The pattern for the Fair Isle Yoke Cardigan calls for the sleeves to be knit flat than sewed to the armhole and seamed shut. I never like the way this looks. I prefer to pick up the stitches for the sleeve along the armhole (which works with these sleeves since they are flat across the top and not shaped).
Here are the 52 sts (26 on the front and 26 on the back - knit in the round using 40" Turbo Addis in US Size 3 and the Magic Loop methodology. I just inverted the pattern - so instead of starting at the cuff and increasing 2 sts every 4th round, I picked up the sts on the underarm and decreased 2 sts (at the beginning and end of the underarm) every 4th round.
I'm quite pleased with the crisp even look this methodology produces.
I've been toying with the idea of using short rows to do the same methodology for capped sleeves. Estella mentioned that she made a sweater doing that very same thing. I'm going to check out the pattern for that sweater and try to incorporate it in the Kaffe Fasset Floral Jacket. I don't know if it will work or not for that particular sweater, but I'd sure like to give it a try.
Do you ever make sleeves from the top down? Why or why not?
The only time I've done top down sleeves was on the mini-Gansey sweater I did in my Gansey sweater knitting workshop. I'm intrigued with the idea of short rows for the sleeve cap.
Posted by: Lorette | Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 14:04
I have done this technique a few times and I really like it - I can adjust length, etc. So customizable!
Posted by: lolly | Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 19:38
Not Yet, but you can be sure I will try it out!
Posted by: RebeccaCoday | Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 14:42
Top down sleeves are terrific. They are so very much easier to measure on the arm! They do get a little bulky until long enough to just turn sleeve around rather than the sweater.
Posted by: Nancy | Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 12:27