bell in this weight, too!
To knit in Cheviot Marsh 4 Ply or Yeavering Bell 4 Ply, you’ll need:
Flutter sleeves - 18 ½“ long: 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) 100g skeins, 21” long: 2 (3, 3, 3, 3) 100g skeins, 23 ½” long: 3 100g skeins (all sizes)
Regular sleeves - 18 ½“ long: 2 (3, 3, 3, 3) 100g skeins, 21” long: 3 100g skeins (all sizes), 23 ½” long: 3 100g skeins (all sizes)
Bliss Tank by Alicia Plummer
This free pattern is such a lovely, lightweight staple piece. It also covers bra or camisole straps underneath, which is probably the first thing I look for in any sleeveless top!
I love the scoop style at both the front and back, and the open gauge gives it a breezy, easy-wearing kind of drape. A good one to reach for when putting together an outfit feels like a bit of a headache, as it’ll go with all sorts.
Finished bust circumferences run from 31”/105.5cm to 69.5”/176.5cm, and the top is designed to be worn with just a bit of negative ease at the bust (1-3”/2.5-7.5cm).
To knit in Yeavering Bell 4 Ply or Cheviot Marsh 4 Ply, you’ll need: 2 (2, 2, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2, 2)[2, 3, 3, 3][3, 3, 3, 3] 100g skeins
Stribelade Tee by Elsebeth Judith
Lots of options here! This pattern lets you play around with yarn weight and gauge, mixing and matching texture and density to your own taste.
The white sample uses 4 ply for the stocking stitch portions and a heavier weight yarn for the rib and garter ridges to really exaggerate the texture. It’s flipped around in the green sample, with heavier yarn for stocking stitch and ribbing, the lighter weight in garter. The resulting top is more opaque, with subtle little glimpses of the layer beneath where the gauge opens up.
It has a top-down yoke construction, designed to be worn without positive ease around the bust to prevent bunching. Finished bust circumference ranges from 34”/86.5cm to 50.25”/128cm.
If you’d like to knit this tee in Whistlebare yarn, you can mix and match with Cheviot Marsh 4 Ply, Yeavering Bell 4 Ply, Cheviot Marsh DK and Yeavering Bell DK. You could also knit the whole thing in DK weight if you fancy! Even at the same weight, mixing different fibres will still give a lovely contrast. The breakdown below should help you pick out the quantities you need:
DK Stocking Stitch + Rib: 3 (4, 4, 4) (4, 4, 5, 5) 100g skeins
DK Garter Ridges + Rib: 1 (1, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2) 100g skeins
4 Ply Stocking Stitch: 2 (2, 2, 2) (2, 2, 3, 3) 100g skeins
4 Ply Garter Ridges: 1 (1, 1, 1) (2, 2, 2, 2) 100g skeins
Feeling proud of a project you’ve made with our yarn or fabric? The Creators’ Gallery on the wall of our shop is crying out for your lovely photos! If you’d like to be a part of things, please drop us an email at studio@whistlebare.com with your project photo and accompanying info (your first name, details of yarn/fabric and pattern).
As a little thank you, once a month, we will be choosing one of the pictures at random and sending the lucky creator a 10% discount off anything bought from our website or from Whistlebare Fold!
We’d love to see you at our Wednesday Open Stitch Book Club and Knit and Natter Nights, 7pm-9pm, £7.50 including hot drink and cake!
We’ve also got two utterly heavenly Yoga & Knitting Day Retreats coming up in July and September.
A warm welcome awaits at Whistlebare Fold from 8.45am - 5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am - 5pm on Sundays. Online orders remain open as ever.
If you’d like to visit, you can find us at: 17A Bridge St, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1ES
As always, thank you for your company this week. And, of course - if you’ve been inspired, we’d love to see your wonderful creations!
Wishing you all the happiest of knitting,
Claire
More great choices, especially for Florida.