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Emily Wessel

Hi! I’m Emily Wessel, I design fun-to-knit patterns and helpful technique tutorials. I live in Edinburgh, Scotland with my husband and two kids, where I like to run, knit, learn languages, and hang out with friends. I am co-founder and designer at Tin Can Knits - www.tincanknits.com

26 Comments

  1. mags279Maggie
    June 9, 2020 @ 8:29 am

    Hi. I making this sweater right now and I was a little confused…. The inc at the beginning are all only on one side except for every 4th row when one stitch is added. I would’ve thought that the adds would be equal on both sides….. Also, is it supposed to take a radical 90 degree turn after doing 16 or so rows? I hope I am not screwing this one up because it looks so easy to do, but I always second guess myself at the beginning of a pattern…..

    • Alexa Ludeman
      June 9, 2020 @ 12:02 pm

      Hi – The increases will come on either side of the 4 raglan markers. You are going to knit to 1 stitch before the marker, then the instruction is m1, k2, m1. This looks like: m1, k1, slip marker, k1, m1

  2. Joyce Sehn
    March 22, 2017 @ 7:59 pm

    Could you confirm your yarn choice, please? I saw somewhere that you use Madelinetosh Vintage and it looks lovely. I just found a Canadian source for that specific yarn but it’s $32.00 a hank and you would need more than 3 hanks to make even a small child’s sweater. Unless I’m missing something, but close to $100 just for materials seems too much. Do people pay that much? Or could you suggest another alternative?

    • alexaludeman
      March 23, 2017 @ 6:46 pm

      Hi Joyce – we did use Madelinetosh Vintage, which is a hand dyed yarn, which can be on the pricey side. There are, of course, many many other options, that’s the beauty of hand made! You are just looking for a Worsted weight yarn. We recommend a natural fiber, something that will block. Cascade 220 is a great option.

  3. Sweater Techniques Series – Gramps Baby Cardigan – 6 / 6 : Finishing Touches | Tin Can Knits
    November 15, 2016 @ 2:13 pm

    […] 1/6 An Introduction: to start at the beginning look here! […]

  4. Sweater Techniques Series – Gramps Baby Cardigan – 5 / 6 : Shawl Collar and Button Band | Tin Can Knits
    November 15, 2016 @ 2:12 pm

    […] 1/6 An Introduction: to start at the beginning look here! […]

  5. Sweater Techniques Series – Gramps Baby Cardigan – 4 / 6 : Top-Down Sweater Construction – Body and Arms | Tin Can Knits
    November 15, 2016 @ 2:11 pm

    […] 1/6 An Introduction: to start at the beginning look here! […]

  6. mama to many
    September 14, 2016 @ 10:29 am

    Is there any reason why I couldn’t use a provisional cast on with the current version of the pattern?

    • alexaludeman
      September 14, 2016 @ 4:57 pm

      Hi – you can use a provisional cast on, but I find for the larger child sizes and grown up sizes it needs the structure of a regular cast on and a pick up.

  7. mama to many
    September 14, 2016 @ 10:22 am

    Hi I think there may be a typo?

    “In this case, there are 10 stitches in the 2″ window, which works out to 20 sts / 4″ – exactly the gauge I was aiming for. If you achieve less stitches in 4″, (ie. 18), you need to make another swatch with a smaller needle. If you achieve more stitches in 2″ (ie.22), you need to make another swatch using larger needles.”

    Wouldn’t you need larger needles if you have too few stitches and smaller needles if you have too many? Or am I backwards?

    • alexaludeman
      September 14, 2016 @ 4:58 pm

      I know, it breaks my brain too, but it is correct.

  8. Rita Picariello
    September 5, 2016 @ 4:50 pm

    way can you tell has hau many stitches to make for every sizes instead if has to mesure it easy to tell has hau many stitcher to cast on thank you rita

    • alexaludeman
      September 6, 2016 @ 12:02 pm

      Hi Rita – all of the cast on numbers and details are in the Gramps pattern, available for purchase here.

  9. sheila roberts
    March 3, 2016 @ 11:17 am

    When measuring the stitches to check the gauge, does the number of stitches automatically take care of the vertical measurement stitches as well?

    • alexaludeman
      March 4, 2016 @ 10:51 am

      Not always, but in the Gramps sweater most of the measurements are ‘knit to’ lengths so it isn’t as critical as the stitch gauge

  10. Mrs.Ruby Daniel
    February 8, 2016 @ 10:29 pm

    Hi,

    Thank you for this wonderful tutorial.its really amazing…………………..
    i am beginner and ur tutorial helps me a lots its so clear and easy to follow………………

  11. Avoiding the Sweater Curse: Knits that Fit the Entire Family | Tin Can Knits
    November 17, 2015 @ 11:02 am

    […] Now I really don’t care if you knit a gauge swatch… because I don’t care if your sweater fits.  But you should!  Many knitters have met desperate and depressing ends due to the TERRIBLE decision to skip the swatch.  I hope it won’t happen to you…   < click for more info on how to knit and measure a gauge swatch here > […]

  12. Susan
    November 4, 2015 @ 6:17 pm

    Thank you for a great pattern and tutorial, they are so helpful for a relatively new knitter (like me)! I recently completed a Gramps for my son (size 2-4) and made a matching one for my hubby. Now my father in law has requested one – how can I refuse? I’m having trouble choosing a size for him however, since his chest measurement was 45″. It seems like the L would be too small, but the XL would be too big. Is it possible to adjust to get something in between?

    • alexaludeman
      November 5, 2015 @ 9:32 am

      I would go with the smaller size and add an extra row or 2 of raglan increases. Each extra row adds 4 (or 6) sts to the body, giving you about an extra inch. You may want to only add them to the body, or, if you need a larger upper arm as well, you can add them to the arms too.

      • Susan
        November 7, 2015 @ 6:27 pm

        Thank you! That makes sense. I’ll have to think through the math and decide how much to add. Love your designs, especially the child to adult sizing!

  13. Sweater Techniques Series – Gramps Baby Cardigan – 3 / 6 : Top-Down Sweater Construction | Tin Can Knits
    August 18, 2015 @ 2:53 pm

    […] 1/6 An Introduction: to start at the beginning look here […]

  14. » Free Tutorial: How To Knit Top Down Baby CardiganBelajar Seni Mengait
    September 23, 2014 @ 2:12 am

    […] Beginning your Sweater: Yarn and needle selection, knitting a gauge swatch, Understanding knitting pattern schematics.  [Post HERE] […]

  15. My first sweater and why I want schematics | nearlythere
    July 1, 2014 @ 11:31 pm

    […] of the Tin Can Knits patterns have schematics. Here’s an example of their gramps cardigan.They have:  9 months of […]

  16. Free Tutorial: How To Knit Top Down Baby Cardigan » Da'Knit
    November 28, 2013 @ 3:55 pm

    […] Beginning your Sweater: Yarn and needle selection, knitting a gauge swatch, Understanding knitting pattern schematics.  [Post HERE] […]

  17. MT
    December 29, 2012 @ 7:37 am

    This is a fabulous tutorial series! The only suggestion I can make to this post is to wash and block the swatch, because some yarn changes gauge and we don’t want there to be any surprises. :-) Can’t wait to read the next posts!

    • alexaludeman
      December 30, 2012 @ 12:28 am

      An excellent point! Blocking makes everything better, even swatches! (and more accurate too)