This post is step #2 of the Love Note Tutorial series. Other posts in this series include:
- Yarn choice and sizing: How to choose a fabulous yarn combination and find the right size for you.
- Construction (this post): An overview of the process and how the sweater is constructed.
- Yoke: How to work the provisional cast-on, lace pattern, and raglan increases.
- Body and sleeves: Creating the high-low hem and picking up the sleeves.
- Neckline: How to pick up stitches from the unzipped, provisional cast-on, plus tips for ensuring the perfect fit.
- Finishing: How to finish off your beautiful sweater!
Love Note garment construction
The Love Note sweater has a ‘top-down’ construction. This means that it starts at the neckline and is knit down to the hem and cuffs. It’s also knit ‘in the round,’ which means you’ll knit around and around, rather than knitting back and forth in rows and then sewing the pieces together at the end. The result is a seamless sweater.
The yoke is knit first – from the neckline, down through the lace band and a small section of raglan increases – to the point where the yoke separates for the body and sleeves.
The body is also knit in the round, downwards, with a section of short rows that adds length to the back body section. This creates the ‘high-low’ hem detail. Note: the high-low hem is optional, and step #4 will guide you through it.
Sleeves are worked from the underarm in rounds, down to the cuffs. They aren’t shaped until you reach the cuff, where stitches are decreased for a gentle gather detail. Lastly, the collar is picked up, a decrease round is worked, and ribbing is added.
Next step:
Now that you have your road map, it’s time to cast on! The next step in this series is the yoke. Head there now!
January 8, 2022 @ 2:45 pm
I am tripping up at the beginning. It says cast on and then knit 8 rounds – is that one round plain, one round Pearl? And then after 8 rounds I increase 1 round, knit 4 rounds and then increase another round?
January 9, 2022 @ 9:01 am
Cast on and knit 8 rounds means that you’ll knit each stitch of the round for a total of 8 rounds. No purl rounds :) And yes, then continue to follow the pattern by knitting 4 more rounds (if that’s what it says for your size) and then working Increase Round 2. You’ve got it! ~ Em
December 13, 2021 @ 7:42 am
Having trouble with the lace pattern for the Love Note.
Chart text instructions
Round 1. K3, K2tog, yo, K1 , yo, ssk, K4
When I count these, I get 14. The pattern calls for a 12 st repeat. Ugh! What am I doing wrong.
K3 = 3
K2tog = 1
Yo = 2
K1 = 1
Yo = 2
Ssk = 1
K4 = 4
What is wrong with my math?
December 13, 2021 @ 1:33 pm
Hi – I think the problem is with your yarn over count. A yarn over is only one stitch. We have a yarn over tutorial here you might find helpful: https://blog.tincanknits.com/2014/06/06/yarn-over/
November 3, 2021 @ 11:24 am
Can you make the Love note longer? And more fitted? Newish knitter
November 3, 2021 @ 1:11 pm
Hi Wendy – Longer is easy, just keep knitting. To make it more fitted you would want to knit a smaller size for less positive ease