It’s Time To Line Up Those Fall Projects

Believe it or not, Labor Day is just around the corner, and it’s once again time to think of fall needlework projects. In today’s photo we show some options for outdoor sweater- and jacket-making.

There is a kid’s pullover and an easy child’s cardigan along with a unisex adult “sweatshirt” jacket with an attached hood.

When making a sweater that will be primarily worn outside, there are some things you should consider.

Making an outdoor sweater is actually easier and faster than creating a garment for indoor wear, as it generally involves a thicker yarn.

The yarn is the first and maybe the most important ingredient in your project. For outside garments, steer away from cottons, linens and lightweight novelty yarns. These will not offer the wearer the necessary warmth and durability.

If you are striving for warmth, wool always is a winner.

Wool has wonderful insulating properties. With washable and superwash wools becoming standard, care has become easier than ever. I’ve heard some complaints that wool is scratchy and stiff, but that greatly depends on the type of wool you use. In today’s marketplace there are many soft-hand wools, even in bulkier weights.

Also remember that for outside garments the wearer will have one or more clothing layers on under the garment. Besides being warm, wool is also long-lasting and durable.

The sweatshirt shown here is knit with two strands of a 100 percent wool yarn using a large-sized needle. Acrylic yarns and acrylic blends are excellent choices for children’s sweaters. They come in wonderful color ranges and have easy-care properties, and they’re widely available and inexpensive.

What else can you look for besides standard, flat yarns? Some yarns to look at are boucles, tweeds, mohairs, variegated blends, rustic-finished wools, and lightly spun roving yarns. There is a wonderful array from which to choose.

Once you have decided on a yarn, the next thing to consider is the sweater itself and the type of stitches you’ll use. Garter stitch that is used for the colorblock jacket makes a pliable, dense fabric. The unisex sweatshirt features a yoke with a slip-stitch pattern much like the pattern used for sock heels. This pattern stitch adds extra warmth. Think about working with more than one strand of yarn, such as a strand of wool mixed with a strand of mohair to create a warm, lightweight fabric.

Color is important. Is your outdoor wearer going for a casual look, as we’ve shown here? Blues and bright primary colors work well with blue jeans and corduroys. The boy’s “road work” pullover uses primary blue, yellow, red, teal and black to make a graphic design that will delight any child. The sweatshirt for adults is made in a heathery blue tone.

To spruce up your cardigans and jackets, find interesting closures. Fun buttons such as the “kitty” buttons on the garter stitch jacket make any knit more interesting. The added zipper on the sweatshirt gives a real sportswear look to the garment. Find buttons made from horn, wood and bones for a nice natural touch. Make sure that the closures need the same care as the yarn that you choose.

If extra warmth is key, the addition of a hood that can be worn up or down is ideal. When making a sweater or jacket for an active child, a crewneck, such as the one on our boy’s pullover, may be more appropriate.

The “Mr. Mom” unisex sweatshirt, garter stitch jacket and “road work” graphic pullover shown here are all shown in the upcoming “Wear to Work” issue of Knitter’s magazine. These patterns are easy to knit and are included along with 27 other projects in the magazine that is on sale this month. To purchase this fall ‘96 issue for $4.95 or find out about subscription information, call (800) 232-5648, or write Knitter’s, P.O. Box 1525, Sioux Falls, S.D. 57101-1525. No kits are available for these items.

MEMO: Nancy Thomas welcomes your comments or questions about the column or any needleworking subject. However, because of the volume of mail, she cannot answer every letter individually. Hints or questions of general interest will be used in the column when possible. Please send them to Needleworks, c/o The Spokesman-Review, Features Department, PO Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.